Saturday, May 10, 2014

Celebrate Good Times, Come On 5/10


Each Saturday  Ruth Ayres invites us to share and celebrate events, big or small, from our week. Looking for celebrations has certainly improved my outlook on my week. For that, I am certainly grateful to Ruth and to all of you who choose to celebrate with me.

Celebration #1 - We are down to two hands.  Two hands is important because that means there are only ten days of school left.  It is a bittersweet moment for me because I truly love this class, and I will miss them terribly.  

They make me smile.  They make me laugh.  They are hilarious.  Sometime, they are just downright goofy.  That is the beauty of teaching 4th graders.

Their sense of humor is what has made this class special.  We can laugh and have fun, (and boy have we done that!) but they know when to get right back to work.

Celebration #2 - Our DOE is holding 19 technology conferences around the state of Indiana this summer, and our school corporation is hosting one.  Click here to take a look.

I have been asked to present at this conference.  I was a little nervous about accepting at first.  Technology is certainly not my strength and this IS a technology conference after all.  I began doubting myself   What can I offer other teachers?  What can they learn from me?

Then it was explained to me that a technology conference is not all about learning from the technology experts in the field, but it is also about learning from teachers in the trenches - those who have found ways to use technology in the classroom.  So, I reluctantly agreed.

My presentation is blogging as a teacher.  I will be showing what I have learned from my personal blog, as well as my classroom blog.  My goal is that they learn and take away one idea to use in their classroom.  That should be easy, right?  We will see!

I am compiling a list of classroom blogs who are willing to share with other teachers. Please leave a comment with the grade level you teach and a link to your blog if you would like to be added to my list. Also, if there is something you feel beginning bloggers need to hear or advice for classroom blogs, please feel free to share that with me as well.  

Celebration #3 - This week we celebrated Teacher Appreciation Week.  My students wrote a letter to a teacher they have had thanking them and sharing a favorite moment.  I think this was a celebration not only for the teachers, but the students as well.  Sometimes a simple thank you can make all the difference.  This is certainly something I will do next year.  

Have a great week and may you find many celebrations as we wrap up this school year!

13 comments:

  1. What a great week! We have 16 days left - seems like a lot and not very much at the same time. :) And I do have a classroom blog, but we used it only sporadically this year. That is something I'm trying to work on for next year. If you want to see it, you can find it here: http://hootsfromsagecorner.weebly.com/classroom-blog.html

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  2. 10 days?!?! 16 days?!?! We have 24! I love the presentation you're working on! Please feel free to use my classroom blog. http://mshaseltine.edublogs.org/ I teach sixth grade. Student blogs are listed on the side. I'm presenting about being a teacher blogger...so I'll be asking to share your blog (amongst others) at my presentation! Can't wait to hear how it goes. I'm sure it will be GREAT!!!

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  3. Your presentation will be just what teachers need to get them started into reading and writing blogs. Just think of what you have learned. Happy Mother's Day to you!

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  4. Leigh Anne, thanks for the reminder that there is much to celebrate as we end the school year. I find myself right now ticking off my "to-do" list and forgetting to stop and enjoy these little lives that I get to be with. I don't have a classroom blog, but share a blog with 2 teachers. I've used it this year to teach myself about blogging so I can use blogging with my students effectively in the fall. If it would help, the site is www.simplylearningtogether.blogspot.com.

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  5. Much to celebrate and in only ten days! Wow-you will be busy, Leigh Anne. We have 17 1/2 days left, but really it's only 14. That final week doesn't really count because it's filled with goodbyes and cleaning out and celebrations-a glorious few days. I imagine your presentation will be fabulous and informative. Congratulations on that, and best wishes too. Happy Mother's Day!

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  6. Leigh Ann, so glad you will be sharing your blogging journey with other teachers. It is nice to hear from those in the trenches. I've loved being part of your community of readers. So glad that you had students write notes of appreciation. I'm often asked by friends what teachers want for Teacher Appreciation week and I always reply, "A note of appreciation."

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  7. Isn't it thrilling when you are invited to share what you do? I think it is. You are daring greatly - I like this term that Brene Brown has written a whole book about. Happy Mother's day!

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  8. Last year I had my students write Thanku poems for Teacher Appreciation. This week I even forgot to put it into my celebration post. So much going on. The end of the school year feels like a whirlwind to me. So fast and crazy and then I cry when it's all over.
    I'm proud of you for jumping in to present about blogging. Nothing teaches like experience. "Just do it" is a good phrase to use. I would love to be included in your list. I teach elementary gifted students, grades 1-6, academic pull-out. Good luck! http://reflectionsontheteche.wordpress.com.

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  9. Thank you for this great celebration post. I love my 5th graders and will miss them terribly. They make me laugh and think. I guess that is one of the absolutely biggest benefits of teaching. They appreciate every day with just being learners! I'm so glad/proud of you giving a presentation on blogging. I know you will be great. I don't have a classroom blog, but I have a classroom that blogs. Different, yes? Don't know if that fits in your presentation. If so have a peak: http://kidblog.org/ParkWestern2014/

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  10. Good for you Leigh Ann! I would be terrified to present at a conference like this because it has technology in the name, so I am impressed with your "Can Do" attitude. I'm sure many people will learn from your experience. Our class blog is here: http://curiosityracers.com/ Grade 2/3/4

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  11. Enjoyed reading your celebrations!

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  12. Hi Leigh Anne, (I followed you over here :-). I love how you share the celebration by having your students write to a former teacher! It's a rare gift to be able to spread love and recognition like that!

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  13. I liked your "down to two hands" expression. Anyway, how awesome for you to get invited to speak about blogging in the classroom. Good luck with that!

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