This summer has been a whirwind of professional reading for me. I have been focusing primarily on classroom management and reading comprehension strategies. I'm reading several books simultaneously right now and am excited about the changes I am planning to make in my classroom this year. I hope to change the look and the feel of the classroom. I want to spend the first six weeks on establishing procedures and routines even as we delve into content. I am planning to slow down so that we can take advantage of the year in grade two. One of the additions I will be making to my classroom is the Family Message Journal or Home School Journal. Once a week, probably on Fridays, I will have the kids write to their families about what they are learning in the classroom and any other topic they want to broach with their families. I will start this around the end of October after the kids have had a chance to get into the routines of being back at school. What will I cut out? I will ...
This blog is a place to ruminate on the problems of teaching. If I am thinking thoughtfully, my posts will hopefully raise more questions than answers. By problematizing teaching we reflect on those questions that are constantly behind, in front, and at center of everything we do in the classroom. Feel free to comment. I'd love to hear what other teachers are thinking about on these and other issues. Cheers! Elisa