Life Long Learner

I have a student in my sixth and seventh period class. He is a senior and has struggled in school. According to his test scores, he is on a second grade level. Since the beginning of the school year I have spent a good amount of time getting to know him. I asked him to take the same test he took last year to assess his reading level, and this time he came out on a sixth grade level. How did he make such a remarkable change??? He actually tried this time on the test. He understood why I wanted him to take the test, and that was enough motivation for him to do well. This reminds me how important it is to build relationships with students in the classroom.

As another school year begins, I find myself in a new role (for the 3rd year in a row) This year I will be teaching self-contained English and Reading. I am so sad to leave my coaching job, and pray that it will someday come back once all the budget issues in NJ are straightened out, but for now, I am back in the classroom. I greeted each class with a huge smile and assured them that we are in this together. We are a community of learners, a community that needs each other to grow. Some of my students looked excited, eager to sink their teeth in and begin a new year. Others wanted to pick up right where they left off last year - defiant, withdrawn, unwilling to participate. I am going to take the next couple days to build community and get to know my students, and I pray they all participate and take an active role in their learning this year. How do I motivate these kids? How can I set each one up for success? I can't wait to find out the answers to these questions! Let another sc

I feel like a child waiting for Santa to arrive on Christmas morning. The waiting is finally over for the third installment of the Hunger Games Series. I preordered the book, just like I did with the Harry Potter Series, but, much to my dismay, amazon has let me down. All day yesterday I found myself peeking at the window in search of the small brown cardboard box. I went as far as unlocking all three locks on my front door just to be sure the box wasn't hiding somewhere I couldn't see from my window. No book. So, my waiting continues. Part of me loves the feeling of anticipation, and the other part just wants to delve into the book to see what happens to my friends in Mockingjay. Even though I will not be able to devote an entire day to reading this book, I still can't wait to hold it in my hands and unlock the adventure of this book. I love to read series of books. I become attached to the characters in the stories, and consider these fictional people my friends. I love t

Brewer pupils finish 50-state ‘tour’ - Bangor Daily News

It is snowing outside - the most snow I have ever seen in my lifetime! My poor husband has made numerous trips outside to shovel, and I have spent the time inside curled up with Janet Allen's Yellow Brick Roads (2000). I have used ideas from this book in the past, but have never really taken the time to read the book in its entirety. WOW! This book is incredible. There are so many ideas and resources in this book that I can't wait to share with the teachers in my school. Here are some of my highlights... Chapter 1 - Looking for the Wizard "I like to remind myself of T'sai Ken Tan's words: ""Water that is too pure has no fish it in."" I hope my words provide a path, not a program - a path that gives support while still leaving room for the strengths and challenges unique to you and the students in your care" (p8) Janet Allen is real. She spent many years in the classroom, and only offers suggestions, not a complete overhaul to what is alre