Bittersweet endings and new beginnings

Today is the last day of school here in Shenandoah County.  It's always a bittersweet time for me as I'm excited for summer and days off, but I'm also sad because I'll miss my students, especially those leaving me and going off to the middle school (you see, most of them I've worked with directly for 3 years, and have at least seen in passing for 6).

This year is going to be more challenging.  Today is also my last day at Ashby Lee.  After nine years of teaching English as a Second Language, I'm leaving to take a similar job in Winchester City, which is a much closer commute from our new home.

It's hard leaving my "home" and "family".  These are the people I've seen practically every day for nine years.  We've laughed together, cried together, grumped together, and it's just tough.  We've had our ups and downs.  For a variety of reasons that I don't want to get into, this year has been difficult.  And I don't want that negative feeling about my days to influence how I feel about ALES in the long run.  I want to remember the good times and people.

That being said, I am very excited about my new position.  I will be working in a school that is predominantly ELL, and also high poverty.  I'm sure there will be difficulties and challenges, but I'm ready for them.

I hope like Hogwarts, Ashby Lee will always be there to welcome me home.

image from hogwartsalumni.blogspot.com

Using twitter in your classroom

 

I've been on twitter a while now, mainly to connect with other bloggers, teachers and causes that are important to me (and of course, funny stuff and Harry Potter humor).

Recently, my school division has been on a big twitter kick---all the schools are now tweeting.  And, my school was the only one who wasn't (GASP!).  So over break, the technology teacher and I met and created facebook and twitter (@alesbuzzybees) accounts for our school.  We will now be tweeting positive things that happened at the school, photos, reminders, and about closings and delays. 

Then I got to thinking, wouldn't it be fun to have an account for Luna?  And totally not crazy at all.  To keep it from being crazy, I decided to have my students "translate" for Luna and tweet in her voice.  This way, they are learning about intended audience, voice and author's purpose (without having to do stupid worksheets).  You can follow us at @LunaReaderDog .

We are also using twitter to learn about grammar and spelling mistakes.  They LOVE it!  We've been using celebrity tweets.  Some comments I've gotten from the kiddos about it, are things like, "wow, they make mistakes like we do."  (and of course, "wow, I'm smarter than ----so and so---!  They don't know how to ------ right!"  I wanted to test it out before I got too in depth, so I did a search on Teachers Pay Teachers.  There is some great stuff on there (especially free---anything from logos, to letters to parents, to teaching characterization by using twitter), but for now, like I said, I just wanted grammar practice.  

 

This is the one I downloaded by Caroline Sallen.  

But, I'm wondering, how do you use twitter in your classroom and school?  

 

BIG NEWS!!!

 

I'm very excited and happy to announce that I was just accepted into Eastern Mennonite University's Masters of Arts in Education: Concentration in Technology and Literacy!  I'll be starting in the fall :)

Educational iPad app suggestions *Updated*

Last spring, I started compiling lists of educational apps to share with colleagues at my school.  One workday, we met and compiled a list of our favorite apps (both educational and personal).  After that, if I'd see an article about great apps, free apps, or just happen to stumble across one myself, I'd add it to our school share drive folder. 

I compiled those lists into a google doc and thought I'd share it with you.

I compiled those lists into a google doc and thought I'd share it with you.  This will be a work in progress throughout this school year, so please feel free to check back and see if I've added any new ones. 

*The updated part*:  The link actually works this time.  Apparently before, I posted the link for me to see it, not the link for others.  But, now it works!  Hopefully.  If not, leave me a comment and let me know.

Classroom Freebie: For your listening station

It goes without saying that I probably spend way too much time on Pinterest.  I was perusing this afternoon and found a *free* printable that I could use at my listening station in my classroom.  I love letting kids listen to books (teaches fluency, vocabulary in context and its fun!), but I have had a hard time finding something that I could use that my students could use to show that they comprehended the book (and weren't just back there goofing off).

Source: kindercraze.blogspot.com via Amanda on Pinterest

If you click the image, it should take you to the original source, which has the free download link.  If not, here it is!  

Yes, it is from a kindergarten blog, but I really think that this could be easily adapted for older grades.  I like the simplicity of it, and its just quick and easy and you can see what the kids thought of it. 

As always, check out my boards on pinterest, give a girl a follow, and now you don't need an invite, you can just join!