Groovy Educator

Every year I begin the year by reading Hellen Keller's biography to my students.  Her story is about overcoming adversity.  It was not her fault that she lost her abilities to both see and hear.  It was not her fault that she could not talk.  This book is a springboard for teaching tolerance.  Over the next month the class and I have several deep discussions about how it is important treat others the way we want to be treated.  We talk about how we do not know what other life experiences have shaped the other person.  We discuss how our experiences change us and how to reach out to others.  We learn to stand up for other people and how to handle bullies.  We also learn that there are NO EXCUSES why we cannot learn.  If Hellen Keller can learn to talk without being able to hear and learn to read without being able to see, there is absolutely no excuse why you cannot learn to read.  We discuss how everyone learns at his or her own pa...

Daily 5  the2sisters - Boushey and Moser are the 2 sisters that created the Daily 5. If you have not read this book I highly recommend it.  You can purchase it on Amazon ( click here ).  During the reading block, the Daily 5 system simplifies centers by getting back to the basics:  read to self (independently), read with a buddy, listen to reading, writing, and word work. The "I Love First Grade" Blogger has some useful resources on her Teachers Pay Teachers website.  Click here to check out her resources. I absolutely love this idea on the "first grade Fanatics" blog.  They incorporate new technology into the listening center by using iPod shuffles.  Check out their page! I was so inspired by their post that I went to DonorsChoose.org to request funding in order to implement this idea in my classroom next year.  Please read over my project request at http://www.donorschoose.org/MrsLowery . On Mrs.Shannon's First Grade Class ' web...