Journal Club Today

Today I am competing with 61 degree weather! Although it is overcast many of the students went out to recess. I gave each student a book to take with them – it was book order day! Love it when that white and red box shows up in the office.

 Today we are reflecting on Naomi Shihab Nye’s poem For My Desk. One of my favorite lines from it is:

 “Human beings-/we’re stuck with ourselves/Always working on/that new project”.

My current project for writing is the slice of life challenge. So far, so good! One of the students wrote about a new project they are thinking about. Another wrote about cleaning their desk out. And another wrote whatever came to mind – literally. Which was an interesting take. I did say that,  but I meant in reflection to the poem.

We are also using the Julia Cameron idea of 5 imaginary lives…..part of my own list is 1. Bookstore owner 2. Fitness place owner 3. Photographer……The two most intersting from the kids? Paper plane flyer and tree climber! I love it!

Journal Club and Bread

The second grade here is doing a bread tasting today. That is a new one for me…apple tasting I have heard of, but not bread tasting. With bread being my favorite food I was more than happy to take the offer to come and sample some for myself. Hawaiian, cinnamon swirl, pumpernickel….school is delicious today! And now I am REALLY full…

Lunchtime Journal Club met for the 3rd time today. I have run into some conflicts with choir, but it is all good. The choir members are on an all day city tour today so I only had 3 students. I was going to cancel but last week the ones that were going to be here begged me not to. How can I deny a group of little writers? I cannot!

I am not sure why this group works so well with fourth graders. I had success at a different building as well with this age group. It gives an opportunity for students who cannot stay after school to still be a part of a club. There is always an activity but also always the option to “chuck” the assignment. The first couple of times I tell them it is their choice what to write about I always get the quizzical look that melts into pure joy after a couple seconds as the idea sinks in.

Last meeting the students actually convinced me to share some of my own writing with them – a poem from my own writers notebook. I must say with such a new group, I was apprehensive. The reading went well. They see me as true writer. If it inspires them to write, then my goal has been realized!

Today they chose a card from the Inner Outing deck by Charlene Geiss and Claudia Jessup. They chose, “I forgive”, “Why”, and “How I see myself”. Each wrote for about 15 minutes and then all chose to share. It is amazing to me how insightful fourth graders can be. They know they should like their own writing because it is theirs and no one else’s opinion should matter. The student who received the “Why” card made a list poem today.  I received the “I remember” card and wrote short snippets of what I remember…mostly from events that occured in elementary school for me. I write most times during club time because I try to never ask a student to do something that I am not willing to do myself.

I think this year’s club is going to be very creative and enlightening…we shall see what unfolds.