Keeping them learning even when they think they don't want to

Oh my, oh my.  What is it about post-testing time that is both so wonderful and so challenging?  Some of my students are feeling like they're done with the year, and I am OH SO NOT ready to let go there.  So, like many of you, this is when learning comes with more hands-on options.

Joanne, over at Head over Heels for Teaching talked about letting kids use dry-erase markers on their desks.  What a great idea!  I'm going to have to try that, in a corner of a student desk when no one's around, just to make sure.  But I love it!

Here's what my kids have been working on.  We're reading about Sojourner, the first rover to land on Mars, and after much discussion about space and space travel (and some great videos from the International Space Station!) we were ready to make our own landers.  The students worked in groups of three and had a ton of fun, trying out ideas and testing them, all in preparation for LAUNCH DAY!

I love this one because you can see the girl on the ground wanting to help the lander in it's descent! It was a great way to make them connect to this particular story!

On another completely different note....yeah, I know.  Random thoughts strung together don't always make sense!  

I went with a friend to the Scholastic Warehouse Book Sale, which is always a great way to refresh your library.  My friend picked up this book and said, "This is totally you!"

Oh. My. Word.  This woman is my twin.  Only she provides good reasons for why I do what I do, and sometimes, I just do it because I think it's the right thing to do.  If you think that reading is good practice for becoming smart, read this book.  I guarantee you'll find yourself nodding in agreement all (okay, most) of the way through.

Happy reading!  And happy leading your students into the end of the year!

Marion