Worksheets Don't Grow Dendrites Chapter 7: Manipulatives, Experiments, Labs & Models

It is time for Chapter 7 of the book study. I'm linking up today with Deanna Jump to talk about the use of manipulatives, experiments, labs & models. 

Using manipulatives in math is as familiar as breathing for me. We do tons of things with them. From explorations at the start of the year...

To using them to play math games...

To using them to create questions for worksheets...like Domino Addition (wish I had a photo!) where they pull a domino to created the question to complete. 

I use manipulatives a lot in math and I am very comfortable doing so. I wouldn't teach math any other way. Besides the benefits to using manipulatives, doing strictly pencil and paper work would be way too b.o.r.i.n.g!!!!

But, I have to be honest here. I do not do nearly enough of the other parts of this stragtegy. I do not comfortably lean towards the experiments, labs and models part of this strategy. The subject that should naturally lead to these strategies is science and, I have got to say that, science is not my forte. Plus, when it comes to our Science curriculum, it seems that some units lend themselves more to experiments than others. 

For example, we are currently studying the seasons. I am sure that there are some experiments I could come up with but I don't know what they are! We will be integrating art into this unit and I suppose I could try to have them create a model. But, to be honest, it would be a huge stretch for me to figure out how to do that and, with time constraints already on me to complete the unit, it probably won't happen. Who am I kidding? It won't happen!!!!

Whereas, our last unit on Force & Motion just naturally lent itself to doing experiments. I wish I had some photos to show you but we did all sorts of ramps and made things slide down them. We added friction to see what would happen. We made predictions and then, after the experiments, we observed what happened. I wished I had gotten more photos but I was too busy running around trying to help 48 students do experiments at one time. Yep! I was teaching both classes AT THE SAME TIME!!! (Note to self: never try to do that unit with 48 kids at the same time again!!!!!)

So, I definitely have room for improvement in this strategy. I'll keep you posted if I try something new and let you know how it goes!

Cheers!

Olwyn

Worksheets Don't Grow Dendrites: Chapter 4 Games

"You don't stop playing because you grow old; you grow old because you stop playing."

This quote at the beginning of Chapter 4 in our book study hits the nail right on the head for me. I have used games in my classroom for as long as I can remember. They play in structured games during Math and Daily 5. They also play in games of their own making in Choosing Time. I don't think I could enjoy teaching without games in my classroom.

Here's my thinking on this strategy...

Games are a wonderful way to add to our learning. They are fun. They let us play with friends. They help us to learn many social expectations (taking turns, sharing etc) and they help us practice and refine our understanding of concepts. What's not to love?!?!

Math games are one of my Must Do's during math rotations. They play a number of different card games (i.e.Addition War) and also games like BUMP, Snakes and Ladders and a bunch of games I have purchased from Scholastic over the years. One of the best things about games is that I can easily modify them for different students. For example, when playing BUMP the kids can choose between using two dice or three. The more dice, the higher number they have to add. They can self monitor and work at a level that feels right to them. I have found that math games are the perfect way to reinforce and practice the math facts that we do during seat work activities. The kids are practicing without realizing it; they just think they are playing a game!!!

I use games as well during my Daily 5 time. I haven't put out as many this year (to be honest, I don't know where they all are as I didn't get to clean up my classroom last year what with the strike and all...) One that has been super successful has been Go Fish with ABC's. I pulled it out when I got a student in my class who spoke no English. I played with him every day for a week or so. Then I taught some other students how to play. He loved it AND he has learned most of his letters as a result! And the other students love to be able to be the "teacher" for a little while. Win win!!!!

In addition to the organized game playing that I do during Math Rotations and Daily 5, I also encourage game playing during Choosing Time (aka Centres). Sometimes students choose to play games that they know like Chess or UNO. Other times they engage in creative game playing making up their own rules. I feel that this time is invaluable. I have had adults ask me why I let the students have Choosing Time. Some have basically told me that Choosing Time does not have a place in a grade 1/2 classroom. To them, I say that I emphatically disagree and, after reading this chapter, I will give them the quote above that I love so much.

Cheers!

Olwyn

Worksheets Don't Grow Dendrites Book Study: Chapter 3 Field Trips

Oops! I am falling behind on this book study! My only excuse is that Spring Break started and I have been sleeping and reading for the past 3 days!!!!

So, I'm going to try to catch up today.

Chapter 3 is on field trips.  I love the opening line in this chapter where the author says that "[t]he purpose of the brain is not to make good grades or to score high on standardized tests." Can I get a hallelujah?!?!

Here is my thinking about how I am doing with field trips...

I've gotta be honest here, field trips are not my most favourite thing to do. The amount of extra work that goes into the booking, planning and organizing of a field trip is something I tend to avoid. I am definitely not going to ever win the title of Queen of Paperwork!

Also, I have to feel that there is a solid educational purpose behind the field trip. I don't really believe in going on a field trip just because. It has to be something worthwhile and it has to fit with our curriculum goals. 

I once worked at a school where students had never left their community. I mean, quite literally, ever. They were 5 years old and had never been out of the ten block radius around their homes. They lived in a large city with museums, art galleries, gardens, the ocean and an aquarium, a planetarium, Science World.... You get the idea! 

When I worked there, going on field trips had a larger significance than just extending curriculum learning. We were providing them with life experiences that they would not have otherwise. At that school, we went on at least two field trips per term. (Oh, and a bonus was that I never booked any of the trips...they were all organized by our Resource teacher. I just had to show up. Yay!) 

For the last 9 years I have been at a school where many of the students have family passes to places like the aquarium and Science World. Many families routinely go skiing for the weekend or on vacation to Hawaii on Spring Break. The families provide their children with many rich life experiences and, I have to admit, the feeling that I need to provide them with lots of field trips isn't really there the same way as it was at my old school. Plus, it is hard to find places that they haven't all been already!!!!

However, that said, I know that there is room for improvement. 

This year we went on a fantastic field trip to the Art Gallery where we got to see some works by Emily Carr and Landon Mackenzie and do a workshop (Having a hands on workshop is key. Especially if we are going somewhere many of them have been before with family. The workshop provides a change to their previous experiences.) If I had been more on the ball, I could've booked us in to go again to see the Cezanne exhibit this coming term. Next year I am going to book in August so that I can take advantage of their 3 field trip special (each time you go, you pay less!)

We also have a fantastic outdoor classroom and garden at our new school and I do not use either nearly enough. I've participated in the Earthbites program along with the rest of the school but that's about it. I know it is a wonderful teaching space and I am determined to use it more. I am going to try to teach a lesson out there at least three times before the end of this year. 

Both of these photos are of last year's class working on planting potatoes and herbs.
Can't find any of this year's group for some reason!

So, while I know that there is value in field trips, I also know that I tend to avoid them if possible. If I could just have a private secretary to take care of all the paperwork etc then maybe I'd go on more! I have to say that, this chapter has definitely left me with some thinking to do...

Cheers!

Olwyn

Book Study: Worksheets Don't Grow Dendrites - Chapter 1

So, I decided to take part in an online book study reading, discussing and putting into practice the ideas in the book Worksheets Don't Grow Dendrites by Marcia L. Tate.

I decided to do this for a few reasons:

1) I have pretty much been out of the classroom for 6 weeks as I've had a student teacher doing 80% of the teaching. She leaves next week and this book study came along at just the right time to get me fired up for teaching again.

2) I always have more to learn! After perusing the book, which arrived one day before the official start date of the book study (thanks Amazon!), I realize that I am doing some of the strategies but I know that there is always room for improvement. 

3) The book study is being hosted by some of my favourite bloggers. I admire the work they do and hope to learn more by linking up with them.

4) It looked like fun!

So, Chapter 1 is about the strategy Brainstorming and Discussion. Elizabeth over at Kickin' It In Kindergarten kindly shared a graphic organizer to organize our thinking as we do the book study. Here are my thoughts:

I feel like I am doing a lot around brainstorming and discussion in whole group situations but there is definitely room for improvement in the small group or 1-1 area. I plan to add more of this when I am back to teaching full-time after Spring Break. 

I love the Whole Brain Teaching (WBT) strategies in general and have had great success using both the "class, class, class" and mirror strategies. I want to spend some time training the class in the "OK Teach" strategy. 

We will be doing the Second Step program after Spring Break and I think that more partner talk will deepen their learning. What better way to teach social and emotional learning than through real interactions with others?

Also, I really like the idea of  schema charts rather than K/W/L charts. I saw these over on Deanna Jump's blog post for this book study. Just click on the link above and it'll take you there! A traditional K/W/L chart gets the students to tell what they Know about a topic, then say what they Wonder about the topic and, finally, to reflect on what they have Learned about the topic. While I have never had problems doing the K and L parts of the K/W/L, it seems like we never manage to cover all of the W's that come up. I have never felt like the kids, or myself for that matter, really click with the K/W/L charts. They have always just felt like a hoop to jump through. You know, that thing they told you in Teacher's College that you have to do at the start of every new unit. 

I feel like the schema chart just fits me better somehow. And I know from experience that if I am invested in something then that comes across to the students and they become invested too. I like that a schema chart asks students what they already know, what new learning they acquire through the unit and what misconceptions they held. I also like that the language (using the word schema) ties in so nicely with the teaching I have already done around reading. And I love the way Deanna Jump does them using colour coded post-it notes (the colour coding makes my heart go pitter-patter!) I am going to use this for my Grade 1 science unit on Seasons in second term. Thanks for the great idea, Deanna!

I will post about Chapter 2 later in a separate blog post. It is on the strategy of using drawing and artwork. One of my favourite things to do!!!!

Cheers!

Olwyn

Taming The Wild with Blog Hoppin'

 

 

 

So today is Day 4 of Teacher Week over at Blog Hoppin' and the topic today is all about Taming the Wild.

Otherwise known as how a teacher manages to make 24 little squirming bodies sit still, listen and pay attention long enough to teach anything!

There are so many different behaviour management systems out there. Over my career I have probably tried all of them at one time or another.

Points.

Names on the board.

Stickers.

Moving names up or down on a chart.

You name it. I have probably tried it.

What do all of these systems tend to have in common?

Extrinsic motivation (or, as some teachers like to call it, bribery!) Not that there is anything inherently wrong in extrinsic motivation (no matter how many specialists try to convince us that intrinsic is best). Show me one grown up who has not done something to get a reward later or who hasn't told themselves that they deserve a reward for doing something difficult. Worked out to be able to eat that pizza. Had a glass of wine to celebrate the end of a bad day. Bought a present to pick themselves up. You get the idea. We all do it.

Why? Because it works! But I do find that these type of systems tend to have a very short life span. I have seen these types of systems be very successful with certain students (or classes) for short periods of time but never over the long term. AND these types of systems take up A LOT of teacher time to make them work. Maybe they only work in the short term because I get so gosh darn tired of doing the system!

So while I do use these on a short term basis every once in awhile, the traditional behaviour management really isn't my "go to" way of dealing with managing behaviour in the classroom.

So, what do I use most of the time?

Get ready because it is going to blow your mind!

Time, patience and love.

Yep. That's it.

First, I make sure to be aware of  how I am feeling. After 19 years in the classroom I am well aware that I set the tone. If I am stressed out, grumpy, sick, etc. then poor behaviour inevitably follows. I can bet on it. Every. single. time. It is my job to model how I want them to behave. Even when it is really hard to do!!!!

Second, I teach the class calming strategies to get their bodies and minds ready to learn. I bought the book  Conscious Discipline. a number of years ago and have been slowly using more and more of it in my teaching. I got the different calming strategies from it. There is an AWESOME blog called Heather's Heart where the teacher uses tons of Conscious Discipline principles. I want to be Heather when I grow up!

Combined with the Conscious Discipline program, I use  the A.LE.R.T. program to help students learn expectations. I like the simple language and being able to just tell kids that they need to be in Green Zone.

I create an area in my room each year that is the Quiet Zone or Safe Place. Here I keep some cuddle buddies (stuffed animals), books, etc. This year I am adding a wave bottle and some lotion. Not all kids like to use this area. Some just find a quiet spot (like one of our community bean bags) when they need one.

So how does it work?

Well, I spend tons and tons of time explaining, demonstrating and practicing positive behaviour choices in the classroom. Then, after they have all learned the expectations inside and out I start giving them three chances to correct poor behaviour choices (I use a silent signal of raising my fingers). If they get to strike three, they are asked to leave  the group and come back to the group when they are calm and ready to learn. What I am aiming for is self regulation. And most kids don't end up needing to leave the group. They just need a reminder (or two!!) about making better choices.

That's it.

Sound simple? Well, it kind of is.

It is all about the front loading and teaching. The time spent in the beginning of the year teaching the calming strategies and behaviour expectations is worth its weight in gold, and silver, and diamonds, and...!

I find that most students want to behave. They want to learn and make good choices. But sometimes they have a bad day. Sometimes I have a bad day, too. That's life. So, no Time Outs. Just time to calm themselves and get ready for learning. And, yes, I have been known to tell the class I need to get back to Green Zone, walk to the Safe Place, do some deep breathing or another calming strategy and then come back to teach again. I am a firm believer in practicing what I preach!

Now wait! I know what you are going to say next!

What about THOSE kids? You know, the ones who NEVER seem to follow the rules, who seem to be always disruptive and who seem to be in our class for the sole purpose of driving the teacher CRAZY?!?!

I know that we all have them. Every year there are one or two tough cases that seem to require an extraordinary amount of teacher time (and too often that is negative teacher time!)

I have a secret weapon for these tough cases.

Are you ready?

DOUBLE THE LOVE!!! Yep, good old fashioned, love and lots of it!!!!!

I had a student like this last year. There were days when it felt like he was going to drive me crazy!!!!! Some days it was all I could do to maintain my sanity. I had to keep reminding myself that none of his behaviour choices had anything to do with me. They had to do with him. His fears, his needs, his insecurities. (This is NOT easy to do some days!!!!)

And so I gave him love. And lots of it!  One of the tricks I used was to give him a big hug every time I felt like saying his name in anger or frustration. There was one day when I think I hugged him about 40 times in a 5 hour period!!!! By the end of the year, we had built up a bond. He no longer made poor behaviour choices (most of the time) and his learning was coming along (now that his behaviour didn't interfere with it!). On the last day of classes, he gave me a hug that practically cracked a rib! The sweet feeling of success!!!!

So, there you go. My management plan in a very long nutshell!

Ms. Hughes

Teachin' and Blog Hoppin'

Day 3 of the Linky Party over at Blog Hoppin'. Today is all about organizing for teaching. That is a REALLY big topic!!!! I'm going to stick to one aspect of it: keeping student data organized.

I would love to be able to show loads of photos but, as I mentioned yesterday, I haven't been able to get into my classroom much. I've only actually had one day in the space and that was spent putting furniture in place.

Luckily for me, there are other teachers out there in Pinterestland that use the same organization techniques that I do! So, I thought I would just describe a few things that I do to make keeping data organized in my teaching life easier and, where possible, show you a picture from someone else who does the same thing.

So, here goes!!!!! 

1. Labels - I love labels! Last year with the move to the new school and all the chaos going on I really didn't make use of this organizational tool. Basically, what I try to do is keep track of observations etc on labels which I can then just stick into my binder where I keep all the students data. Sort of like this (but without the really pretty clipboard!):



from Spotted in First Grade

2. Scrapbooks - I keep a scrapbook for every student. I get them through my school. They are ordered from Grand & Toy. I keep monthly writing samples, copies of their report cards, goal setting conference forms, awards, drawings, photos, graphs to show progress, etc. I pull these out every time I meet with parents. I like them because they are a useful tool for data collection and make a nice keepsake at the end of the year.

 

 

3. Student Data Binder - this is pretty basic and I use the same one from year to year. Since so much of their info is kept in the scrapbooks, all I really keep in here are the actual test results (that I put on the graphs in their scrapbooks) and my labels with observations written on them. Also, any communication with parents is noted in this binder. I sewed the cover to my binder so that it looks different from a regular binder. This helps me not to lose it when it gets piled under a bunch of papers!!!!

 

Those are probably the top 3 things I do to help me stay organized and on top of student data. I am hoping that I can go a bit more digital this school year so these organization methods may shift a little bit!

 

There are, of course, tons of other things I do to stay organized! I could go on and on and on...you get the idea! I may do another post once I've had a chance to actually set up my classroom so that you can see what I am talking about.

 

Until then, hop on over to Blog Hoppin' to check out all the other great organization ideas in their linky party!

 

 

Ms. Hughes

Another day of blog hoppin'!!!!

 

Teacher Week: Classroom Digs

So, I am linking up with Blog Hoppin' for Teacher Week '13. Today is the day to share what my classroom looks like. Well, I haven't really had much time in there yet so it is still in a state of chaos but I'm going to hope you take pity on my mess!

If you are new to my blog, you may not know about how my school functions. Over the last few years, the school district has been building us a new school that meets seismic codes here in B.C. The new school has been built on a community model rather than on the traditional classroom model.

What does this mean for me?

Well, for starters, it means I don't have a classroom of my own.

At least, not in the traditional sense. No more one room/one teacher.

Instead, what we have are a group of different sized rooms (called Learning Studios) that open out onto a common area (called the Community Commons). We then have a teacher's office where we keep all of our professional resources etc.

No more teacher desk, no more "owning" a room.

The idea is that we have a "home base" in each studio but that the teachers and students use all of the community space as much as possible.

It is different, I'll admit. And, as we only moved in last October, it has taken (and continues to take) a lot of time and effort to figure out how to teach in this new model.

I spent last year using the green studio as my home base (also called the DaVinci because it has sinks and space for both science and art) but I switched studios in June with one of my team teachers.

So, now I am in the purple studio. I spent a couple hours in there yesterday (first time I was able to get in this summer) and took a few shots. Had wanted to work more in there today but it was being cleaned so I worked on my professional space in the teacher's office

Here is what my studio looks like right now:

The view from my door looking towards the Smartboard/Group Meeting area. The open door you see on the far wall opens onto a patio that my students can use to work, garden etc. It is so great having outdoor space right beside my studio!

A closer look at the Smartboard/Group Meeting area. I don't have a carpet (I've asked for one but who knows when, or if, I'll ever get it?) I climbed up on the ladder yesterday to do my bulletin boards. All the same - turquoise with black borders. My favourite!!!!!

 

This (very messy!) table is my Teaching Table where I meet with small groups. The cupboard behind with the open door is the one space where I can keep personal items within the studio. Beside the cupboard there is another board covered in turquoise paper. This has a table in front of it and will eventually be home to my Writing Centre.

 

This is the view looking back from the patio door towards the entry. The whiteboards at the back will eventually house my word wall. Under the boards are the student cubbies. I am so glad that they pull down so I can hide the inevitable clutter caused by 24 young children storing their assorted stuff!

 

When you first enter our school from the playground or west side, you come in to a large School Commons (one of two) and you see our community immediately. 

This is our community behind the large glass accordion doors. You can see our community commons. Right now all the furniture is on the outside of the doors because they were just waxing the floors.

 

The Purple Studio is in the corner where the door is open. To the left is the door and open garage door (we can open and close this as needed to create more or less privacy) of the Orange Studio. The dark door is the entrance to a small room where teachers can work 1-1 or with small groups. The door on the far right is the entrance to our teacher's space where we keep all of our professional items and have our desks.

And here is the office space...

This is a broader view of the teacher's office. We have a table in the middle to meet at and personal spaces around the walls. Mine is in the corner where the pink chair is sitting.

 

 

Some more close ups of my office space.

 



And, there you have it...my studio and office spaces as they looked today. I'll be posting photos of the room as I get it done. School doesn't start for me until September 3.

 

So, stay tuned!

 

Ms. Hughes

 

 

 

Come Blog Hoppin' with me!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

It's Teacher Week '13 and I am joining up with the linky party at Blog Hoppin' and am going to try (really try!) to participate every day this week!

I am determined to do a better job this school year with my blogging.
Fingers crossed!

Today's topic is to share 10 things about me (I am guessing that they should be 10 NEW things but I'm not sure...)

So...here goes....

1. I am starting my 20th year of teaching (Crikey!)
3 of those were as an Educator On Call, also known as an EOC, (previously known as a substitute teacher before my district decided to go all acronymie on us!) Seven years were in Kindergarten, one in grade 2, and the last eight mostly in grade 1 with a year of K/1 and another of 1/2. This coming year I will most likely be teaching a straight grade 1 or a combination 1/2. Time will tell!

2. I get grumpy if I don't exercise. It has taken me many years to figure this out but I have finally accepted it. The problem being that I don't always want to exercise even though I know I'll feel so much better after!!!!

3. I have been with my husband for 20 years - married for 17. We have a 17 year old daughter. And, yes, I was pregnant when we got married! What most people don't realize is that we planned the pregnancy but hadn't planned to get married. Glad we did though!

4. I don't eat wheat or many sweets. I do have a sweet tooth though. My favourite are salted caramels. Yummmmm....

5. My family has moved A LOT. I lived in the same house growing up (my mother has now lived there for 47 years!!!) but, since moving out at the age of 23, I have lived in 14 places. All in the same city!!!! I know it sounds cray-zee (and it kind of is) but we are done moving (honestly, I mean it!) I've even started decorating which I've never really done before.

6. I say "Okiedokie Fenokies" a lot in class. It is a play on the name of the Okefenokee Swamp, which is a swamp in Southern Georgia near to where my dad grew up. Once, when I was pretty young, my Grandaddy took us out on the swamp with the gators and, let's just say that it left an impression!

7. I read. A LOT! A novel every couple of days kind of reading. But...I rarely read the "Oprah" book club kind of novels. When I read I want to relax and not think too much! I just go to the library and browse the shelves, pulling what looks interesting and give it a read!

8. I don't like to cook but I do all the cooking in our house. I would give over the rights to my hubby but he tends to make weird concoctions sans recipes like Blueberry Chicken. Trust me...it wasn't pretty! Sigh...

9. I am a total homebody. Give me a cup of  tea, a cozy bed and a good book and I am happy as can be!

10. I have different play lists for all different situations. The workout - kick me in the ass - playlist, the walking - taking it slow and easy - playlist, the faith - for when I am feeling in need of spiritual healing - playlist, you name it...and I probably have a playlist for it. Or could easily make one!

So...there you go! Not sure how fun those facts are but that's what I came up with. Now, go join the linky party!

Ms. Hughes

Setting Goals Linky Party!

So, I have spent much of today going through files on my computer and deleting, sorting, and organizing my digital life. Talk about a big (and seemingly neverending!) job!

In between all of this work, I have been blog jumping. I discovered a new linky called Monday Made It that is hosted by 4th Grade Frolics and found lots of good ideas. I have pinned a few and will try to  make them in the next few weeks.

Jumping from blog to blog looking at all the neat ideas, I came across another linky by I {Heart} Recess about setting goals for the new school year. Now, I know that my school year doesn't start as soon as a lot of other  teachers out there in the blogosphere but I couldn't help myself! I had to participate! And, hopefully, I will be able to get a head start on a couple of the goals.

So, here is my goal sheet...

So, head on over to I {Heart} Recess to find out what goals other teachers are setting!

Ms. Hughes

Currently...September

 

It is once again time to link up with Oh' Boy 4th Grade for the new month's currently. Can you all believe it is already September? Where did the rest of the holidays go?!?! Hope it was a good one for everyone and that you are all ready to jump back into the hustle and bustle of the new school year.

 

I am as ready as I am going to be. The classroom is set up (mostly) and I went through all of my school clothes yesterday to make sure that a) I still liked it all and b) it still fit. Happy to say that nothing was too small but a couple of things were too big. Go me! Still have no clue as to what I am going to wear tomorrow (see thinking above) but will get it figured out I am sure.

 

Anywho, hop on over to Farley's site and check out this month's linky party!

 



It's that time again...

I am linking up with Oh' Boy Fourth Grade for another Currently page. Here goes...

Hitting the Jackpot!!!!

Today there were 150 bloggers giving away free units from their Teachers Pay Teachers stores. April over at A Modern Teacher hosted the Pre-K to Grade 2 sites that were doing giveaways. There were 86 of them! WOWZER!!!!

I found so many cool ideas and, even better, I found some new to me, amazing blogs that I will go back to later for a closer look. I must have pinned about 50 new blogs to my all things school blogs pinboard on Pinterest. So much fun!

I do like me a good linky party and this one was wonderful! It is too late to get any of the freebies but I would highly recommend heading over to A Modern Teacher and checking out this post so that you can link up to all the other wonderful blogs participating and get your creative juices going!

Hey all! I am linking up with Oh' Boy Fourth Grade to do a currently page. I've been loving these ever since I started seeing them pop up here there and everywhere. Finally figured out how to do it. Yippee! Here is mine. Hop on over and join the Linky Party!

What's In My Bag?

Blog surfing through my saved teacher's blogs and websites I came upon this fun linky party and thought I would join in!

Well, I do love bags. Not as much as I love shoes but, still, I have way too many of them! That said, most of them are not practical for school. They are mostly cute purses that I use once in a blue moon. Last year, when we lived a mere four blocks from my school, I would use a simple over the shoulder bag that I whipped up. It carried lunch, my keys and little else.

This year, having moved a good 20 blocks from school, I have been using my good egg's (otherwise known as my teenaged daughter) old backpack. It is big, roomy and pretty.

One thing it isn't....waterproof. I discovered this the other day during a long, wet walk to school in a torrential downpour. Everything was soggy!

So, what's in my bag? Well, I have a rule about bringing work home. I don't. Unless absolutely necessary. Not that I don't do school related work at home but I don't carry marking back and forth etc. I have some professional books that I use at home, I plan on the computer and use my flash drive but that is it. No papers come home. No marking. Nothing.

My bag has the basics I need going back and forth every day.

my lunchbag

my Vera Bradley umbrella

my traveling medicine kit

(which includes Tylenol, allergy meds and Benadryl cream for skin reactions to allergies) Isn't it cute? I bought it at a fair a couple of years ago.

 my little green notebook

(it fits in the palm of my hand, has a spot for a pen, a notepad that has a great cover and makes me smile when I see it and slots for credit cards that I use for reciepts. I love having it on hand to jot down the title of a book or an address or whatever.)

my daughter's old ipod

(I love, love, love listening to my favourite tunes during my walks to and from work)

and the other stuff that fills the small front pocket

(keys, bus tickets, gum, tic tacs, kleenex, cheque book, hair clip, assorted receipts that didn't get tuck into my green book and the cute as anything little Vera Bradley black and white change purse that was a gift to my daughter that she didn't use)

So, there's my bag. Not a lot in it but the basics. Now if I could only find a way to waterproof it! I expect that I will have to invest in something else pretty soon because in the Pacific Northwest the words Fall and Autumn are synonymous with rain, rain and more rain. I will be heading to MEC to see if there is anything there that will withstand the weather and also meet my fashion requirements! LOL

Ms. Hughes