Summer Break

I find the 5 week long summer break too arduous. Don't get me wrong. I love holidays but I prefer them in short doses. Like a week off every month ! That would be rejuvenating and exciting. Longer breaks just end up making me languid and snappy. When I ask people how do they pass their time during the holidays, I get varied responses. The most annoying one is, 'make the best use of time and do what you like doing the most'. Well, I like travelling but can I travel for five weeks? That would leave a big crater in my bank account, difficult to refill with my teacher salary !

  Though I have travel plans in place and am eagerly awaiting to feel the salt in the air and sand in my hair on the beautiful Mediterranean coastline, it will still leave me with four full weeks of leisure time.

So while I will try and perfect "the art of  doing nothing" skill this summer, I will also make some interesting things for my kiddos at school. These ideas might inspire you to do something constructive if you sail in the same boat as me.

I am going to start by making rain sticks. 

Rain sticks are long hollow tubes filled with pebbles. When the stick is upended, the pebbles fall to the other side making a sound reminiscent of rain falling. It is believed to have been invented by Aztecs and was played in the belief that it could bring about rainstorms.

Since July will be the onset of monsoons, it will be fun to use rain sticks with kids. I also found a great book to go along with it.

 I also intend to start the unit on Five Senses after the break and will put the rain sticks in the sensory workstation for children to explore.

The blog, "pinning with purpose" gives step by step instructions to make the rain sticks. You can go there by clicking on the link: Rain Stick

Another fun project idea came from Mrs. Gilchrists blog for sight words. It is fun way to get your kids to read sight words. To read more about it you can visit her blog: mrsgilchristsclass.BlogSpot

I found a great tool for classroom management on "little minds at work"

Click on the link :littlemindsatwork.blogspot.com.au to get a free printable and a detailed explanation of how this works.

I do intend to read some books because the opportunities for professional development in India for teachers are very bleak.

I am quite keen to start creative writing in my class this year and I zeroed down on the book by Katie Ray.

Another book I am quite excited to read is "Why are all good teachers crazy ?" by Frank Stepnowski.
 Little bit of inspiration will do a lot of good !

I am also working on the 0-10 number pack and five senses unit. I will post them as soon as they get ready. Till then enjoy the break and make the most of it.