The first day of school was great. I really enjoyed seeing the students again: who got taller, who got a haircut, brand new backpacks. I got lots of hugs and high-fives.
I have to say that I am really proud of the work I did last year with the Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade students. We spent all year reading books together using the Whole Book approach, a method of reading and storytelling that I learned about in grad school. Using this approach, you don't just read the words and look at the pictures, you invite the students to make observations and critiques about the entire book: the text (color, shape, size, placement), the illustrations, the orientation of the book (landscape or portrait) and the different parts of book anatomy (spine, gutter, endpages, dust-jacket). . .ALL of the classes that we read this way with last year have remembered everything! Even the 1st graders (last year's K students) remembered that the left page is called the verso, and the right page is called the recto. I was blown away.
We've been reading "The Day You Begin" by Jacqueline Woodson because it's a Ladybug Award nominee and because it's a good theme for beginning a new school year, and they have been commenting on the endpages, and the pink flowers, and the mixed media illustrations. . .It made me feel so optimistic about this year, and what we'll be able to accomplish. It's a beautiful book, so you should watch the trailer:
Last year I applied for the Dollar General Literacy Grant for Youth, and I GOT IT! (or, rather, I got one of them). I authored the grant so that the funds would be used to inspire and support readers who are struggling and/or reluctant, so the materials I purchase with the money will be mostly graphic novels (even if you can't read text, you can read pictures!), Hi-Lo fiction (high interest books for older readers with a lower lexile) and some new Early Chapter books (because our EC collection is kind of outdated). I applied last spring, and when September came, I figured I hadn't gotten one. Then one morning out of the blue, I got an email congratulating me! I did some grant writing at my previous job, but that was just from our Parent Group. This was my first national grant! It's very exciting!
Despite the pride I feel in that accomplishment, I can honestly claim that the work-related event that made me feel the very best was one that took place outside of my school. I have some friends on social media that are former students from my previous school. One of them posted her new college address, and asked for some mail, so I sent her a care package of Emergency Chocolate and a little note. She received it, and sent me a message saying how much it means to her that we're still in touch after 7 years. The connections I make with students is the best part.
It's what keeps me going.
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