Please pass the sun screen! Whoa, the temperature is really going to ramp up this week, I have a feeling the 3’s to 6’s might be using the library and computer lab more than usual to help the kids keep their focus. Hopefully you had a chance to enjoy the nice weather this weekend, I was busy with the kids in the park and getting our children’s annual  photos completed. These pictures are something we do every year, and this got me thinking about patterns, and the patterns we follow in education.

What are the things that are likely to happen in June? Are teachers away more? Are units winding up  so there is more “busy work”? Are we rushing the kids trying to “dot the I’s and cross the T’s” in time for progress reports? Is it a time for bus trips to take the kids on experiential leaning adventures? Is June a month where Ron and I spend less time in your rooms? Are you more excited to come into school in June, or are you being pulled by other interests? You may scoff at that question, but think about a teacher who has 4 young kids at home and for this person school is a chance for some adult contact.

Think about how kids are approaching June, have they been trained to think they just need to get through a few more weeks? Is June always the month where kids begin to get more stressed due to final assessments? Is June the month kids look forward to the most because there are field trips and more opportunities for hands on learning? Do you know how your students feel about June? What do you think they would tell you? Yesterday, my brother-in-law, who is also a teacher, asked my 9-year old if he’s looking forward to summer. I was shocked to hear him say, “I’m going to miss math.” I asked him on the way home why he said that and he said he is going to miss math because, “I have gotten really good at it”. Interesting stuff. What are your students going to miss?

Learning Link 1, for those who love poetry, speaks of the importance of pattern, not only in our writing, but in our own being. Could this need for pattern be the reason we continue to follow the same routine we do? I’d like to hear your thoughts.

Regardless of whether you change things or not, one of the activities I think is so important is the act of reflecting with your students on the year that has past. In Learning Link 2 the author shares some ideas for end of the year reflections for students. I really like the idea of creating a hashtag for what the students have learned for each subject. I wonder what some of those young scientists in grade 9 would create? Or if the grade 8’s would create one like #mycardboardboatsank? Maybe the grade 3’s would create a hashtag like, #nodesksnoproblem. Another cool activity is the letter to a future student or to your future self. This is something we have done as an ALT group, and it is pretty neat to open the letter in September and get the reminder of what is important to focus on. What would a student in grade 4 write to a new kid coming into Mrs. K’s class? What about a grade 10 student? What would they write to a grade 9 student as they get set to embark on the journey of percentages and credits? And what about a kindergarten student? What advice would they give to a student entering Hepburn School for the first time? I’m sure they would talk about baby ducks at some point!

Here’s what is coming up this week:

Monday:

• Spirit week starts

Tuesday:

• Grade 8’s are gone to the cardboard boat races in Saskatoon
• Grade 6’s are at the U of S for a field trip to the Biology building

Wednesday (Hawaiian Day):

• Kindergarten field trip to Saskatoon
• Fort McMurray fundraiser lunch

Thursday:

• Joanne Reed here to work with Jackie Salzl (per. 1 only)

Friday:

• Grade 4-6 Track and Field in Rosthern

As always, create a great week!