The first semester flew by in a flash. The students enjoyed the rapid pace as we got closer to the end of the semester. We had the opportunity to listen to the BRHS Show Choir, and the BRHS Symphonic Band before Christmas break. Once we completed our post test we finished out our semester by reading The Keeping Quilt. The class really enjoyed the book, and we were able to have our own sewing circle the last week of school.
Students will be taking their benchmark assessments tomorrow during reading. Please review with your students the information that I sent home. If they did not make it home with their review materials, here is the PowerPoint we used in class today.
Students that have returned their first story test with a parent signature will be retaking their test tomorrow. Please study. We have finally been able to dive into our stories this week. I hope that all the students are excited and are bringing home all the materials that they need in order to be successful. We will continue to have spelling test on Friday.
This Friday we will be taking our first test on the first story that we read. We have reviewed several story elements and the students have been very excited about the material that we have covered. It was wonderful to see so many parents at open house last night. I hope that you take ad Wow. August has flown by. The students have been outstanding and classes are in full swing. We have started working out of the Reading Street textbook. The students are very excited about the things that we have done so far.
The students have had the opportunity to take several AR test based on the books that we have been supplementing with in the classroom. I hope that everyone is enjoying the school year so far. I cannot tell you the amount of thought that went into deciding to go back to the classroom. Our oldest daughter has a GI disorder. The shortened name is EoE. When she was diagnosed five years ago there was not a lot of information available. To be honest there was just a lot of yelling at the doctor. Five year later there is a parent organization and support group online. Two years ago Zoey was in full remission. She started to gain weight and she started to grow.
This past summer her EoE started to rear its ugly head. She began to not eat, but the most important thing, is she suddenly became very anemic, very quickly again. This past Friday her levels indicated that she had started to come up again. When her iron level dropped I had no idea what to do. I was terrified and was afraid of what was going to happen. I swore that I would not let her health, or Abby's health become a question again. If you have a sick child, then you know the scrutiny that you undergo when you go to the doctor. "When did they last eat?" and when you answer "I don't know" they look at you like your about to go to parent jail. So, not knowing what was going to happen, I made a decision to return to the classroom. I am very pleased to be going back to the classroom. I am very nervous, most of my friends are leaving the classroom for leadership positions, and I am returning to the classroom. I hope our adventures are like the ones I had once before and I hope the students find joy in learning and reading each and every day. One of my course requirements from Samford was creating a bulletin board as part of every unit of study. Well here are some examples of some hallway bulletin boards from when I served as spirit sponsor many moons ago. Now I cannot take credit for all of these photos, but I will tell you that most of the photos of the Dr. Seuss material, I have used in classrooms since I was the spirit sponsor. If you haven't figured it out yet, I am a passionate person. I love teaching, and I love my students. I love working with students no matter the age or the ability. However, at the end of the day, my favorite thing is working with students to set goals, so at the end of the day I am a counselor, but if I could not be a counselor today, I would love to be in the classroom putting together lessons like these agains. Here are some snap shots from student teaching. The first graders put on a play based upon the book the Great Kapoke Tree. Mike was a trooper and came out and taught them a little drum ditty, and it turned out better than I could ever dream. It was a fantastic time and my favorite part was the book that the class gave me. To my understanding, it was the last print of the book at that time, and Mrs. Beasley had had it for quite sometime, and she was kind enough to give it to me.
I learned about teachable moments when I was in my first few days as a student teacher. During my time student teaching I was lucky enough to complete two units, one was on explorers. I had it in my head that my students were going to complete a bulletin board for me to hang up in the hallway, and that would knock out my bulletin board requirement and performance assessment all at one time. I had a wake up call about ten minutes into the lesson. Notice my surprise. The students in this group actually created a canoe, complete with Native American "carvings" and ores. I never dreamed that this would occur when I put markers in their hands and said make something. I guess when they started asking for the tape I should have known they were up to something. |
Kelli MuncherWife, mother, teacher, and counselor. There are not enough words to describe myself. My online portfolio has transformed to a series of blogs that have helped to outline my varied career. I am vested in my students throughout my time at my school, and I believe that my experience keeps me and everyone around me on my toes. Archives
January 2015
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