Final Friday Focus

Thank you to everyone for helping to make the End of Year Picnic run so smoothly. This was our 3rd year and I think we get better each time...there was nothing that stood out to me as an issue to change for next year. Everyone seemed to be enjoying family, friends and their teachers on the last day!


Before you leave for the summer I would like to give you (and myself) a


3-2-1 Challenge:


3 - Read at least three good books this summer

To be literacy leaders in our classrooms, we have to be readers and writers in our personal lives too. Regie Routman said it best in Teaching Essentials: “One of the first questions I would ask any teacher seeking employment is, What are you reading? What is your last favorite book? How do you choose a book? What have you learned as a reader?“. She goes on to state that we need to have a balance in our knowledge base, and reading a wide variety of genres can provide this.  
For me, I have quite a large stack for the summer that I'm not quite sure what to start with, but it does include the following:
Writing Essentials by Regie Routman
Talk About Teaching by Charlotte Danielson
Book 2 of The Mysterious Benedict Society (a couple of our 5th graders got me hooked into this series)
Don't worry, How Full is Your Bucket? is on my list, but I read this last summer, so this will be a quick reread for me.
I sent our students home with a newsletter encouraging them to read and to write/email me about what they're reading. Feel free to send me an email as you're reading or reflecting this summer!

2 – Participate in two new experiences

Think about your new students coming in next fall. They will be feeling anxious about who their new teacher is, what is expected of them academically and how they will get along with their classmates. Our students take part in new experiences annually. It might be wise to put ourselves in their place to get a better perspective. I am not talking about climbing Mount Everest; maybe it is becoming more familiar with mobile technology, or taking an art class. If you cannot think of something new, maybe consider mastering something you have already tried.  I want to try to learn how to play the guitar that my husband gave me as a birthday gift 3 years ago (I did try twice in Mrs. Kopfer's summer class last year, so I might have to try that resource again!)

1 - Learn how to utilize a new web 2.0 tool to enhance your professional growth or lessons in your classrooms.  I list my favorite web 2.0 tools in this post, but there are many more options out there. Or maybe you just want to spend time finding new ideas for your SMARTBoard or find ways to utilize the iPad cart next year.

None of these suggestions are required, or course, only challenges. I just want to encourage everyone to take time for yourself, as well as to reflect and think about how you will continue to grow and learn as a person and as a professional. Many of you do this already, so I may be preaching to the choir.