Author Archives: Annie Campbell

This is the view from my hammock.  When I look up from my book, this is what I see.  The word on the street is that I read a lot.  True. The word on the street is that I don’t … Continue reading →

The first homework assignment in Room 204 is to look at the world with the eyes of a writer.  This is the first step of writing.  I don’t teach it by myself; many authors help through the books we use … Continue reading →

Of course I would love Switzerland:  The four food groups seem to be bread, butter, cheese, and chocolate!   These were the perfect foods for picnics in forests, on river rocks, by lakes, and in the Alps.  Clock towers, church … Continue reading →

September is a blind date for any teacher.  You are matched with 22 students, and 22 students are matched with you.  “Are they your favorite class yet?”  People who know me well ask this question every September and laugh.  They … Continue reading →

Yarn and knitting needles tiptoed into the room last week. Some girls brought in some knitting and then some other girls wanted to learn.  Then some boys wanted to learn.  And then I wanted to learn.  Knitting has formed some … Continue reading →

Last week I had a picnic with four girls from Fox. Lauren won the picnic in the Teacher Lotto and graciously invited three girls from Room 204 to join us. On a beautiful day, over peanut butter sandwiches and Cheeze-Its … Continue reading →

Every day, before lunch, we read a little of Charlotte’s Web.  Each child has his or her own copy.  A cup holds their names on popsicle sticks.  I  read aloud.  The room settles.  I draw a name from the cup,  … Continue reading →

I love picnics.   I don’t know if it was my first picnic, but it is the first one I can remember.  We ventured into the Black Forest in Germany.  I remember the sun-dappled forest floor and the wooden hamper with … Continue reading →

The bongos played. Parents came and so did Emily Dickinson and Robert Frost and Christopher Marlowe and Langston Hughes and Paul Laurence Dunbar, and so many others.  Word by word, poet by poet, poetry came to life. Word by word, … Continue reading →