The students were encouraged to bring in a quilt and pillow along with some of their favorite books. As the day drew nearer to the end, we gathered up our quilts, blankets, and an armful of books and headed to the multi-purpose room. It was a sight to behold - billowing blankets and quilts settling to the floor in a bright array of colors and patterns. The students took off their shoes, wiggled their toes, and curled up with a parent and a good book. A peaceful silence swept over the large room and drew the readers into stories of dragons, toads, and princesses. They were pulled into the past, entranced in the present, and transformed into the future. Some became scientists as they learned about beautiful crystals and gems; historians paged through past presidents and inventors. Dreams come alive when reading a good book.

Our reading drew to a close, and it was time to fold up our quilts and blankets, stack our books on our arms, and return to the classroom. Murmurings of excitement followed us through the halls, igniting a smile to spread to any who saw us. The students loved it, and quickly exclaimed, "Can we do this again?!" There's nothing like seeing the bright eyes of students sparkling with the anticipation of the next time we spend together.... getting cozy with a quilt and a book...

Snapshots of our Quilt Read

The school day ended well... I was tired, but it was exhilirating at the same time. Teaching never fails to be an exciting venture into the minds of future. Truly.

I had a lot of things to get done at school before I could go home for the evening. We started book reports today, and hopefully we'll be able to finish them on Friday. The bulletin board is all ready (almost, still need the side borders; the aides are going to cut out the hearts and letters while we are at the IMAX tomorrow), so the reports will go up next week. I know that only a week is left in February, but it will be a great decoration in the classroom until we do something for St. Patrick's Day.

I also put the rest of the grades in the gradebook. Good golly! I really need to keep focused and get those grades in by Tuesday so that the progress reports can be sent home. Oh well... nothing wrong with Thursday, eh? *laughing softly*

Tomorrow I'll be going in early to make sure all the prep work is done for the aides so that the things I need to have done are able to get done. I am so grateful for them! I don't get them a lot, but I do realize that some teachers don't get *any* instructional aide at all. Cheryl, one of the aides, will be moving to Colorado. Her last day is this Friday. That means that we will have to find another one to replace her. I really hope that the district hires one with an education in... education! I really appreciate the help with prep work and things like that, but I'd much rather have the help *in* the classroom... reading with groups, helping me with remedial students, etc. I can hope and pray! *wishing I had Susan back; she was the BEST*

I have to go in early to work tomorrow so that I can get the tests stapled together with the students' progress reports. I can't believe that it is already mid-quarter, which means it's time to send out deficiency notices. Oh golly, do I have deficiencies this quarter! (Well, *I* don't, but... *lol*) I have one student in particular that is so low, and his parents are adamant against retention of their son. Unfortunately, unless there is a miracle in the next 9 weeks, I am not promoting that student. If he does go to 4th grade, it won't be at my school. I feel horrible, but he is working at about an early second-grade level. That is not a good thing when he is at the *end* of his third grade year! However, I will continue monitoring and making interventions to do all that I can do to help him learn. That is, after all, my goal as a teacher, yes? *smiling*

The kids made a couple of quilts pieces for our classroom quilt - a name pattern and a memory paragrahp (telling about a piece of clothing or thing that gives them a special memory) - that I need to get put up on butcher paper. Hopefully, if I can drag my hinder out of bed tomorrow morning, I can get that done before school starts, too.

Ya know, some days I feel like I spend all my time at school. I was there until nearly 7 P.M. today, and I know that I want to be there by 7:30 or 8 A.M. tomorrow. Good grief! *scrunching my nose*