This book has been a wee bit of calm in the storm of the last week.

Hopefully it has been a bit of serenity for the other book study bloggers in their crazy weeks.


We all live in British Columbia, Canada, and we were all on strike since the middle of June.  (It's been nasty - on so many levels.)


A week ago, we got a new contract, and spent last 

week end madly getting our classrooms ready to start school 3 weeks late on Monday.

It has been madness.  Wonderful to get back in our classrooms and see our kids again.  But madness.  


Now, onto chapter two  of Donalyn Miller's The Book Whisperer - Everybody Is a Reader



It's book club time!

I have been wanting to read Donalyn Miller's The Book Whisperer for a while.  I really don't have excuses; the book  has been out for 5 years.  

But now is the time.  Time to seize the day and seize the book.

We are keeping me accountable.

The deal is a chapter a week - posted on Mondays.  Manageable.



I think sunflowers are one of the coolest plants.

Some are amazingly tall.


Their faces follow the sun.


They bring a bit of summer into fall weather.


They feed birds in winter.


And they inspire lots of fabulous activities.





Curtains are fabulous classroom tools.

They hide clutter.


They soften hard edges.


They are easily cleaned.


They are cheap and easy to make.


And did I mention, they hide clutter

(or activities that are not currently available).


I had a cute little curtain (that luckily, I had brought home to wash over the summer) that hid a shelf full of boring very important teacher books.  


But it was a bit too cute.  And it did not work with my beautiful new rug


It was time for a new curtain.




It has been alphabet week on the picket line.

First it was glass gems, and then wooden blocks.





With a $2 investment, modge podge and a bit of time, I have a set of upper and lower case glass gems that look amazing.





September is apple season.

Time for picking apples, making apple sauce, apple pie, apple crisp, making apple art ... and for reading books about apples.

Last Spring I bought a book that I was saving for apple season.


Since I have to spend three hours a day on the picket line, I might as well be productive.

Kindergarten teachers never have enough time to make all the loose parts /manipulatives /learning tools that are on their want list.


But, my government has given me time (albeit, unpaid time), so I might as well make lemonade.


Or, at least, painted rocks.  

It's Labour Day Monday.

Usually, I am soaking in the last day of summer freedom, while looking forward to getting back to school, reconnecting with my kids from last year, and looking forward to meeting the new little ones that I get to share with their families for the coming year.


Usually, I have already spent hours (unpaid) in my classroom, thinking about how the children will interact with their environment.  Reflecting on their learning and how I can support it.  Moving furniture, making sure the house area is inviting, checking over the dress up clothes, putting out intriguing bits and pieces from the beach or the forest (magnifying glasses included), looking from all angles to see that the classroom is warm, inviting, intriguing, but not overwhelming.  Making sure that it is a place that 20 (or so) little people can feel that they belong and can make it their own.


But not this year.


This year I am on strike.




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