on my mind...

13 days.

Holy crap.

Must. Break. 2 hours.

MUST!

Today is a rest day.

But it feels like it should be a running day.

Compliments

We've had a bit of bullying

going on in our 4th and 5th grade classrooms.

So in hopes to clean

my classroom of gossip and dirty looks,

"she's not our friend" conversations,

and just plain mean behaviors,

I did the only thing I could think of:

I am having each of my students write one

kind and specific compliment

about each person in the class,

including me.

I got this idea from one of

my most memorable teachers,

Mrs. Smith.

She was my 6th grade teacher.

When something similar was in the air

of our class in 1996,

she had us complete the same assignment.

After receiving our compliments,

she compiled a list for each of us.

30 compliments from our classmates, and 1 from our teacher.

I still have mine,

and I smile each time I read it.

I remember feeling noticed and appreciated.

This weekend, I spent some time typing some of 

the compliments that have already been submitted.

I was pleasantly reminded 

how great kids can be

when you give them the opportunity.

Some of my favorites include:

"I love how you're really good at reading.  I think you should write your own book someday."

"I think you are forgivable, because if you broke a promise to someone, you would always make it up to them."

"You were my friend, even when people were mad at me.  I'd like to thank you for that."

"I love how you act, but I like more how you are a leader to follow."

"You are always hopeful, because when we play soccer and our team is losing, you always hope for the best."

- - - - - -

Have I mentioned that I love my job yet?

I love when I'm tricky!

I read to my kids every day after lunch.  

These days, not all kids have the opportunity 

and the treat of being read to.

I've made it a point to switch up the genres

every time we finish a book.

So far we've read

The Tale of Despereaux 

(fantasy)

 

And Maniac Magee

(realistic fiction)

In January it was time to start a new book,

so I let my kids vote on the genre.

I didn't give them choices that they were too familiar with:

historical fiction, poetry, or autobiography.

Though not thrilled, they were forced to choose

and they landed on poetry.

Little did they know it would be a genre 

they'd learn to love.

The first day I started on page 1

and began reading the poems in order.

A few days past, and I could see them

pretending they didn't like them

but they really did.

So then I decided to make it an assignment 

to choose a poem and read it to the class.

As I explained we'd be focusing on expression,

pace, and eye contact with the audience,

they looked at me as though this was my worst idea yet.

But after a few volunteers took a brave leap of faith,

they started to realize how great poetry can be.

It's February now,

and they have eaten it up!

They giggle. They smile.

They beg to see the pictures.

And they love the snaps instead of applause at the end.

The moment I knew they were absolutely hooked was this week.

I checked out Falling Up

I quietly set it on the whiteboard tray,

hoping someone would ask to read it.

First one girl, and then a few boys.

Now, we've got a sign-up list going on.

Then today, music to my ears:

"Miss Friedrich, can we read a poem for the class from this book too?"

I've done it again!

Caught ya!  

Loving what you're learning!

And you don't even realize it.

Ha!

I love when I'm tricky.