#SOL2013: Starting the new year in purple

With all due respect to The Purple Lady, that marvelous movie with Oprah Winfrey, my daughter, my cousin, my nieces, and all the rest of you who embrace the color purple with open abandon, I have, for most of my life, avoided the color at all costs!

I remember, long ago, when my friend's mother offered me an otherwise wonderful prom dress that her older daughter had worn.  It was exquisite and fit me to a tee; however, it was purple, and I did not want to wear a purple dress even if it was a fabulous designer dress and free!  

I remember the day my then toddling daughter determined purple to be her favorite color. I cringed, but hoped it would be a passing phase. (It wasn't) Yet, she followed in a long path of people who love purple that has surrounded me for most of my life!

So, now, older, wiser, and not sure why I hated purple so much, I am going to be wearing a purple winter coat. She's waterproof, windproof and I must admit much warmer than the old coat she is replacing. I might have gotten red, blue or black if they had my size, but in the 50% off after the holidays clearance section, when you h ave a $15 off coupon that must be used that day, you have to take what they have in your size.

I wore her yesterday and my only complaint was that I was a little too warm!  I am openly admitting that I really like her!  While I usually wear basic black or gray to work and usually blend into the background, I like the idea of a happy coat!  So, I  have decided to embrace the color purple this coming year. I'm not even sure why I didn't like it for all those years!  I may even buy a purple dress!  I know Karen, Karen and Suz, I have wasted all these good years not wearing purple; however, I have seen the light as the new year dawns!  Who knows what great things I might accomplish in the new year wearing a bright new coat and (maybe) even a purple dress!  

And, since the new year is fast approaching, I reflect and wonder how many of us hold onto "old" biases and "ideas" that really are not grounded in reality?  Perhaps, in this new year, we could "resolve" to be open to new ideas and possibilities?  I am going to try!

What Is Old Is New Again: How To Read a Book!

You know how it goes.   You are checking your email when you should be writing a syllabus and you get message about a link that somehow is connected to something you might have said or done http://sco.lt/5xnlM9





















Then you follow the link because the image is compelling and it takes you to a site, such as this one,  http://www.teachthought.com/teaching/how-to-read-a-book-3-strategies-for-critical-reading/

And then you do a little reading of the thinking behind the image (Terry Heick).  They mention an oldie by Adler and Van Doren, How to Read a Book (you think yyou remember hearing about that one long ago).  So you follow the link to a book that was originally published in 1940 and your mind is wondering if this is part of some back to basic movement that will soon be dredging up Dick and Jane?  And, with another click, you find that not only are Dick and Jane back, they are alive and well and selling at Walmart

Then, you remember that nothing is totally new.  What is old is new again.  That's why we kept all those books MLO.  They're back. They have new names.  They are what readers do!
(I am confident we can give our kids better bookd than Dick and Jane, but that's another post!)

So now we just have new names for:
Inspectional Reading: Quick Reading, Skimming (what I do with all those emails)

Analytical Reading: Close Reading of a single text

Syntopical Reading: Cross Reading. Text to Text Connecting

Image attribution from livinganawesomelife.com
How To Read A Book: 3 Strategies For Critical Reading

Silent Sunday: Unconditional Love

Celebrating: Around the Table Edition

 

“I'm going slowly," commented one of the eaters who was offered another lightly-corn-flour-battered-bit of squid..  "On the way up, I was reminded that this is a marathon," she smiled, "and not a sprint to the finish line."

"That's a good plan," replied a relatively new member of the eating squad, "last year I was full before we sat down to the main course!  You have to pace yourself."

"It's my favorite meal of the year," said one of the veterans as he eagerly rubbed his hands together.  He added confidently, "I'm ready.  Let the eating begin."  I noticed an expression on this man-child's face traditionally reserved for little kids on Christmas morning!

As I manned the dishwasher and the pots of fresh zuppa di pesce sauce, I listened to the happy family banter around the mini-fish fryer.  I smiled at the new-to-the "family" tradition, manned by a  family-member who claims corn-flour expertise after just a couple of attempts.  At one point, my mind drifted to my own childhood where the "meat-less" meal was simpler, canned clams in homemade chowder, yet made with just as much love. At another point, my mind drifted to my sister-in-law's kitchen, where my shorts-clad nephew shoveled bags of clams and mussels into a vat of sauce. Empowered by memories, I embraced the magic of a special evening that intermingled  remnants of tradition with new voices and foods.

None of us speaks Italian, most of us have roots in Northern Europe, some of us eat gluten-free, and others must avoid shellfish.  We choose to not cook salt cod (bacala) and I did not make crab stuffed flounder (although it is on next year's request list).  We included a new favorite tapenade and some wonderful smoked salmon in our appetizers.  This year, our fish variety was bit excessive (shrimp cocktails, smoked salmon, fried calamari, fried shrimp, fried oysters, baked salmon, sautéed scallops, mussels, clams, cod, calamari and scungilli over pasta); however, we had only small portions of each so there was not much left over!

It's important to celebrate traditions, even though the people who started them have passed on.  It's important to celebrate even though each of us has worries, concerns, and stressers.  It's important to celebrate even though the memories may bring tears. It is important to celebrate even though the tastes and smells at the table change. In spite of eggplant tapenade (which my mother-in-law would have loved) and a light and fluffy chocolate mousse (replacing cheese cake) , we celebrated the way Italian-American families have celebrated for a hundred years, around the table.  

My philosophy for a happy life: Sam Berns at TEDxMidAtlantic 2013

So this afternoon, I am looking for video clips for a course I am teaching next semester (2 weeks).  I really did find a lot of incredible links and professional resources on the internet.  I also found this....sigh....on Facebook.  I know there are lots of people who think Facebook is "hokey", but it is a site for my PERSONAL development even if not for my PROFESSIONAL development!

Sam Berns talks about his philosophy for a happy life:

1. Be OK with what you ultimately can’t do because there is so much you CAN do
2. Surround yourself with people you want to be around
3. Keep moving forward.
4. Never miss a party if you can help it
Not bad advice!
 

Do We Have a Teacher Prep Problem?

Sharing Peter DeWitt's editorial on Edweek.  It is interesting and scary on many levels.  It does make me stop and think.  Was I unprepared when I started teaching?  How do we make sure the learning curve is well established before teachers move into their classrooms?  How can we assure teachers get the ongoing mentoring and support they need to become all they can be? 
Do We Have a Teacher Prep Problem?

SOL 2013 A Slice of Christmas Eve

We encourage our writers (kids) to reread and reflect on their writing from the previous year as they start a new unit of study.  For the most part, my students look at me like I have two heads when I ask them what they might do to improve last year's piece!  Yet, revision IS writing, so, while I did not plan to just revise to "save time" during this busy time of the year, I am doing some revision making last year's December 24th entry, which was a revision to the year before's entry, to make this week's SOL more succinct!

I could beat myself up, 

I should have baked more, earlier,

Created personal, hand-crafted gifts,

Shopped at local merchants, craft fairs.

I suspect that on that first Christmas,
Mary, too was not quite ready,

Yet, she was prepared in her heart.

In reality, 

None of us really needs perfectly decorated, home-made cookies,
(don't worry, I made a few, but they are not perfect)

None of us needs perfectly wrapped, show-stopping gifts,
(don't worry, there are a few things under the tree,, even if they are not personally crafted) 

It's peace, understanding, love, patience, kindness, hope, and joy,
We want and need,
In our world, our families, our hearts.

So, 

Even if you have more shopping and baking, to do,

You're worried about logistics, traveling, seeing everyone,
Your loved ones are scattered here and there,

Your plans have had to change, 
Your heart is heavy, 
Your future is blurry,

 

I wish you a patiently-waiting, Christmas Eve, 

A joyously celebrated Christmas Day
(if you celebrate)

A season of peace, understanding, love, 
patience, kindness, hope, and joy,
(No matter what you celebrate!)

Cookies Bring Hope

On this table, 

Thousands of cookies,

Baked with love,

Filled with memories,

Awash in holiday splendor,

Gathered.

 

 

On this table,
Bittersweet memories,
Intermingled with
Sweet butter, sugar, chocolate,
Grandma-approved,
Family favorites,
Newly discovered
And success-for-all-guaranteed
 Specimens.
 

 

On these plates,

Delicate anise bites,

Gorgeous sugar cookies,

Rich, chocolate crinkles,

Will bring hope,

Help others cope,

Awash in memories of a

Wonderful, memorable,

Mother, Grandmother, Sister, Aunt, Friend  

 

 

 

 

 

Celebrate Lights in the Darkness Saturday December 22

There are things I should be doing.

Packages to be wrapped,

Gifts to buy,

Cookies, to be baked, decorated,

Laundry, cobwebs, dust balls awaiting me.

 

Yet, on this darkest day of the year,

I am taking a moment to celebrate

The lights that brighten,

The intense darkness of this season.  

 

After a treacherous drive one night this week.

Snowflakes shining in the spotlight. 

 

A reminder of the meaning of the season,

Three candles lit (one awaiting) atop my table.

 Whenever the to-do list makes my heart race,

A tree that dwarfs the cobwebs

Thanks, Ruth, for giving me "permission,"

To stop, reflect, remember what is important,

Now, back to work!

 

Happy Winter!

I must admit that there is one aspect of teaching that I have not always embraced!  Sure, as a newbie, I did get excited about those first bulletin boards.  Then, as the demands of REAL teaching and the needs of kids takes precedence, those boards became, for me, a chore that had to be "done" several times a year.  

 

For classroom teachers, in the past, they were often filled with artwork!  Yet, there is not a whole lot of artwork done in many elementary classrooms these days!  So, many classroom teachers (most?) fill those boards with children's writing, sort of a publishing bulleting board.  In my heart of hearts I really do NOT like the idea of publishing on bulletin boards as it is really hard to fully embrace what matters, CONTENT, on a bulletin board.  Form, length and handwriting are the quickly embraced qualities of bulletin board writing!  While some (many?) parents like these public displays of writing, I do worry that they embrace the aspect of writing we value the least! 

 

This year, one of my colleagues and I have discovered what may the one of the fastest, child oriented and reading focused ways to get a bulletin board done We take a poem that is sort of seasonally appropriate and adapt it (if needed) for our K-3 students.  The other day, we took William Baer's magnificent poem, Snowflakes, and used just a few lines for our "winter" board.   The kids made folded paper snowflakes (six sided) using the paper folding directions we found on the internet.  They all came out different, like real snowflakes! Just for fun, color, and three-dimensional interest as the lines of kids parade by on their way to and from lunch each day, we dressed a paper bulletin board girl in Pooh Bear's felt jacket!    

 

As they say, Ta-Da!  Happy Winter! 

PS Great snowflake link

http://adamandhaleykjar.blogspot.com/2011/12/paper-snowflakes-101.html