The Story Continues...

Live your life from your heart. Share from your heart.
And your story will touch and heal people’s souls.
~Melody Beattle

I am always interested in the “story” and the story is alive and well on the SAM journey at Sleepy Hollow School. Over the past few days several events have transpired that give me pause for reflection and joy. The 4^th grade “lunch bunch” is a grand success. Most impressive was last Thursday morning, the day after the 44 students received their texts that the students, especially the boys, were coming off the bus and through the front doors with their noses glued to the book (Good thing they didn’t crash into anything). Seriously, several of them immediately updated me on their reading progress – most had read the assignment of 59 pages overnight and two young men finished the text. Several students told me today that they actually reread it! I also received positive feedback from several parents and teachers. Today, during our meeting time, we perused the author’s website and we will be competing in a contest to write a comic strip. The students were thrilled to hear that the top prize was a visit to the school from the author Jeff Kinney himself! I think winning the competition is possible – we have some talented students and great stories to tell. Now, for the reality of the “lunch bunch.” There was a snag in our central office ordering department that detained the arrival of the books and this sent me traipsing across the county looking for texts – always a pleasure. Finally, between two Barnes and Noble book stores and the infamous Costco, I was able to secure enough copies – whew!

The second grade guided reading group is going well. We are on to our second junior novel. Interestingly, when I plan lessons I find myself thinking of how to incorporate technology first (of course aligning instruction to standards). Each session that I have met with the group has involved technology – whether it is a website exploring “vocab” or onomatopoeias on the SmartBoard we have definitely become digital learners. Next week, I am working with the second grade to incorporate an interactive Thanksgiving project for all of our second graders.

A favorite activity of mine continues to be journaling with new teachers. The intimate and reflective relationship has provided a forum for trust and exploration. I am continually impressed and awed by their insight and energy.

Last week our superintendent, Dr. Ken Arndt, came to visit for the day. No dog and pony show, just a day in the Hollow and what a day it was for us! The students and staff welcomed us into their teaching and learning. We explored lessons on the SmartBoard, computers, and a microscope that functions as a type of document camera. We even had the opportunity to utilize the SmartBoard clickers (interactive response system) in the classroom and at the staff meeting. Remarkably, we were able to spend time in each of the classrooms and the experience provided a birds-eye view to the learning happening within the walls of the school. We are grateful for the time the superintendent spent with us. It is quite a gift when the superintendent spends the day in the schools.

Also, last week at our staff meeting, two of our innovative teachers (upon earlier consult with me) proposed a Teacher Swap-O-Ramma during American Education Week. There was a great deal of forethought and planning that went into the proposal and the idea was well received by the staff and next week, on November 20, each of us (yes, me included) will be teaching a different class for the day. Luck of the draw and lucky for me, I landed in first grade – too cool – I don’t know who is going to have more fun and learning opportunities on this day – the teachers or the students? Remarkably, that evening I received an E-mail from a twelve-year tenured teacher stating that it was the most fun she has had at a staff meeting. I’m thinking that teachers should present more often – Ha!

Overheard this past week and lol funny... "I have a pothole in my schema."

Oh, and something else I learned this past week - The word blog is a conflation of two words: Web and log. It contains in its four letters a concise and accurate self-description: it is a log of thoughts and writing posted publicly on the World Wide Web. In the monosyllabic vernacular of the Internet, Web log soon became the word blog. (Source: Andrew Sullivan)

Thank you for journeying with me as I continue to strive to capture the SAM story with integrity. Your comments are highly valued and much appreciated.

Be well,
Anastasia