Elisa Waingort
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Student Engagement in Writing and Reading Workshop
This is the second in a series of blog posts about different strategies I use to help my students take ownership of their learning. The first post was about class meetings. Today’s post is about giving kids opportunities to determine their own writing and reading plans every Friday afternoon. (Coming soon is the third post in this… Read more
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Class Meetings
This is the first in a series of blog posts about different strategies I use to help my students take ownership of their learning. Today’s post is about class meetings. Recently there was an online debate about what comes first, ownership of learning or engagement? Although I don’t think we came to a consensus on… Read more
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End Of the Year Rumination
The end of the school year is typically a stressful time. Report cards need to be written, assessments need to be completed and final projects need to be turned in, and not necessarily in that order. Nevertheless, I have always had time to enjoy my students before we say goodbye on the last day of… Read more
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Self-Compassion and Other Musings on a Rainy Sunday
So, I haven’t written a blog post in a long time. Maybe I’m going to have to accept the fact that no matter how hard I try I may not able to stick to any kind of regular writing schedule. At least not yet. Not right now. Or maybe I need to accept that I will be… Read more
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bedtime rumination
at the end of the school day I pack my school and computer bags stuff books and papers in both bags and make a mental list of all the things I’m going to accomplish tonight I get home at 5:00 pm and head for my bedroom and a hot shower the water is not hot,… Read more
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Ecuador Earthquake, April 16, 2016
On April 16th, a deadly 7.8 earthquake shocked the coastal towns of Ecuador. Six provinces in all. Although people felt the earthquake in Quito, where I live, no one could have predicted its impact on those living in the hardest hit areas. I am saddened by the loss of life and the injured; the trauma… Read more
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A Surprising Conversation About A book
It was one of those moments when I wished I could have recorded the discussion.But I couldn’t have anticipated the depth of or interest in the conversation.In fact, I couldn’t have planned the conversation even if I’d wanted to. We had just finished a chapter in our current read aloud, Pax by Sara Pennypacker.It was suggested… Read more
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Morning Tasks
What a day! I had absolutely no breaks all day long. The two prep periods I had were devoted to meetings – one with a parent and another one to discuss our next PYP unit – the Exhibition of Learning! And, as if that weren’t enough, I had recess and lunch supervision. Finally, there was… Read more
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Celebration
Today’s blog is a little celebration for myself. I hope you will bear with me. Last night I had an amazingly encouraging Skype conference with my doctoral advisors in Australia. I am doing my EdD online through a university in Adelaide. I did a lot of research before deciding on this program and I am… Read more
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Conversations
Snippets of conversations… “Ms. Elisa, you’re late!” (It’s 7:43 and I usually get to my class around 7:35 in the morning.)“How’s your workshop, Ms. Elisa?” (I’ve been at a workshop all week long. I see my students first thing in the morning and not again until the next day.)“Ms. Elisa, what do you prefer? Being… Read more
Elisa Waingort 