If I could have my way...

"One day I would have all the books in the world, shelves and shelves of them. I would live my life in a tower of books. I would read all day long and eat peaches. And if any young knights in armor dared to come calling on their white chargers and plead with me to let down my hair, I would pelt them with peach pits until they went home."

--The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly

Read Aloud

As I wrap up this school year, I'm thinking back on the read-aloud books I've used this year and in years past. I thought I'd share some of the titles with you. These books would probably be best for 4th grade and up. This is by no means the entire list of books I've used in the last six years - just the ones that come to mind right now.

Bartlett and the Ice Voyage by Odo Hirsch
Airman by Eoin Colfer*
The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall
The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting (1923 Newbery Medal)
Masterpiece by Elise Broach
Harry's Mad by Dick King-Smith
The Tale of Despereaux by Kate Di Camillo (2004 Newbery Medal)
Someone Named Eva by Joan M. Wolf
When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit by Judith Kerr
The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke
Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke**
Fearless by Elvira Woodruff
Toliver's Secret by Esther Wood Brady
The Rise and Fall of Mount Majestic by Jennifer Trafton
Star in the Storm by Joan Hiatt Harlow
Tom's Midnight Garden by Philippa Pearce
The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann Wyss

*Favorite of my 2010-2011 5th and 6th grade class. They loved this book more than any other class loved a book! It is also one of my top picks.

**My fifth grade class of 2009-2010 actually listened to Dragon Rider on disc, read by Brendan Frasier. I highly recommend the disc version, especially if you've never read the book!

Where can you find a brawl?

Part of my students' assignment during each vocabulary unit is to find all twenty words somewhere in the world around them. (Billboards, TV shows, newspaper, people saying them, etc.) Looking through our new vocab unit, my students were dismayed to see twenty really unusual words. For instance, one student commented, "Like brawl Miss D., where are we going to find that?" Another student piped right up in reply, "At Victoria's Secret!" (Gotta love 6th graders=)

I Smile

Though of no eternal value whatsoever, the following items are a few little luxuries I have been enjoying lately....maybe you will too! (I've added links to them all in case you want to check them out further.)

SHAPE magazine - full of helpful hints and real-life success stories, this magazine makes living a healthy life look like loads of fun!

Hayley Westenra, vocalist - think Charlotte Church, only way way better

Bolthouse Farms Vanilla Chai Tea - "100% Natural, Heart Healthy, Dairy Free"

Champion yoga pants from Target - long, semi-fitted, perfect for lunging or lounging

Udi's gluten-free bread - whole grain and cinnamon raisin; gluten free, dairy free, soy free, nut free yet tastes like real bread!

Suave Naturals apricot & orange blossom exfoliating body wash - who knew a $1.97 body wash could be the perfect fragrance, texture, everything?!

Spot It! - unique card game I was introduced to at Mackinaw Kite Co. recently. Fun for all ages!

Hold Me by Jamie Grace w/ Toby Mac - lighthearted and a bit shallow, but fun and perfect for a triple-step swing!

Cover Girl fresh complexion pocket powder foundation - finally, a foundation that feels good and lasts all day

North Ottawa Dunes trails - conveniently located in nearby Ferrysburg, Michigan, these trails are perfect for running, hiking, and getting away from it all.

Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution - Tuesday nights at 8:00 on ABC; so good it's almost awe-inspiring

Read To Me

Noteworthy

My students did so exceedingly fantastic on their vocab quiz today that I wanted everyone who reads my blog to know about it!! Each month they have twenty vocabulary words to learn. They learn the spelling, meaning, antonyms, synonyms, part of speech, and placement of the accent mark. It's alot! And the words aren't easy....we're talking about inimitable, controversial, entrepreneur, firebrand, vengeance, adjacent and many others. Today the kids had a quiz over this unit's first ten words. I gave the definitions and they had to give the correct word. Not only that, they had to spell them accurately. For bonus points, students could list the part of speech for each word. Most students got an A+, but all of the grades were above average and absolutely acceptable. Let it be known that I am so proud of my students and thank God for their hard work in preparing for this quiz.

What Happened?

It's 5:11 p.m. on a Tuesday afternoon. I'm still at school, and that's ok because I don't have anything I have to do later. I love these long evenings at school when I can relax and enjoy doing all those teachery things I usually have to rush through. So what did my day look like, you ask? And why am I still here after 5? Here's what happened....

7:30 arrive and prep for the day
8:00 meet students; collect homework, say pledges, pray
8:15 5th/6th off to morning classes,; 4th in for math
9:21 late for 2nd grade math cause I ran eggs from Hyinks out to my car; made kids sit in the hallway so Ashleigh and I could have a potty break
10:20 5th/6h Class B arrives for math, my signal to dismiss 2nd grade
11:10 Class B successfully through math test 12 and on their way to Social Studies, Class A in for math
11:47 Class A finished with math test and we're late for lunch cause I was working on my best bulletin board yet
12:25 in from a lovely recess out in the gorgeous sunshine (I could even smell the lake on the breeze! benefits of being so close to the water)
1:05 just finished two chapters in our read-aloud book, Landon Snow and the Auctor's Riddle
1:40 5th/6th off to typing after a great intro to our new vocab unit, they already can use some of the words in sentences!
2:28 finished up a meeting with PNB about youth group stuff and back to meet 5th/6th graders
3:06 wrapped up our Samson lesson with a fun crossword puzzle review (they've really enjoyed our study of the book of Judges!)
3:13 still coaxing students out the door..."I love you, but you need to go home now!" (besides, I needed another potty stop!=)
3:21 back to work on the new bulletin board; this one is super cool but it's taking enough work to justify leaving it up the rest of the year; pictures possibly to follow
5:00 had to stop with the bulletin board - hoping some time away will help me think of the last perfect detail I need to make it complete.
5:10 done grading Class A's math tests and vocab assignments; checking email; writing on blog

I'm sure there were a few more potty breaks in there, but pretty much that's it. I LOVE being a teacher and can't imagine doing anything else!