Vocabulary Fun with "Holes"

My fifth grade class is about halfway through the novel, "Holes" by Louis Sachar. As one of the daily stations, or independent language arts activities, that my students do while I teach small groups, I have them doing vocabulary cards. They write the word on a sentence strip then write the dictionary definition, a sentence using the word, and an illustration on an index card. I can't wait to see the board fill up!

Snow Day Haiku

We will be doing haiku this week, and as I have the Monday off because of the snow (yet again), I thought I'd practice a bit.

I.

Petals from grey clouds

floating down to grace the earth

blanket all with white

II.

Frigid flakes melt

on my cheek, not to blanket

the cold, barren ground

III. 

Snowflakes like dancers

flit and giggle while children

slip and slide on sleds

IV.

Winter is a long

bedtime in which the world sleeps

to awake in Spring

The hardest part for the kids is going to be coming up with similes and metaphors for their haiku and keeping the 5, 7, 5 syllable count. Hopefully they will be up to the challenge!

Are You Homeless?

The other day I mentioned to my 5th graders that I don't live in my house. It must have had something to do with our lesson, or so I hope. One girl piped up, "Ms. Vance, are you homeless?" I ignored the "Ms." for the millionth time, since some can't remember that I'm married or are used to calling all women "Ms." Instead, I quickly replied, "No, I live in an apartment. Don't worry." Worry I did, though, about her quick assumption. I wonder if she had been homeless, which I suspect, and if so for how long. I know that most of my students don't come from the most advantageous backgrounds. Their parents either work hard, long hours on second or third shift, or they are on welfare. Most live in a single parent household and others have had a parent in jail. It makes me grateful of the life that I had growing up and painfully aware of the limitations I have as their teacher.

Creeping into Summer

Our second school cancellation, if I haven't lost track, was this past Monday. That puts us into June for make-up days. I think that the day off was a gift to me. After getting back from Chicago, Isma asked me to not go into work, and I didn't resist. I was tired from the trip back, and had little desire to be in the car for another hour, round-trip. So, I planned to go in early to finish up lesson plans. However, with that morning off, I cranked out some pretty good plans, if I say so myself, and got small group reading plans on the way for next week too. It was a great morning! I treated myself to vegging out the rest of the day. :)

Camera Fun

This is what Elijah does when you ask him to smile.

Smile with teeth gets better results. :)

Elijah?

Or Colin?

Second Month of Herbs

Each time I walk into the den, the juxtaposition between the snowy and gray outdoors and the green warmth of our small herbs strikes me. After two months of growing, I post these pictures to celebrate successes. To be totally truthful about my plant-growing-skills, I have cropped out the dead plants and empty spaces that are daily reminders of all of the seedlings I have sent to "a better place."

Tangled mess of leggy parsley.

Perhaps the parsley will become a hanging plant.

I hope to use the arugula in salad soon!

My three remaining cilantro seedlings.

Close-up of basil. "Real leaves" are finally unfurling.

Happy Birthday BJ!

Saturdays supper with Linda and Sonny was to celebrate BJ's birthday. Unfortunately, it seems that BJ is the only person I didn't photograph! Linda made meatloaf, tons of green food for Saint Patty's weekend, and one of the best chocolate cakes I've ever tasted. 

Discussing business plans and options.

Playing with whoever would join.

So concentrated.

So cute!

BJ and Kelly were babysitting a neighbor's baby. 

Elijah loves the I-Pad.

And last, but not least, my handsome brother.