Shackleton’s Journey, by William Grill on Goodreads

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For a huge portion of the year I teach an integrated reading and social studies unit called “People Who Make a Difference”. Over the course of the unit we visit each of the seven continents and learn about geography, land features, and culture. We also delve heavily into reading biographies on inspiring people who have made a difference throughout history. I love teaching second grade SO MUCH. There is a never-ending supply of things to learn and read and do, each day is the most exciting {and sometimes crazy} race from start to finish. I also LOVE my class this year. They are so motivated and interested, every day is fun and incredibly rewarding.

Over the past two weeks we have been traveling through Antarctica learning about the coldest continent on earth, reading and writing facts about penguins, and seeing the dangers through the eyes the many explorers who have attempted to travel there.

This book about Ernest Shackleton is such a fantastic account of the journey he took exactly one hundred years ago — so many amazingly accurate details and drawings about one brave man and his crew trying (and surviving!) a truly heroic trip to one of the coldest places in the world.

“I choose life over death for myself and my friends…
I believe it is in our nature to explore, to reach out into the
unknown. The only true failure would be to not explore at all.”

-Ernest Shackleton

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We ended our study of Antarctica by writing diary entries from the point of view of the explorers. We painted the papers with tea to make them look old and everyone got so into it! I am so proud of my students and the voice they brought to their writing. Definitely some of their best work this year.

Things to remember:

Get to work early, don’t stay too late.

Teach kindness first, subjects second.

Stay on top of the papers before the stack gets too high.

Drink lots of water {you always forget}.

Read all the chapter books {and picture books, too}.

Work hard, have fun.

Show love.

Be you.

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Today I started my new teaching job. This year, I’ll be working in a brand new district, in a brand new grade {2nd!} and I am THE MOST excited {and anxious, too}. I had my new teacher orientation today and I kind of feel like I won the lottery. The value and respect for education in this community is extraordinary and I feel incredibly lucky to get to be a part of it. I’m proud of myself for getting here and honored and humbled to be able to be doing what I {with all my heart} LOVE TO DO.

Turning the page to a new and exciting chapter… the kids come next Tuesday and I can’t wait.

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{a favorite post about teaching here.}

{printable poster found here.}