Who would have thought the year would begin with such a tornado of activity, debate, and upheaval? Luckily the classroom has been the steady force--the reliable place in the changing sphere of education.
The children came to me this year well prepared, eager to learn, and full of energy. Generally we're on task almost all day reading, writing, learning math, and engaging in content conversation related to our current culture and immigration unit.
I don't know why but the teaching/learning year is moving very quickly this year. I think the addition of a new, challenging persuasive writing unit has crowded the schedule a bit leaving less room for the other reading, writing, math, social studies, and science units. The tension always exists between the standards' expectations and the desire to move the class at a child's pace that responds to whim, curiosity, exploration, and play. In fact when we were at the farm this week for a field study, I found myself fantasizing about moving my classroom to the small cottage situated next to pond and alongside fields and forests where I imagined the students spreading out to read and write in the green grass, rainbow gardens, or broad tree limbs, and using the tiny pond to skate in winter or catch frogs in warmer weather. Just think, the children could feed animals, pick crops, or explore the hilly terrain at recess. Perhaps that's not a bad vision--matching sustainable agriculture, land preservation and elementary schools in beautiful, natural places with room to run, play, and explore. We're fortunate to have a nice playground so we can recreate our adventures at the farm there.
Finally the weekend is one with less than usual school work and teaching prep--finally a chance to "close the school doors" for a needed break to enjoy friends and family--it's been a long time coming.
The teaching field is changing rapidly and with it comes lots of disruption--some needed and some unnecessary. Thanks to my PLN near and far I've navigated the first few weeks of the year, now time for some rest before the next big event--hopefully a light and positive occasion.
