What is a question?

My reader's workshop mini-lesson today was about questioning. I've been reading the book "Reading With Meaning" and am attempting something I have never really done before... I'm actually trying to TEACH what questioning REALLY means. It's so much more than asking literal questions.

Suggested by Paula, I started the lesson with "What is a question?". We had a little discussion with what a question is and why we ask questions. (Look at all the questions I just asked!! :)) Then we came up with a list of question words, words that begin an asking sentence. I'm going to come back to these question words later and we are going to talk about important questions and not-so-important questions. We'll dissect these words and find out which words get us to the "deep" and "meaty" part of what we want to learn.

Anyway, with the list on poster paper, and a book Paula loaned me about the Exxon Valdez oil spill, I had each student use the question words and ask a question about the book. We have already read "Oil Spill" and now we are just about to start "After the Spill". Each student stuck their question on the board and we read each question to prepare us for the reading.

I started with the first few pages and the kids started to realize some of their questions were answer, but ALL of my kids were SO into the book. They even began to think of more questions to add to our board. This is exactly what I was looking for. Anyway, we really didn't have much time to read the book. That's ok because we are going to pick up right where we left off on Monday (tomorrow is doughnut date.. no reading).

Anyway, I am documenting how this is going so I can refer back to it later... what worked and what didn't.

What's not working: Some of my kids picking where they get to sit on the rug.
What is working: Having the front row of my class take three skooches back and the back row (those kids that are ALWAYS sitting back there) move right in front of me.

Do Teachers Really Get Paid Enough?

Interesting question and one I am constantly struggling with. I would argue that most teacher DO get paid enough and I would even go as far to say that they get paid FAR too much. In my minuscule number of years I have been teaching (this is my 6th), I have met only a handful of teachers that I feel should be paid more, WAY more.

Let's think about this. Teaching appears to be the perfect job for the average person.

My attitude

I've decided that there is a direct correlation between my attitude at school and my students' performance. I know that is a blanket statement, but I can just tell. So, this week was my first week back at school after our winter break. My winter break was pretty amazing and although I didn't want to start waking up early, I was really glad to be back, working and productive.

So, I was pretty pumped to go to school. My spirits were high and I just felt good. In class, I was really happy, upbeat, and optimistic. It showed. Not that it normally doesn't, but I was EXTRA happy. I didn't have much in the plans, but just a few activities on my mind.

But this week went swimmingly. It was great. My kids were happy and so was I. And my kids have been doing so well academically this week. I am having great conversations with my students and they just seem to be working so hard.

Moral of the story: Be Happy!

Class Meeting and Weekend Plans

I love when my kids say things that make me laugh. Today, we were having class meeting and normally the kids go around and say what they are happy or excited about.

When we get to Broxon, he says "I'm not sure what I'm doing yet, because I don't really have any plans with myself yet." He was being COMPLETELY serious... no chuckle or laugh after. Broxon doesn't joke around... and I thought it was quite funny.

Class Meeting and Weekend Plans

I love when my kids say things that make me laugh. Today, we were having class meeting and normally the kids go around and say what they are happy or excited about.

When we get to Broxon, he says "I'm not sure what I'm doing yet, because I don't really have any plans with myself yet." He was being COMPLETELY serious... no chuckle or laugh after. Broxon doesn't joke around... and I thought it was quite funny.

The Black Book of Colors

This is a little treasure I found this year on some shelf in the library. It was calling my name! And you will love it too.

It is called "The Black Book of Colors". It is a story with completely black pages (white text). Each page has a Braille translation and a picture drawn in blank raised ink.

What I love most is that is requires students to visualize on their own. They must paint the picture in their mind because there is no color in the book because the written description.

It is an absolute MUST-have!

What Moms Can't Do

Some of my kids were reading a book called "What Moms Can't Do" in a guided reading group yesterday. To connect to prior knowledge, I asked the kids prior to reading what types of things they thought moms couldn't do.

One of my kiddos says "When moms are pregnant, they can't repent." I asked him what he meant and he said, "Well, they just can't... I think."

It took a lot for me to hold back my giggles. But, I thought it was kind of funny. I wonder what idea actually made him think that.