Hello, all!
This week our Literacy PLC met with a focus on choosing essential standards for a Reading Boot Camp as our first 10-12 mini-unit. As our Curriculum Director said, "We have kids who have not read since March 17. "
Unfortunately, true.
To begin, I took a scroll around CommonLit and Newsela; from CommonLit, we chose a unit entitled "Fitting in...Standing out...," to which we will add a couple of texts from Newsela to complete the unit. Engagement is our goal, with more reading the end result.
Some of that time spent together we utilized to wrap our brains around planning for blended learning and sharing tips and tricks we each have been learning over the summer about Google apps and other tools that our teachers might find useful, including Pear Deck, Kami, and one to allow our students to type on a PDF (sorry! the name has left the brain at the moment!).
Oh! What good would a PLC be...if one did not share book titles and excellent reads?! So, yes, I sat and placed book titles within my cart...and placed an order...right then! I am such a book addict. I am.
What titles you ask?! So glad you asked!
- Same Kind of Different As Me
- A Simple Favor
- Eat the Sky, Drink the Ocean (excerpt in the CommonLit unit is from this book...thinking kids will want to read this one!)
- Watch Me Disappear (for my Alumni Book Club...how cool is that?!)
- What book should I have ordered?!
Back to reality. (NOTE: I may be about to climb upon my soapbox...just so you know!)
I want to meet face-to-face with my students...at least for a week or two...to better know them. But. Our COVID numbers are increasing...much. Therefore, yes, I encourage masks, whether you like them or not. Also, I do not need the virus, for I would not have the privilege to meet my kids face-to-face. Disgruntled I am as I know people who will not wear a mask. Very much struggling with this. To the point of being very grumpy. Ugh.
But...with numbers now 1000+, my brain is shifting to online learning. Yes, I am a realist. Optimistic...but, also, a realist. To meet this objective, too, I have already attended a live session to learn about Jamboard this morning (cool tool...led by Tyler Tarver of Tarver Academy...you really should check him out!)...and then kept the next YouTube playing (Oh! Blogger has updated link options...awesome changes!)...learning about creating a template...and then making that image a background...for drag and drop activities...yes, even for 11th graders! Such an inspiring presenter!
But...back to my soapbox...pleeeeeeeeease wear your mask! Speaking of which...I make masks...have probably made 300...and now have several more to create, some for friends, some for a student and her family. Yay!
Is your teacher brain on overdrive like mine!? Please share!
In the meantime, today, I take a break and go have lunch with my daughter...who will turn 21 next week and has decided adulting is for her! Yay! I am very proud of her!
Keep thinking! And reading!
