Blog of A Jenna

Her blog:  https://simplyskilledinsecond.com/ Her Youtube She just started a series on Phonological Awareness that has been PHENOMENAL! https://www.youtube.com/c/AnnaDiGilio Her Product: www.guidedreaders.com   The best $167 I've ever spent on my classroom. I found Anna when I started researching phonics instruction. My district did not provide adequate training, and it was - and remains to be - a blind spot that I am patiently waiting to come into focus. Anna's resources on TeachersPayTeachers are amazing. I got hooked on her TAB-Its, a copy, cut and paste activity that leaves students with a little tabbed notebook full of the evidence of their learning.  If you are looking for legitimate learning on guided reading instruction and phonics, I can not recommend the amazing, incomparable, and genius Anna Digilio!

I have a rolodex brain. I can start a task and then get lost in seventeen other tasks. So, I decided to open this blogpost because I am curious how long it will take me to prepare for a new idea for centers. My students are able to rotate independently. I started with playdough, coloring, cut and paste, lego bricks, free drawing and the like. I slowly incorporated academic centers. (I have ideas for doing this better next year so students can feel more successful sooner.) So now, I'm deciding to formalize centers and tracking with the Daily5 idea. So, I'm going to start the research now.  It's 12:12pm. I'll let you know how it goes! The Daily 5 Cafe Structure Read to Self Center - Picture books from read alouds - Library/Book nook  I have a few plastic floor-seats and some patio furniture pillows students use when they visit the library. I'm realizing now that I had better spend some time making the organization of the library very clear with labels, or students won...

I got this quote from David... I often feel misunderstood, and I would try to explain the complexities of my opinions. That led to me feeling different, strange, and awkward. I kept waiting for my words to make sense to the other person. I would become increasingly vulnerable, trying to cut to the heart of my message - and it never felt right. I used to quote this to myself when a suit made a decision that infuriated me, like lining friendly pockets with our kids' money for "consultants" instead of doing a talent search within its own ranks. It would help remind me that I was part of a system where I have little control. I can't make suits care about kids, so I don't bother with thinking about their choices too much. It got me through a lot. However, lately, I've started looking at it with a question in mind. Where are my monkeys? Where is my circus? Turning away from infuriating things that drain me, I have turned to the things that bring me joy. Example. Our...

I have tried so many things in the past as an outlet for my creative-stuffs. Youtube, Blogs, ect. I finally figured out why all of the advice wasn't making any sense to me. I just wanted a little place to write out my ideas. When I can write a blogpost about how my morning routine starts in my classroom, it helps me hammer out the details. Writing a blogpost on a topic feels like opening up the window in my brain and letting the air in.

Why is this a rough draft? I won't write it otherwise.  Soft Opening Zone of Regulation and Desk work If students come in deregulated they can use tools and strategies to calm down. I have a Zones of  Regulation area in my classroom where students know they can find the things they need to "Get Green." <Insert Picture of Zones of Regulation Area> I am all for the #workshits movement. I get it, they are low-level, high-anxiety, and can feel like busywork. However, there are situations in which pencil to paper are an appropriate tool. For me, Morning Packets are that appropriate time. I focus on handwriting and talk to students about digging deep, going slow, and trying hard.  After we correct together (I use my random number jangle to call on random students to fill in different parts of the morning work under the document camera. In the past, I have had students do better with a predictable schedule (on Mondays, Sara, Hester, and Justice will do the correcting, on T...

 Hello, friends! My name is Jenna, and I like to learn, make, connect, and share things.  Before spring break, I was drowning. I had a student teacher who was relying on me to show them how to teach. I create the details of my lesson plans the day before so that I can use data from that day to inform the next day's instruction. I send messages every day to families with a daily breakdown of how many minutes their 2nd-grader completed each required program.  I was facing the comparison monster, and I was feeling like I was a complete failure. Despite those feelings, I pushed on. I was able to make it through because I have a clear self-care emergency plan for when I'm feeling this way. Here are a few ways I took care of myself and made it through a tough week. 1. Bubble baths I like essential oils, (lavender is my favorite.) I also throw some coconut oil in the water. My skin gets very dry, so dry brushing and putting oil in a bubble helps. I also really like lots of bubbl...

 I attended the California League of Schools' first session of their conference "Embracing Equity & Excellence," a name lovingly stolen from presenter Douglas Reeves. If you ever get a chance to listen to Reeves speak, I can not encourage it enough. Reeves brought some tough things into the conversation. I am currently following him on Twitter because he was so genuinely kind and respectful while pointing out uncomfortable truths. I want to learn how to do that, because I have no trouble pointing on the uncomfortable truth, and I want to learn how to do so more gracefully so I can be a better advocate for my students.  I have a crazy excitement for these kinds of conversations, and I had to give myself a hammock time out after the session. Reeves brought up so many pieces of research, many things I had known and believed.  I used to believe that students HAD to do homework at home because it would strengthen their neurons to access the information from an environme...