This week

After spending days reading a bunch of other teacher's blogs, I came to the conclusion that mine is soooo boring! I'm o.k. with that for now. However, I would love to do more. I've got lots going on right now though. I plan to totally change how I teach reading and writing next year. My plan is to go the "workshop" route. The setup is similar to how I taught balanced literacy and Read 180. I love small groups. It gives me a chance to really get to know my kids and gives me an opportunity to do what I'm really good at which is document. I want my class to be fun. Last year my children loved small groups. They complained when something got in the way and we couldn't meet in small groups.  Another thing I'd like to do is provide a place for resources I make to help with documentation. I'm big into finding the form that is perfect. If I can't find it I make it.



This week has turned out to be busy. I forgot about a mandatory workshop on Monday, so yesterday I spent all day in a workshop learning about Dibels Next. At times it was boring, but there were interesting parts. Lots of changes and most were good. I love that they changed Word Use Fluency to DAZE.

Today I'm having lunch with a friend who is moving to Germany. I've tried not to think too much about it. Michelle and I met 3 summers ago when her oldest son played on my husband's summer little league team. Both of our boys would be 4th grade students at a brand new school. My son had attended the same small school I had been teaching at for years. We had only lived in our home a year and Daniel didn't know very many kids. He and Michelle's son became really good friends that summer. We also found out they were just a day apart. Had it not been for Michelle, Daniel would not have been able to attend the new school. She helped us out by getting him on the bus for me every morning since Pat and I had to leave so early every morning. For the boys' 10th birthday we had a joint birthday party for them. They were in different classes so we invited both classes. We also had our family and friends and they invited a few friends they knew here.  Our boys would go on to play Spring baseball and golf together for the next three years. Pat and I went on vacation with Michelle and her husband and another couple we all became friends with. Although I knew the day would come when they would receive new orders from the Air Force, secretly I hoped they would stay here. I know they are excited about their new adventure though and they're used to moving every couple of years. I'm holding the tears back till June 24th.

As far as the rest of my week, I plan to label more books and keep up with this house. Just as soon as I get something clean, some other part of the house gets dirty! Next week I start spring cleaning. Maybe!