Schedule for 100 Minutes book study

I finally found the picture I have been looking for!!! Here is the schedule for the book study: 100 Minutes that is currently going on over at thinkingaboutteaching.blogspot.com

I only feel like I am about an hour and a half behind...UGH. I am usually not the girl who shows up to the party late but on this one...I am. Today they will be discussing Chapter 3 over at applefortheteach.blogspot.com

I still have not started reading the first two chapters but this week my goal is to get myself caught up and be ready to participate with Chapter 4: Reading Response.

100 Minutes By Lisa Donohue

I got my book today!

I am so excited to get started with the book study I learned about over at thinkingaboutteaching.blogspot.com

I do feel a little behind as they have already posted about Chapter 2 and well...I just got my book. So it looks like this weekend I will be doing some serious Literacy Block reading. 

http://applefortheteach.blogspot.ca Will be hosting Chapter 3 on May 31st so I better get to reading!

Does this make me a nerd? 

I am slowing developing a plan for my classroom library!

As I continue my reading of The Book Whisperer I am finding myself constantly thinking about how I am going to handle my own classroom library. The first task at hand will be to gather all of my books into one central location, because at this point I have some in my classroom, some in my bedroom closet, some in the garage, attic, shop, boys bedrooms and I can only image a few other places that I have stashed books.

I think I will make card pockets for each book and include a "check-out" card so that I can keep track of who has what book. At this point, I am thinking of making a bulletin board with pockets for each student and when they check out a book from the classroom library they will take the check-out card from inside the book and place it in their pocket.

I would love suggestions and ideas on how others keep track of their books in their classroom library.

The Book Whisperer By: Donalyn Miller

Have you ever started reading a book and you get so "into" the book that you get upset when you have to put it down because your kids are hungry and you are suppose to be fixing them something to eat? Well...that was me with this book today.

Over at The Brown-Bag Teacher http://thebrownbagteacher.blogspot.com she is gearing up for a Summer Book Study with a Book called 'Reading in the Wild' by Donalyn Miller. This is Ms. Miller's second book and the way Catherine at The Brown-Bag Teacher describes her writing style I had to join in. So since they will be doing a study on the second book I thought it might be a good idea to read the first book (although they stated in their post that it was not necessary I am kind of a nerd when it comes to keeping things in order).

So today since we were out of school (not due to weather but an E-Coli scare) I purchased the book, 'The Book Whisper' and sat down and started reading. WHOO HOO, I am loving it! This book is amazing and I was not happy to have to put it down. I love how she writes and how she tells you exactly what she is thinking about things. I love that she also doesn't like the sound of the terms we use for readers in our classrooms such as struggling readers and reluctant readers but instead chooses to put a more positive spin on their abilities by calling then developing readers! It is amazing to me how as teachers we can choose to go negative with our students but thinking that we are being positive. 

At this point I am doing a quick read through the book to get an idea of the concepts and then I plan to go back through the book with my pencil and notebook for some serious learning!

This is a must read for all teachers!

My new adventure...blogging! and background of my journey.

I am so excited to begin this new adventure of blogging. My hope is to keep it up-to-date and write about all the fun, exciting, stressful things that come with being a teacher but also being a NEW teacher!

Background of my journey:
Lets just say that there is a reason when you are in college working your butt off to get the grades that they tell you there is no guarantee that you will work in your field of study and that the university is not liable. I graduated in May 2012 and I just got my first teaching position for the 2014-2015 school year. I currently work as a Computer Lab Aide, which means I teach computer lab; plan lessons, deal with classroom management issues, work with teachers to coordinate learning opportunities that re-enforce what they have learned in the classroom, deal with discipline issues, administer Acuity testing for K-5, talk to parents, etc...but for 3/4 of the pay. Yep, that is right. In my current district the Computer Lab teacher is paid the same as the recess aides that make copies and pick up recess balls all day. (Only a little bitter about that).

But it was my choice to continue to stay in my position year after year (even though the principal said that they were talking about making it certified if I would just stay one more year). Okay, enough with the bitterness because I can go on and on....

So I am getting ready to change districts and the one I am going to is WAY smaller! The whole town has less than 1500 people in it. I fell in love with the people during my interview and I have to say that since getting the "job offer" call, my feet have not touch the floor!! I GET 2 TEACH...and they are going to pay me to do it!! BONUS!

My first task is to get all of my books organized so I have been trolling on peoples blogs to see what they are doing and man people are creative.

I am hoping to get this process started this weekend but to be honest, I do not even know what my future classroom looks like. I interviewed at the high school and have not even stepped foot in the elementary building. (This could be a small problem...or I can just roll with it and change it later).

I would love to hear your ideas and suggestions!