Good Day to all of you in Division 9:

It is Thoughtful, Thinking Thursday and today I want you to think about any assignments, activities projects that you may have not had a chance to work on or complete.  Now is your time to get to them and hand them in as I will not be receiving or commenting on any hand-in assignments next week.

All of you have worked so hard during this third term, at a time when teaching and learning has been so different for us all.  I appreciate all of your creativity and personal expression.  I am proud of all that you have accomplished.

During the last week of May, I recorded an audio-read but never did share it with you.  Even though there are May references and a connection to plant growth from Seed to Flower, I thought it was a purposeful story to share at this time.

Five Tough And Tiny Seeds reminds me of our journey through the third term.  You just might connect with the seeds in the story as I did.  We were like the tiny seeds, wanting to hold strong to what we knew, which for the seeds was the reed.  We wanted to hold on to our classroom routine, our personal connections and our in-class lessons. As the spring time winds came and gave us a push, we were able to move and grow in ways we never expected.  Just as the spring time winds blew the seeds here, there and everywhere, we as a team of Division 9 students kept moving forward on our learning journeys.  The story helps us make text to text connections as we relate to seeds, plants, insects, trees, birds, ponds, that we shared through out our on-line learning. As you’ll hear and see in the story, the seeds let go of their grip on the reed and began to explore and journey in places and spaces they never expected. They grew into the beautiful flowers of summer.

You are my little springtime tough and tiny seeds that have grown into bright and independent flowers of summer.

When you listen to the story, be thoughtful and think about which seed and flower you might be.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1paRXagN2yHpJYhsheanuOja1r4XLBNdr/view

I have to tell you, that when I was recording this audio-read, I had to stop and start many times as a drone was flying over my backyard and kept hovering way above my head to see what was happening.  The sound of the drone was loud and kept interrupting my audio-read.  That is why it is a bit darker than I wanted it to be as the light of the day was disappearing.  I didn’t give up though and I finally got through the story.  I remembered the O.K. Book and just kept trying!

For this Thoughtful, Thinking Thursday, reflect back on your learning journey from Spring Break to Now.  Take some time to write in a journal.  Write about your feelings, your explorations, your “new normal.”  Share your ups and downs, your connections with your passions and talents and the experiences you have had during this time in history.  This last 3 and 1/2 months have flown by but you have engaged in some amazing moments and I don’t think you’ll want to forget them.  So get out your handy, dandy pencil and a notebook, journal or writing paper and WRITE WRITE WRITE!  Don’t forget to include your appreciation and gratitude for all your amazing moments.

That’s all for now you tough and tiny seeds that have grown into beautiful flowers ready for summer!

Mrs. E.