Friday, September 9, 2016

Understanding Ourselves Through Figurative Language


I am a map...
Of the many techniques writers use, figurative language is one of the most prolific and creative. Similes, metaphors, and personification allow authors to add depth and interest to meaning. Your children encounter examples of figurative language in their reading all of the time. As an opening activity this year, students wrote their own personal metaphors by comparing themselves to an object or idea that they felt best represented an aspect of their personalities.

I am a Range Rover Sport...
I love this activity because it forces the kids to think beyond the obvious, it provides an opportunity to teach figurative language, and it gives them a chance to get to know one another a little better. Plus, the comparisons are fantastic. From sloths to ice cream sundaes, the students never cease to amaze me with their self-awareness.

I am a peacock...
Click here for more great examples!

Saturday, August 20, 2016

The Days are Long, but...


It's been a while since I've posted last to this blog, but a new year also brings new starts (and restarts), and I'm excited to pick up where I left off.

This time of the year is always a little bittersweet for me. The warm, lazy days of summer are coming to a close, and it's time to shift gears. As a kid, summers seemed to stretch out endlessly. Now, it amazes me how quickly they come and go, and every August I lament the speed of life.

It's no different during the school year. Right now, next June seems eons away, but in a blink of an eye, I will be packing my milk crates and bags heading off for warm respite. If all goes as usual, come May, I will questioning where the time went.

It seems that, these days, life is moving at the speed of light. Is it technology? Instant gratification? Constant connectedness? It's time to focus on living in the moment. It's time to actively notice new things. I know that my students will have practice doing just that this year as they learn mindfulness. Maybe they'll be able to teach me a thing or two.