One of our units is Sharing the Planet. We connect this unit with the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals), Life on land and Life below water. Our inquiry is about how sharing the planet impacts living things. In preparation for a visit to a Bear Sanctuary, our third graders read a book about the endangered Moon Continue reading

I thought deeply about what I could write about today, as my cup seems quite empty these days. I keep pushing myself to maintain my writing mojo. So today, I decided to think about something, anything I could write about. Then I saw this picture book on the shelf as I was leaving my classroom. Continue reading

They took their search for their OLWs  for 2026 seriously. I asked them to chat with their parents or come up with a word that they thought would be a guide or goal for each of them throughout the year. I also gave them four days to think about the word. When I came up with Continue reading

I have never struggled to come up with my annual One Little Word, but this year even though I had a few words circling in my head, I could not settle on a word. Today, I shared a Youtube read aloud of a picture book, One Word for Kids by Dan Britton and friends, with Continue reading

I come from sunny days, tropical rains and walking to and fro my neighbours’ homes where daring students in our starched  purple uniforms climb mango trees after school, for a refreshing taste of tropical joy I come from a land of colorful celebrations and rhythmic afro beats where talking drums announce the reason we are Continue reading

She runs free An unhitched bird Gently leaps Towards the wind Her delicate gown floats While they sway downstream Beaming to each other, till she snatches his wing blocking the sun rays whilst they claim the beauty of the sky This is an attempt at a Golden Shovel using a stanza of Maya Angelou’s poem Continue reading

I borrowed this idea from Ethical ELA this July, Memory Threads. Thanks Jennifer Guyor Jowett. My memory from over 40 years… Mo was loud and knowledgeable, she memorised all of Julius Ceasar and recited the lines daily on our one mile walk for classes.Su, lively, friendly an extrovert gathered us all together with her many Continue reading

As I look out of the window… Sun splashes on the greensFree lightfor vegetationsending smiles andsquints for clarityIntrudingplastic bottle vasespews out sprigshanging quietlyfor its beautysignage hidesbehind the poleStepping stoneslike a streamthrough the tuffetthick afro greenwaiting for a cutspot an arm hitting hardknock, knock againstthe wooden pathThe path…zigzaginglike a puzzlestone pavesdirect you toGod knows where! Continue reading

Here’s a Nonet, I was supposed to post on Open Write led by Leilya on the title “Small Acts” yesterday, but I did not quite finish it. I wrote it to show my appreciation to my colleagues who shared their work selflessly during my first year of teaching third grade. Trails delivered to screens constantly,  Continue reading

Photo by Alice Castro: https://www.pexels.com/photo I feel like a flowerBloomingWith a delicate scentFurnishing the spaceI feel like a pastel colored flowerDecoratingShowing the worldThat anything is possibleI am that flower that shoneeveryday in March For about nine yearsReaching for that keyboardI will be that flower that staysIn the crystal cut vaseAnd pulls its neck outannouncing to Continue reading