Eyes on the storm

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On Sunday and Monday I couldn't stop watching the media and coverage of Hurricane Sandy.  My thoughts were with the residents of the northeast.  I've never lived in a hurricane-prone area, and I think those living in New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey really thought they didn't either, until recently.

I joked with a coworker that I needed to turn off my empathy button, focus on my students, and forget about people facing days of rain, wind, downed trees and no power.  But I realized that my feelings of empathy are impossible to turn off, especially when there's a big storm.

Ten years ago, we experienced 7 inches of rain in one night, and back then I could sleep through thunderstorms.  I woke up the next morning and walked down to our finished basement to get some clean clothes.  As I stepped down from the last step, my foot squished into the carpet.  My mind could not figure out why the carpet would be wet.

We soon discovered that our basement had flooded with sewage because the previous owners had connected the basement bathroom right to the sewer line.  There was no check valve or overhead sewers (I've learned about these now).

I'm embarrassed to admit that I cried as we threw away toys we couldn't wash and tore up nearly new carpeting.  I remember stressing out at my grandmother's house as I washed the 10th load of laundry, crying that I couldn't deal with one more sewer-soaked towel.

We flooded twice after that storm, and both times we were able to contain the flood to a small area.  We finally fixed the sewer connection, and our hope is that we won't have to deal with that mess again.

Every time I hear that high waters and wind will threaten people I love or barely know, I can't help but feel for them.  Yes, water damages our stuff, and it can be replaced, but the idea of dealing with such a mess makes my heart hurt.

Today I looked at the devastation the hurricane caused in many places.  I wish the residents of the northeast strength and stamina as they deal with a huge interruption to their lives and a massive cleanup.

Second Guessing

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It's my 10th year of teaching in my current position, at my current school.  This year (for reasons I can't pinpoint) I've taken on a bad habit.

Second guessing.

I'm second guessing my instructional practices.
I'm second guessing my outlook on literacy.
I'm second guessing letting my students have free choice as well as leveled text in their book bags.
I'm second guessing nearly everything I'm doing.

It's exhausting!

On the other hand....

I'm great at brainstorming ideas for the classroom teachers in my building, always with the caveat, "I don't have a classroom, but have you thought about....?"

But then....

The more advice I give, the more I start to second guess what I'm doing and how I'm doing it.

I've always tried NOT to compare myself to other teachers, but then I launch into excuses.

"She's able to try that because her students have more language skills."
"She can accomplish that because she's more effective at behavior management."
"She just wants to impress others."

Second guessing makes for long days, upset stomachs and little sleep.

Maybe I should follow the advice I give to so many colleagues, especially our newest teachers:

"Pick one thing.  Dig in.  Research.  Try. Reflect. Try again.  But only pick ONE thing."

Time to find that ONE thing.  Time to stop second guessing.

Assessment Takes Time

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Names
Data
Faces
Numbers

All these pieces of information are floating around in my head, waking me at 2:00 a.m.

Finish
Decisions
Best Practice
Paper everywhere!
 
As part of the instructional resource team in my building, these past two weeks have been spent on deeper assessment.  The initial screeners (DIBELS, IDEL, AimsWeb) are finished.  Now we are using the Fountas and Pinnell benchmark system to figure out instructional text levels of our students who may need extra resource help.

Accuracy
Comprehension
Decoding
Word lists

I have been pushing myself (and my team - sorry, ladies!) to finish quickly, but I've learned that the quick way isn't the best way.  These assessments take time, and it's time well spent.  We are lucky - the classroom teachers value what we are doing.  I haven't heard anyone questioning our assessment plan or how much time it is taking.  I'm thankful for that!

Carefully
Concisely
Completely

I'm now focused on taking the time to read with each child (no matter how long it takes) to get the most complete picture of their reading, considering all the components.  Assessment leads to instruction.  That's the point.  We're spending our time well.

Trust
Confidence
Patience

Motivating Readers

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The reading team at our elementary school is trying something new this year.  We are trying to send one main message to staff and students about reading.  Our LRC director was kind and gave us the first chunk of lab time to deliver our message (thanks, Lynn!). Here are our talking points:
Notice our enthusiasm!

• Reading is great!  
• Find good fit books! 
• Read anywhere, anytime! 
• Read the genres you like, but don't be afraid to try new genres! 
• AR points are good for tracking reading, but don't worry too much about the points! 
• Talk with your friends about what you read!
• Ask people (adults and kids) about good books!
• Keep reading!

I've been really pleased by how many students want to contribute to the discussion.  When we ask the students to talk with a neighbor about where and what they like to read, the room starts buzzing with conversation.  When we've asked for examples of genres, the kids know what we are talking about.  

Can you imagine what will happen in the classrooms where the teacher continues the conversation, and builds a community of readers?

I can't wait to find out!!!

Library Love Fest

My public library is my MOST favorite place in my town, and I've had some of the best moments there this summer.

• I met up with friend Becky, from high school, who thought my public library was the most amazing library she'd ever seen. (Then we went to the most fabulous bakery that's right across the street!)
  
• I introduced Michelle's twins to the incredible Enchanted Forest in our children's section.  They loved "meeting" the Very Hungry Caterpillar and sitting in a little house to read.
  
• My younger teen daughter was excited to pick up TTYL (written by Lauren Myracle in online chat speak) and The Battle of Jericho by Sharon Draper (a fave author).  This was exciting for me, but the cherry on top of the sundae came when we stepped into the magazine section.  She couldn't believe all the different topics she could choose from (Birds! Fashion! Hollywood!)
  
• I joined the adult reading club and already won a nifty bookmark with seeds to plant in the garden.  One more book (we only had to read 8... no problem here!) and I win another prize!
  
• I have become a regular customer of the "book holds" area.  One day I got four emails telling me my holds were in.  I felt like a celebrity!

I wish everyone could have a library, as cool as mine, and within walking distance from their home. 

I wish the library was open 24/7, so anyone could get a book anytime.  

I wonder if the library would ever consider having an overnight, lock-in event.  My friend Becky and I thought (at the very same time) how cool that would be.

Do you love your library?

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Worry

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My aunt has a magnet on her refrigerator,

"Don't worry. I've got it. --God"

I've always wanted to embrace that idea.  I can't.  If worrying was an Olympic sport, I'd be a gold medalist.


My Great Granny Antoinette led the way for me.  I was her understudy, listening and watching her worry.  I thought it was a little funny.  For example, when she'd arrive at a party, she'd ask my Granny (her daughter and chauffeur), "When are we going home?"

Granny's response would always be, "What are you worried about?  The bricks leaving while you're gone?  Relax and enjoy yourself!" (Granny was a very happy-go-lucky lady!)

Relax.
Enjoy yourself.
Don't worry.

These words are easy to say but hard to live by.  I can find something, anything to worry about, just give me a few minutes.  My husband claims that I thrive in worry and chaos.  Sometimes he says I worry just to worry.

I don't.  Okay.  I might.  If I worry, no one else has to!

Don't worry, I've got it!  --Chris

#Summerthrowdown update

Tonight ends the first round of the #summerthrowdown reading challenge.  Three of my Tweeps (people I follow on Twitter) enjoy challenging each other (and their classrooms) to outread each other on a regular basis.  Then the idea of a summer reading challenge came together, plotting librarians against teachers.  It's been great fun:  reading like crazy, logging our reads on a spreadsheet (we count average number of books read) and giving stats/cheering/pouting on Twitter.

I've got a pile of picture books to read tonight, in addition to a few early chapter books that I found at the library.  My plan is to read until my eyes bug out of my head (those pesky #LeagueOfLibrarians have been ahead for most of the throwdown).  We're counting picture books as 0.25, books 50-150 pages as 0.50 and novels over 150 pages as 1.0.

Care to join the second round of the throwdown?  Check out heisereads.blogspot.com for details on Friday!  Thanks so much to Brian (@brianwyzlic), Jillian (@heisereads), Sherry (@libraryfanatic) and Kathy (@thebrainlair) for a great #summerthrowdown!

Now back to reading!!!