Friday, November 15, 2013

Friday Five

Friday Five is a spin off from various post I have seen on Fridays where blog authors are sharing things that inspire them or are interesting to them.  I enjoy seeing what others are wanting or are inspired by and thought we could do this as educators.   What have you read this week, done, seen, or had happen that might benefit fellow educators.  I've tried to find things I enjoyed that made me feel positive and happy.  I hope you find something here to enjoy.


1.  Ohio teachers and administrators can be hopeful if these necessary changes are made to the new evaluation process.


2.  Just lovely and wonderful and happy, is all I could think after reading this peace by Donalyn Miller on reading, anniversary, and love.  It made me think, wonder, and hope.


3.  Being overwhelmed may not be failing, read about Ruth Ayers uplifting words.  Every day takes strength.


4.  I'm so happy giraffes are returning to our Columbus Zoo which is just a mile away.  Technology opens so many doors for us to learn and observe things up close.


5.  Saturday I get to pick up my copy of Celebrating Writers: From Possibilities and Publication by Ruth Ayers.  

Thursday, November 14, 2013

The Thankful Book

I am so happy I discovered The Thankful Book by Todd Parr the other night!  As I was reading this book, I kept thinking how did I miss this book?  It's perfect for school.  It's perfect for home.  It's perfect for children.  It's perfect for adults.  I quickly turned to find the copyright date and am happy to share it was just published last year.  

While the book title might make you think about the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, the opening page really reminds the reader we should be thankful every day.  I love the collection of thankful things.  They are included varied interests people might have. The arts and fitness.  They included common every day things that guide and help us be better individuals.  They celebrate the uniqueness of individuals.  Here are a few examples to help you appreciate the thinking this book might inspire.

"I am thankful for my ears because they let me hear words like "I love you."
"I am thankful for my shadow because it makes me look taller."
"I am thank for the library because it is filled with endless adventures."



Taking Todd's advice, "Every day I try to think about the things I am thankful for."  

Today I am thankful for parent/high school volunteers because they help bigger projects and different things to happen in my room at one time.

Today I am thankful for another dental specialist appointment for my daughter because the process is getting closer to being done.

Today I am thankful for corduroy pants because they are comfortable, cozy, and just feel good.

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Slice of Life - I couldn't sleep!

So exhausted, I easily fall asleep.  So exhausted, I fall asleep on the couch.  So exhausted, I crawl into bed hoping.  A few hours later, I faintly wake only to realize it's way too early to get up.  I snuggle in again and doze off for a bit, only to wake and realize it's way too early to get up.  This time I lean up and see I have one more hour to sleep.  I wonder why can't I sleep and I turn over to snuggle right in again.  My alarm goes off and I get up reluctantly, feeling a need for more sleep.  

As I get dressed to walk my dogs, I wonder why couldn't I sleep?  A few things rumble threw my  mind.  My day was pretty well planned out for my students.  There isn't really pressing decisions to make right now.  My girls aren't busy with activities right now, so our weeknights are a bit relaxing.  I have 10/46 conferences left but not til Wednesday night and this is the home stretch with NCTE in my future!  

My day went well and tonight I was still thinking about why I couldn't sleep.  I couldn't sleep because the weatherman had promised SNOW.  Snow is uncommon in November.  I love snow.  It's pretty and bright.  It's peaceful and life seems to slow down.  While I walked the dogs this morning, my steps were truly a crunch crunch crunching and I thought about poetry.  It was cold and it quickened my pace but not without noticing the stars and the stillness of life before many rise.  I have a wonderful wall of windows at school and all day I enjoyed seeing the tufts of white on my bushes and bird feeders.  Snow brings lots of anticipation for people - safe driving, delays, snow days, and what to wear.  I hope the next time you see snow you are able to stop, wonder, and enjoy.

                                    

Thank you Dana for hosting Slice of Life at Two Writing Teachers.



Monday, November 11, 2013

ONES AND TWOS

I wish I had known about ONES AND TWOS by Marthe Jocelyn and Nell Jocelyn earlier this school year. At first this book appears to be a counting book focused on showing examples for the quantity of one and two.  Each scenario for one and two shows a relationship between objects or words.

A few examples from the text -

one bird, two eggs
one bun, two bites
one girl, two legs

I really think my students would have fun thinking of their own objects or words to represent one and two in a relationship with each other.  The details created using collage are purely enjoyable to view and full of ideas as a collage mentor text.  I hope we will see more books from this mother/daughter, author/illustrator team.

Friday, November 8, 2013

Friday Five

My Friday Five is a spin off from various post I have seen on Fridays where blog authors are sharing things that inspire them or are interesting to them.  I enjoy seeing what others are wanting or are inspired by and thought we could do this as educators.   What have you read this week, done, seen, or had happen that might benefit fellow educators.  I've tried to find things I enjoyed that made me feel positive and happy.  I hope you find something here to "scoop up" and enjoy.


1.  Read about how knitting opened doors for author Debbie Macomber when she was struggled dyslexia in the Costco Connection magazine.   Also, how knitting continues to help with her writing process.

2.  Love this quote and image on Brene Brown's homepage - "Maybe stories are just data with a soul."

3.  A natural extension from number two would be my new love for the Quotebook App I have started using faithly for collecting quotes.  The organization is easy and simple to use.  You can record the quote, author, source (I don't), rating out of 5 stars and tags.  Right now I have two tags I am collecting; life and education.  I love this little feature I stumbled upon - if I copy the quote from something I have read on my phone it will automatically ask to place the quote when I open the app.

4.  I've been anxiously waiting for some pumpkin ice cream at my local grocery store and FINALLY this week, I discovered Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream a seasonal flavor by our own home state company, Velvet Ice Cream.  There's a bit more nutmeg than others and little crumbs of pie crust.  Delicious.

5.  Again, donorschoose.org makes my Friday Five list.  I can't say enough to encourage everyone in trying this organization to get things you need for your classroom and/or students.  My shelf arrived this week and I am completely in love with the possibilities that are in our future.

                             






Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Slice of Life - Surprises!

There is a lot to accomplish on the home front to get out the door.  Mornings require juggling and balance, kindness and respect, guidance and letting go.  Often a little faith is needed and hopes for the day are rattling through my mind.  The girls are striving for independence.  Sometimes watching their internal struggle for that and liking things being done for them is tricky to live.  Daily, I remind myself all these things are shifting and changing.  Next year, I will have two not three girls to fill my mornings.  My drive to work will be all alone for the first time in 18 years.  I am intrigued by what this will all look and feel like and with that I have my own internal struggle with not wanting these mornings to change even when I am running a bit late.

Running a bit late, I dash into school.  I try to make quick sense of my classroom.  I needed to get to a staff breakfast this morning to greet and welcome our visitor for the day.  I was really excited because Wonderopolis was here to visit our school.  I scan the room, find a few people to chat with, grab half a bagel and as I am scanning for a seat - surprise!  I get to meet Laura from Wonderopolis and she hands me a box with my name on it.  Wonderopolis sent me an official Wonder Jar!  It's filled with such goodness.  Objects to foster questioning.  Objects to send us to the Wonderopolis website.  A model for creating our own wonder jars.  I can't wait to see where our learning goes from here.  Thank you Wonderopolis for supporting our learning and for surprises!

Dana at Two Writing Teachers, thanks for hosting.

Friday, November 1, 2013

Friday Five

My Friday Five is a spin off from various post I have seen on Fridays where blog authors are sharing things that inspire them or are interesting to them.  I enjoy seeing what others are wanting or are inspired by and thought we could do this as educators.   What have you read this week, done, seen, or had happen that might benefit fellow educators.  I've tried to find things I enjoyed that made me feel positive and happy.  I hope you find something here to savor - no pun intended with a recipe included!

1.  Irene Fountas wrote a much needed piece addressing the history behind creating text levels for reading instruction and advice for all of us to consider now in Text Levels - Tool or Trouble?


2.  Judy Wallis wrote an inspiring piece filled with encouragement and the guidance we might all need right now, Teachers, Don't Forget Joy.


3.  Donorschoose.org is offering a matching promo code for all projects to use within their first week of going live.  I had a project Spark Inquiry fully funded in less than 24 hours this week.  If you have needs for your classroom and/or your students the generosity of people within your community and within the Donors Choose community can be a perfect match!


4.  Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting is down right the most delicious cupcake my daughter has ever made!


5.  Matt B Gomez has some helpful tips for managing Symbaloo.  He was also very helpful via twitter as I tried to get things set up.  Thanks Matt!