Grade level meeting

Today was our grade level meeting and there were some disappointments and some surprises. 

I was surprised by how well my team seemed to meld. There are five of us, but one was sick and the other on vacation. We know those two gals well and know they will like the work we did and the decisions we made. One of the teachers I worked with today has just moved up to our grade. I know her from site meetings and really like her. The other gal moved from a new site and I did not know her at all. We really came together as a team and I am excited to work with these teachers! 

I've said before that I will teach English. The other team has an English teacher and it was my hope the we could collaborate. That is not going to happen. He is not happy about being assigned English and has no desire to enhance the curriculum. I brought with me a pacing calendar I had made and lots, and lots of ideas for writing and novel studies. I never got the chance to share any of it with him. He made it clear he was not going to deviate from the book at all. So, I'm disappointed that I won't be able to collaborate with him, but that is OK. I am a really good English teacher and I will collaborate with my team for ideas and integration.

I'm ready to get started!

And so it begins...

This week marks the end of my summer. What a way to end it though. I got up early, cleaned the pool and lazed around all morning long. I finished reading "Catching Fire" and I am counting the days until "Mockingjay" is released (29).

I have contemplated mapping out my new year. I will be teaching just English and Spelling so you would think that I would have already knocked out my curriculum map. Nope...

I do know that I will spend time on three blocks and rotate them. We will focus on grammar, writing, and novel studies. I will keep my unit on poetry using "Love That Dog".

I believe I will wait and make my lesson plans after we meet as a grade on Thursday. I am really interested in this meeting. We will address how we are going to go from self-contained to departmentalized. It will be interesting and I have so many questions!

I am running out of summer!

This really is my last full week of summer vacation. Next week I am going to work three days (paid) on data and meet with the 6th grade teachers so we can work out the details of our new departmentalized grade. 

The offices open the 4th and since I am moving my room this year, I will probably be working most days until the 16th, our official back-to-work day. 

Where did summer go? What did I do?

I went to the farmers' market most Saturdays.

Noodle had her 11th birthday and we had a pool party.

I watched my gardens grow.

I swam ~ a lot!

I spent a long weekend in New Mexico.

I went ( or took kids or pets) to five doctor appointments, two ultrasound/scan appointments, three blood draws, five dental appointments, and two vet appointments. 

I think I will soak up summer this week. Since we have a week of seriously hot weather, you will find me there...in that chair, that pool. I hope you are enjoying your summer!

The Hunger Games

I just finished this YA novel by Suzanne Collins. I was looking for a read aloud that would inspire my students to read the sequels and I wanted a novel that might inspire their writing. I think I found it in this book.

I usually do not get hooked on a book, but I just loved this story.  The movie is in development with a release date on 2011.

Once I finished the book, I immediately ordered the other two books.

Waiting... Patiently....

A new look...

... for a new year. I know, it doesn't start until next month. But I imagine I will tweak and fiddle. What do you think?