Working Together

After a PD day on Tuesday, I was empowered to work on setting criterion with the students this week. We looked at 3 different curriculum areas over the last 3 days. I want to share what the students decided about each of the topics so I'll post one at a time over the next week. The question I posed in each instance was
"what makes a ........? What does it/he/she look like?"

A. What makes a good reader?
(in the kids' words, using vocabulary that we have used in the classroom all year)
- tries hard
- pays attention to the book/story
- reads with good speed
- checks back when not sure
- practices often
- reads big words
- reads smoothly
- chooses the right book
- understands what is read - comprehends
- makes connections
- to self
- to text
- to the world
- extends the experience
- draws or creates artwork
- writes about what might happen next
- writes another book or story to follow this one
- makes a play based on it
- can write about it
- reader's response
- can visualize (see pictures in your mind)
- makes predictions

WE have the chart up in the room and we refer to it often.
As a reading response, they wrote about 3 things they do now and 1 thing they'd like to improve. I was so proud of them for developing this list - I was really just the scribe. I love celebrating our learning!!!

Thanks to Dr. Anne Davies, who showed us how to do this and made us practice with a sample on Tuesday. She totally empowered me!

Spring is Here!!

At long last, it looks like we are going to have spring! The sunshine and melting snow are being enjoyed by all of us. Here are some activity pictures taken when we went swimming at the end of March. Hopefully it makes you feel like summertime! We will be swimming again near the end of June. If you would like to come with us, please send me a note and I'll save a place for you!