The Rookery

      During recess today the Herons played "never-ending tag" with the Doves, a K/1 class.  As we circled up outside, I looked around at the Herons who had spread themselves out amongst the Doves.  Most were holding hands with a younger child, and several were quietly re-explaining the rules.  I…

Today we handed out our "Blue Books."  They're the books we record all of our work in from themes, math, and literacy.  They're beautifully bound and a cheer went up when we showed them to the classes (combined together for the first time).  One fourth grader came up to me…

The Herons had a very successful first day.  The first few hours of a new year always seem horribly quiet as students get a feel for each other and their new teachers.  I always find myself filling the quiet with nervous check ins, "How are you?"  "Doing O.K.?"  Elizabeth and…

Tomorrow we're off.   Last week, Caroline shared a poem with us, "The Woodcarver" by Chuang Tsu, that has a line that for me captures the nervous anticipation of all Prairie Creek teachers on the night before school, "All I had to do was put forth my hand, and begin."…

I was out at school today with my son James (age 5) when he looked up at the windows between Caroline's office and Laura's and asked, "Are those mirrors or windows?  I can sort of see through them but they're reflecting, too."  Without thinking too much about it, I asked…

Three years ago, I started to share stories about our classroom on a blog.  Since then, I've found it a wonderful way to reflect upon our work in the classroom and give parents the chance to get behind the scenes.  Some blog entries simply share anecdotes.  Others are more like…