Keeping Up With Kirbys

I cannot believe we are ending 2014 and beginning a new year. I'm anxious, excited, nervous, scared.... Freaking OUT . <-not really. 2015 is going to bring so many new changes whether I am ready for them or not, so I guess I better get ready.   This new year will bring my baby's graduation and life as a college student. Wha?!  His heart  is set on USAFA and we should hear from them in January. He is seriously marking off the days on his calendar.  He has also been offered a paid visit to West Point Academy in New York and will fly out to visit them in March.  I think the key word right now is PATIENCE.  He's put in all the work and now he has to be patient. {I have to be patient} I obviously love pictures more than him. I feel like that will be my mantra for the 2015 year.  {PATIENCE}  I plan to finish my masters this spring. {patience} I have one more class and my ARP to complete.  Oh, and there is this big test that 4th graders take...I hear it's a bi

Well it's here...it's here, Christmas break is here!!  It seems as though it's here too fast but I am so thrilled it is.  I've linked up with The Inspired Apple to share a little Christmas Conversation. Stop by her blog to join the conversation. I thought I'd share a little about our last day of school until next year.   We had a wonderful classroom Christmas party. I'm beyond thankful for an organized and caring room mom. She truly made the difference.  We did a book exchange and I will be honest.....I have NEVER had a good experience with these. {the book that everyone wants} {the book that no one wants} Seriously, kids crying and upset because they want the book that their mom bought or another student's book because it pops up and their book doesn't.  After a few years of this I said "Nope, never again."  -(maybe because that was Kinder) This year my room mom suggested it.  I didn't want to be "bah-humbug"

Tomorrow is the last day before the break, it's a half-day, a busy day and a sugar filled day.  This year it actually snuck up on me and I almost didn't make anything for parents.   We have been completely engrossed in our novel, A Single Shard. { check it out} It has been the best book ever!!  I'm so happy my teamie convinced me to read it to the kids.  The kids and I have had so many wonderful conversations.  It's the kind of book that they beg you (yes, beg!) not to stop reading.  We just finished it on Wednesday and I was a crybaby mess!!  It is a tear jerker.  The sweet kids would get up and hug me and then get themselves a tissue to wipe their own eyes.  It is the kind of book that changes the way kids view reading. When we finished the kids could not get enough.  They wanted to know more and they REALLY wanted this book to be a movie.  I think they will be emailing the author soon.  I made a thinglink for the students to watch some videos about the au

Well ya'll, I have so many wonderful things going on in the classroom and it's all things techy.  I cannot wait to share a few of them with you.   If you haven't stopped by our class blog then you should.     { Mrs. Kirby's Kid's Blog } These authentic pieces of writing just make me so stinkin' happy.  I constantly check my email throughout the weekend to see if they have written anything.  Not because I told them to but because they want to. (insert happy teacher dance right here)  I took my very first student bloggers to the school board and they told our school board what a blog is and why they think it's important.  I gave each one of the kids that presented a small journal, sticky notes and pens to write their ideas about things they'd like to blog about.  This is what their journals look like 2 days later.... These kids cannot get enough!!  Look at all their THOUGHTS... BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE!   Look at this fantastic fr

This year I wanted to get more TECHY. <-it's a word.  And as soon as I decided I wanted to do this, my school district offered a Digital Fluency course.  Funny story though, I couldn't even figure out how to sign up for it because it was TOO TECHY.  Yes, I'm that person.  But let me tell you.....I have learned so much!!   The biggest thing that I have learned and implemented in my classroom is a kid blog .  The kids LOVE it!!  The best thing about it is they are writing.....because they want to write.  They have an authentic audience to write for and they want to share their opinions and thoughts with the world.    Oh, and it's FREE!  There is a paid version that allows the students to choose their own backgrounds and a few other other things.  But while were are just starting out the free one is perfect.   {link to our blog }  Just recently we have finished reading biographies in my guided reading groups and some of the kids have shared about the pe