You did it! You survived another year.

This summer, I wish you:

• longer than 4 1/2 minutes to eat lunch
• time to go to the bathroom whenever you please
• time to read at least one of the books on the stack you have waiting
• every day moments of beauty
• a little bit of adventure
• and, of course, some well-deserved rest!

As for me, I won’t be posting for a few weeks… see you in August!

With one week left of school, it’s not too late to write!

Ask students to write a letter! To who?

• to a student entering their class next year telling them what to expect
• to next year’s teacher sharing accomplishments or anything they want the teacher to know about them
• to you, their current teacher, sharing their learning and memories from the year

Another engaging writing task? A summer bucket list! Encourage students to research activities within your city or community including prices. Challenge them to make a list of ten things they would like to do, half of which are free.

To promote summer writing, provide students with an envelope addressed to you at the school. Invite students to write to you over the summer highlighting their adventures.

If you have older students who love to write, suggest one of the websites within this link: http://www.readbrightly.com/6-great-websites-teen-writers/

So… enjoy fun day and the end of year celebration, but in between, find a few moments to write!

My favourite gift to give my students at year end is a book. Some children live in homes full of books; for others a book is a rare treat.

Books are more than words on a page. They can be a window into the lives of others, a place for children to find themselves, an opportunity to connect with family members, and possibility the inspiration for a lifelong love.

Yesterday I finished reading Brown Girl Dreaming. I revelled in the beautiful words of Jacqueline Woodson… not wanting to finish… finishing and then wanting to start again immediately…

I had parents who nurtured a love of books and words and reading when I was a child. Teachers too. Giving the gift of books has the potential to change lives. 

 

On Friday I had the opportunity to attend my first staff meeting as part of my new department for next year. Yes, it was a long time to sit and listen for someone who has been in control of her own schedule for a year. But…

I was energized. Energized by the people in the room who seem to value professional learning as much as I do. Energized by the willingness and openness to understand that we are all on an ongoing journey of learning. Energized by the ideas that were bouncing around in my brain: ideas that were already there and some new, all given permission to take life. Energized by the possibilities that lie ahead.

So although I didn’t get my daily steps in to feed my body, I was surrounded with ideas to feed my mind.