Nearing the end...

Well, you can tell it's the end of the year with Spirit Week upon us! Today, thanks to Deputy Evers, (thank you Marc) my entire home base got Hawaiian lais to wear so they could celebrate Twin Day with the teachers of the hall.

We're also wrapping up Numbering all the Bones, and the surprise is...it's an AR book! So, even if they didn't enjoy the story, they can benefit their reading grade by taking the test and blogging on the book. This is a fun new way to do things with media, and I'm hoping we can do more blogging in the future. NightJohn will be our next big project...then on to D.C. or here with me:) I'll keep you posted!

Power Points are going to be due Monday, 24. This is an extention, so I hope students really apply themselves. Thanks, JLalk

Joanne Lalk's Teacher Profile | iLoveSchools

Joanne Lalk's Teacher Profile | iLoveSchools

Freedom Center/Making Connections to our Reading and Writing

I have seen the immediate effect of our students' visit to the Freedom Center to their writing and performance on their Power Point presentations. There is an empathy there that did not exist for everyone before the field trip, and I'd like to thank Mr. Brinck for organizing this journey for them. I am seeing a greater respect for the reading we're doing, (Numbering All the Bones), and the writing being done in class. This is suddenly becoming real for my students--several who are very interested in the Haulocaust are drawing conclusions between the Civil War prisons and the concentration camps they've studied. I am thrilled that they've made such strong connections with their interests, yet saddened that they've done so through such sad history. I am very proud of my group....