Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Slice of Life: Reflection on 2015

This Friday is the last day of 2015 in our classroom. As I'm reflecting (OLW15) on the first four months of school. It's been a great start to the year with celebrations including last Friday's comment, "Mrs. Caplin, I've never understood long division. It's the best day of the year."  Another email from a sixth grade student thanking me for spending so much time helping him with his math and reading. As the school year closes, I am thankful for these celebrations.

  • All my students are reading their JR books that they choose. They know their teacher is a reader and will always be asking, "What are you reading?"
  • Newbery Club is meeting this Thursday, and I'm celebrating all 23 of them that go above and beyond and choose to be apart of our club early in the morning before school.  
  • Long division doesn't have to be long - it can be repeated addition and/or place value long 7.  What ever strategy works best for my students is the #1 choice.
  • We're reading Family Under the Bridge written in 1958 in Paris, France.  I read it every year and have enough copies for everyone to have their own. There is a magic when my students know that the book their holding might have been held by their brother or sister who is now in high school.  It's been a different type of read aloud this year with the recent events in Paris.  We've spent additional time having important conversations. I've used  Google images showing them photos of important historical places in Paris.  
  • Yesterday the The Ohio State Jazz combo visits our school every year.  The opportunity for our students to be exposed to different types of music as well as learn the story behind the music is very special. 
  • Thursday we will be doing 5th Grade Gives Back collecting toiletries, making snowflakes to deliver to the nursing home and after school several students and teachers will go the nursing home to sing and pass out the snowflakes.
  • Friday will be our holiday party, and I'm super excited this year.  The room mothers asked for every student to donate a gently used book they've already read, and we're playing a game with them.  All my students will be taking home a old/new book to read over the holidays.  Perfect for Room 234 :)
Finally I am thankful for my renewed energy in writing. Opening the computer and having something  to type.  Grabbing ideas from Sunday sermons and collecting interesting vocabulary from everywhere.  New and exciting words are jumping off the pages and my wordsmith brain is happy happy!!  I hope everyone has a blessed and relaxing Christmas. Thanks to the Two Writing Teachers for encouraging me to Slice on Tuesdays.  My plans right now are to celebrate with our family the first week and find some writing time the second week. 

12 comments:

  1. This overview of your first four months of school was wonderful. Makes me want to do the same. I particularly loved this part:

    We're reading Family Under the Bridge written in 1958 in Paris, France. I read it every year and have enough copies for everyone to have their own. There is a magic when my students know that the book their holding might have been held by their brother or sister who is now in high school. It's been a different type of read aloud this year with the recent events in Paris. We've spent additional time having important conversations. I've used Google images showing them photos of important historical places in Paris.

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    1. Thanks Kim it has helped me with my perspective (another OLW) reflecting on our year. Thanks for commenting.

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  2. I love your reflective post! It is always worth the time taken to list out all of the celebrations. I look forward to reading about your OLW.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by. My OLW has really helped me realize the power in reflection. Have a great week!

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  3. Hi Maria, I absolutely love the game with the books. My oldest is in fifth grade and I'm going to suggest it for his class. Although, it's a little late this year, but maybe for my fourth grader next year. :) I'm stopping by from A Slice of Life.

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    1. Perhaps a book celebration in January. Thanks for stopped by I appreciate your comment. Happy Tuesday slicing.

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  4. Merry Christmas to you, Maria, & have a great rest of the week! I loved hearing all about the reading in the classroom, especially that tradition of reading The Family Under The Bridge. I love that book, & am glad to be reminded of it.

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    1. Thanks Linda - survived day 4! Merry Christmas to you and your family. Thank ms for your support of all the slicers.

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  5. Hooray for Christmas holidays and having cherished family to celebrate with, my friend. Thanks, too, for sharing this book - Family Under the Bridge is unfamiliar to me, and now I want to read it, and then read it with my kids.

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    1. Let me know what you think :) one of my favorites for so many reasons but particularly this year.

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  6. Thank you for a new (old) book recommendation. The Family Under the Bridge is on my list.
    I love the idea and reality of a fifth grade giving back.
    Warmest wishes for the Holidays,

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    1. Thanks for stopping by I hope you have a special holiday season.

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