tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-836605423095024247.comments2023-05-31T20:37:46.251+10:00Footsteps of AristotleUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-836605423095024247.post-28939983375216978692010-05-25T13:40:10.506+10:002010-05-25T13:40:10.506+10:00A really great investigation.Awesome read.A really great investigation.Awesome read.Barbiehttp://www.dailydressup247.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-836605423095024247.post-79125877771942398552009-11-17T21:35:28.106+10:002009-11-17T21:35:28.106+10:00The Naplan Game Show looks very interesting. Is th...The Naplan Game Show looks very interesting. Is there any <b><a href="http://www.sheeparcade.com" rel="nofollow">Free Games</a></b> that you can share for example?Addicting Gameshttp://www.addicting-games.ccnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-836605423095024247.post-10478193813451429622009-11-15T03:12:33.230+10:002009-11-15T03:12:33.230+10:00Just discovered your blog via your twitter account...Just discovered your blog via your twitter account. I am looking forward to reading more.Mrs. Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16322392613057574842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-836605423095024247.post-48609591157457007622009-11-03T12:20:16.877+10:002009-11-03T12:20:16.877+10:00I like what you're saying here! I love to rea...I like what you're saying here! I love to read Nancie Atwell and Lucy Calkins to see what I can take from them and adapt to fit my kids and my class. I think many are looking for a professional resource book that will tell them EXACTLY what to do. That takes all the fun out of it! As for me, I will keep on reading the "idealists". I'm a better teacher because of them!Jenniferhttp://jenucdavis.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-836605423095024247.post-31962592579240675812009-10-15T14:00:17.444+10:002009-10-15T14:00:17.444+10:00My experience has been that often gifted classes a...My experience has been that often gifted classes are more challenging as far as basic behavior and routines go. They tend to want to do things their own way, often have difficulty with transitions, and can be "twice gifted" meaning that they may have other issues that make them kind of quirky. <br /><br />So they don't always line up perfectly (though it sounds like yours do, and I think you deserve full credit for that because they don't just do it automatically!), and sometimes get a little loud. They're learning. They're happy. And the challenge was good for me. Kept me on my toes.Rachelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04175483870853281674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-836605423095024247.post-54463555019450669732009-10-12T01:04:08.929+10:002009-10-12T01:04:08.929+10:00Wow! I have been thinking exactly the same thing l...Wow! I have been thinking exactly the same thing lately! Partly because I have found myself slipping into that complaining mode occasionally.Oh, the stories I could tell! But I suspect we all have those. <br /><br />I love those 3 authors! I have learned so much from them. It is easy to feel alone and put down, but thankfully we have books and the internet to find like-minded people to share with and who understand some of our challenges.<br /><br />I, too, teach gifted kids, and I think it is harder to teach them routines and expectations than a "regular" class - they get so excited about what they are learning and doing, that it is difficult to get them to slow down and quiet down when needed. So I will commend you from here!Lindanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-836605423095024247.post-84027496649718115772009-10-05T17:30:43.007+10:002009-10-05T17:30:43.007+10:00Isn't Ida B the sweetest - one of the kids gra...Isn't Ida B the sweetest - one of the kids grabbed her straight off today - she's really enjoying it.Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16379340851773603139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-836605423095024247.post-19903859695494645982009-10-05T13:13:53.407+10:002009-10-05T13:13:53.407+10:00I love Ida B!And Story Time is so very relevant to...I love Ida B!And Story Time is so very relevant to today's "Teach the test" culture. Not familiar with the Samurai Kids series - will have to check them out!musicartwordshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06749004623488171288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-836605423095024247.post-69402673603053152782009-09-14T21:30:46.442+10:002009-09-14T21:30:46.442+10:00Hi Mrs D
Found your blog while analysing my son...Hi Mrs D<br />Found your blog while analysing my son's NAPLAN results! Finding it has cost me over an hour! You write beautifully - and, being a teacher, (albeit in NSW) I find myself relating to your blog on so many levels! I wish my son had a teacher in his life like you! He is in Year 3 and has just performed at Band 6 in Writing and above Band 6 (in that arrow at the top) for everything else. So I am feeling a bit startled and sort comfort on the net - looking for information about what to do for him.<br />Your blog gives me comfort that there are other people out there with immense professional integrity and love of the joy of teaching! So please don't be discouraged by the "nay" sayers and the bureaucrats!<br />All the best<br />Chaosbeliever (a Maths/ICT teacher in Sydney)chaosbelieverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09506949014725571467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-836605423095024247.post-49058808959740255732009-09-14T20:35:34.945+10:002009-09-14T20:35:34.945+10:00Sally - thank you for your comment, we really, utt...Sally - thank you for your comment, we really, utterly enjoyed Pearl (and my mother is still raving about it - she read it before passing it on to me).<br /><br />Lynn and Angela - Thank you for your lovely comments :)Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16379340851773603139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-836605423095024247.post-69421875162960971412009-09-14T18:12:12.190+10:002009-09-14T18:12:12.190+10:00Australia is blessed to have a caring, beautiful t...Australia is blessed to have a caring, beautiful teacher like you.Angelahttp://angelasunde.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-836605423095024247.post-61092301923211729012009-09-11T22:26:57.084+10:002009-09-11T22:26:57.084+10:00I read Pearl Versus the World today and it moved m...I read Pearl Versus the World today and it moved me in a way that few books ever have. It is one of the most beautiful books I have read, so I can imagine it was the perfect pick me up for you after your day. I read it on the way home from the Brisbane Writers Festival and actually felt "changed" after I finished it. I got off the bus a different person after spending time with Pearl.<br /><br />As for those who threw you barbed remarks - aren't their comments usually more about what's lacking in their life? Yes, there's something about really good books - they do make you feel better about the world when you finish. But there is also something about really talented teachers who lead kids to their full potential. And your gift for that is a classroom of beautifully talented kids. <br />Happy Poem in Your Pocket Day :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-836605423095024247.post-84410992830044952742009-09-11T20:58:46.161+10:002009-09-11T20:58:46.161+10:00Mrs D - my google alert led me to your blog post. ...Mrs D - my google alert led me to your blog post. Your comments about my book have made MY day. Glad you enjoyed the book.<br />And, as a parent of gifted children (and some experience teaching them as well) I, for one, appreciate how challenging your job can be. Keep up the good work!Sally Murphyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06094054139556676270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-836605423095024247.post-80631934238621017732009-09-10T17:07:40.441+10:002009-09-10T17:07:40.441+10:00We read it over the course of the day (a few tears...We read it over the course of the day (a few tears near the end). I think they got a better idea of what a non-rhyming poem might look like, and a few of them want to read it for themselves, so we might have some budding poets yet :)Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16379340851773603139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-836605423095024247.post-36079702188307296822009-09-10T11:23:24.097+10:002009-09-10T11:23:24.097+10:00Yes, Australia still has a cringe factor about int...Yes, Australia still has a cringe factor about intelligence, that's for sure. I'm so glad Pearl was able to restore your perspective. I enjoyed it too. I hope it might serve as a model to inspire your students' own verse novels!BookChookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06230711251425187241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-836605423095024247.post-19691638585003654192009-09-04T15:03:49.157+10:002009-09-04T15:03:49.157+10:00This is just fabulous feedback for you, and pretty...This is just fabulous feedback for you, and pretty wonderful to read about actually! We hear so much bad news about problems in schools, it's just great to read about the collaborative process working out so well for you.BookChookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06230711251425187241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-836605423095024247.post-5761295654475708732009-09-03T06:06:01.493+10:002009-09-03T06:06:01.493+10:00Mail Order Ninja is a really funny read - I did ne...Mail Order Ninja is a really funny read - I did need to order it from the US though - I think I'm going to have to find a closer supplier :)<br /><br />I've heard about the Samurai Kids series and I've been looking out for them, but no luck yet. One of my students has just finished Polar Boy, so I'm going to ask him to book talk that to the students.Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16379340851773603139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-836605423095024247.post-81300608139370244382009-09-02T09:39:53.630+10:002009-09-02T09:39:53.630+10:00I'll look out for your titles. The Ninja one p...I'll look out for your titles. The Ninja one particularly sounds interesting. Do you know Sandy Fussell's Samurai Kids books? Great books for both boys and girls, I think.BookChookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06230711251425187241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-836605423095024247.post-48889885903437527242009-09-01T01:24:27.581+10:002009-09-01T01:24:27.581+10:00Josh Elder, author of Mail Order Ninja here. My Go...Josh Elder, author of Mail Order Ninja here. My Google News Alert informed me about your post. It's very cool to see that kids around the world are enjoying Mail Order Ninja (and graphic novels in general). <br /><br />Aside from being a cartoonist, I also run a non-profit called Reading With Pictures dedicated to promoting and studying the use of comics in the classroom. I'd love to talk with you about your experiences if you have the time.<br /><br />You can contact me via my gmail account at elder1938@gmail.com<br /><br />Cheers!<br /><br />Josh ElderJosh Elderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05310814954855223818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-836605423095024247.post-1590345877570204012009-08-24T06:07:55.474+10:002009-08-24T06:07:55.474+10:00I think we need to take time, to stop rushing from...I think we need to take time, to stop rushing from one thing to another. We've actually slowed our reading teaching down, and it's been amazing how much we're getting from it.Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16379340851773603139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-836605423095024247.post-47046237561782519752009-08-22T23:22:29.585+10:002009-08-22T23:22:29.585+10:00Yes! How can you keep this day as common thread th...Yes! How can you keep this day as common thread throughout the school year, not only for your students, but yourself too!Marla McLean, Atelieristahttp://atelier.schoolwithinschool.org/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-836605423095024247.post-58566351471819790892009-06-14T08:01:48.396+10:002009-06-14T08:01:48.396+10:00Miss Teacha - I'm sure you could use it for te...Miss Teacha - I'm sure you could use it for terminology like map terms or history vocabulary. <br /><br />I find that we keep using the actions regularly (even if it is without the sounds) when we talk about our writing.Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16379340851773603139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-836605423095024247.post-59537185469136724502009-06-13T22:59:40.498+10:002009-06-13T22:59:40.498+10:00OMG, I love this idea! I wonder how I could twe...OMG, I love this idea! I wonder how I could tweak it for Social Studies?Teachahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08067893917869707719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-836605423095024247.post-49303830236874915342009-06-13T13:41:12.546+10:002009-06-13T13:41:12.546+10:00I was talking to another teacher about it yesterda...I was talking to another teacher about it yesterday and she told me that she had her own foci as well (hers are indigenous and ESL) which kept getting hijacked by professional development someone has decided we have to do.<br /><br />Luckily I got to do an amazing professional development yesterday on gifted and talented and underachievement. It was awesome.Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16379340851773603139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-836605423095024247.post-37432317649808136802009-06-13T11:12:23.624+10:002009-06-13T11:12:23.624+10:00I find teacher training fascinating. I'm a nu...I find teacher training fascinating. I'm a nursery school teacher who works in a private school (take that to mean not publicly funded rather than ritzy). We all attend two days of staff meetings at the beginning of the year where we review health and safety as well as the school's philosophies. We attend regular staff meetings to go over issues. But it is up to us to learn what we need to learn and we are expected to do it. My wonderful boss will make suggestions if she doesn't feel you're learning what you need to be focusing on at the moment in the nicest way she can.<br /><br />I take seriously the time I spend to reflect on my teaching and my planning. I do a ton of reading to improve in the areas where I feel I am weak. I feel totally comfortable asking my boss and the other teachers where they feel I should focus my efforts next. I really wish all teachers could feel that comfortable and be able to take the time to take this same level of responsibility for their professional growth. I really don't know how you could though, if you're being shipped off to useless training and focusing so much tim on high stakes testing. What I find amazing is that so many teachers from all across the world seem to be in the same boat.<br /><br />Clearly, I'm glad to be where I am right now!Pattihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03669674796404246494noreply@blogger.com