This is the hallway outside of my classroom :) It makes my heart happy. These fabulous [life size] characters were drawn and painted by my wonderfully talented friend Heather Hollomon and some of my fellow 4th grade teachers. (But mostly Heather!) "Why the Wizard of Oz?" you ask...Well, when I was in college student teaching in Keller ISD, I had this amazing, wonderful, born-to-be-a-teacher mentor. Mary Frances Frawley. I want to be her when I grow up (maybe minus the super tall shoes and spiky hair, but I digress...) Anyway, she is seriously amazing. I feel like everything I do in my room stems from what I learned by watching her...I mean, my classroom jobs, routines and procedures, and most importantly: the way I teach elements of fiction. Mary Fran is obsessed with the Wizard of Oz and therefore, she teaches about character traits, changes, relationships, plot, conflict and theme using this book (and of course, as an extra special treat, introduces kids to the movie!). Please excuse my stick-figure drawings but it gets the job done. My kids asked the other day why I put this out in the hallway instead of in our room. I [honestly] told them that it was because I knew they walked super slow when they went to the restroom or to get a drink and if they were going to shuffle their feet in the hallway, at least they could be learning while doing so. One of my boys said, "Man, you ARE a smart teacher!" [Was there any doubt in his mind?! I better figure out some new ways to amaze him!:)] It's almost Friday (praise the Lord). This week has been a beating. Between TELPAS training, PDAS self report, grades, common assessments, lesson plans, sub plans (written and not used), Destination Imagination AND having a 5 1/2 month old...I am READY for the weekend. :) Talk to you soon! -C