Hello Everyone!
I certainly hope your summer has been one of family time, rejuvenation, and maybe a little learning! Mine has been all of those. We were able to take several trips to see family across this country to celebrate birthdays, babies, more birthdays, and just reconnections. Having time off during the summer is so important to me as we have spread to every corner.
Having time off in the summer is also important to me to rejuvenate as a teacher. I always try to take advantage of the book studies our district offers. This year I was able to read three great choices. If I were to pick my top fav it would hands down be “ From Striving to Thriving” by Stephanie Harvey and Annie Ward. If you teach reading to any age kiddo, or if you are a parent of a school age child, you have to read this book. I am telling you, I literally almost cried when I finished it. It was almost like the authors were looking in on my teacher heart as they were writing this book. From the very first page where they state that “Voluminous pleasurable reading is key to literacy development,” to tabling the labels we put on our young readers, to learning how to embrace mistakes, to inner conversations and so much more! Every page is a gem, a jewel of research based instruction! My masters degree is in curriculum and instruction with an emphasis in reading and I wish this book had been out when I was studying about reading levels! It has totally changed my thinking! One golden thread I found throughout this entire book is the mindset of trust, teach, transform. I will cling to these words this coming school year with my fellow teachers, and my new little students.
The book also refers to “growth mindset” which I have done a lot of research on lately. In fact, that is one thing I want to share with you. I put together a little unit to help me work on our growth mindset this year. I know many of you have already been hard at work on this and we have too, just not in an organized way. So it was time to get it done!
Here are just a few pics of the unit.
The unit ended up to be close to 100 pages of posters, journal pages, books to make/read and so much more!
I know I will use just about every page of it!!! A lot of it during the first week of school!
Ok! Next up! I have gotten so many e-mail asking what our beginning of the year theme is going to be this year! I finally got it done! We are going to venture into the original growth mindset guru- Dr. Seuss and his book, "Oh the Places You'll Go!" Such a great book to read at the beginning of the year. and don't you know we do all kinds of traveling and growing in first grade!! If you have used any of my other beginning of the year units, this one is very similar in content. Some binder cover templates, some meet the teacher stuff, some quick thematic assessments, some math games, some poetry, and a lot more! Thank you Dr. for such an inspirational book!!! Here are a few pics of the 100 page unit.
Well, I've had a blast this summer, but our break is almost over. I'm excited to work with some new team members that we added! And I'm excited to share some other new things with you! Thank you for stopping by for a quick look at what we've been up to. Stop again soon!
If you are still on break- enjoy!!! If you are heading back to the classroom soon, have the best year yet!!
Joyfully!!
Nancy
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