I promised to post more often in my blog, and this year I hope to stick to my resolution. So, here we are... 3 weeks and I am already on my second post! Not bad. It is amazing how soon we get back into the flow of things once the first weeks of school roll by. To me, summer now seems like a distant memory, especially with the dark, rainy cloudy days of the last few days. I am pleased with how much we have accomplished these past three weeks. We are about to finish the first books of the year, and should begin new novels next week. I am also very pleased to find out that my students have not forgotten what they learned last year. In particular, I was pleasantly surprised when I reviewed figurative language with my 5th graders that they actually remembered what I taught them LAST year. For a teacher, it is always a great feeling. That is the best part about having my students in consecutive school grades; if they do not know something that they should know, I know exactly who to blame... ME! The 5th graders have really enjoyed the Tall Tales we have read. It is not surprising; the stories are fun to read and are filled with humor and adventure. The same can be said about Aesop's Fables. The 4th graders were surprised how many of these 3,000 year old folktales they were actually familiar with. This year, the 4th grade curriculum started with Aesop's fables, and next week we should be reading fairy tales. I think it was a good switch, even in a chronological sense. Now, to get some rest... for tomorrow will be a busy Friday. By the way, if you have not checked out the video the 4th graders recorded on modern day fables, do so. It is fun to watch!
The beginning of the semester is always an exciting time for me. Every since I was a child, I loved the fall and all the promises a new school year held. As a teacher, I find this has not changed. As much as I enjoy my summer vacation, I find that by late August, I am always eager to head back to work. The fall holds new faces, new stories to be told, the baseball playoffs and World Series, the beginning of football season, Halloween, Thanksgiving and much needed breaks along the way. I love the cooling of the temperature, even if I am not a big fan of the shortening of the daylight. There are so many things to be celebrated in the fall, but I think the most important thing is that is brings with it the chance to begin again. More than New Year's Day, to me the first day of school gives the opportunity to take chances, do things differently, take alternate paths, and start on a new canvas. I hope the autumn and the new school year brings everyone else similar opportunities. Now... to decide what to dress up like in Halloween.
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AuthorPedro Delgado Archives
February 2015
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