For the last ten months I have used this newsletter to talk about a group of fifth graders that I have loved spending time with. It was so hard to watch them walk out of our school for the last time on Thursday.
I love most things about being a fifth grade teacher. The one thing that I am not a fan of, is that at the end of our time together, they walk out of our school for the last time. Not getting a chance to see them in the halls next year, or have them visit my classroom during the day, is a little bit heartbreaking. I know that they are destined for great things, but that doesn’t mean that I am going to miss them tremendously.
I have a lot of fun stories to share with you about our last days together, but those stories will have to wait. My heart needs a little bit more time before I share those stories. It should ready soon.
I’m writing this newsletter from a hotel room in Louisville, Kentucky. I’ll be spending the next two days learning with Jefferson County School Librarians. I am so excited to tell them all about my 5th graders.
I’m giving a brand new presentation today. The topic is pretty simple: COMMUNITY. I feel like everything I talk about is related to the reading community we build in our classroom, but this is the first time to come right out and say it: COMMUNITY IS EVERYTHING.
By the time you read this newsletter, the presentation will be over. I’m sure that I’ll be thinking about a few things.
What went well?
What do I need to do better if I do this presentation again?
Why am I always SO BAD at pacing presentations?
The thing that I will be thinking about most is probably going to be how much I miss my students. Talking about them, and sharing our story, always makes me feel a happy and proud of the work we did together.
I hope your students understand how lucky they were to spend time with you, and I am sure they are missing (or will miss) that community that you created together.
We read all the way up until the end. Check out the books that my 5th graders were reading at the end of the year, in the video below.
Tomorrow, I am giving a presentation on some of my favorite books of 2024. I only have 40 minutes for this presentation, so I have no idea how I am going to talk about all of the books that I brought with me. Wish me luck. Most of the books that I am going to be talking about are on my list of AWESOME 2024 BOOKS.
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I am giving away one of the books in the book stack above. To enter, leave a comment on this post with the book you want me to send you if your name is randomly selected.
I would love the Heroes! I had to read many descriptions to decide! Such good books!
And Yet You Shine. I keep seeing it and have put it on my wish list for next year. I'm going to have to work on getting you to come to our school and enthuse our teachers about the awesome stuff you do. Thanks for all of it.