Today we started 2nd quarter! Thanks to my readers, the students were excited to count over 600 visits to last week’s post! We had several people express interest in providing kites for the kids. We will be having a kite flying day very soon!
Congrats to the kiddos for making it 9 weeks with me! Also, I want to congratulate the 17 students who met and exceeded their AR goals for first quarter! Mr. B is proud of you!
I also want to take some time out to introduce you to Shayna Duffy. Shayna is a preservice teacher. She is finishing her final block of courses before she begins student teaching in the spring. I’ve had the opportunity to have Shayna as a student in three of her college courses: Technology for Teachers, Diversity in American Schools, and School Law. She is a hard worker and we are lucky to have her in class. She will be with us on Wednesdays from now through December.
For up to date info click the link below to see our newsletter:
https://www.smore.com/2nj3a
Now onto the fun stuff. Our quote this week is one I saw circulating around social media at the first blast of fall air a few weeks ago. As soon as I read it, I knew I wanted it for our classroom.
“The trees are about to show us how beautiful it is to let things go.” --Anonymous
I have been sitting on this quote for a couple of weeks. For my readers who are familiar with the playground at South Elementary, you know why! We are so fortunate to have several trees on our playground. Most are century old trees! One in particular, turns red, like it’s on fire! It’s so beautiful! Unfortunately though, it only lasts for a few days. I was hoping to introduce this quote when the tree was in all of its beauty. It’s just beginning to show signs of changing. I was afraid if I waited until next Monday, that it may be naked!
This quote is beautiful. As we gathered on the carpet to discuss the quote, the kids immediately began calling out ideas for the meaning. It helped that we have been discussing photosynthesis and that I picked out a story for reading today that dealt with leaf changes. Of course, the kids were excited to tell me why the trees lose their leaves in the Fall. We even got into a discussion of chlorophyll, carotenoids, and anthocyanin and the roles those chemicals play in leaf color. At one point the kids laughed. I paused a moment and a student said, “Guys, he knows about the colors of fall. He doesn’t want us to talk about that!” They have realized that I don’t necessarily want them to see the obvious meaning in the quote.
I asked what symbolism they could see in this quote. A student responded that he knew there was beauty in the leaves changing color, but that the tree is left looking dead. He said he just didn’t see the beauty in that. We got into some deep conversation very quickly. In a roundabout way, I described how it must be so freeing for the trees to let everything fall away and realize that they can face the world with nothing to hide behind. When they are exposed to the winter elements, their roots are strong enough to withstand anything the world brings. Of course, I couldn’t stop there. I try to encourage the students each week to be “them.” The same thing can be said about all of us. Sometimes we are scared to let ourselves become uncovered. We think we need the status and the look and the friends that society deems as "cool." But once all that is stripped away and the person we truly are is unveiled for the world to see, we learn one thing. People who like us, will like us. And the people who don’t, won’t. But we have gained strength in knowing that, like the trees, we have let all the excess go and are still standing strong. We are rooted in the ground and we are strong enough to withstand anything the world brings to us.
As the recess bell interrupted our conversation, I ended with these words. I want to end this blog with the same words...A reminder to my students and my readers:
As the trees show us the beauty in letting go of their leaves, let us show the world our own beauty. Let’s let go of all that holds us back from becoming who we truly are.
Until next week,
Mr. B
P.S.--Here's our tree! We will post an update as it progresses in color!
Congrats to the kiddos for making it 9 weeks with me! Also, I want to congratulate the 17 students who met and exceeded their AR goals for first quarter! Mr. B is proud of you!
I also want to take some time out to introduce you to Shayna Duffy. Shayna is a preservice teacher. She is finishing her final block of courses before she begins student teaching in the spring. I’ve had the opportunity to have Shayna as a student in three of her college courses: Technology for Teachers, Diversity in American Schools, and School Law. She is a hard worker and we are lucky to have her in class. She will be with us on Wednesdays from now through December.
For up to date info click the link below to see our newsletter:
https://www.smore.com/2nj3a
Now onto the fun stuff. Our quote this week is one I saw circulating around social media at the first blast of fall air a few weeks ago. As soon as I read it, I knew I wanted it for our classroom.
“The trees are about to show us how beautiful it is to let things go.” --Anonymous
I have been sitting on this quote for a couple of weeks. For my readers who are familiar with the playground at South Elementary, you know why! We are so fortunate to have several trees on our playground. Most are century old trees! One in particular, turns red, like it’s on fire! It’s so beautiful! Unfortunately though, it only lasts for a few days. I was hoping to introduce this quote when the tree was in all of its beauty. It’s just beginning to show signs of changing. I was afraid if I waited until next Monday, that it may be naked!
This quote is beautiful. As we gathered on the carpet to discuss the quote, the kids immediately began calling out ideas for the meaning. It helped that we have been discussing photosynthesis and that I picked out a story for reading today that dealt with leaf changes. Of course, the kids were excited to tell me why the trees lose their leaves in the Fall. We even got into a discussion of chlorophyll, carotenoids, and anthocyanin and the roles those chemicals play in leaf color. At one point the kids laughed. I paused a moment and a student said, “Guys, he knows about the colors of fall. He doesn’t want us to talk about that!” They have realized that I don’t necessarily want them to see the obvious meaning in the quote.
I asked what symbolism they could see in this quote. A student responded that he knew there was beauty in the leaves changing color, but that the tree is left looking dead. He said he just didn’t see the beauty in that. We got into some deep conversation very quickly. In a roundabout way, I described how it must be so freeing for the trees to let everything fall away and realize that they can face the world with nothing to hide behind. When they are exposed to the winter elements, their roots are strong enough to withstand anything the world brings. Of course, I couldn’t stop there. I try to encourage the students each week to be “them.” The same thing can be said about all of us. Sometimes we are scared to let ourselves become uncovered. We think we need the status and the look and the friends that society deems as "cool." But once all that is stripped away and the person we truly are is unveiled for the world to see, we learn one thing. People who like us, will like us. And the people who don’t, won’t. But we have gained strength in knowing that, like the trees, we have let all the excess go and are still standing strong. We are rooted in the ground and we are strong enough to withstand anything the world brings to us.
As the recess bell interrupted our conversation, I ended with these words. I want to end this blog with the same words...A reminder to my students and my readers:
As the trees show us the beauty in letting go of their leaves, let us show the world our own beauty. Let’s let go of all that holds us back from becoming who we truly are.
Until next week,
Mr. B
P.S.--Here's our tree! We will post an update as it progresses in color!
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