One Little Word 2019 #SOL19

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Two Writing Teachers

Today I did a little inventory on my One Little Words that I have chosen over the years:

finish - listen - thrive - hope - spark - peace.

When I first started picking an OLW in 2011, I picked words that would encourage me to improve. (I have a hard time finishing projects; I tend to talk more than listen). Then I went through a job change and watched my daughters graduate high school and make life decisions (thrive was really survive; hope was for a new job). Spark represented all the new ideas I brought to my new school, and peace was my big goal for myself and the world.

Today I see myself as someone who juggles flaws and fabulous ideas. Someone who can spark a smile in someone who isn't feeling great. Someone who is trying to figure out how to parent young adults (so different!) while getting back to hobbies and habits I had before my husband and I became parents.

After many visits to an online thesaurus, I have decided my word of 2019 is ....

cultivate

(v) to plant, to educate, to encourage

My goals for 2019 include:

• read lots of books to cultivate my knowledge of current kid lit
• help my students find books they can & will read and cultivate their love of reading
• encourage my colleagues to refine their craft by cultivating positive relationships and learning alongside them
• cultivate new hobbies (lettering, bullet journaling) and revisit former hobbies (playing violin, knitting)
• Figure out how to cultivate an interest in exercising and continue to eat well

Sounds easy enough, right?  Happy New Year!

Spring #SOLC17

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Spring is approaching

The sun is warm but the air is cold

I step outside, gloves on hands

and pull down the dry, jagged branches 

of the monster clematis that clings to our fence.

Spring is approaching

I try to connect the hose

failing more than once.

I finally line up the treads

twist, twist, turn on,

big spray, wipe eyes,

now the water is flowing.

Spring is approaching

I take in the sights and sounds

of my yard.

Birds chirping,

grass turning green,

plants pushing through the soft dirt.

What will I plant this year?

Spring is approaching

Time to finish up the indoor projects

and move to the outdoor projects.

Some planned, some spontaneous.

Some long overdue.

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!

Bursting with Ideas

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It's the two-week "rest" period before school starts.  No sports or summer school for my teens.

Ahhhhh.

My oldest daughter landed a job (hooray!) and will work next week, but this week is all about small errands, friends, reading and rest for the three of us.  My husband is happy to head off to work - he can't deal with too much unstructured time.
Since I've had more time to relax, I've spent more time on Twitter (I'm @ReadSoMuch) with my Personal Learning Network.  When people ask how that works, I tell them it's all about who you follow, and what you are looking for.

I'm looking for lots of ideas for my resource room and school reading community...

• read alouds
• organizational tips (!)
• ways to engage kids (and teachers) in reading
• how not to be overwhelmed by the Common Core State Standards

Now that I've had more time to research and dig into many tweets and blog posts, my mind is bursting with ideas.  The challenge I have is organizing (!) these ideas and figuring out how to best implement them. 

Some of my plans for the beginning of the school year:

1. Bring my books from home (labeled with levels and organized (mostly!) into book boxes) and reboot my classroom library
2. Ask teachers to share pictures of themselves from elementary school along with a book cover of their favorite read - this will share our "reading lives" (even if we were reluctant readers) with our students
3. Use Evernote instead of a planner (but I will miss writing with my colorful pens!) to keep track of team meetings
4. Journal many times during the week to empty my brain of stress and great ideas I want to capture

I'm happy to have plans, but I'm not stressing myself about any of them.  My plan is to avoid the back-to-school nightmares and ease into my 13th year of teaching.  

Permission or forgiveness?

I've become the primary literacy teacher for 10 students in 4th and 5th grade.  I'm implementing a tier 3 intervention targeted at ELLs who are two years (or more) below grade level.

I'm doing well with the intervention, but something is missing.

It's been five weeks, and I haven't figured out who my students are as readers.

Ask any staff member in my building about anyone in my class.  They will tell you they know what kind of readers I have in my class:

The kids who don't read.  The kids who don't know where their library books are. The kids who check out a book and return it the next week, unread.  The kids who don't ever take an Accelerated Reader test.  Ever.  The kids who pretend to read.  The kids who may never succeed in school.  The kids everyone shakes their head at.

Sigh.

What's a teacher to do?  I promised my principal that I would implement this intervention with fidelity.  I would spend the entire afternoon using the intervention and delivering the instruction the way it was written.

I might have to ask for some forgiveness.  I've been starting the afternoon with some independent reading. Some kids have jumped right in and read (or "read") for the whole ten minutes.  Some kids are reading for most of the time, but they usually have their eyes on others and their mouth open, talking.

All kids are holding a book for ten minutes.  You have to start somewhere, right?

I'm their literacy teacher.  I must figure out ways to get the right books in their hands and inspire them to try reading.  It's my job.  It's essential. 

Summer Plans

Since my girls are teenagers, my time commitment as "cruise director" is dwindling.  This leaves me with LOTS of time over the summer to do things that I enjoy (and/or need to do).

Here's my list of summer plans:

• Inspire my teens to read each day - this may have to include bribery or threats ("If you want to keep your pool pass, you'll put text in front of your face!") but I hope to keep it positive!
  
• Ride my bike if I need to run an errand or visit the library.  I got a new bike and a cool bag that connects to the side (fancy!).
  
• Try to limit my trips to the kitchen! (I'm a snacker!)
  
• Read The CAFE book by the Two Sisters, cover to cover, and make some written plans to implement CAFE strategy mini lessons for my 4th and 5th grade small groups this fall.
  
• Participate in the #cyberpd book club hosted by Cathy, Jill and Laura.  I always come away with great knowledge from the book we read (this year:  Opening Minds by Peter Johnston) and our great discussions
  
• Read LOTS of  books for the #bookaday and #summerthrowdown challenges, and post what I read on Goodreads and Twitter, and (hopefully) this blog!!
  
• Organize the paperwork stuffed in the drawer and the pictures in my coffee table...maybe!
  
• Enjoy time with my family and friends, without the stress of heading to work each day!!!!