New Job...New Blog!

There have been some huge changes around here! First, you may have noticed that I got a new look! 

AnD I CouLdn't be MorE in LOVE!

Megan from A Bird in Hand Designs seriously went above and beyond what I asked, to create more than I even knew I was looking for! I would highly recommend her to anyone looking for a brand new or blog redesign such as mine!

You may have also noticed that we tweaked my title a bit and added the whole "...beyond" component as well! As those following lil ole' me know, I am no longer in the classroom with my sweet second graders, but rather, this year, I am working as the Dual Language/ELL coach for our building and have the opportunity to thus work with all grade levels and the teachers on a day to day basis :)! 

I am so excited to unveil this new blog design to go along with my first official post sharing some of the things I have been doing with the kiddos in my new position!

This past week, I set up with each of the dual language staff members an hour long classroom visit in which I did a read aloud/lesson with the students and then stuck around to see how they interact and work with their teachers as well! I had so much fun getting to know all of the classes and wanted to share some of those lessons I did with you all!

In the primary grades (K-2) I read the story "El Libro Fantástico" by Leonid Gore.

This is a story about a group of animals that find a book and use it in a variety of silly ways (hat, table, house, etc.) as they are not sure what its purpose is. Then a little boy comes along and shows them that books are for "reading" and sits and reads the story to them. This is a great story to use as a review of book purpose at the beginning of the year with the little ones!

Before reading, I thought I would do a little sort with the classes to activate their background knowledge. I had a blast recruiting one of our staff members to help me in taking a variety of silly photos enacting the different animal scenarios in the text.

These photos were then used in the sort before reading our story! Here is what one of the finished sorts looked like:

After doing our sort we of course read the story reflecting back on our sort as a reminder throughout of what the purpose of a book is!

In our intermediate (grades 3-5) classrooms, I did a different activity/lesson that I thought was a little more grade appropriate :)!

I selected one of my favorite poems entitled "Me x 2" written by Jane Medina. This poem is one compiled in a collection of poems from the text "Amazing Faces". Take a moment to read it...I think you will see immediately why I love it so much.

Isn't it beautifully written...and I may add so incredibly fitting for all of the students and staff that I work with? After reading the poem, we had a discussion in each of the classrooms about the "Author's Message". Students worked to think-pair-share their ideas using the key phrase "The author wants me to understand that...". After sharing out as a class we then brainstormed ways in which being bilingual truly is a gift and a "blast" and created this chart together! (I apologize you can see a bit of my other chart behind!...that's what happens when you travel from room to room ;)!)

I told the teachers they were welcome to hang these posters in their rooms and as the students thought of more reasons throughout the year as to "Why being bilingual is a blast..." they could add them to them! Hoping it is a good refresher/reminder of why they are taking part in the dual language program!

Looking forward to sharing more with you all as the year progresses! Every week truly is a new adventure :)!