First Day of School at HES

Finally...Using the blog for what I thought I might use it for! My parameters for "What I Learned Today" are: only put positives, to note the a-Ha's, to use as a backup memory, and possibly to note my tasks or to-do's. This is going to be a journal of quick notes and thoughts as well as reflections. No teacher names used... but occasionally will use initials. I just want to get some ideas down so I don't forget.

• In J's room: love the idea of using the lens of Being a Historian for the year. Will be excited to see this unfold
• (see photo insert) anxious to see in action the use of activboard for attendance and lunch count. I took a photo and will post. Students cover their name with a star, and use tallies for lunch choice. Simple idea... students are doing the work, not the teacher!
• love the letter journal... students write a page long letter in their journals about what's going on with them at school. (class brainstorms some possible ideas as a group pre-writing activity). The journals go home on Thursday and the parents write back... return on Monday. Great communication... teacher rarely sends a newsletter home or needs to do any extra communications.
• There seems to be lots of music infused into the classrooms for transitions, routines, procedures, etc. I see it at all of the schools that attended the Ron Nash, Active Classroom workshop. For example... music for lining up, music for mixing up partners, etc. Teachers are sharing how they are useing the find a partner strategies with content. Such as in a fifth grade classroom, the use of vocabulary in VA studies, such as Rappahnock, York, James, etc. Another use is infusing the community concept with partner grid... where the students have to find a community partner that lives in the same area, where they play, where they work, etc. Clever use of finding partners while infusing content.

One teacher suggested that we team together and go to a Ron Nash conference. Need to check out his schedule online and see where he is this year.

To DO's: Share the Virginia Regions wiki with a 4th grade and 5th grade teacher at HES.

The best part of this job is going to be the many great ideas I learn and the sharing and networking that I do!