Reader's Theater #SOLC19

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We were invited by the fourth graders to watch their reader's theater performances, three in all.  Last week, to help fill their brains with schema (and do something different and intentional during state testing, the fourth grade class studied Greek myths.  Jenna, their teacher, chose three scripts that helped tell the stories of Persephone & Demeter, Arachne & Athena and Pandora's box.

The fifteen students were separated into three groups of mixed abilities and genders.  The students learned about the Greek myths in small groups with the teacher.  Then they had time to practice.  Each group was allowed one prop or scenery, and no more.

Jenna is a teacher who is always thinking.  She's not brash or outspoken.  She's doesn't put on a teacher show for the kids every day.  She teaches well, and her students grow.

The students posed for pictures before the performances began.  I coached them from the audience, "Pretend you are reading.  Keep scripts down away from your face.  We don't know what words are on your script, so we won't know if you mess up!"

Our math interventionist and principal also came to watch.  We were all so excited to be part of this exciting learning experience.

I sat back and watched my intervention students read alongside their peers.  None of them stood out.  Sure, their voices tended to be quieter, but all of them were brave, fluent readers.  The students helped each other stay on track, especially when a line was chorally read by two or three students.  You could tell they had practiced multiple times.

What an amazing time we had in fourth grade today!

We Got a Grant! #SOLC19

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"Why can't their be Boys on the Run?" asked T.

"Well, I don't think there's a program like that," I replied.

"Would you make a program for the boys?" T pressed on.

"You know if I ran a club, you'd have to read, too," I chuckled.

"We would read.  Just let us run first," T asserted.

I filled out my first-ever grant proposal this year.  The idea was easy... get kids active first -- running, jumping rope, or doing yoga.  Then connect choosing an exercise, sticking with it and charting progress to reading (choose a book, stick with it, etc).  Then kids would find books and read.

My colleague, Elisa, was totally on board.  

"I love running.  I'll get those kids and you running a mile or two!" Elisa promised.

"Running?  No thanks," I thought.

Fast forward to this past Friday.  We had a surprise delivery of a very LARGE check from our district foundation for our new after-school club, Kids Run and Read.

What did I learn?  I learned that I can take an idea and follow through with the help of my students, my colleagues, and hard deadlines.

P.S.  I still won't choose to run, Elisa.  :) 

Introductions #SOLC19

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Two Writing Teachers

Whoa.  March 1st came QUICKLY this year, even though January and February dragged on.

It's my 8th year of writing, and I owe my participation to my friend and fellow reading teacher, Michelle at Literacy Learning Zone, who gave me a nudge and the bravery to write wayyy back in 2012.

Since it's my 8th year, here are 8 facts about me...

1) I've been married to Jeff for nearly 29 years.  We met in junior high.  As the story goes, I tried to shove him in a locker because he was annoying and would have fit back then.

2) I'm mom to Lindsey, 22 and Allison, 20.  I am working on transitioning from "all in" parenting to giving them space.  It's hard!

3) I serve as a Reading Specialist at an elementary school (K-5th).  I love my job!

4) I try to read across genres and book types (graphic novels, easy readers, YA) so I can talk books with nearly anyone.

5) Favorites:  cowl-neck sweatshirts, sneakers, dark chocolate, vanilla lattes, penguins.

6) If I must exercise, I enjoy walking outside, weather permitting!

7) I tend to talk A LOT and tell stories in a circular fashion.  

8) On September 8th, I will be 50!  

Nice to meet you!

Happy first day of the slicing challenge to all who participate!

"We get to PICK a book?" #SOL18

Image Source

I made a point to order books from Scholastic this fall, collecting as many bonus points as I could.
I was on a mission.  A mission to get books in the hands of our 4th and 5th grade intervention students.  Books they got to choose!

My colleague, Elisa, and I handed the students book order forms back in November.  We set some rules:  less than $10, must contain a book.  The conversations with our students went something like this:
"Can I pick the origami book if it comes with paper?"
"This book has a necklace.  Is that ok?"
"Do we get to keep the book?"
"Should we bring you money?"

We let the students know that we would get an email from the company when the books got shipped.  For every school day in December, I fielded questions about "the books."
I thought the kiddos would explode from excitement.

TODAY our 4th and 5th grade intervention students (40 kids!) received their books.  There were lots of smiles and "thank you's."  Kids shared their books with each other.  They understood that they shouldn't brag to their classmates. 

It was a good day!  Now I have to make a plan to get books to 2nd and 3rd graders!

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Sharing my writing with students #SOL18

Do you want to write a Sliiiiice?
(Sung to the tune of "Do You Want to Build a Snowman?")
Click over to Two Writing Teachers

Today I decided to bring my intermediate intervention students (grades 3-5) into the world of Slice of Life.  No, I'm not ready to host a group of student slicers... yet, but boy was I pleasantly surprised at how my day went!

First I explained that I had participated in the Slice of Life writing challenge for the past 6 years.  I received the following questions:

"Why?" asked Ruby (3rd grade)

"Do you win a prize?" asked Erick (4th grade)

"What is a slice of life?" asked Isabel (5th grade)

"Can we try?" asked a few students!

I read my 2012 slice about chocolate chips to each group.  (My students are well aware that I'm a chocoholic.) Then we talked about why I would write about chocolate (see previous statement.) 

Next I had them draw a pizza with eight slices.  Ivan (5th grade) noticed that my pizza looked more like an orange slice.  (Hmmmm.  Maybe I should have done that instead!).  We all brainstormed what people, places, FOOD, gadgets and animals they could write on their pizza.

Finally each student chose a "slice" of pizza a wrote for a few minutes.  I didn't have a chance to capture all the topics, but they ranged from friends, phones, teachers to candy, Takis and tamales.

I'm glad I felt brave enough to read one of my slices.  I'm super pleased that each student filled a pizza with lots of ideas, and EVERY student tried writing a slice.

Year SEVEN of slicing? Can't be! #SOLC18

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Slice of Life Challenge!

After getting my yearly nudge from Michelle at Literacy Learning Zone, I clicked on the Two Writing Teachers site and registered to slice in this year's challenge.

When I came to the question regarding how many years I had been slicing... I had to click back on my blog and then count on my fingers. :)

2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017

Holy guacamole!  It really is year seven.  You know what that means?  Everyone, even those of us who slice by the seat-of-our-pants, can do this challenge!

Now I have to take a minute to compare the chaos of 2012 to the current chaos of 2018.

Had some fun in Google Draw!

It was fun to go back and look over my first set of March slices. I also realized there's a bunch of slices just ready for writing because they didn't fit on my Venn diagram! :)

Best wishes to all slicers!  Don't overthink, write from your heart, visit LOTS of other blogs.
Let's have a blast!

Humbled #SOL17

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My friend Wendy from high school publisher her first book last week.  HOORAY!  YIPPEE!  I attended her book signing at the Barnes & Noble near my school.

Our group was a party of six:  Sue (HS friend), Michelle, Nick and Sarah (work friends).  We enjoyed dinner and drinks before going to the bookstore.  It was fun to mix a group of young (<25) and seasoned (*ahem*) and teachers and non teacher for laughs, conversation and book love.

When we arrived at the bookstore before the event.  We hugged and visited with Wendy, hoping to calm her nerves.  Mona, another friend from elementary school, was right at the entrance.  A few more HS friends came through and I snapped a few selfies (I'm really no good at them!).

It was really fun to catch up with some book-loving friends, and see Wendy at a table signing HER book.  I couldn't wait to get to school the next day.  I had told my 4th and 5th graders that I would be attending a book signing of a "real author!"  Although the book YA romance and geared to high schoolers, I promised my students I would show them the book.

The next morning I hosted a group of my fourth graders.  Usually there are four girls and one boy, but my lone gentleman was not at school.  I showed the girls the cover and Wendy's signature and note in the front.  One of the girls wanted to start reading it (yikes!) but I gently recovered the book and flipped to the back, and summarized the"About the author" information.  E asked if they could hear some more so I flipped to the acknowledgements.  I scanned and pointed out how authors like to thank their families and publishers and others that helped them with the book.  All four girls were crowded around me, and all at once.  I saw it. My name.  In the acknowledgements.

*gasp*

I have to admit, my eyes started to tear.  I was overcome with emotions. At first the girls watched me in shock, and then I explained what I had found.   They squealed.  E jumped up, "YOU'RE FAMOUS!"  We decided to show Mrs. Hernandez, our library para.  The girls had to nearly carry me.

I explained to the girls that this amazing thing had happened to me for two reasons (I think).  One, I've tried to be a good friend, and 2) I read one of Wendy's books and provided some feedback.

I'm so humbled to be mentioned.  I'm such a little speck in the writing process, and I was truly happy to help my friend by reading!!  My heart is so full for Wendy.  She faced a bunch of waiting and rejection and realized her dream.  I'm so glad to have her as a role model for the readers and the writers in my classroom, even if I don't hand them her book...yet.  (I'll make sure their high school has a copy!)

Zenn Diagram

SQAWK! #SOL17

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Write every day in March
Especially about unusual happenings!
Two Writing Teachers

In yesterday's post, I used sounds to emphasize some of Sunday & Monday's events.

Today, I start out where I left off:

I heard a noise behind me.  SQUAWK!

This noise didn't sound like the robins and sparrows that usually sing from the pine tree.  This was something really different.  After I set all my things in the car, I walked over to the source of the noise.

That's when I saw him.

A rooster.  Under the pine tree.  Really!

 I started laughing to myself.  What else made sense?

I realized that this guy must have flown/walked/been blown over to my house from the park district's historical farm across the street.  We had some pretty intense thunderstorms last night, so I'm glad he made it through the night under our pine tree.  I'm also amazed that he didn't perish as he crossed the four-lane highway!

I really didn't know what to do, so I got some birdseed and threw it to the rooster.  He eagerly chowed down on the seeds, clucking contentedly.  My daughter (the bird whisperer - another slice for another time) was asleep inside.  My hope was to wake her up and have her alert the park district about the escaped rooster.

I snapped these pictures and jumped in the car, already running late to work.  When I arrived, my principal was out for car duty.  I told her I had a great excuse for being barely on time.  "No way!" was her reply when she saw the pictures.

I'm hoping my friend, the rooster, found his way back to the farm.  My daughter didn't wake up until after 10:00 a.m. and at that time he had wandered away.

I didn't see him on my walk tonight, as I looked carefully through the woods around our house.

It's not every day you find a rooster in your yard!

Sherwood Lane Little Free Library #SOLC17

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Write every day in March.
Take a walk first, you'll get ideas!
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In February, the weather improved to 60 degrees one day.  I nudged nagged pleaded with my husband, "Can't we put up the little library todayyyyyyy?"

He obliged.  He's proud of his work (he built it!!!) and the adorable embellishments painted by my cousin Sara and her husband, Dennis.  It's truly a work of art.

As Jeff was pounding in the post to support the Little Free Library (LFL), neighbor Mike walked on over.  He's a mailman, and he has the gift of gab.  After he stopped by, neighbor Dean dropped by.  He promised to tell his grandkids to bring books.  Later, neighbor Jeff rang the bell.  "Tell me about the little house in the yard!"

I decided to go with a "soft open" instead of a grand opening.  I simply put books in the LFL.  I posted a picture on my personal Facebook page, I tweeted and I sent texts to my closest friends.

Today the lake effect snow melted from the sidewalks and the temperature reached 48 degrees.  I saw neighbor Dean on my quick walk (it was chilly!).
"Your little library has had quite a few customers!"

"That's great!" I replied.  I hadn't seen anyone use it yet, but books have come and gone.

As I rounded the block, my house came into view, and two adults (grandparents?) and an upper-elementary boy were checking out the library.  ("CUSTOMERS!" I squealed silently.)

I didn't know what to do, so I smiled and kept walking. The boy looked at a couple of books, but didn't take one.  

Here's to warmer weather, more LFL customers and maybe some bravery (on my part) to talk with them!

 

Tackling a Classroom Library #SOLC17

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Write every day in March
Got an idea?  Just write!

This week I've assisted our new-to-teaching third grade teacher, Sarah, administer the PARCC assessment.  (Why yes, my legs and feet are sore!  How did you know?)

It's been neat to be part of a classroom community for three days.  Today I decided to spend the entire day with the class and help out Sarah organize her classroom library.

"Do you mind if I cause some chaos?" I asked Sarah.  She was game because she has LOTS of books and wasn't sure where to start.

With an hour between testing and lunch, I invited the class to grab a stack of books and divide them between fiction and non fiction.  After a few minutes of struggle and confusion, I clarified the difference.  We then organized fiction into chapter books, picture books and series.

Next came non fiction.
"Is that real or fake?" someone piped up.

We clarified non fiction and decided to have three big categories:  people, science and animals.

Lunch time and specials came and went.

The kids returned to class and started another PARCC session.  I moved a few books and made more of a mess in non fiction (sorry, Sarah!) 

Today's reflection on our work:  It wasn't very quiet.  It wasn't totally productive, but it was a great effort.  I am seriously impressed by the size of Sarah's library.  She is quite the book finder!

Sloth Love #SOLC17

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Write every day in March
Doesn't that sound like fun?
Two Writing Teachers

Hubby Jeff started working in San Diego last week.  It's been a little bit of transtion to a quiet house for me because he was working locally since December.

Last night he returned with a bag.  Inside the bag was some fur and something rectangular.

"When I landed in San Diego on Sunday, he was sitting in the window of the store," explained Jeff.

"I had to bring him home."

Such sloth cuteness!  I've got some jealous friends at school who are big sloth fans!

And the book!?  Hooray for nonfiction!  I can't wait to spend some quality time reading about sloths with my new fuzzy friend.

Thanks, darling husband!

Here We Go (YEAR 6 ?!?!) #SOLC17

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YOU CAN DO IT!
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Holy moly, guacamole!

I just zipped to the SOLC data form and had to count on my fingers
 (HEY - it's a strategy)
to figure out this is year six for me.

Huh.  I didn't realize how time has FLOWN by!

Because I have not been a weekly slicer for a while
(you did see the name of my blog, right?  The subheading should be Life of a Super Procrastinator)
theres LOTS of topics to write about!

Here's a sneak peek for March, friends:

• The Sherwood Lane Little Free Library is O P E N  (*throws confetti*)
• I will have Spring Break all to myself
• I {heart} chocolate, books, and coffee
• Grad school (halfway through 2nd masters)
• college-aged daughters
• stress, ramblings, silliness
• making vacation plans (San Diego in May)
• anything my brain churns up

So welcome to the chaos, the stress and the F U N of slicing!!

So glad you're here, and I made it in time to write!

Little Free Library Dreams #SOL16

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I did it.

I ordered my charter sign for my Little Free Library.  

The one I plan to place in my yard.  

The one I will fill with books for grown ups and little ones and curious neighbors.

I staged a little sign for social media (I wasn't brave enough to leave it in the yard, even just for a while).  

Jeff (my fabulous hubby) promises to build me the library.  He has a workshop full of tools and a keen eye for design.  He claimed that once I got the charter sign, he would build the library around it.  Now he travels every week for work.  I have to be patient.  Being patient is not easy for me.

Meanwhile, I'm working on how I will promote the library (once it's installed) and welcome my neighbors (some I really don't know!) to be involved in taking and giving books.

Some ideas...

• ribbon cutting
• set up an info table next to my LFLibrary during our city's Labor Day festival (lots of people park on my street)
• write up a blurb for our city newsletter
• create a flyer for my neighbors' doors
• sit in my daughter's room and stare out the window at the library, wondering if I'm okay with complete strangers stopping in front of my house 
• talking about said strangers with the neighbors on each side of me (communication is key)

I really have to be patient, and thinking of lots of ideas gets me excited and nervous at the same time.  I'm glad to have the Little Free Library newsletters and website to help me out.

I also appreciate your suggestions!

Just getting started

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My coworker looked at me today.  "You're not smiling.  What's wrong?"
I wasn't crabby (tired, but not crabby), I was just deep in thought.

"You can do it, you can make it 11 more days!" she laughed.

"It's not that we have 11 days of school left, it's that I feel like I'm just getting started!" I replied.

This has been a school year of learning,
starts and stops,
rushing into groups,
finding my backbone,
stating my intentions
and remaining transparent.

I'm here to boost my students
and to help them develop as
readers,
writers,
thinkers
and cooperative, respectful citizens.

It's May and my students are just realizing their potential and finding success.
Their teachers are tired, drained and anxious about
packing up,
escalating silliness,
assessments and
data collection.

I'm just getting started in helping my students and fellow teachers
find their passion and their strengths
as they find ways to minimize their weaknesses.

Happy birthday, dear friends! #SOL16 29/31

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Today I celebrate Michelle and Karen, my dear friends and fellow book pushers!  

Today they both celebrate their birthday!!!!  How special for my kindred spirits!

Dear Michelle (Piggy to me, Gerald),

When I was hired at Frost, I got a call from our boss.  He wanted me to call and introduce myself to you because he knew you needed a partner-in-crime/reading.  I could tell we would be friends from the first time we talked.  Our strategies might be different (mine more circular, yours linear) but we have the same goals for our kiddos and students: to become independent thinkers who love to learn.  We also share goals for our fellow teachers:  walk the walk as readers and writers!

May you see this birthday as just a number.  You will continue to refine your beliefs and stay on the path to greatness.  You will always be my mentor, and of course, I will lend you an ear anytime you need to vent your frustrations (you are also such an awesome listener to my stories).  May we continue to share lots of laughs, books, daughter talk and trips that include books!  (Eric Carle museum is on the bucket list!  One day!)

Big hugs, 
Chris

Dear Karen (Ivy to me, Bean),

When we first met, I envied your binder.  It was a Title I meeting, and you had everything at your fingertips.  I quietly watched as you shared your opinions and data with a firm, clear voice.  I loved to hear you switch into Spanish and greet all your friends with a hug.

When you came to Frost, I remember welcoming you and feeling like you were home.  Your selfless kindness and willingness to listen and share has been so valuable to me.  It's been "fun" to shake our heads at our teenage daughters' "adventures."  May we stay strong this fall as we send B and A to college (WAHHHH!) Keep up your tireless crusade for kids and continue working hard to push our fellow teachers to be their best.

Big hugs,
Chris

Made with Vanilla Pen app

"I got a BOOK!" #SOL16 18/31

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Last night was my inaugural family reading night at my new school.  Yes, I've been a raving lunatic leading up to the event (can you spell S-T-R-E-S-S?) and I appreciate all the help and support from my students and fellow teachers and staff.

Today we tallied up the punch cards turned in during the reading night.  Then we counted up the books I ordered (thanks to my principal who spends money on books!).  Yes, it was going to be an exciting morning.... there were enough books for every student who attended the reading night to receive a book to keep!

My coworker Jill and I set up the classroom like a bookstore.  Mo Willems, chapter books, books in Spanish, and nonfiction titles were spread out for easy browsing.  We had the fourth graders come first (pickiest readers - I get it!) so they had first pick.

During little commercials in the classrooms yesterday, I told students they had a chance to win a book.  Today I wish I could have snapped a picture of their faces as we told each group that all of them had won a book.  It was magical.

Kids spent time just walking around and staring at the books at first.  I then told them they should pick them up and browse - just to make sure.  Some friends made deals to read their books, then swap so they could read another new book.

Giving books to kids will never get old.

Reaffirming my reading beliefs #SOL16 4/31

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Today was a professional development across the county, so we could choose what PD we wanted to attend.  Thankfully, a colleague sent out an email to that Dr. Steven Layne would be one of the presenters.  (I almost missed the deadline!)'

Dr. Layne is a literacy advocate from Judson University.  I read his professional book, "Igniting a Passion for Reading" many years back, and his passion for reading is clear throughout the book.  I remember nodding my head and marking lots of pages with sticky notes to share with my coworkers.  

Today I had the privilege of hearing Dr. Layne in person.  He spoke about reading aloud to students, K-12, and shared the big ideas from his newer book, "In Defense of Read Aloud:  Sustaining Best Practice."  Even though I'm a staunch supporter of read alouds, spending the day listening to Dr. Layne simply cemented my reading beliefs.

As I looked around, I could see many people nodding.  A few middle school and high school teachers asked some great questions like, "How can I fit in read aloud at my level?"  and "What if I'm in the library?"  Everyone wanted the magic formula for how many minutes per day, per week, per month they should take away time from the curriculum to "do" read alouds." 

I was pleased as punch to hear Dr. Layne clearly explain to them that read alouds ARE instructional time.  Read alouds should be chosen with intention and planned for like any other lesson.   

YES!  Read aloud time is precious - it allows us to take our students out of their small town and into new cities, times and dimensions.  We can use read alouds to tackle important topics in society or small conflicts at recess.  Books are really important instructional tools.

My little notebook is teeming with quotes from the day, and I used my Twitter feed to broadcast my favorites.  I left the session feeling energized and proud.  I even talked my hubby into a library visit tonight so I could grab a pile of books that Dr. Layne recommended!

Giddy about Gardening #SOL

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C'mon.. you can do it!

One day in June the family piled into the car and went to Home Depot.  We usually don't shop the home improvement stores as a unit, so we must have decided to randomly stop after a meal out.

As we wandered the store, we came upon the seed rack in the garden section.  We started looking at seeds.  "It's too late," my husband warned, "but you should see what will grow in the back yard."

Ah, the backyard.  Our neighbors installed a stone retaining wall two summers ago.  We have not decided what to plant at the foot of the wall on our side, so we've just been mulching the area.  

Hmmm - could this be a place for a garden?  

We decided on the spot that we would plant seeds in our new garden.  My husband picked cilantro and peppers (he loves pico de gallo), I picked carrots, and the girls chose watermelon, cantaloupe and spinach.

That day the seeds went into the ground.  Weeks later the sprouts came up.  Then flowers... and ... you get the picture.  We were actually growing a GARDEN!  We added a tomato plant and jalapeno pepper plant.  (Jeff really wanted to make pico!)

We've been pretty good about taking care of these little plants.  I've been completely mesmerized as I've watched tiny seeds grow into seedlings, sprouts, plants, flowers and now FRUITS and VEGETABLES (thank you, first grade science curriculum, for the inspiration and vocabulary).

Will we ever get to eat a juicy watermelon this year?  Doubtful.  I don't even think the cantaloupe will get past the flowering stage.  We have enjoyed tiny carrots, lots of cilantro, and some spinach.  We may try fried green tomatoes, and I'll have to find out how the peppers grew... I don't eat jalapenos!  I can't wait to plan what we are planting NEXT year!

Tomato plant

Spinach

Jalapeno

Watermelon!

  

"That's the Lady!" #SOL

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Today was day five of school, and I've been in lots more classes, and assessing more students.  I'm quick to smile and wave at kids in the hallway, and when I quietly slide into classrooms, I have many kids volunteering to read with me.  (How awesome is that!?!?)

I'm also one of the people who works the morning car line.  With four of us directing traffic and receiving kids, it's getting easier each day.  It's fun to treat kids like celebrities as they arrive at school.  I make sure to have a smile, help little ones exit the car, and wish their parents a great day.

Today as I walked past some primary kiddos, one girl pointed at me and called out to her classmates, "That's the lady!"

"Who me?" I replied.

"That's the lady who took me out of my car today!" she told her friends.

"Did I do a good job?" I asked her, with a sheepish smile.

"Uh huh!" was the answer.

Day.  Made.

New beginnings #SOL15

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for Slice of Life stories.

I made a decision this winter to pursue a reading position.  To get back to my passion, and to work as a resource teacher again.  I started sending out resumes and writing essays, and I started to feel lighter and excited.

I went on a good amount of interviews.  While I was nervous, I also felt content.  I love to talk about books and reading.  I feel confident about working with teachers to help grow their craft.  I know in my heart that a resource room is my comfort zone.

Then I was offered a job.  I agreed to work at a school far from my other district.  Away from my friends and students who I've worked with for twelve years.

How am I feeling?  A mix of excitement and nervousness.  I have a million questions and thousands of ideas.  I'm sorting my books and making notes and getting excited.

I've got my friends, Michelle and Karen on Voxer, so I'll have my literacy support system at my fingertips.  I also have my PLN on Twitter and all the slicers. (right!?)

I can't wait to get started this year!

From Crazypaperfreak