My son, Andrew, is 18 today!

I remember the day Andrew was born.  I opened my eyes to see my husband holding our son, three hours old.  The love flowing out of David’s eyes towards Andrew and myself is still there.  Now as we watch, Andrew is stepping towards HS graduation and making college plans.

Never Give Up

Gentle pressure relentlessly applied.

Where Do You Read?

    After reading a book or two or three, kids find a special spot to read.  Each child establishes a comfortable spot in the classroom.  It is not as comfortable as their bedroom, but it is just as special.  I read three books to establish that places to read matter.  Best Spot to Read, A Quiet Place, and Goldie Socks and the Libearians all build understanding of a special place to read.

Mrs. Wishy Washy On-Line Resources

As I have been working on developing a Mrs. Wishy Washy Shared Reading lesson, I am impressed with the lessons and resources available on the web. 

 Making Learning Learning Fun has an emergent reader for teachers and children to make and read together.   

Page 1 for the emergent reader: http://www.makinglearningfun.com/t.asp?b=m&t=http://www.makinglearningfun.com/Activities/Mrs.Wishy/WWEmergReader/WWEmerRead-1.gif

Page 2 for the emergent reader: http://www.makinglearningfun.com/t.asp?b=m&t=http://www.makinglearningfun.com/Activities/Mrs.Wishy/WWEmergReader/WWEmerRead-2.gif

Page 3 for the emergent reader:  http://www.makinglearningfun.com/t.asp?b=m&t=http://www.makinglearningfun.com/Activities/Mrs.Wishy/WWEmergReader/WWEmerRead-3.gif

The animals for the emergent reader:  http://www.makinglearningfun.com/t.asp?b=m&t=http://www.makinglearningfun.com/Activities/Mrs.Wishy/WWEmergReader/WWEmerRead-ANIMALS.gif

Lesson ideas on The Virtual Vine:  http://www.thevirtualvine.com/mrswishywashy.html 

Every child loves to have a Mrs. Wishy Washy:  http://www.thevirtualvine.com/images/mrswishywashy/Mrs%20Wishy%20Washy.pdf

Of course the animals are needed for retelling too!  http://www.tccsa.net/webquest/blanchard_smith/characters.pdf 

Lots of ideas for Mrs. Wishy Washy:  http://www.tccsa.net/webquest/blanchard_smith/

Mrs. Wishy Washy book is actually on line!  Someone scanned it in and we can read it online!  Many teachers who have document cameras are reading the Big Book, then reinforcing the book using this link.  http://www.tccsa.net/webquest/blanchard_smith/mrs.wishy.ppt 

Mrs.Wishy Washy Farm Lapbook movie and links to making the lapbook:    Many Homeschoolers use lapbooks.  Some kinder teachers also use lapbooks.  The video really helps to explain them.  It is challenging and creative for large classes with one teacher.  http://www.homeschoolshare.com/mrs_wishy_washy.php

Pictures and Mrs. Wishy Washy book:  http://www.lovetwoteach.com/mrswishywashyfree.pdf

Tons of links for Mrs. Wishy Washy  http://bcmnc.blount.k12.al.us/wishy_washy.htm

teachers.net Shared Reading lesson  http://teachers.net/lessonplans/posts/2102.html    http://teachers.net/lessonplans/posts/2322.html

Another Shared Reading 6 day lesson http://www.angelfire.com/ca3/Sandy/ 

Kids acting out Mrs. Wishy Washy video AM and PM kinders http://kdgroom102.blogspot.com/2007/12/mrs-wishy-washy.html

Teacher showing how to teach with Mrs. Wishy Washy big book  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Es5k8VvVMc

Reader’s Theatre with Mrs. Wishy Washy  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlMvvsc2WCo

Another one  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpAY9kf-cVs

Sunday, February 22 Comprehension Strategy: Thinking Theme

See you there!  International Reading Association in Phoenix.  Pat Cunningham and I will talk about how to do the Thinking Theme Strategy.  We have movie footage of students.  It is awesome!

Books to teach Courage

                                 

The teacher and students read lots of books about a theme.  The students are studying a character trait or theme.  The students easily identify the theme in a book. 

Which characters in _____ (name of the book) do you think show courage, and how do they show it?

Self Selected Reading in High School

http://www.wholechildeducation.org/blog/?storyId=24614&lk=6848403-6848403-0-35417-3LV8Lpnm16/-qfAShjyNt/tpeLS2frrm

SSR matters to High School kids too.  My two highschoolers read all the time.  I don’t force them too, they choose to read.  My husband and I have blessed books and encouraged them to read.  We discuss books.

Life Images

Life posts incredible images here.  I remember looking at the LIFE Magazine growing up.  The images are saved here.

http://images.google.com/hosted/life

The Mitten

Math Link after Reading, The Mitten, By Jan Brett.   http://www.amazon.com/Mitten-Jan-Brett/dp/039921920X/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1234140253&sr=8-1    

How Many Unifix Cubes fit in a homemade mitten?  The kinders in a classroom I visited recently decided to find out.  It was amazing how many more than unifix cubes actually DO fit!  Teachers.net suggests using 10 different math manipulatives.  http://teachers.net/lessons/posts/2471.html 

Jan Brett has the animals from the story, The Mitten, on her website.   http://janbrettsblog.com/    Many teachers read the story aloud.  Each student has one animal glued on an animal stick.  When the student hears the animals name, the student holds that animal up in the air.  After the story is read, the students stand in order to retell the story (sequence).  Some teachers place a sheet over the table and have the students crawl INTO the “mitten” to retell the story.   One teacher sewed a giant mitten for her students to crawl into:   http://teachers.net/lessons/posts/2115.html

Lesson Ideas

One of my favorite sites is Hubbard’s Cupboard.  The teacher writes wonderful 5 day shared reading lessons there:  http://www.hubbardscupboard.org/the_mitten.html  Another wonderful resource is Teaching Heart:  http://www.teachingheart.net/mitten.html

What was your favorite ad during the superbowl?

My favorite superbowl ad was the budwieser ad with the third generation horse named Jake. I don’t drink beer and this ad was adorable.
http://www.mahalo.com/Budweiser_Clydesdale_Super_Bowl_Ad

Click on the third video down.