Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Poetry Journals: Making Them Matter (May Edition...Finally)

This has to be the loooooooongest week E.V.E.R! I am typing this on Tuesday...how can it only be Tuesday? I got the nicest comments and support from all of you and sincerely, I can't thank you enough. I preach to all of my friends constantly that "this too shall pass" and I know that I will get through this rough patch. Just need to keep praying :0) and reminding myself that it could be A LOT worse. I know that. I have a blessed life.

I don't know why it surprised me to have readers comment about the Common Core, but I was. I just read all those blogs out there and just assumed that I am the only person who is nervous. It comforts me to know that others are feeling the pressure, as well. 

I want to answer some of the questions that I received in response to my last post. 

Our school is adopting all the Common Core. For us, it means that everything that is a Common Core is a mastery skill expectation. 80% of all students will master each Common Core Standard. The new standards along with a Common Core Standards based report card are expected to be implemented at the start of the 2012-2013 school year. Can I get a YIKES?!?

Our classrooms in Kindergarten are averaging 21-23 students. Most classrooms do not have an assistant. Assisted classrooms are determined by students that have IEP's. IE- one of the classrooms that has an assistant has three students with IEP's that require additional assistance. It varies from year to year.

Our program is "extended day"- students arrive 8AM and are dismissed at 1:30PM. They have gym for 1/2 hour-3 days per week, art for 1/2 hour-1 day per week, music for 1/2 hour- 1 day per week, computer lab for 35 minutes-1 day per week, library for 1/2 hour-1 day per week, and Learning Center for 1/2 hour-1 day per week. They have a 35 minute lunch/recess period. We have lots of specials :0)

I can't imagine getting all those standards mastered in only a 1/2 day program. Someone will have to let me know how that goes. God bless you!!

All right the questions are answered, onto something that many people have waited for....for too long. I am not sure what happened. I dropped the Poetry Journal ball. I have my poems all set for the remainder of the year. My themes include; Mother's Day, Insects, Frogs, and Bye Bye Butterfly (end of year). All I have are my new versions because I stunk at doing them in May previously. 

I am planning to create Smartboard versions of all my poems...soon. I promise. It's a promise I have to keep because it is part of my outline for presenting at the IL K conference next March. 

Hopefully, you will find something you can use. Thanks for all the love and hopefully this post finds you well. Enjoy the rest of your week!
Shannon

All of my Poetry Journals can now be found on TPT, as well.

May There Always Be Sunshine The Fuzzy Caterpillar In the Pond Head Thorax Abdomen Good Bye Friends

12 comments:

  1. Shannon, I hope things go well next year with Common Core! It is good to hear other teachers are nervous, sometimes I see blog posts about how great the Common Core is going for them and it worries me that I am not prepared enough. We will each get there on our own time I hope!
    Thank you so much for the May poetry journals!!
    Kari :)

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  2. I just wanted to thank you for sharing all your amazing rescources! You have helped me out so much this year, and I can't wait to do a better job implementing your resources next year. I teach half day and our curriculum is based entirely on ccss, it's been a struggle but I feel better about it next year, especially because I'll be in full day! Thanks again for all your hard work, your making a difference!

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  3. WOW~ You are presenting at the IL K conference!?! Good Luck! Will this be your first time presenting? I have been presenting at the Early Childhood Conference at UW STOUT the last 6 years and in November I will be presenting in INDY. I can't wait...I love to share what I do with the kiddos!!!

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  4. Wow, I never know how people can fit it all in during only half day Kindergarten!! Sometimes I feel like I don't get it all in and we are there all day!!

    Thanks for the cute poetry journals :)

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  5. Thanks so much for the poetry journals! I too am concerned with the Common Core. Luckily we are in the middle of curriculum adoptions so we are only implementing the ELA portion next year. Math will be implemented the following year with the new curriculum. Good luck! I'm sure you'll be amazing as always!

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  6. Great poems!! Thanks!

    heathernnance@yahoo.com

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  7. Thank you for these. I love your poetry journal poems!

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  8. Thanks again for sharing your awesome stuff! Glad you are feeling better.

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  9. We did Common Core this year. Kindergarten did everything, other grades just writing and the rest will be phased in (in the next two or three years). Our curriculum matched up pretty well except for math, which I find very different (no time, money, measurement, graphs! but decomposing numbers, fluently adding and subtracting to five). We haven't been told 80% to master. I will have three kids who will be below grade level (two are special ed friends and one is an English Language Learner with very low skills.). Our evaluation is changing also as part of Race to the Top. Makes you wonder what else they can throw at us, doesn't it?

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  10. Thanks so much for the poems! I appreciate them and the kinders look forward to them each week :) DId I miss the spot where the poems are for May? I saved the poem homework but can't seem to find the "other piece" Thanks so much!!!!! You are a wonder woman!

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  11. Thank you so much for sharing! I've implemented these Poetry Folders in my classroom all year and I am so happy with them! You are wonderful and so generous for sharing!!
    Are there the original documents for the May poems as well? All I see are the homework ones. If not, no biggie....I know you have a LOT going on! Just wondering if I missed them somewhere :)

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  12. How do you guys fit it everything in in a half day or extended day schedule!? We are there from 8:00-3:00 and sometimes I still feel like we can't fit everything in!

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