We were learning about Jamestown. It seemed appropriate. And they only knocked down some stuff. And one of them had to be John Smith-- the leader. Did you know that the first "fort" built at Jamestown only took 19 days? These kids built one in 19 minutes. And it held up to my aide and me throwing socks at my students. (We were the attacking Indians).
Mad I forgot my camera. But, I love hearing kids say "That was the BEST social studies lesson EVER!"
It's the little things, guys.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Monday, November 21, 2011
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Book Review: Peter Pan
When I see my sister's sidebar, I often get discouraged about the amount of reading I do. However, I must remind myself that I do a huge amount of reading as a part of my job. And--lucky me-- most of it is in the form of children's literature. This is one of my absolute favorite parts of my profession.
I make it a point to read to my students for (at least) 20 minutes every day for pure enjoyment. This snapshot of time, the read-aloud/listen exchange, is an enormous benefit to both me and my students.
Today, we finished Peter Pan. I had never previously read this beautiful story, and many of my students' impressions had been diluted by the Disney movie. (Nothing against that show! I love it). But the book is amazing in how it takes childhood and pretend and the concept of mothers and presents them as everything good in the world, while likewise looking at time- like the tick-toc crocodile- and the negative connotations of being grown-up, and personifying them in the dastardly Captain Hook. We read an adapted "kid version," but I am looking forward to cracking open the original by J.M. Barrie and being enchanted by the language and the characterization again.
read it. I know you'll love it.
I make it a point to read to my students for (at least) 20 minutes every day for pure enjoyment. This snapshot of time, the read-aloud/listen exchange, is an enormous benefit to both me and my students.
Today, we finished Peter Pan. I had never previously read this beautiful story, and many of my students' impressions had been diluted by the Disney movie. (Nothing against that show! I love it). But the book is amazing in how it takes childhood and pretend and the concept of mothers and presents them as everything good in the world, while likewise looking at time- like the tick-toc crocodile- and the negative connotations of being grown-up, and personifying them in the dastardly Captain Hook. We read an adapted "kid version," but I am looking forward to cracking open the original by J.M. Barrie and being enchanted by the language and the characterization again.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
fall back
Daylight savings ended today. Did you set your clocks back?
Happy November! Halloween was a crazy--but awesome--event in third grade, and here at the Grover household. I dressed up as a mad scientist--complete with lab coat, bow tie, argyle vest and socks, mustache, and geeky glasses. I sprayed my hair straight up with white hairspray. (the hairspray/mustache combo was reminiscent of my "fat old man" costume circa my snowview #4 days in rexburg. good times, laura!) It was all worth it because my students loved it. What they loved even more was making dry ice bubbles, glow in the dark worms, and blue slime in class. Good times. That night we ate chili and cornbread with our best friends, watched a good ol' Hitchcock, and watched dry-ice make our rootbeer bubble. It was awesome.
Now it's November. I feel good about November for the following reasons:
Happy November! Halloween was a crazy--but awesome--event in third grade, and here at the Grover household. I dressed up as a mad scientist--complete with lab coat, bow tie, argyle vest and socks, mustache, and geeky glasses. I sprayed my hair straight up with white hairspray. (the hairspray/mustache combo was reminiscent of my "fat old man" costume circa my snowview #4 days in rexburg. good times, laura!) It was all worth it because my students loved it. What they loved even more was making dry ice bubbles, glow in the dark worms, and blue slime in class. Good times. That night we ate chili and cornbread with our best friends, watched a good ol' Hitchcock, and watched dry-ice make our rootbeer bubble. It was awesome.
Now it's November. I feel good about November for the following reasons:
- Thanksgiving
- Pie
- Coats
- Sweaters
- Fires in our fireplace
- Beginning of ski season
I feel nervous about November for the following reasons:
- End of the first trimester. Which means...
- Parent-Teacher Conferences + report cards + school is 1/3 over
- Snow on my windshield
- Handling the "holidays with 2 families" situation
Good thing the pros outweigh the cons.
Last night we had our annual Bowthorpe family Gratitude Dinner. I love this tradition. My amazing mom makes a delicious meal, we get together and talk about all of the things we are grateful for, then we eat pie. A couple of things that topped my list this year are:
- family
- teaching
- the beauty of the earth
- the gospel
- good food
- Samuel
- slippers
- good health
- weekends.
There is a calmness to a life lived in gratitude, a quiet joy.
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