Running to the window, he opened it, and put out his head.
No fog, no mist;
clear, bright, jovial, stirring, cold;
cold, piping for the blood to dance to;
Golden sunlight;
Heavenly sky;
sweet fresh air;
merry bells.
Oh, glorious. Glorious!
"What's to-day?" cried Scrooge, calling downward to a boy in Sunday clothes..."
There are so many unforgettable moments in teaching.
Every month my students were required to memorize part of a famous speech, historical document, or an excerpt from literature.
We would recite it together every day until they became fluent.
They were always very proud of their accomplishments.
The most challenging piece was assigned in May with the entire Gettysburg Address.
December's piece was short.
It's a short month in terms of student attendance.
This piece from "The Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens was practiced and memorized.
I gave them very little background to its meaning and the story behind it.
At the same time, I made sure I read "The Christmas Carol" starting the first week of December.
It was hard work to capture all of the voices and to make it a story students could understand.
I usually finished the book the last day of school before dismissing for Christmas Break.
As I reached the conclusion of the story,
students would be sitting quietly listening as I began reading the part they had memorized.
They didn't expect it, but as I read the first words of their quote, they always sat up caught in the familiarity of the words. Without exception, they began to join in, one by one, until the whole class was reciting the story with me.
Goosebumps? You can count on it.
One year a volunteer mother was in the classroom and she clapped as we finished reciting the book together. She said it caught her completely off guard and she loved it.
Even though Christmas is over,
today's weather reminded me of this quote.
"Clear, bright, jovial, stirring, cold"
~Nancy ~ 6/365
Every month my students were required to memorize part of a famous speech, historical document, or an excerpt from literature.
We would recite it together every day until they became fluent.
They were always very proud of their accomplishments.
The most challenging piece was assigned in May with the entire Gettysburg Address.
December's piece was short.
It's a short month in terms of student attendance.
This piece from "The Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens was practiced and memorized.
I gave them very little background to its meaning and the story behind it.
At the same time, I made sure I read "The Christmas Carol" starting the first week of December.
It was hard work to capture all of the voices and to make it a story students could understand.
I usually finished the book the last day of school before dismissing for Christmas Break.
As I reached the conclusion of the story,
students would be sitting quietly listening as I began reading the part they had memorized.
They didn't expect it, but as I read the first words of their quote, they always sat up caught in the familiarity of the words. Without exception, they began to join in, one by one, until the whole class was reciting the story with me.
Goosebumps? You can count on it.
One year a volunteer mother was in the classroom and she clapped as we finished reciting the book together. She said it caught her completely off guard and she loved it.
Even though Christmas is over,
today's weather reminded me of this quote.
"Clear, bright, jovial, stirring, cold"
~Nancy ~ 6/365
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