Sunday, January 1, 2012

When It Just Makes Sense... It Just Does! *OLW Freebie*

Happy New Year!

I love teaching the "workshop way" because it just makes sense to me.  When I first heard about it - it fit like a glove.  In science we use the FOSS kits.  Whoever those FOSS people are - we're a lot alike in that we both believe in teaching science through a constructivist approach.  Again, fits like a nice pair of skinny jeans {Who am I kidding, you wouldn't catch me in a pair of skinny jeans...I mean, there are a lot of you who look so darn awesome in them? ME? Notsomuch.}...

Yesterday I blogged about OLW {HERE} and I can't stop thinking about it. My boys can't stop thinking about it either.  We talked about what our words could be, yesterday, as a family.  We all came up with our own and I have to tell you - they just FIT! {Like a great pair of jeggings....yeah, you called me on that one...wouldn't catch me in a pair of those either!}

Here they are...
Mine is a little hard to see - kept getting my reflection in the mirror - didn't want you to see me in my jeggings...HA!

Brandon's - above his bed {He put it there with a push pin...oy}
Zach's - "thoughtful"
We had such a neat conversation as a family which is refreshing when you are in a home full of boys {poop and toots abound}.  Zachary, my 9 year old, noticed how far reaching all of our words were. How you could look at them from all sorts of angles and they could fit in so many different ways.  I was amazed when Brandon chose the word "selfless".  He needed a little help with what the opposite of "selfish" was but when we gave it to him he said "yup, that's my word". 

Where these words take us, I'm not sure - but I'm happy to find out. 

Here's hubby's word...he's still thinking about where he wants to put it!
I can't wait to do this with my class next week.  I'm going to enlist the help of my families to help their child choose the OLW that is just right for them.  Here's the letter I'm sending home on Tuesday.

I hope you're feeling a little inspired!!

Holly 


13 comments:

  1. This is a great activity! We talked about resolutions and how we always do good for a while but then fall behind OLW is an awesome way to keep it going! Now I have to go think of mine :)

    Amy
    TheResource(ful)Room!

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  2. Holly this is so inspiring. I love that you guys did it as a family. I think it gives it more meaning. Your boys seemed so into it, I can't imagine how your students are going to be! I would love to here some of the words your students come up with!!

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  3. I'm looking forward to OLW this week. Thanks again.

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  4. Awwwww!!! I got a little teary-eyed reading your boys' OLW--that just shows the kind of kiddos they are! :)

    Live Laugh and Love to Learn

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  5. OH I {puffy} heart this!!! and I am going to use this for my class on Tuesday!!!! thanks!!!

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  6. Great idea! I'm still thinking about mine. Hard to commit. Maybe it should be commitment? But that could go a lot of ways... hmmm...

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  7. Thanks for the AMAZING application for your class family! We did our words over fondue last night and my husband picked HEALTH, too. Interesting connection . . . loved your boy's thinking!

    Barbara
    The Corner On Character

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  8. You and your family are such an inspiration! I was thinking that my OLW would be health, too. Health of mind, body, and spirit.

    Thank you for sharing!
    -Megan

    http://firstgrademagic.blogspot.com

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  9. I HEART this! We are going to talk about this tomorrow during Our Family Circle time. I am glad I have some more time to think about this. I heard on the radio the other day that to have JOY you needed to put these 3 things in order: Jesus, Others, Yourself...WOW! That was so powerful to me!

    I want to give you a HUGE THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart. You leave me the sweetest and most encouraging heart notes. Each time you have left me one you have blessed me and encouraged me in ways you may never know. Thank you for being such a gift to me!

    Heather
    Heather'sHeart

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  10. I've awarded you a Versatile Blogger Award. You can pick it up at Versatile Blog Awards at A Teachers Bag of Tricks.
    Congrats!
    -Lisa

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  11. Such a good idea! :)

    I love it!

    I gave ya a little shout out on my new blog... you are my only follower! haha :)

    Sweet Times in First

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  12. Hello Holly! I blogged about OLW but I didn't think of bringing it back to the class. We are doing Poetry and free verse, I think I have our writing and reading plans done for Wednesday. YAY! I think that is a fabulous idea to do with your students, especially since mine are 4th graders and should be good at it. :)

    I am your newest follower and I have taught 1st grade for most of my 7 years of teaching. Very exhausting grade but so worth it because of how much they develop. I also am a BIG constructivist teacher and we have to stick together! I am new to blogging, but I am glad I started it because it will make me a better teacher. I am looking forward to going back and taking lots of pictures. Come check me out!

    Always Live.Laugh.Teach

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  13. Hey Holly,
    Thank you so much for coming over to my blog! I need your email address so that I can send you the New Year's Unit, it wasn't on the comment that you left. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! I LOVE YOUR BLOG!!!! :)

    www.thelandof2ndgrade.blogspot.com

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