Class #60--6th Age Reading

Wednesday, June 1, 2011, 8:45 A.M. 6th Age Reading Class. Class #60 on my “50 Classes or Bust!” expedition. The warm temperatures have not affected the spirits of Mrs. Catlin’s eleven enthusiastic readers. Mrs. Catlin has created a “fish pond” on her rug. The “fish” on the rug have words written on them, as well as a paper clip attached. The students take their fishing rod (a stick with yarn and a magnet on the end of the yarn) and fish for antonyms. The first boy selects “open” and then has to find “shut.” A girl finds “light” and “dark.” Another pair is “asleep” and “awake.” This activity is a very effective way to teach the students about opposites! Mrs. Catlin is a source of constant encouragement for the boys and girls as they “fish” for the correct words. After all the fish have been caught, Mrs. Catlin passes out two cards to each student. Each card has a word on it. Mrs. Catlin then shows two pictures to the class. The students with the corresponding words put them together to create a compound word. For example, Mrs. Catlin holds up a picture of a stick of butter and then a picture of a fly. The children say excitedly, “Butterfly!” With Mrs. Catlin’s reading class this morning, my year-long “50 Classes or Bust” voyage comes to a close. It started way back in early September and finishes today, in the month of June. Oh, the classes I have seen—every grade level, every subject, and nearly every faculty member! My goal was 50 classes and I reached 60, which gives me a sense of great accomplishment. I am a bit sad, however, given that I have to wait three whole months before I observe my next class. In the fall, I plan to observe the five or six teachers whom I missed this year. I can’t wait!