Graves' This and That

This week has not been calm! I have completed 39 TPRI and DRA Fluency Probes. I will finish one DRA on Monday. I was thrilled that 9 of the 20 reached the district goal of 90+ and 5 more could be ready if there is no slacking off reading in the summer. All 20 have made progress toward 90 or 90+. I am so grateful for the work of parents, Mrs. Goin, and students. This was our first go at Daily 5 for second grade. Reading is all about words, communication. I have to correct myself with the words I speak to the students..I do have a wonderful Inner Counselor who taps me on the shoulder to remind me that the stress is running out and I will be careless if I am not careful. Surely as an adult, I can be more careful and not discourage any of these guys and girls. Second graders? Sometimes they become intrigued with words, especially inappropriate words that are seen and heard in media, even on computer games, and from others about them. We have been self -correcting with the guys about their

Well, Folk, we have run through TAKS first round, Easter, Passover, and my birthday! Three Grands share my birthday month also and that does help to keep the fun spirit going. I am so glad that every day is new with opportunitites and challenges. No time for being static. I think of static like a rut....like a grave, closed, opportunities OVER! I am continuing TPRI for your students. I have found progress, and I am grateful for your hard work with your student in reading nightly with them. I will finish the TPRI and the DRA with each of your students this week. All of the students are NOT at 90 words per minute. To insure that your student is ready for the third grade, PLEASE: DO NOT LAPSE INTO NO READING FOR THE SUMMER! I am encouraging several of the students to participate in Battle of the Books. You can get books from the NRH Public Library. Please don't allow summer to be hours in front of video games and no reading taking place. Successful students throughout t

Spring is a gorgeous time of the year with the dogwoods, azaleas, and redbuds blooming. Everything that is tired of the cold and the bland of color bursts into vivid hues shouting, "We have a new beginning! A fresh start!" Easter for me is that reminder....I have a fresh start and a new beginning! I am very blessed to have family close by and we will have an egg hunt with 8 of the Grands in between the rain showers on Sunday. Easter is also all about family, fun times, and being thankful for what Easter means personally to each family. I will have a large ham and everyone else brings the sides and a dessert. Be sure and let us know what you did with your family that was fun and special. The students and I were ALL ready for a break. I will look forward to another fresh start on Monday. If you have pictures, send them with your students. Happy thoughts!

Noise, laughter, and squirmy students are our agenda for right now. We are working hard with a PTA program on Tuesday, April 14th and the Spring Party is tomorrow. The rehearsals keep them really pumped and full of work to be caught up. After the program, we will really have to focus. Parents, we are still pushing the students to be at a Fluency Rate of 90 words per minute per BISD's goal. Several of them are reading above BISD's goal, but the majority is not. Please be looking for a good program for the summer to keep them engaged in reading. They do not need to fall behind and try to catch up with third grade. Third grade is big boy and big girl expectations! Get ready for much laughter and enjoy the work your student has done with the PTA program. We are having fun!

Hey Gang, we are now tweeting on twitter. I will show Graves' Great Group in the morning and we can tweet with the Tellez Team. So much fun, yet there is much work to do but we are still going to have fun tweeting and blogging! Right Graves' Great Group? Let's hear from one of you cool second graders!!