Snow Days

  Watching my woods fill up with snow -- today is another Snow Day. Last week we had 2 Snow Days and 2 three hour delays. This week we will only have 2 days of school, because I expect the snow will cause a cancellation for Friday, too -- it's getting pretty deep out there.  Not like Boston, but deep for North Carolina. Snow days are fun at first, but then you remember that we will have to make them up, and that might mean no days off in March, April, May, and June.  That's a long, long time without a break.
      We only have 69 days left, and I still have so much that I need to teach them! But I am pretty proud of all they have learned so far.  Several of them have asked to write the morning message, and I am always a little surprised at how well they do.  Here's my helper this week.

      I am trying to give them more opportunities to practice reading -- the only way to build fluency and vocabulary is to READ MORE.  I love the Daily 5 -- it's the structure I use to teach them to read and write independently.  Here are a few pictures of them practicing to build stamina.

       I want them to enjoy books as much as I do, and I want them to be good readers!

       Next week we celebrate Read Across America and Dr. Seuss's birthday.  I have a stack of books I wanted to read this week, but I guess they will have to wait. I read "The Sneetches" yesterday, and they were totally sympathetic to the poor Sneetches with no stars.  My mother used to read that book to my children when they went to visit, so I have a warm spot in my heart for it. My assistant has been out this week, so it seems like the days pass quickly and I can't get everything done.

       I am glad to have some days to work on my house and practice my music.  I hate to lose our momentum at school.  But the snow is lovely!!!