Spring is here. It may not feel like it, with many days at such cool temperatures, but it's arrived at middle school. Students are squirrelly and distracted. It can be exciting and frustrating at the same time. I've decided to celebrate and enjoy it.
Here are some examples from my classroom...
Here's a copy of a status of the class form. Everyday I take status of the class. This is when they report the book they are reading and the page they are on. I often have to prompt them to tell me the page number. On Friday as I prompting a student, "Page?" the boy sitting in front looks around and around and wonders, "Ms. Haseltine, who is Page?!?!"
Here are some examples from my classroom...
A sixth grader "reading" during independent reading time. Oh how they love to be silly!
Here's a copy of a status of the class form. Everyday I take status of the class. This is when they report the book they are reading and the page they are on. I often have to prompt them to tell me the page number. On Friday as I prompting a student, "Page?" the boy sitting in front looks around and around and wonders, "Ms. Haseltine, who is Page?!?!"
Block 1/5 celebrated our time with our amazing teacher cadet, Miss Gaetjen! We wrote goodbye stickies to her. We took selfies.
We said thank you.
We gave hugs.
Sixth graders really are the best. I celebrate their love and silliness. I celebrate their enthusiasm and their hard work! This week, I really watched them and reflected on how far these students have come since September. We are approaching a dreaded time in schools... testing. I want to celebrate all of the amazing-ness going on and hold onto every moment of that!
Thank you to Ruth Ayres for providing this space to share our celebrations. Please join us and share your own!
Michele, Still smiling at the silliness and that you can celebrate it rather than get frustrated by it especially with the dreaded testing breathing down your neck.
ReplyDeleteYour teacher cadet obviously had an amazing effect on your students! How awesome for both of them.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful celebrations, Michelle! I love the way you turn the mess into a beautiful message of joy and silliness. Thanks for celebrating each week!
ReplyDeleteMarvelous to see all this happiness, and silliness, Michelle. That will bolster everyone as you begin the testing!
ReplyDeleteA great celebration today, Michelle. Your cadet must have been terrific to get such love from 6th graders...how did you get your photos to look like that? Maribethbatcho.wordpress.com
ReplyDeleteSo great! There are ways that the classroom can achieve an atmosphere of delight amid the stress. I love this!
ReplyDeleteEmbrace and celebrate silliness is much better than letting it crawl under your skin. Good reminder. The pic of the hug is my favorite.
ReplyDeleteLove this positive view of sixth graders!
ReplyDeleteIt's such an amazing journey to watch our students grow from September to now. With teaching fifth graders I almost feel like I have sixth graders at this time of year. Enjoy your last few weeks.
ReplyDeleteLove how you embraced the craziness that ensues this time of year :) Also, I love how your photos look like watercolors!
ReplyDeleteYour classroom is a joyous place to be, Michelle!
ReplyDeleteFrom a fellow sixth grade lover - they are absolutely the best! Love the silliness and fun that you celebrated with your students. And their enthusiasm is their best trait! Loved seeing your status of the class page. I never figured out how to do that consistently, but it looks like you're rocking it.
ReplyDeleteMichelle, your story in pictures is an engaging one. Your classroom seems like a joyful place. Keep the stories coming.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I took the time to check out other people's celebration posts this week. Love your classroom stories!
ReplyDeletePage?! Love that. So silly and fun. Love how you celebrate that!
ReplyDeleteSilliness is definitely a celebration even if it can be a little frustrating sometimes when there is work to be done.
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