My students teach me many things. As I get geared up for the new year, I’ve been pondering them, both little and profound. One of the most fun things my students taught me last year was a number of dance moves! Flossing More popular at the beginning of the year, but still holding it’s own…
Brave Wednesday: Ducky leash
This past Saturday, a tragedy almost happened in our family. We almost lost Ducky, my 3 year old’s lovey when she dropped out of the stroller unnoticed on our way to a friend’s house. That we found her again was fairly miraculous, and involved my retracing our route in the dark with a flashlight and…
Library Moments: Child-led discussions
Last week, I went back to a tried and true lesson plan: read aloud and discussion. I chose one book and read it to every class, kindergarten through 5th grade. I chose The Man Who Walked Between the Towers for this exercise. It is a picture book detailing how a street performer named Philippe Petit…
Research in action: A pie update
If you remember, after my research quest for the perfect meringue pie without practice the first try was delicious the second try perfect. You can make it perfectly on the first try and wow everyone by following the recipe my research led me to create by following the link above. Something was still missing though:…
Seven Awful Minutes
If you could trade seven minutes of your time for a calmer and more productive day, would you? Does your answer change if those seven minutes are awful? Have I sold you on trying it? This week’s Brave Wednesday is brought to you by yet another snow day! Unlike my usual Brave Wednesday offerings, it…
Persephone the Spring Maiden: A story for the vernal equinox
Demeter is the goddess of summer and harvest. If is she who coaxes the seed to sprout, and she who, if she smiles upon you, can bring a bountiful harvest. Her power is vast, and power is attractive to many. One such was Zeus. Demeter got pregnant (everyone does, with Zeus) and in time had…
Brave Wednesday: snow day edition!
Please enjoy today’s Brave Wednesday, brought to you by the wet March snow. Today is a snow day! I am spending it very pleasantly, inside with my daughter. We made play dough and cookies, and then while she was napping, I went down to my studio and put together two things I’ve been intending to…
Poetry
I’m introducing some poetry to my 3-5th graders this week. We’ll start with limericks! I love limericks, they are bouncy and joyful, and soothing in their rhythms. After limericks, we’ll move on to quatrains, cinquains, acrostics, and beyond. My hope is that by April, every child will have chosen or written a favorite poem to…
Brave Wednesday: doodle style
Perhaps unsurprisingly, life as an elementary school librarian is busy and tiring. But the world keeps turning and I’m still committed to sharing things I create, big and small. So for brave Wednesday today, which I know is a Thursday, here is a doodle for you. Enjoy!