#Back To School!

Image result for booksThis week was so busy! We had back to school night, picture day, and were working hard to get back into the routine of school. This year I have 29 students, but I feel so much more organized than last year. It made all the difference to reflect over summer and work hard to prepare for the coming year.

 I'm really impressed by how supportive everyone has been. Our amazing PTA, my grade level team, my btsa support provider, our new principal, and the special education team have really made our school feel like a family. It makes such a difference to look forward to going into work, because you know there are wonderful people there. Last year was great, but there seems to be something special about this year too! I appreciate that we all can lean on each other and do our best work to support the kiddos.

My students and I were talking about resilience today. We looked at examples of famous "failures" and how they tried again after not being successful. It was so fun to see their faces when we discussed famous people that they had assumed made it to success right away. I also showed them this video that asks us to get off the escalator. The students kept commenting that escalators are just stairs when they stand still, and  they couldn't understand why the people just stood there waiting for help. We related this to problem solving and I can't wait to see how they meet challenges this year.
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I am planning with my grade band our first field trip this year to go to a space museum where students get to experience a simulation of being an astronaut. This program that is done in honor of the challenger mission calls upon students to analyse data, plot a course on a map, communicate with team members to meet goals, and analyse specimen samples. This will be such an exciting way for students to see the real world applications of science and mathematics, as well as build a love of space exploration.
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I am currently listening to the Harry Potter book series for the first time. I'm in the middle of the Half blood Prince and find myself comparing the books to the movies. It is so interesting how the film version of Harry didn't seem to have as much anger and frustration with Dumbledore. Also, I wish the movies had included Peeves the ghost. He is so funny and Jim Dale does a wonderful performance in the audible version of the series. Something also that I think is lost in the film version, is how phenomenal the character of Hermione is as a role model for girls. She is assertive, works hard, and doesn't let others push her around. This year I have a few more girls in my class than last year, and I hope to create an environment where they are as bold as Hermione.


That's all for now, I hope you have a great weekend! I'm going to sleep in, plan, and try to finish a book.
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