Over on my class blog, Curiosity Racers, I shared what happened as a result of this tweet from author Aaron Becker.
It is worth checking out.
Really!
@CarrieGelson it starts with the letter R
— Aaron Becker (@storybreathing) January 22, 2015
All of those delicious R words have inspired my celebration post today.
I celebrate:
REWARD
My children had a Professional Day on Monday so they came to my classroom with me. This was a wonderful experience all around. They were great helpers and my students loved to interact with them. All my most precious children in one room! Watching the students share their love of books with my children who have been raised on books was a most rewarding experience.
RESTLESS
I love the restless energy of science experiments. Our favourite Let’s Talk Science volunteers came in on Thursday morning and led the students through some activities to learn about density. The excitement, the observing, the predicting, the confirming, the “Oh I get it now!” moments.
RISK
In math, we are solving a variety of multi-step word problems involving multiplication and division. I have been modelling different choices around using manipulatives or 100 dot array charts to represent the thinking. Students have been working together to solve and write equations that represent their process. I love the confidence, the starting over, the talk, the thinking.
REVEAL
Yes, the results of our #MockCaldecott are in! The winners are . . .
I hope to be posting more about this soon!
RAGE
We have some very passionate readers in our room. When this title by Mark Pett wasn’t one of the winners (it was so very close!), one super fan gave it its own medal!
And author/illustrator Mark Pett approved 🙂
@CarrieGelson Nice to meet you! And your medal is better than any Caldecott!
— Mark Pett (@MarkPett) January 22, 2015
RAVE
There was lots of gushing over favourite titles in this #MockCaldecott process. Everyone had a chance to write about the books they loved and why. Oh, the book love! 
Thank you to Ruth Ayres and the #celebratelu community! Being part of a community that regularly shares gratitude and celebrations truly transforms my weeks. Read all of the celebrations by following the links shared here.
There's a Book for That 
Such a wonderful mix of loves! I agree with Mark Pett. That sticker is priceless “the best book ever” award. That is what you inspire. Lots of best books ever attitude!
Julieanne
That sticker made my day as well. I so love the passion my students share with me over books! It is fully contagious and always infecting everyone!
What a great way to structure a blog post! My favorite was the medal a student gave The Girl and the Bicycle! 😉 I agree with her/him – it’s one of my picks this year! I always enjoy the RETURN to your blog to read about your celebrations. 😉
Thanks for READING and REFLECTING along with the R theme! I am also a big fan of Girl and the Bicycle. It was one of my top choices!
I loved going to your class!
Love Bea
p.s. You are a really great teacher. Your students are really engaged and sweet!
It was wonderful to have you there!
Carrie, I always love your pictures, but this time especially that one with the science experiment going on-just wonderful. Fun to hear about the winners & the “real” winner, your student’s passion about The Girl & The Bicycle. So many great books were out last year-and thus so hard to choose.
Thanks Linda – I have been posting a lot of literacy heavy photos lately but we also have been doing some great science and math. I need to share more! Isn’t that award the best? She was so inspired by her love of her Mock Caldecott choices. Certainly one of the best activities we have done all year.
I loved watching your Tweets with Aaron Becker this week! It shows me the power of Twitter – the students being able to interact with authors. It’s a beautiful thing! I love how you used the “R” words in your post!
Exactly – the power of twitter. It lifts my classroom up and lets it swirl about with all of these amazing interactions! 🙂
The student book award is a winner. Your classroom is so vibrant. I wish I could visit.
Would love to have you! It’s vibrant, yes. Sometimes a little wild and wooly as well! But never, ever dull.
The Girl and The Bicycle! My students had an amazing discussion around this book! The first time I read it, I cried! I am pulling for this one all the way!
I am also a big fan. It’s a little treasure of a story.
I loved every minute of this post! I especially loved the extra award given! That made me smile!
My class is waiting patiently for the Newbery to be announced soon. I think I am the one being impatient!
So glad I found your blog!
Thanks Sarah! There were so many amazing MG novels this year. I have some definite favourites that I think are award worthy!
How special to have all of your readers together! What a gift!
It was pretty lovely!