Grammar

I've found grammar to be a tricky subject to teach in my class. There are so many rules in the English language that are constantly broken, it's no wonder grammar is something so many people struggle with when writing. Luckily, I found an amazing interactive grammar notebook that I decided to add to my lesson plans for the year. I've become a little "Interactive Notebook" happy lately, but honestly, the students love it and I think they learn so much more this way.

For grammar this week, I decided to do a bit of a review in a collaborative way. I have four table groups, so I decided to have each group create a poster for a topic of grammar. I had each table choose from the topics of Capitalization, Commas, Plural Nouns, and Apostrophes. Their directions were to, as a table group, create a poster for the rules of their grammar concept, and then present it to the class. 

 Everyone set to work right away, and I heard some wonderful ideas being shared at each table. From almost every group I noticed a lot of wonderful collaboration, which I think is really challenging considering the age differences in my class. It would have been very easy for all the sixth graders to take control of their groups, but it looked like everyone was contributing equally. I even saw some fourth grade students take on leadership roles, which I really wasn't expecting. Overall, it was a great way to review some of our grammar and now we have some pretty awesome student created posters!

I really liked this poster.
The cloud has the rules for using an apostrophe,
and the raindrops have the examples!

I loved how color coordinated this one was.
The rules are colored on the top left,
and the examples are in the same color
on the bottom right!

This group decided to use bullet points for their
rules and examples. 

I really loved listening to this group work. When they
were discussing their poster organization,
they decided to use polygons for the rules.

Our trimester ended on Friday and we are now on Fall Break! That means one week of catching up on my grading and getting Report Cards done!

The Bad Day File

Have you ever driven to or from work and thought "Why am I doing this?" I think it is something that happens to everyone. We all have bad days sometimes, but as teachers there are so many contributing factors that make our bad days worse. Some of these things include being severely under paid, lack of respect and discipline in today's youth, and little to no support from parents.

I feel very fortunate to be at school where I am supported by both parents and staff.  A school where my students are respectful, and where I am genuinely happy to be. Yet, even I sometimes fall victim to those days where I question the choices I have made that led me here. Typically, I question it on days like today: Sunday.

I often come into my classroom on Sundays, like right now. I don't have to come in, and many people think I am crazy for doing it, but sometimes I just need that extra day to organize, grade, plan, or prep without any distractions. Sundays give me that, but the cost is less time at home and when I'm here alone in my classroom on Sundays, I start to question. If I sometimes wonder why I am here (and I love my school and job because of the staff, students, and parents), I can only imagine how others feel with less desirable teaching conditions. This brings me to what keeps me here: The Bad File.

When I was student teaching in 2010, I had a wonderful Master Teacher. She told me that there would be days in this profession where I would question myself and my choices to become a teacher. To prepare me, she had those students start my Bad Day File. They made little notes and pictures for me. My Master Teacher, Alisa, said throughout the school years, students always give you little things, and that I should keep them to help remind me why I am here. This was probably some of the best advice I have ever been given.

I have kept up my bad day file since I student taught with Alisa, and on days like today, I pull it out and look at some of the things students have given me over the years. This is what reminds me. They, my students, are the reasons I'm here. They are the reasons I do everything I do in this profession, and that makes it worth it to me.

So, if you have one of those days when you question what you are doing and why you are doing it, look back on some of those things students have left on your desk. Save them! I know we sometimes feel like all our hard work goes unnoticed, but if even one student thanks you...well, then you know at least one person has noticed.

I ended up putting some of the notes and pictures in a scrap book.

I love looking through this book. 

Everything in it always makes me smile.

I guess that makes my Bad Day File successful :)

When you are down and feeling blue, 

and questioning what it is you do, 

take out this file and look inside.

You'll be overjoyed by the love you find. 

-Morgan Stowers

Social Studies Field Trip

I rotate the social studies curriculum every year. Last year, I was on the sixth grade curriculum rotation. This year, I am on the Fourth Grade curriculum and in the state of California, that is when we learn California history. A big part of our state's history is the mission system. There are 21 missions in California, and I decided to take my students to the one in Santa Barbara.

We had a wonderful field trip. We did the Docent Guided Combination tour, which took us from the La Huerta Historic Gardens all the way through the church, to the cemetery, and ending in the museum.

 

 After touring the gardens, we were offered a sample of the freshly picked produce and some fresh guava jam (it was incredible!). My students were so enthralled by the entire place, and were very well behaved. They asked really great questions, and the Docents were happy to respond. Before leaving the museum, the Docents actually gave each of my students an abalone shell neckless as a souvenir. They were all very, very excited!

This is for Karana, the girl from The Island of The Blue Dolphins. She is actually buried in the cemetery. 

We ended our field trip by having a picnic on the lawn right in front of the church. Overall, it was a wonderful field trip and I will definitely be going back the next time I teach the Fourth Grade social studies.