Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Slice of Life: Summer Learning on a Quest

It's Tuesday and time to reflect on my Slice of Life.  It's the last day of May and it's time to reflect on my OLW: quest.  There are only five days of school left.  I will have completed my 28 year of teaching. With all of these wrapped into a little package, it's time to launch into my summer quest. 
This summer is going to be different for me.  It's not all going to be all about professional learning. I am anxious to be on a quest for reflection time.  I enjoy taking the time for thinking about what went well during the school year although I don't spend a lot of time on that to be honest. Last summer everything centered around math workshop. What did the standards mean? How can workshop become a standard and not an isolation? I focused on these concepts throughout the year and I am pleased at the shifts I made in math. I am typically thinking about the glitches during the school year or looking back in my notebook to read some comments that I have left for myself so I don't forget what I need to focus on.  This summer I want to focus on 
  • talk in my classroom - What does it look like? Sound like? Most importantly how can I not be in charge of talk?  How do I shift ownership of talk?
  • inquiry:  How can I build more inquiry into every subject?  I've always had a sense of wonder in my classroom; however, I am thinking more deeply about how can questioning be an integral part of all subject areas? 
I'm excited to slice, reflect and celebrate the last day of the month.  I appreciate all the Slicers and their comments.  The blogging community is an integral part of my learning, and I'm excited to continue this summer.  

6 comments:

  1. I love your focus this summer for reflection - I felt myself actually stopping and breathing a little slower reading this piece. Summer is about recharging but it doesn't have to be go, go, go. Enjoy the last five days of school.

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    1. Thanks Mandy I loved how you took a blogging break for your quiet time. I am going to focus more on recharging and enjoying summer.

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  2. It is nice to have the summer to reflect on what was done during the school year as well as what can be done for the upcoming year. Good luck on your quest. I am sure it will be very rewarding.

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    1. Thanks for your comment. It's a huge goal to slow down this summer.

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  3. Love how you are using your OLW as a guide for your summer. I found Ellin Keene's book Talk to Understand valuable as I reflected on talk - http://www.heinemann.com/products/E02839.aspx
    Have a GREAT summer!! (I'm only finishing my 22nd year as a teacher!)

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    1. Huge thanks that is new title for me. I added it to my library search looking forward to reading it. I appreciate your stopping by and leaving a comment.

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