#sol2014 Hidden Gems

An icy storm this weekend brought our lives to a standstill.  I took the opportunity to begin a huge cleaning project: my office.  It was a glittery, cluttered, mess of books and many unfinished projects.  It was so bad that I actually had ordered ANOTHER copy of a book for a class I am teaching this semester!  I just could not find the copy I HAD last spring!  As is usually the case with a big cleaning project, the bags of garbage and recycling were huge.  The cleaning actually made things look WORSE for a while.  At the 24 hour point, the floor was still littered with "stuff" looking for a home.


I guess my husband took pity on me, or perhaps he really wanted to see the floor of the office appear!  Whatever the reason, he went out to attack the ice while I finished up.  In time, after hours of scraping and calcium chloriding the blacktop areas that would carry a vehicle, he found the hidden GEM of a driveway.  Blacktop, even if wet and still slippery, never looked so good!

Meanwhile, back in the office area,  I found a few GEMS myself. Along with the "missing" textbook, there were some wayward Barns and Noble gift cards and a few Dunkin Donuts coffee cards!  Sigh, sometimes, things get shoved into folders and bins.

There was also this long forgotten GEM, a story, written long ago by a first grader who never was one to ask for cookies or cake.  Instead, he would ask for a good meal of chicken, steak or bluefish!  He still likes to eat a whole lot of good food,only now he might include Sushi!

There were some indeed hidden GEMS in our icy day and my neat, for now, organized bookcase is just one of them!

@performingineducation Mentor Texts for Persuasive Thinking

I had already been immersed in the thinking about reading clusters of books around themes/big ideas/ enduring understandings as I prepared for this spring semester when I cam upon this Performing In Education post about mentor texts for teaching persuasive thinking!
http://www.performingineducation.com/2014/12/10-mentor-texts-for-teaching-persuasive.html
You really should check out the whole list......I'm ordering this, new-to-me, text right now!

  

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Joy, an update

I've tried to do the OLW Challenge from TWT before, but until this year and I have never shared my word. This year, "my word came to me!" (as I shared in January) and I bravely decided it would be a public GOAL even if I failed in my journey to live with JOY in my heart. 

Some days it's been tough.
I could never have imagined that when those speed bumps of life popped into my path that that I would make an effort to find a way to hold onto JOY. Even when I have been worried-beyond-belief about others. Even when I have been mad-as a hornet at others.  Even when I have cried those silent tears of frustration, sadness, worry. Even when my prayers were heard, but not answered in exactly the way I would have wanted.  It hasn't been easy to choose joy every day.  Some days, it would have been MUCH easier to choose "Mad-As-Hell and Not Taking This Any More"  but I have tried to focus on choosing JOY amid the fears and tears. 
Some days it's easy.
I could never have imagined, back in January, that I would be celebrating a new pup in our family!    
I could never have imagined, back in January. that I would be planning to cap off the year with a big, joyous, dress-up, once in a lifetime type celebration of life!
Some day, it's surreal.   
I could never have imagined the POPE, of all people, would be talking about MY OLW!  SERIOUSLY, I almost lost my lunch when I read that HE said in a recent speech, that the secret to JOY was:

1. “Live and let live.” 

2. “Be giving of yourself to others.” 

3. “Proceed calmly” in life. 

4. “A healthy sense of leisure.” "art, literature and playing together with children"

5. "Sundays should be holidays." 

6. "Find jobs for all." “Dignity from one’s own labor"

7. Respect and take care of nature. 

8. Stop being negative. 

9. Don’t proselytize; respect others’ beliefs. 

10. Work for peace. 

http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1403144.htm

Perhaps he reads my blog?

Poppies: Perhaps I Was Wrong

Long before close reading and rigorous texts were made popular by our CCS, schoolchildren memorized poems such as John McCrae's In Flanders Fields.  They knew it honored soldiers lost in war and thought of the poem when they saw veterans offering paper poppies to anyone willing to donate to the VFW.  In the days before "visualizing" texts was popularized, most of us had a clear image of the poppies dancing in the spring breeze between endless rows of crosses.  The poem, which depicts the ravages of war, was written by a doctor whose own life was marred by the loss of life in a WWI (spring 1915) battle.  For me, at least, the poem has forever connected poppies and cemeteries, sadness, and death.

Now I know that poppies are the only flower that will only grow in "rooted up" soil.  The seeds will lie on the ground for years and will not root until the soil is dug up, as it was for graves in the aftermath of the Great War, the one men, in vain, hoped would be the war to end all wars.  Perhaps, I have been wrong about poppies for all these years.  Perhaps they represent the strength to carry on after great tragedy?  Perhaps they represent the strength we need to live in a world where there still, nearly 100 years later are wars?

Something to think about

This appeared on "Twitter" this morning.  At first, I saw this as a great reminder as we psych ourselves and our students to just "do their best" on the High Stakes Math Assessment this week. 
Yet, before I even finished typing this note, I realize that this is pretty good advice for just about everything in life! 

Poem in Pocket Day

When I see Tweets like this

I smile.

I think of my own poems

Shared quietly yesterday,

Poem in Your Pocket Day

Poems of Purple Cows

"I'm sure that's my favorite poem."

Smiling, lovingly tucked into pockets

First graders at the beginning 

Of long literacy journeys

Poems of Dreams

"What day is this?"

Grad students not sure,

Yet, smiling,

Placed in a pocket, notebook, backpack

For the long journey ahead.

 NEVER saw a Purple Cow,

I never hope to see one;

But I can tell you, anyhow,

I'd rather see than be one.

Read more at http://www.poetry-archive.com/b/the_purple_cow.html#SCJ5rXhqV9Ud567m.99

Dreams

Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.
Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow. 

Langston Hughes

Reading on Spring Break

Adapting, Adjusting, Fitting In

"Prior experiences" was ringing in my head as I looked "closely" at an image a friend posted.  For some, this might be an image of a child who needs to learn the alphabet or perhaps an indication of a visual perceptual issues.  For others, this might be an indication of 100% code coverage.

I saw diverse individuals,

Pushed, pulled, morphed, by outside forces,

Trying to "fit in"

While some are doing OK,

Others are clearly

Uncomfortable,

Like poor X.

So...You Didn't Get Into Your First Choice

So...You Didn't Get Into Your First Choice

Spring Reading: The Digital Gap Reading Today Online

So, in between some Spring Cleaning, I did a bit of Spring Reading on the first day of Spring Break.  In this week's Reading Today Online http://www.reading.org/reading-today/digital/post/engage/2014/04/11/new-digital-tools-new-matthew-effects#.U0kVePldXTq

Paul Morsink writes about the challenge of digital gaps in our classrooms. 

At first, all I could really think about was my own personal technology challenge: will it work?
Then, I almost "poo pooed" the article thinking that kids are INTUITIVE with this technology stuff.  It's just us old adults who find it hard, right? Yet, if you stop to think about it, our students do NOT have a level technology playing field.  The real challenge, even now, is how we can avoid a technology equivalent to the Matthew effects.  How can we help students who fall behind in this area because of their exposure or because, for them, it is hard?
This is an article that makes you stop and think about how we all avoid what does not come easy to us!  
This article makes me stop and think about how some day, in the not so distant future, there may be Technology Intervention Services for students who struggle in that domain.   

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#celebratelu Quotes of the Week

This week I have "written" less than usual, perhaps because I was trying to cram two work-weeks into one to prepare for "Spring Break"!  Yet, this week was filled with words that etched my heart. So, I call this, "Quotes of the Week."

1) "Would you like to take some books to read over the vacation?" I asked.
"No thank you," she said politely, happily and confidently, as she skipped out of the room without looking back, "I'm not going to read a single word over the vacation. Not one single word!"
"I've still got a lot of work to do on that one," I thought to myself as I silently made a plan to hook her in with Pinky and Rex after vacation.  

2) "I'm gonna miss you on vacation," he said as he reached in for a bit of a hug, clutching a well worn copy of Danny and the Dinosaur in his other hand.  I looked at the book knowing that I would likely never see it again; yet, hoping, beyond reasonable instincts, that this child might just take a treasured book that he could now read on his trip.  I really was hoping that just maybe we wouldn't lose the progress made recently.  "Don't worry, I will try to read for 1 minute every day, even if I might be kind of busy surfing, sailing, swimming and playing video games," he assured me!
"A minute is a start," I thought to myself as he skipped out of the Reading Room!

3) "The kids were purposefully busy and happily engaged in meaningful activities," he commented.  "It was like they went for a 25-minute reading-writing work-out!  It was kind of like going to the gym, with some build-up, some really hard work, but with a feeling of great accomplishment at the end."
"That's exactly what I want them to do," I responded happily.
"It's too bad you don't burn calories doing this kind of a workout 9 times a day," I thought to myself as I skipped out of the office!

4) I've been reading Ruth Ayers 40 Stories, a series of posts that come from her heart, filled with stories of real family life with its ups and downs, pulls and pushes. This week, she wrote a post that was certainly earmarked for me as I have tried, not always perfectly, to balance my own hopes, dreams, wants, needs and those of the people in my life.
At the end, Ruth reflects,

                "I'm learning life, when lived to the fullest, is almost always 
                a moment away from unraveling. 
               We live at the tipping point between pure chaos and pure blessing." 

As I look ahead to my own week "off," filled to the brim with cleaning, cooking, raking, doctors, dentists, audiologists, lawyers, play-dates, shopping, errands, walks, and a day-trip to meet new family and friends, I thought to myself, "I really am blessed."  

A Joke in Your Pocket Day

In honor of students (at least in NYS) taking tests today, perhaps we should have a JOKE in your POCKET day, like Poem in Your Pocket Day which on April 26th!   We could pass out riddles in the hallway!  We could give away jokes on sticky notes! Perhaps today would be a good day?  It's the last day of our ELA (English Language Arts Assessment!)

 

Just in case you want to join me on this new initiative, here are some riddles and jokes thanks to the folks over at Enchanted Learning. In reality, they have, however, been passed around for ages!  

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/jokes/topics/color.shtml

What's black and white and red all over?
(A newspaper!)

What happens when you throw a white hat into the Black Sea?
(It gets wet!)

What bird is always sad?

(The blue jay!)

What do you do when you find a blue elephant?
(Cheer her up!)

What's green and smells like blue paint?

(Green paint!)

What do you do with a green monster?
(Wait until she's ripe!)

What is a cat's favorite color?
(Purr-ple!)

What would you call the USA if everyone had a pink car?

(A pink carnation!)

What color socks do bears wear?

(They don't wear socks, they have bear feet!) 

April 2 Poetry Month Share

#sol14 Day 17: Slices of St. Patrick's life

Today, even those of us who are just a wee bit Irish don green and we pretend we are Irishmen for the day. The parades, partying, and corned beef sales are all signs that we either bored with winter or really honor St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland!  In truth, the historical accuracy of St. Patrick's story is clouded in legends passed through the ages.  He was many things, but he was not Irish by birthright!

Patrick was born in either Britain, Scotland, or Wales. 

Patrick wasn't particularly religious until after he was kidnapped and sent to Ireland to raise sheep.  He heard voices that urged him to escape his captors.  He escaped but later was captured, again, and sent to be a slave in France!

Patrick spent many years in France and became a bishop there. 

Patrick became a missionary and that is when he returned to Ireland.

Patrick did not like particularly like green.  He was usually dressed in blue!
Patrick did promote the shamrock as a religious symbol (of the Holy Trinity).
Patrick did not celebrate with corned beef! Irish immigrants to this country began brining beef brisket because it was cheap!
It does appear that our celebrations are historically accurate on this point: Patrick enjoyed a drink or two!

http://www.biography.com/people/st-patrick-9434729
http://www.history.com/topics/st-patricks-day/who-was-saint-Patrick
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Patrick's_Day
http://spoonful.com/st-patricks-day/history-of-st-patricks-day
http://www.examiner.com/article/st-patrick-s-day-corned-beef-and-cabbage-more-american-tradition-than-irish

#sol14 March 6 Old School vs. New School Faculty Meetings

In the old days,

Faculty meetings were dreaded,

Principals droned about issues,

Read lists of events.

Discussed building concerns.

Today, we drew island maps

Included names in the title,

Mine had three beaches, 

(one designated for reading and writing),

A digital and a print library, 

A "Way Off TJ Maxx,"

Even a "Low Impact" Gym

(with no road to get there!)! 

You could hear a pin drop,

As we became one with our maps

To understand the power of rubrics. 

My mind wandered to an unspoken

Yet Central Idea,

 We (all) need to write, draw, paint, engage in

Personally meaningful topics

On our journeys to college 

And through careers.   

#OLW 2014 Update on seeking JOY

For the record, I have not forgotten nor abandoned my OLW for 2014, JOY, but it has taken some work to embrace it many days! 

I've had a cold for, it seems, forever (at least since this winter started)!   We've had endless snow, ice, freezing rain (at least since this winter started).  Some of those I love and care about have been sick, suffering, or had terrible hardships.


Yet, today, this message popped up on the social media, and I knew it was meant as a reminder for today. 

#EDWEEK Common-Core Tensions

I've tried, like most teachers, to understand and embrace the CCS.  Let's be honest, I don't want to be THAT teacher who says, "the old ways are the best."  There are always ways we can make our teaching and student learning more effective for all students.....SO I read and read and read....like this article from this wee's Education Week  Common-Core Tensions Cause Union Heartburn - Education Week

It describes the tension and political strife that has endured with the "roll out of the CCSS" in New York and in other states.  It's an important read for all of us who really want to do our best to prepare our students for the world in which they will live.  It's an important read for parents, too, as they work with us to assure their students have the very best educations and are prepared for the future. 

However, I couldn't help but smile, a wee bit, as I read the article and random thoughts from not so long ago, wandered through my mind.  We're in the midst of a new politically and emotionally charged debate about what is best for all kids in which we are embroiled today.  In some ways, it's like the Great Reading Wars of the last century! 

Perhaps, we can look at history, and put kids and learning ahead of political and personal agendas, as we work through this current educational debate?

http://scholarworks.wmich.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1655&context=reading_horizons

Reading in the Wild

On my Kindle this week is

http://www.amazon.com/Reading-Wild-Whisperers-Cultivating-Lifelong-ebook/dp/B00G4659CI/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1388269490&sr=1-1&keywords=reading+in+the+wild


I read Donalyn Miller's Book Whisperer from cover the cover, follow her on Twitter and know her passion is contagious.
I am sure there is nothing "brand new" in this "NEW" book; however, certainly in an education world dominated by CCSS and Racing to the Top, it is important to stop and think about what parents, teachers and readers have known in their hearts forever.

If you want kids to read:
1. Model reading: Talk about what you are reading and why.
2. Make time for reading. If we value it, we plan for it and make time in school.
3. Carry a book with you. Or your Kindle!
4. Have a variety of reading material - allow choice.  We are all different.
5. Read aloud. We've heard that before!

I can't help but make a text-to-text connection to a post earlier this week over at the Nerdy Book Club
http://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/2014/01/10/saying-yes-by-jenny-rich/

If we want kids to read, let them read. Don't insist on perfection or just right books.    Let them see themselves as, "Readers."

#SOL2103 Ice, snow, and debit cards.

When the next day is a school day and the forecast is for ice, sleet, or snow, I park at the bottom of my driveway.  I accept my husband's teasing that I am a "Worry Wart" and the name calling, "Wimp," as part of the price I pay to NOT drive down my long and windy driveway on dark, icy mornings.   Yesterday, was one of those days as the driveway had a thin cover of sleet over a thick coat of ice over a delicate layer of snow!  There was no way ANYONE was driving or even walking down that incline and I was grateful for my parking spot at the bottom of the cliffs.  Yet, my coat, boots, gloves and even my undies were drenched after sliding (on my bum as the kids would say) down most of the hill.   

I felt as if I had already done a day's labor when I finally made it to my ice-ensconced car!  I gingerly opened the doors, started the engine and began the ice removal process.  As I got out to work on the windshield, I realized I had forgotten an ice scraper!  I wondered if the job was too big for my credit card. Yet, I'd used it before.  It works remarkably well in this situation - most of the time!  This time, however, the card did not fare so well.  With one swipe on the icy window, it turned into many fractured pieces of plastic.

Fortunately, the main roads were generously salted and lots of people were late; thus, my trip was really not that bad. When I finally I got to work and eventually dried off (it took all day), I was left with questions about whether or not I would be driving up the driveway any time soon (fortunately, thanks to my husband and rock salt, I did). 

Fortunately, there was only one casualty yesterday morning: my debit card.  I ordered a new one and I also put a big, heavy duty ice scraper into my trunk!

Remembering the Words of Nelson Mandela