Thinking About: Hamilton

Over the long weekend, I watched Hamilton thanks to Disney. I was grateful for the "bargain price" of 6.99 vs $$$$.  The music, the cast, and the historical-fiction-musical-infused perspective of America's story were worth the price! 

Lin Manuel Miranda's depiction of Hamilton as progressive and anti-slavery is not historically accurate; yet, the depiction of Hamilton and America's founding fathers as people with economic and political vision combined with a need for power and prestige is part of America's story.  The movie has spurred my thinking, reading and questioning!  

I knew Hamilton was an architect of our economy and was on $10 bills! I didn't know much else and so, many decades after my last history class, I started reading everything I could find about Hamilton and other founding fathers. 

https://www.amazon.com/Alexander-Hamilton-Ron-Chernow/dp/0143034758https://www.ushistory.org/us/18b.asp#:~:text=Hamilton's%20vision%20for%20reshaping%20the,a%20more%20stable%20paper%20currency.

http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtid=2&psid=2973

I've been reminded that Hamilton authored many of the Federalist papers that proposed 3 branches of government and he, as well as most if not all of our founding fathers were owners of slaves even while penning documents that "All men are created equal."  

I've been reminded about the power of controversy to spur reading, thinking and learning. If only we could inspire our students with books, films and talk so they want to know more about prejudice, racism, sexism, immigration, privilege, climate change, pollution, health care, education, welfare, critical thinking......so they can be a part of the change in the  course of our nation's story....

#celebratelu2014 A week filled with Looking Ahead

Earlier this month, I did a 7 day Positivity Challenge on Facebook writing about 3 things that were good for 7 days.  I found it uplifting in spite of my August funk and quickly connected to why I do this Celebrate each Saturday, thanks to Ruth Ayers inspiration!

http://www.ruthayreswrites.com/

This week I celebrate Smart Phones, New Friends, and Looking Ahead.

1. I celebrate my new phone. My old Droid with the cracked screen had become possessed and begged for retirement.  I did have to give up my unlimited use of data on my own plan, but now, people can call and I can answer! Plus, I can text, monitor Twitter, and even answer emails again.  Best of all, when I access the driving directions on Maps, it takes me to streets that really exist rather than saying, "turn left on East Manchester Grove" when I am in the middle of an interstate! 

2. My husband also upgraded to his FIRST ever smart phone.  At first he was excited because texting became FAR easier as he could abandon the multiple hitting of keys to find letters. Then, he realized it took great panoramic pictures and amazing videos.  Last night, he announced he answered an email on his phone.  Welcome to the 21st Century! I suspect we will need that extra gigabyte of data they gave us as a "thank you" for making our phone bill bigger!    

3. We have lots of new students in my school this year. They have moved from the big city, small towns, apartments, farms and places far away/  People are choosing our district!  That is a sign that even though our school is far from perfect, we are on a positive trajectory!    

4. Even better than all those new kids are the NEW TEACHERS.  I am looking forward to their new ideas, energy, and enthusiasm for life and learning. I am lucky to still be around to learn from them. Plus, they can show me how to get my work email on my new smart phone!  

5. When the alarm goes off at 4:40 on Tuesday, I will not be happy!  I'll lay in bed thinking, ""The summer was too short" even though my vacation was much longer than most people could imagine!  The morning will be dark and most likely cold.  I will have had a fitful night sleep (always happens before the first day of school)! I will think about pulling the comforter over my head, but I won't. I will lay there for a few minutes and remember that my new back to school skirt (it's blue and lacy) and notebook (with the Steve Jobs quote) are waiting for me.  I will begin to feel the butterflies flapping in my stomach as I brush my teeth. I will feel the excitement build as I shower. I will likely leave a few minuets early as you never want to be late on the first day.  I will splurge on a coffee at DD (perhaps with pumpkin spice).  I will know that I am one lucky lady as I have the chance, again this year, to make a difference in the learning of children who find reading and writing challenging.  I really do have a lot to celebrate even as I THINK about Tuesday morning!      

close reading: snippets and resources

So, I've developing a grad course....and searching for resources.  Just in case this might interest a reader or two, I am sharing.  CLOSE READING RESOURCES 

http://www.learninga-z.com/commoncore/close-reading.html
http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/dec12/vol70/num04/Closing-in-on-Close-Reading.aspx
http://www.mhecommoncoretoolbox.com/close-reading-and-the-ccss-part-1.html
http://www.teachingthecore.com/close-reading-common-core-2/
http://www.achievethecore.org/ela-literacy-common-core/sample-lessons/close-reading-exemplars
http://www.teachingthecore.com/non-freaked-out-common-core-close-reading/
http://iteachicoachiblog.blogspot.com/2012/06/five-simple-close-reading-strategies.html
http://www.commoncorereadinglessons.com/
http://www.teachability.com/community/cc/blog/2012/02/22/close-reading-a-topic-of-lively-discussion-among-teachers

Which kids need us the most?

A month from now, a new crop of students will walk into crisply decorated classrooms everywhere.  Some of them will have read over the summer and others will have not picked up anything with printed text on it! .
Some will be dressed in new clothes and others in ragged hand-me-downs.
Some will be eager but many will be reluctant.
Some will have breakfast and others will be hungry.
Some will seek attention and others will want to hide.  

Dr. Maxwell, now Supt. in the district where I began my career, is right on with this quote.  Each of them needs us.  Even if they did not read, are wearing hand-me-downs, are hungry, reluctant and want to hide.  In fact, those kids who challenge us the most certainly need us the most! 

Summer Reading Suggestions

Ramona, one of my blogoshephere writing friends posted this GREAT list of book suggestions today.

I was talking to someone about book suggestions just the other day.....

Here are some great lists...

http://sweetsummerreads.blogspot.com/2014/07/looking-for-your-next-great-book.html?showComment=1405455320593#c1471722781192113512

What did women wear in the 1920's?

I am sure you really wanted to know!

http://glamourdaze.com/2010/05/1920s-fashion-womens-dress-and-style.html

Two Flappers -Photo – 1928 

.

 

In th

Teachers Write: Mary, Anna, Laura and Jo are right here with me

I'm writing this summer.
In fact, in the last week I think I might have written more than ever before in my life!
I'm also thinking, a lot, about what Judy Blume wrote in some autobiographical text I use almost every year, She said that when she is in the middle of a book, the characters are really at the dinner table with her! Pieces of the setting would start to appear in her window or perhaps in her mind.   I never really "got" what she meant until the end of last week, when fresh off some curriculum writing and full of the vim and vigor you feel when you accomplish something in spite of the odds, I really started to take my TWO summer writing groups seriously!
Rather than rewrite the same old stories again this summer, I took Kate Messinger's words to heart and started writing the story that really was churning inside me.  I decided not to worry about the parts of the story I did not know the answers to and decided to just put fingers to the keyboard.
Now, Mary, Anna, Lora and Jo are sitting right here in the office with me.  They are wearing house dresses and peeling potatoes but pretty soon Lora will head off to Normal School.  Pretty soon, they will all leave the farm.
Truth be told, some characters in this story are true, but others are figments of my mind.
Truth be told, some events are true and others are realistic, historical fiction.
Truth be told, the setting, the 1920's were a pretty interesting time and I've spent quite a bit of energy thinking about them due to another project that will launch this winter! (It's pretty neat when the pieces of you life fit together, even if only for a moment in time!)
So when the link below popped into my browser this morning, I gasped softly and then went right back to writing.  


When some day (in my dreams) I am writing my own story about my own writing for kids, I will have to share with them that it really is pretty neat when the project you are working on pops into your browser.  

CCSS Humor: What are you reading this summer?

Common Core Humor!  

1. 
   
2. 

#celebratelu2014 End of yearitis

It happens every year! 

 It's nearing the end of the school year in these parts and so the ritual of filling folders, cleaning files and running at full throttle is in full swing.  There are numerous picnics, writing celebrations and more "moving up" days than I can count.  This week, there will be graduations and curriculum rewriting will commence K-12 as soon as the graduates walk across the stage! On the one hand, we should ALL (kids and teachers) be exhausted and should be limping our way towards summer vacation; however, it never seems to be that way!  Instead, this week, I celebrate "The End of Yearitis." 

Perhaps you have never heard it named before, but if you are a student or a teacher or live with either one,you have experienced that energy surge that borders on mania that accompanies the end of each school year.  There is a bit of the "Bob the Builder" I can take on the world feeling that causes individuals to begin projects that would have been seen as  impossible just weeks before! 

Some clear signs of it were evident this week:

• More than one of my reluctant readers and writers showed up each morning with "made at home" writing creations.  In their own way, they are reflecting on the year and trying to savor the memories.  They have been listening and learning even when we thought they weren't.  Now, as the sun sets in this school year, they are filled with energy to write! Why, I wonder?  It's the end of yearitis.
• Parents are clamoring for books, ideas, suggestions, worksheets for their kids for the summer.  They have been assured by their children, who are suffering from end of yearitis, that they are eager to read every day this summer. Yes, some students who have been reluctant readers for the past 190 days are just clamoring to get at those piles of books their parents are stockpiling!  Why, I wonder?  It's the end of yearitis
• It's not that I don't have anything to do for school, like progress reports to edit, but I found myself recovering cushions for the porch this week!  I also cleaned out a closet! Why, I wonder?  It's the end of yearitis!  
• My son, a teacher, must have a particularly bad case this year as evidenced by his Depot visit yesterday! As the mania, now known as end of yearitis kicks in, he can certainly build fine furniture, take on home repair, and become a master chef!      
• As for me?  Yes I have it bad, too. When I found out that I would be moving classrooms, again, I began singing and dancing to Johnny Cash's "Going Down Down Down...." and the old 70's sitcom theme, "Moving On Up!" Moving, again, no problem!  I can pack 'em up, ship 'em out like Elizabeth Montgomery on Bewitched!  I have plans to write, read, sew and oh yes, clean up the mess I made sewing those cushions!   
•  It's a glorious feeling, this end of the yearitis! 

                       

 

I Pad Apps For Summer Learning

There are people who do not sleep.  That is a good thing because they are making the internet a better and easier to navigate place for all of us!  These are links that Richard Byrne suggests for Ipad access....there are some great ones!

http://ipadapps4school.com/2014/06/06/84-ipad-apps-to-share-with-k-12-teachers-and-students/

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1C0sWffU22iXzS3g1_rVW8hJe1iyeL4KzYmxqRFjzRls/edit#slide=id.p

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1GWVnUDzx8hXP0IvHYfjsSHL4oSS6yy8IzUA45nsYjrU/edit#slide=id.p
http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/13/10/db/1310db32d4a80cf0fbaf0d8f57c82b14.jpg

Summer Reading: It's Essential

While I certainly understand the thought of "Run, run as fast as you can...." as the last bell of the school year sounds, the image of children, a century ago, tossing their papers in the air as they headed into the fields for the summer is no longer realistic!

Summer reading is essential for maintaining and even growing the reading habit!  In fact, in our busy school year lives, there may be even less time to read than during the summer,!

• Parents and caregivers, set an example and have a book or magazine available during down times at the pool or on long, hot summer evenings! 
• Make sure kids go to the library to pick out books they WANT to read.  
• Have shared reading moments regularly. 
• Take books and magazines on trips.

Summer Reading

When I read Kylene Beers blog, I am often inspired and usually excited about an idea or two that jogs my thinking.  Yet, the other day, I was floored when with May just days old, I find a post about Summer Reading!   http://kylenebeers.com/blog/2014/05/04/guidelines-for-summer-reading/

While I do realize that summer is coming in spite of the lingering cold weather here, we'll be going to school until the end of June here in these parts and so I pushed the post out of my mind as one of those for people in other parts of the country!  

Yet, just a few hours later, at a CSE meeting, I found myself the focus of a discussion about summer learning.  I knew then and there that Kylene was not hurrying the end of the school year; rather, she was thinking about the season that will crash upon us very soon.  She was thinking about the connection between summer reading and achievement.  

Kylene makes many good points in her post, but one of my favorites is this one: 

"Summer reading isn’t about reading a certain number of titles from a list someone else has compiled.  It’s not about finishing A Tale of Two Cities before the first day of tenth grade.  It’s not about reading books at a certain Lexile level or AR level.   It’s not about preparing for a test, keeping a dialectical journal to be submitted, or logging a certain number of hours or titles in a journal that will eventually be graded"

.

My Summer Triathacation

One marvelous thing about our English language is that it keeps changing to describe new experiences - like my summer Triathacation traversing restored canal, rail and carriage trails! 

 

This year, school, elder-care, and virulent poison ivy disrupted  vacation, at least as defined as "an extended period of recreation spent away from home."  Without plans, even a staycation, "a vacation spent in one's home country rather than abroad," was not happening.  Yet, we managed to squeeze in one mighty fine, if not planned, triathacation! 

 

The name derives from the Greek words tri (three) and athlete (physical strength, speed, or endurance) packed into a short amount of time.  Here's how we did it - you can pick your own activities!
 

Part 1, a 2.5 hour drive, bikes on car, hummus and nuts (not just us), in car.  Thank goodness I did not drink much water as the trail was 28 miles and the one latrine was just that! Fortunately, it was mostly downhill, but still my longest ride!  The old canal, rail line, abandoned tunnels and restored trestle bridge were beautiful beyond words and I am pretty sure the cloud formations that afternoon were just for us.  We did not participate in the white water rafting (but we thought of someone who would love it), and we walked around Jim Thorpe before the shuttle ride back!  We ended our day tired, sweaty, and hungry as headed through the Promised Land (State Park) thanks to my smart-phone "short cut."  We crawled through the clouds where diners were very, very, few and very, very, far between. It was late thanks to night-paving and we were exhausted when we finally got home!

 

Part 2 started with adressing elder-care problems. We headed to the city and parked at 60th (to save money, thanks Fordham) and walked to 30th Street where the lovely High Line, an elevated restored walking rail trail, begins.  We were joined by about 100,000 others dropping kids at college, visiting the city or just enjoying the day, so when we reached 12th St., the end, we headed back, over cobble stone streets and through the wonder of NYC neighborhoods.  My feet were, by this time, burning!  We took full note of the Citibikes all over the place and wondered how they worked.  We talked about our next trip as we gobbled some overpriced, but delicious, mussels and calamari (not found in Stormville) and then caught a glimpse of opera-in-the open at the Met!  

 

Part 3 started with picking fresh fruits (nectarines) and veggies (wax beans) at a farm (for energy and dinner) and then took us into another magical land, where we biked through mountains on restored carriage trails. I must admit my legs were burning even as we began but I somehow was filled with hope and promise at the top.  We remembered traveling those same hills many years ago as a back to school ritual and thanked God for safe travels through the rough spots of our journey as we prayed for strength in the journey ahead. 

 

We ended our triathacation with hearts full of hope and minds full questions, so I posted some of the Googled answers!

Who was Jim Thorpe?

http://www.jimthorpeassoc.org/biography-of-jim-thorpe/

How do you rent a Citibike?

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/27/nyregion/questions-and-answers-on-citi-bike.html

What happened to the grand hotels in Minnewaska?

http://www.lakeminnewaska.org/history.shtml

A Picnic Supper To Remember: Part I

It started like a "normal" trip upstate for a picnic supper with family.  We hurriedly changed into long pants (to ward off bugs) and threw blankets, pillows and bedrolls into the trunk of the car (for the kids).  I grabbed the berry-filled fruit salad I had made hours earlier and as if we were headed to the "Magic Kingdom," we were off!

 

There was some fishing (although most of the fishers came up empty handed), wonderful kayaking,  much-needed visiting and lots of garlic peeling (keeps the bugs away).  

In retrospect, the first sign that this was not to be a "normal" picnic supper should have come as we toured the impeccable gardens of the old estate, smiled at the proud peacock, or laughed at the frog who jumped in the pool right in front of our eyes; however, it really wasn't until many hours later, as the morning sun kissed me in the lean-to, that I realized the strangeness of the happenings that summer evening on the banks of the pond in the woods.

Our hosts cooked the entire dinner, right in this fire pit, slowly tempting us, on nickel-sized slivers of oak that slowly turned into bright orange. fire-hot, embers.  It might have been all the garlic, or it might have been the power of home-grown veggies, but there was not a bug in site as day-turned quickly into night and we gobbled down cucumber salad down and garlic-infused pasta fagioli.

There was a part or me, who at moments, realized I should be heading home; however, it was almost as if the fire pit, alive with hot embers, and the family, so full of love and laughter, required me to stay and be part of what was to happen soon. 

Part II - Coming Soon :)
    

Creating Books On IPad

http://www.teachthought.com/apps-2/15-literacy-apps-to-create-books-on-the-ipad/

Preparing For School: Without Getting Lost in the Forest

Not too long ago, an effective classroom was neat, organized and clean with books stacked up ready to go.  There was a chalk ledge ready with its tools.  Kids were excited to get back to school, even if they had butterflies buzzing in their stomachs.

Today there is a far greater emphasis on creating "theme-driven-stimulating-interesting" and "exciting" classrooms ones that "invite" students "in" and make them "want-to-learn."    In an era of close parent-community-state scrutiny over what is happening in classrooms, this was bound to happen.  There is also greater-than-ever competition from other teachers as we all try to be the "best-we-can-be" and perhaps, even the "best-of-all."

Yet, all of us (those of us preparing kids and those prepping classrooms) know in our hearts, learning and growing readers, writers, and thinkers is a noisy, messy, process that neither new clothes nor thematically perfect classrooms can assure.

 

It might be better for parents to spend an evening talking with, playing with, and connecting with their child than an evening at the mall buying new clothes.  A day at the park or a hike in the woods or a night spent camping with your child, sharing thoughts, hopes and dreams, might be the best investment possible in your child's learning.  While a new notebook might indeed signify the new adventure upon us (I still get giddy with those notebook aisles), it will not guarantee your child's deep thinking or even desire to learn more.    

 

Teachers, it might be best for teachers to clean up and renew their classrooms while focusing on teaching and learning.  Classrooms can invite learning, but having a full bag of tricks to engage learning, focus, and thinking will keep things going beyond that first 'honeymoon" week.  Perhaps the best "investment" we teachers can make is in the reading, writing, and thinking lives of our students.

 

While that forest classroom above sure looks pretty neat on the surface, there is no guarantee that deep thinking, passionate discussions about books and intense learning will happen in that environment.  In fact, it is possible that some children, with all that intense stimulation, will be "lost" in the forest! 

Solve It Your Way: Sharing Franki Sibberson's New Project for Kids

Over at http://www.solveityourway.com/, Franki Sibberson has created a question of the month the promote problem solving strategies for kids.  I love the idea of kids thinking through "big" problems that are solved over not just one table-sitting, but over days of debate and thinking.  It's a real life ( CCSS college and career ready!) approach to learning. 

Yet, with the interactive blog, you can have students post their responses and try out other's responses.  This makes the project not only a math-science-thinking activity but also a reading-writing-interacting one! 


This will certainly get the gears turning and the  balls rolling (pun intended)! 
 

The Lazy, Hazy, Book-Filled Days of August

 

As I turn the calendar to August, I look over to my stack of "to-be-read" books; yet, others, think about their kids who have not yet, opened a book!   I suspect required summer reading has the potential to create a shared community of background knowledge, right from the first day of school; however, I am glad that my list of summer personal and professional books comes from suggestions rather than mandates. 

I wish we could give kids lists of books they would stay up all night to finish.  I wish I had started a  summer book talk blog that would be and avenue to share what we like and dislike in books.  Certainly, those could be bridges to academically challenging required books that we unpack and share, together, in school.

Yet in the lazy, hazy, mosquito filled days of August, we can still do many things:

• Make time for reading for everyone in the family.
• Visit your public library and ask the librarian for suggestions. 
• Start a book club with a friend or two.

Personally, I am glad my principal did not assign Chaucer for the summer! 

 

Not just for summer GOOGLE TOOLS

Go check out this website for the whole story:

http://edudemic.com/2013/05/creative-ways-to-use-google-tools-to-maximize-learning/

I loved this article because it was practical and understandable by a limited-techie!  You really should read it.  HONEST! I really think it offers us useful tools and it really describes and links to them better than I can do!  SO, I am only going to talk about a couple here such as:

1. Google Docs

• I already use and endorse these!
• You can collaborate with your students!
• I love the idea of collective note taking - I think this would work really well in classes such as Health and Science!

2. Google Forms

• Google Forms
• there is even a text-to-speech feature

3. Voice Comments

• What if your students could hear your thoughts as you read their work and provided input? 

4. Google Dictionary: Image Dictionary

• https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/google-dictionary-by-goog/mgijmajocgfcbeboacabfgobmjgjcoja?hl=en
• I can't believe I just found this!

Best Day

Some day....some day.....I might just publish one of my stories....but for now, here is my writerly life lead of the day!

Let me tell you about one of the best days of my life.  It didn't really start out so well, but, it was a super wonderful day.  No kidding. 

It started out like any other day in June, kind of hot and sticky even at the breakfast table. My mom was rushing around getting ready for a phone conference and telling us we should hurry.  I was feeling hotter and stickier just watching her!  It was a  the kind of day when I wanted to slow up, sink into a chair and read.
But, I listened to mom and ran out the door to the bus, just in time. The air was even sticker there and I sat next to Kevin who must have skipped his bath last night. It was like sitting next to a dirty clothes basket. 

So far, this does not sound like the best of days does it!

Anyway, during the morning announcements, Mr. L. announced a new school-wide reading program.  He said it was something that Mr. Booker, the most fabulous library-man in the world, invented.  I told stinky-Kevin to stop talking because I LOVE everything that Mr. Booker says and does. I love the way he talks and really becomes the character when he is reading out-loud.  I love the way he hunches over and pretends to me mad when kids have over-due books.  I love the way he smiles when he has a new book to share with me.

That's when my day started to become the best day ever!