Archives for January 2012

{photo a day}: close up + books that make me cry

January 12, 2012

12. Close-up
{Charlotte’s Web}
January 12, 2012

The end of this books gets me every. single. time.

Yes, I am that teacher choking back tears as she reads the last words of a stellar story.

Here’s a list of the ones I need to look out for to keep my dignity in the classroom, yet I keep going back to them because they’re too dang good not to. And every kid deserve a great story, don’t you think?

Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo

This is hands down one of my favorite parts of my job. I get to read these books (and lots of others) each and every day, year after year. There is something about a good children’s book that brings a one-of-a-kind feeling. It makes you feel alive and whole. Humbling. Pure. True.

Read these again, okay? Or maybe for the very first time.

No matter what age you are, I am sure your heart will thank you.

6 Comments · Filed Under: children, instagram, life ·

{photo a day}: where you sleep

January 11, 2012

11. Where you sleep
{ma bed}
January 11, 2012

It’s 6:30 and I’m ready for bed.

If you’re wondering how I’m doing on my new year’s resolution, I am FAILING miserably.

I vowed to go to bed earlier.

And wake up earlier too.

But I’ve been heading to bed around 11 this week and scrambling in the morning to get out of the house with enough time before the traffic hits the highway.

Tonight I’ve got a skype date with some of my favorite blogging ladies, there’ll be a teeny bit of the telly, and then I’m hitting the hay. Come 9:00 I hope to be face first in my pillow. This picture is just too tempting and my down comforter is just too cozy.

It’s going to be glorious.

4 Comments · Filed Under: instagram, life ·

{photo a day}: childhood + memories

January 10, 2012

{10. Childhood}

Childhood.

Sweet, sweet, childhood.

Sometimes I miss mine so much I get emotional. I am one of those nostalgic people that remembers smells and songs and feelings. To me, there is nothing better than pouring through old photo albums and home videos remembering the olden days. And there are many moments when I would give anything to just be little and free and innocent again.

Does this ever happen to you?

My childhood is a time I’d like to go back to because to me, it was perfect. It’s the ground work for everything I am today. It’s why I am a teacher, and a creative thinker, and a friend. And the more I look back on it, the more wonderful it seems.

Yes, we fought.

Yes, there were lots of tears.

There was screaming and yelling and pulling hair.

There were cliques and bullies, alike.

And yes, there were middle school days where feelings were hurt and self consciousness kicked in.

Did I ever I hate what puberty did to my skin.

But above all that there were smiles.

There were silly friendships and laughs and inside jokes.

There was happiness.

And this feeling like you could do anything.

Days like today and last night, when I was going through old pictures, I was brought back to those days of innocence. Those days of pure bliss. Nothing to worry about except what time you had to be home for dinner.

I was filled with memories of my parents and my cousins and my childhood friends.

I remember my fifth birthday, my aunt Heidi and Grammy drove up all the way from CT to surprise me. We have an old home video and the excitement that’s evident is the best thing to watch. I could watch it over and over and over and it never gets old. I’m like a kid in a candy store that just found the jackpot.

And I remember when I was twelve I went to Disney World for the very first time. I know everybody says it’s magic, but for me on that trip it really was magic. In every sense of the word. And I rejoice in the day that I get to go back and experience it all over again, taking me back to that feeling of pure contentment.

We spent summers weekends at the Lake, racing down the dock and throwing ourselves into the cold, sweet water.

Family trips to Vermont and the Adirondacks?

We owned the world.

I remember carpool rides with friends and days spent playing in the summer sun.

I remember pouring buckets and buckets full of water on the ants in our driveway. Wondering if they’d sink or swim.

I remember bike riding through the busy streets and grabbing ice cream in a cone.

(Mint-chocolate chip was my go-to. MMMMmm.)

One time I buried a dead frog under a tree.

And one time I was going too fast on my bike and I took a face-plant into the pavement.

I screamed like there was no tomorrow.

We’d explore down at the creek behind our house,

and run through the sprinkler in the front lawn,

and always, always we made forts in the dining room out of blankets and chairs.

We’d play dress up, and barbies, and ballet.

And we’d put Annie on the turn table and sing our hearts OUT.

Those were the good old days.

In her memories there is family. And in her memories there is laughing.
And there is love, and joy, and tears.
She has taken these memories and placed them inside of her.

The good old days.

Memories I hold tight to my heart.

9 Comments · Filed Under: instagram, life, nostalia ·

{photo a day}: daily routine + a post

January 9, 2012

9. Daily routine
{my teaching schedule}
January 9, 2012

Yes, I write one of these out every day.

It’s how I organize and try to get everything in. In all honestly, I never get everything done that I want to in a day, but it’s always better to have too much instead of too little. I usually just end up pushing things onto the next day, and then the next and the next, until Friday, when I hardly have to plan at all. Then I’m playing catch-up and it’s just the way it’s gotta be.

Mondays are pretty brutal. Mainly because my kids have no special (i.e. art, music, gym) and I have to be on my game all day long. But when I think about it, I’d rather have Monday be my hard day, than any other. At least it’s all smooth sailing from here (most of the time)!

It was a good day today, despite it being a Monday.

I read one of my very favorite books to the kids this morning, Blueberries for Sal. Do you know it? If not, it’s a must read to all children. So fun and sweet. It’s by Robert McCloskey, who also wrote the famous Make Way for Ducklings. Now that’s a classic.

I’m waiting for the sky to actually drop some flakes before I read another one of my favorites: SNOW by Uri Shulevitz (such a great story).

And if you don’t know about Elephant and Piggie— YOU SHOULD. My kids are crazy about them and I think they’re hilarious too. We are HUGE Mo Willems fans in 1st grade. All his books are awesome. And so great for teaching expression and reader’s theatre (which is basically where the kids act out the story like a play). Every single student in my class (counting last year’s too!) simply cannot get enough of these characters. And any time I need to give a gift to a child, one of these books will be it.

{If you’re a teacher, check here for a fun teaching guide.}

Lastly, we had children’s book illustrator, Sarah Brannen, come to talk to our class today about what the process is like to illustrate children’s books. She even has written one story of her own. It was great for the kids to see and hear the process, and I enjoyed it too.

So there’s a little peak into my day and a pretty typical one at that. Nothing fancy, but we have fun.

If you can see my schedule, is it the way you remember it? One thing that might interest you is that I don’t do worksheets, but I do do a LOT of real reading. I read aloud and my kids are reading to themselves and to each other constantly throughout the day. I wasn’t taught this way when I was younger, but it’s what I believe to be the best way to teach my students now– and they seem to be thriving.

If there is one thing I want my students to get out of first grade, it’s a love of books and a passion for reading.

And I think I’m on my way to doing just that.

8 Comments · Filed Under: instagram, life ·