The new semester

It is that mid-year point. Our first semester ended in December, and the ESL team is consulting other teachers, reviewing student work, and testing kids to determine whether or not some of the students are ready to exit the ESL program. Some of my 2nd graders will begin an advanced ESL class soon and a few of the high school students have left the program entirely. The periods they previously had class with me will become free blocks in their schedules. Needless to say, they are thrilled to have the extra time!

My high school writing class is transitioning from personal narratives and creative pieces to analytic writing. I am determined to teach and reinforce the craft of the thesis paper as much as possible. To streamline the students' work, I am dialoguing with both their history and English teachers.

The fourth graders are about to begin John Reynolds Gardiner's novel, Stone Fox. I can't wait! The book is about a boy who lives on a potato farm with his grandfather. The grandfather becomes ill and the boy finds out that they have an enormous debt that needs to be payed immediately. He enters a dog sledding race in the hope of winning enough money to pay it off.

We spent yesterday's lesson learning about dog sledding--the equipment needed, different commands used, ideal weather conditions, etc. We may plant some potatoes soon...