Happiness Is.....

I have always been a list-maker! I have a journal from when I was a teenager with all kinds of lists in it. My favorite one is "Things I Love"-it's such fun to look back on the flights of fancy of our youth! Many of things are still the same.

This was our class book for February (I know getting it out a little late). Going with the theme of the month, I asked the kids to write about what makes them happy. We are also working on punctuation-therefore the list format with commas.

my mom fixing breakfast

my mom gives me what I want.

a rainbow, my teacher

Underground Ethics

We talked about a number of people for Black History Month in February-one of them was Harriet Tubman. I think the Underground Railroad story is a great one, but sometimes difficult for the little ones to wrap their heads around.

Now if you know me, you know that ethics is one of my favorite concepts of Depth and Complexity to teach. In the beginning the kids are just trying to give you the answer they think you want to hear. As the year goes on however, they start really beginning to voice their own opinions and are learning to justify those opinions. I asked them to write about whether or not they would have helped slaves escape on the Underground Railroad. I very vividly remember learning about Anne Frank in high school and really mulling over whether or not I would have been courageous enough to help someone in the same situation. I do think it's a tough question and I think they really answered it honestly.

I would not help the soldiers because if they caught me I might go to prison.

Yes because they are important.

Yes, because what if they are really hurt.

In the 1800's I want to help because I love them.

No because I might get caught and I don't want to go to jail.

I Speak for the.....

We read the Lorax this past week, which is one of my favorite Dr. Seuss books. I love children's books that can be meaningful to the adults reading them as well. Since the Lorax "speaks for the trees", I asked the kids to write about what they will speak for. I think they came up with a really good variety of ideas:

My dinosaur obsessed student! :)

Did I mention they are also obsessed with her this year......

             And my favorite one---I wasn't aware this group needed advocates! :) I know it's not what he meant to write-he was probably trying to write barabaloots or something, but it did make me giggle.

Cat in the Hat's Hat

We did read the Cat in the Hat story. I like it because many of the kids have heard of the book, but never heard the whole story. I asked them to write from the perspective of the hat that the Cat in the Hat wears. I love some of the illustrations that they came up with-especially the one running away!