ELL Yeah!

Wow! It's been about a minute since I last posted.  What can I say life has definitely gotten in the way.  In June I was diagnosed with breast cancer.  I suppose you could call it a "mild case" as I only needed a couple of lumpectomies and will start radiation next week.  I was determined to make sure this didn't ruin my summer, and I succeeded!  I had so much fun with my friends and my family, it was awesome.  I also really, truly took a break from work.  I didn't take any classes, I didn't go to any workshops, I didn't make anything for my tpt store, I barely even looked at pinterest, I only did my contracted summer work....like I said, it was awesome!!

I'm thinking this was a pretty great philosophy as I feel so ready to tackle this school year.  We just finished our first week back (3 days with kiddos) and I feel so on top of things.  I'm more organized and ready to roll!! 

I'm posting this project I made last year for September 11.  I work with really young kiddos, K and 2 ELL students.  I really don't talk about it with my K students, but I can't ignore it with my 2nd graders.  This was too big of a life changing event.  That being said, I am very careful about HOW I discuss this with 2nd graders.  The story Fireboat by Maira Kallman does such an awesome job of giving a sense of chaos of that day, but doesn't focus on the horror.  It is also an inspiring, true story.  My students love it!!



Some other great selections are: New York's Bravest by Mary Pope Osbourne, Fourteen Cows for America by Carmen Agra Deedy, and The Man Who Walked Between the Towers by Mordicai Gerstein.  There are TONS of other books about this topic, but these are some of my favorites.  New York's Bravest and The Man Who Walked Between the Towers, aren't even about 9/11, but they briefly mention it at the end of the stories.  They make great springboards for a discussion.  There are activities for these 4 books in this activity plan.    New York is my favorite place in the world to visit, so I am always reading books about it to my kiddos. Let me know if you have any other books you enjoy!

Have a great school year!!!