Here is another resource for my class... hopefully this embed code for a History Channel video on Pompeii. Hopefully, no ads will show up!

Gone, But Not Forgotten...

I have been absent from blogging for quite a while as I have tried to get acclimated to a new classroom, in a new school, in a new district! I am in the process of creating modules that use a modified version of PARCC's 4th Grade ELA Model Content Framework. Wish me luck!

One of the themes I am using is Nature's Fury (Extreme Weather). To support this theme, I will be using Eye of the Storm: Chasing Storms with Warren Faidley by Stephen Kramer. I have checked out the eBook from Open Library. I am embedding the mini-book player here and hopefully it will work (just in case the website is blocked by this district's strict web filters).

Bittersweet Day

Today I had to bid farewell to my HPSD family. Tears were flowing all day, as one would expect on such an emotional day. I love my HPSD family and will truly miss them.

We had a meeting for lunch as planned, but I hadn't anticipated a second celebration that was attended by nearly all of the Central Office staff! I felt truly loved. Here are a few of the well-wishes I received.

In addition to these, I received hand-written sentiments, gift cards, hugs, phone calls, texts, candy, a magic eraser for classroom messes, plenty of Clorox wipes, a Yankee Candle, and a candle warmer! What an out-pouring of love!!!

I also received a "bad bye" (because there's nothing good about it) card with a gift card to Lakeshore Learning - my favorite place for instructional resources - nestled inside. I cried even harder. My cup runneth over!

The superintendent remarked that as long as he is there, I will always have a position. He joked that someone may have to lose their job to make room for me. Let's hope not! LOL  =^}

Now I have lesson plans to do because my new journey with 40-something 4th graders begins on Monday, whether I'm ready or not!

~TF

#EdCampJxnMS, Ya'll!

Once upon a time, we had an annual music festival in my hometown of Jackson, MS, called Jubilee!JAM. The catch phrase for the festival was, "Jam, Y'all! Today I did a Google Hangout (GHO) for the planning of what is to become Mississippi's first EdCamp - EdCampJxnMS. Since we're still in the planning phases and recruiting planners, I can't help but think, #EdCampJxnMS, Y'all!

For the uninitiated, EdCamp's are a type of unconference for Teacher Professional Development. The schedule is created the day of the event, by the participants, and based on interest. The buy-in is immediate because everyone learns about what truly interests them. There are no "presenters" like in traditional workshops or conferences, only facilitators. I have only participated in one EdCamp so far - EdCampHome, a completely online endeavor done via Google Hangouts. There is also an upcoming EdCampOnline that I've registered for as well.

EdCampJxnMS will be my first face-to-face EdCamp experience, and I'm really excited about the learning that will take place on that day! We will be spreading the word in #MSedchat and at the MECA Conference.

~TF

New spaces... New places

Tomorrow, I get an opportunity to see the new space I'll be occupying with dozens of fourth graders. I don't know what to expect, but I will see and write about it here. 

Red Bull Immunity

I fully intended to read the next chapter of Pathways today, but I'm too worn out. I had a Red Bull today, but it seems to have had no effect. Maybe I just need a full day of rest. Tomorrow won't be it though, but I'll turn in to bed now in hopes that tomorrow will be better. 

Inside the CCSS Literature Standards

Chapter 4 of Pathways to the Common Core goes deeper into the actual implementation than any other resource I've seen. Rather than a bird's eye view, this chapter takes you directly into the standards, inviting you to read and engage in a close reading of the texts (ala ELA Anchor Standard 1) of E. B. White's Charlotte Web and Cynthia Rylant's Poppleton, then walks you through implementing ELA Anchor Standards 2 - 9, just as students would.

This book is definitely worth the purchase. I will return to it repeatedly after I'm done.

~TF