Recently, an interviewer asked me, "Who is Nancy Hniedziejko?" I thought this was an amazing question. I scooted to the edge of my seat and replied, "How much time do you have?" Now, ...
I’m constantly looking for ways to improve my teaching. I’m always searching for new techniques to motivate and inspire. I enjoy learning new methods that I can share. Notice all of the sentences sta...
Recently, my students wrote essays about their hopes for their future families, jobs and how they would contribute to society. These essays were a result of my reading Fever 1793 where the main chara...
This year my classroom theme is “Hollywood” where every student is a star. With the Academy Awards approaching, I was looking for a way to integrate this theme in a meaningful way. Boy, did I find it...
I am passionate about reading and more importantly, teaching reading. When I’m working with students, time ceases to exist. I go to a magical place where that all that matters is helping a student be...
I was greeted this morning by a Google reminder that said it was one year ago that I started blogging. It is amazing how quickly a year can pass. More importantly, Im in awe of how much I learned in ...
My students fell in love with blogging. After a slow start on my part, once I implemented this new adventure, the excitement was palpable. I will always treasure the day they discovered comments. I c...
I’m tutoring a first grader who is struggling in school. In order to protect his privacy, I won’t reveal too much. Suffice it to say, there is a two inch binder filled with the various testing result...
We are having an extraordinary winter. Rather than checking emails and twitter each morning, I greet the day with the weather forecast. Ive learned the difference between winter watches and winter wa...
I remember when I was in college and began my “teacher” courses. Every course I took was exciting and I seemed to be able to grasp every concept easily. There are some people in the world who are nat...
My students are hard workers! We have stamina and momentum. I know this to be true because we discuss it daily. Along with curriculum goals, I stress the importance of being aware of how we learn – M...
My students are reading Fever 1793 and the main character, Mattie has ambitious dreams for her life. Naturally, the integration aspect for my students is to write about their dreams for their lives. ...
Im a successful teacher. Im not bragging, although it may seem that way. I love what I do and I feel successful. Am I arrogant? Am I conceited? Am I too full of myself? Yesterday I was speaking to my...
This weekend I attended a variety of sessions at the virtual Reform Symposium, a worldwide e.conference (#rscon11). By the end of the weekend, my head was close to bursting with ideas, enthusia...
I follow this philosophy: If I wouldn’t shout it down the hallway in school; I don’t say it on my blog or on twitter. I’m about to shout and I may summon the Reading Workshop Gods/Rule Makers/P...
My favorite quote: Spoon feeding in the long run teaches us nothing but the shape of the spoon. E.M. Forester Throughout the course of my teaching day, I ask the question, “What do you think?” over a...
As a teacher, I think of the year as beginning in September and ending in June. However, with the abundance of New Year’s related posts being generated and the media flooding the public with to...
Its Christmas Eve morning. My grown up children are home, along with a friend. Everyone is sleeping. I couldn’t wait for winter break to recharge my battery, and guess what I’...
I just had one of those incredible moments that brings a teacher close to tears. Happy tears! I was sitting in my classroom on this bitterly cold winter morning. I was not feeling well, a...
On Thursday night, the #elemchat topic was: Homework: How do we differentiate and make it authentic. It was a lively discussion with lots of sharing of ideas and philosophies. One of the reason...
At back to school night this year, I explained to the parents that the fourth graders would be blogging this year. It took me until this week to get it off the ground and boy, is it soaring.&nb...
My objective: the student will pose probing, elaborate and divergent questions to challenge the validity of print, author stance/point of view, clarify nuances of meaning, and determine the controlli...
Friday we said good-bye to a student from our class. I’ve been reflecting on the journey this student and I have traveled. In a small private school such as ours, losing a student is huge...
I am a good writing teacher - almost always. I love to write, so it is easy for me to get excited about teaching writing to my students. I have fail-proof techniques and tricks that I’ve ...
On a beautiful fall day with crisp leaves blowing and the smell of burning fire places, I locked myself in my basement. I sat at my desk, surrounded by files, papers, notes and record keeping b...
So, I was feeling frustrated. My class, who I love dearly and know well (we were together for third grade and “looped” and I have them for fourth grade) we’re making the most careless errors in...
At my school, we eat lunch with the students. Obviously, this requirement has its pros and cons. I don’t get to share with my colleagues over a meal, but I do get to eaves drop on some in...
The first two weeks of school have ended. It has been a smooth start due to looping. My class and I from last year moved from third to fourth grade together, so the transition has been ea...
I am helping a new teacher get ready for the school year. She is bright, enthusiastic and completely overwhelmed. Initially, I was letting her ask me questions and I provided answers.&nbs...
I have one of those cute little teacher calendars on my desk at home. (OK… I have a bazillion little calendars collected from students over the years – love teacher mugs and calendars!) W...
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