Bus Duty

Every morning I have bus duty with two other teachers.  Rain, snow, sleet, hail, heat,  wind, bugs, freezing cold—no matter the weather we are out there supervising kids getting off the bus and out of their cars.   About six years ago, as a parent was dropping off her youngest child for the last time at our school, she mentioned that she was going to miss seeing the three of us at carpool every morning.  A wave and a smile, an occasional word or two if the situation permits.  That’s all we do.  Oh, and supervising the kids raising the flag.  Now, that can be an adventure!

Moving forward to last week when we saw this woman (after 6 years have passed) and she commented on how much our smiles and waves meant every day.   It warmed the cockles of our hearts!  As teachers, and particularly special educators, we often don’t get to feel the love from others.  Proof that the little things do matter.  So, if you can, smile and be nice to someone today.  

After School Book Club

After School Book Club

For several years now I have been facilitating an after school book club for my students.  It all started because of the kids.  My students with dyslexia often carry around the big thick books popular with their peers, but seem to rarely read them.  They work hard during their multisensory reading instruction and there is never enough time to really sink our teeth into engaging books.   So, I had the idea of an invitation only book club.

I have fond memories of the first group of kids.  They were the most ADHD group of funny kids that I have ever encountered.  We had so much fun!  The best part was a few years later when a mom told me how the combination of root beer floats, yoga balls, and books hooked her child on reading! 

The club continues each year with a changing cast of characters.  The best part (of many best parts) is when the kids ask if we are doing book club this year.  Generally, I try to do it in 6-8 week sessions.  About a week after a session ends, kids are asking when does it pick up again.  So, every time that I think I am done with book club for the year, I feel energized and compelled to run with their reading interest and resume our sessions.

Book club serves so many purposes.  I love hearing the boys laughing out loud as they read to each other, huddled together in their favorite nook near the heater.   They help each other with the harder words; there is acceptance and understanding of each other.  The girls this go-round are more timid in reading aloud to each other.  One child, who actually is a very strong reader but I included as I thought she would enjoy the social aspect of book club, has blossomed!  She is the leader of the group!  She enjoys reading aloud and seems to know instinctively when to stop and let another read.  She introduced book talks to the club, which we really hadn’t included on a regular basis.  Her enthusiasm and expectation of sharing favorite books has even the most reluctant child pulling out their current reading book from the backpack to share with us.

I love book club for the kids and often, it is the highlight of my workweek.  Kids laughing and loving books!  It doesn’t get any better than this.

Electricity from Lemons?

February 4, 2013 

Electricity generated from lemons?  After reading a book on electricity with a student, we had the thought that our book club should try the experiment in the back of the book.  So, at Tuesday Book Club, the bag of lemons, dimes, pennies, and cups was unloaded.  As I took charge of the knife to slice two slits in each lemon, the kids rolled their lemons to activate the juices, filled the cups with water, placed the coins into the slits, dipped their fingers in water and with great anticipation and a bit of fear, touched the wet finger to the coins and NO JOLT of electricity.  So, we tried again and again, reading the directions several times.  Some of us felt a twinge, others were almost knocked over from the (nonexistent) jolt.  Lots of laughing!

Then, more experimentation as chocolate flavored frosted mini wheats were dropped in the water along with freshly squeezed lemon juice and popcorn.

All in all, the experiments were a great success and a pleasant change from the usual book club experience!