"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers." (Lucy Maud Montgomery in Anne of Green Gables) A longish title for a blog post, and yet a perfect thought to begin each day in October. To Anne, October is a clear message from nature that things change, and change is a good thing. Your new-in-August-or-September class should just be settling into routines by now and realizing that every day brings new adventures in learning. Maybe you have changed grades, or subject focus, or schools. This year, in any case, should be an adventure in building relationships with your students. Even a looping class shows up on the first day very different than they were when they left for summer break. We change every day as long as we keep living.
What does October make you think of? Pumpkin spice everything? As a non-fan of pumpkin spice, I am always up for other new flavors from my favorite coffee place. The caramel apple one called to me this month, although I have pretty quickly returned to almond milk flat white. Decaf. I'm much too exciting already for caffeine. In my part of the country, October never disappoints with the fiery displays of color from trees all around my community. And best of all? The mosquitoes are gone. I know many of your students have Halloween and the planning of their costumes on their minds. You might even be planning your own costume and those of your family.
October is a cozy kind of month to me. I dream of long lazy stretches of time, knitting and reading. I can still walk outdoors, but the time spent inside when I return is much more enticing. This October, I have a fresh new novel from each of several of my favorite authors to explore: Jodi Picoult, Ellen Hilderbrand, Jamie Ford, Celeste Ng, and Colleen Hoover. Here's a list of new books for middle grades that you might want to explore as you have reading conferences with your students this fall.
Nothing suggests fall coziness in the classroom more to me than a read-aloud. In my opinion, kids are never too young or too old for a good read-aloud. For October, I recommend Anne of Green Gables and the more contemporary Each Little Bird That Sings by Deborah Wiles. Comfort Snowberger is a character that your students and you will not forget.
Some suggestions to try out in your classroom before October ends, and to continue into the rest of Autumn:
Around the Campfire
Try this idea for Morning Meeting, Read-aloud time, Author's Chair, or Poetry Share. Build a "campfire" on a paper plate base from empty toilet paper or paper towel rolls and crumpled tissue paper. Sit in a circle around it. Students could have their own individual "logs" to add to the fire when they add a reading of their own work or when they add an observation, compliment, or suggestion to the conversation. I purchased an electric "campfire" from a local fireplace shop, but here's a picture of one that you could easily build:
