sutton007

Growing up I remember aunts and uncles asking one another "Where were you when you JFK was shot?".  I was too young to remember that tragic moment in American history.   Unfortunately, I was not too young to remember "where I was during 9/11". Ten years ago on 9/11 I was in my classroom filled with 30 beautiful and innocent fourth graders.    Sara, an aide in my classroom, brought the news to me (in a hushed tone) that an airplane had struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York.  Of course we thought it was an accident.  She then went to the office to see if she could learn more about what happened.  She came back shortly to say that another plane hit the South Tower.  We became aware that it was no accident.  Sara then became our eyes and ears to the world keeping us up-to-date on the events.  As the morning progressed and the news got worse, word had spread throughout the building and all the teachers learned of...

Book bins with each child's name and books to start the year. Who knew some plastic bins from the Dollar Store could bring such joy? Okay, they are colorful plastic bins.  But that's not why they brought such joy.  During the summer I read The Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller and The Daily5 and the Cafe Book by sisters, Gail Boushey and Joan Moser.  These books became my inspiration and guides to how I will approach reading with my students this year. Following the authors' suggestions students will select their own reading books which will then be used to practice the skills and strategies being taught - true differentiation!  The Two Sisters suggested using Book bins for each student.   I hemmed and hawed about what to use and in the end (due to financial constraints) I chose some colorful, plastic bins from the Dollar Store. (I'm hoping they will hold up!) Since Tropical Storm Irene blew into town and gave the students in my district a delayed school ...