Conversation Tree

I got this idea from my friend and guest poster, Angela. 

Each student gets their own set of colored question cards and comment cards.  The teacher or students pick a topic of conversation and the students get a chance to ask questions or comment.  The goal is to have a tree that is colorful and very tall.  When an off-topic comment is made we put a branch instead of a colorful card.  Obviously, a tree without branches sticking out all over is the goal.  The topic of this conversation tree was....

Click on me to find out

I was hoping for tears and inconsolable kids yelling "noooooooo".  That's not quite how it went down. Some kids immediately started asking questions, while others I don't think got what I was trying to tell them.  A group of my kindergartners kept asking when I would be coming back from my move.  Either way, I wanted to make sure to give my kids plenty of notice that I will not be returning next year as their speech lady.  This is what the tree looked like when I was using it with some older kids that had lots of questions to ask about my impending move.

So there is the activity.  It's great for working on conversation skills, expansion of utterances, asking questions, answering questions etc. 

Now for more on the move....

I figured I would let you all in on my exciting news.  This speech lady is moving to Chicago in 2 months.  Chicago has always been in the back of my mind (my sister and her husband have lived there for several years), but the day I felt the baby inside my sister's stomach kick, I was a goner.  I knew I needed to be near this little being or I would go insane.  Well my sweet little niece is 7 months old now, and everyday away has been absolute torture.  

I mean she was cute then, but you should see her "Michelin Man" arms and precious face now.

Luckily, my new job in Chicago will force me to do even more lesson planning than I do now, which means more ideas for you all. I will be sad to leave Austin and leave the wonderful friends I've made here.  I don't even want to think about saying goodbye to my classroom neighbors and besties Angela and Jessie.  Gahhh hold back tears! 

Anyways, I'm extremely anxious and thrilled about the exciting things ahead of me and wanted to share it with my blog family (you all of course!).