Sunshine Walk SOLC #14

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Two Writing Teachers

At 10:00 a.m. I decided everyone should be up and awake :)

I promised a coffee to my oldest daughter (home for spring break!) if she would walk with me this morning.  I tried to get younger out of bed, but that wasn't happening.

The walk, the coffee and the talking were great.  We got all caught up on all the college news, drama and happenings.   We stopped at the pond to sit a spell.  We walked to the park and tried out the swings.

I started the day with a clear head and a light heart.

Lindsey hamming it for the camera

Luck? Fate? SOLC #13

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Are you trixadexaphobic

or does the thought of Friday the 13th

not even make you flinch?

Do you believe in fate

or do you think your future 

can be changed by each decision?

Do you throw salt over your shoulder

and knock wood

or cross your fingers?

It's the 13th

and it's not the date

that makes the day

wonderful

or 

completely crappy.

It's the decisions,

the mistakes and

the successes.

It's what you do after 

the bad decisions

that help you see 

that it will 

all

work 

out.

The way it's supposed to.

Writer's Helper SOLC #12

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In our integrated science unit, our goal and summative task is to have students explain cause and effect of fast and slow earth changes.  The first grader l.o.v.e. talking about fast changes (tornado, hurricane, VOL-CA-NOOOOOO!).  They get a little excited about slow changes, but only when I write the word erosion very slowly on the anchor chart.

Today I had them pick a fast change and a slow change.  Then we put our notebooks away.  This afternoon, we looked at pictures, talked with our buddies and then tried to write how the fast or slow change affected the earth.

Yup.  Tricky.  But not impossible.

As I was circulating and helping, jotting and talking, encouraging writing and discouraging a few arguments, I saw a little bit of magic happening at the table.

M has blossomed into a full-fledged author.  I am not kidding when I tell her that I want the first copy of the first (and second and tenth) book she publishes.  She spends nearly every day writing.  It's really exciting to talk with her about her writing.

S has a great attitude and helpful personality, but S isn't a writer yet.  She has great listening comprehension and understands what we're talking about, but the words (and sometimes letters) don't yet flow from her pencil.

I encouraged the kids to work together, talk together and write together.  S ended up next to M.  I watched M do what I do for S during writing time:

S:  I want to write about volcanos.  They melt the trees with the lava.

M:  (writing on a sticky note).  Okay.  They melt the trees.  Here you go.

S:  Do I write that?

M: Yes.  I wrote it, now you copy it.

S: Thanks!

M:  Ok!

I think my eyes were a little shiny as I made a little gasp.  Both girls looked up.
"Thank you for working together.  My heart is full of excitement about your writing!" I exclaimed.

Ok.  I'm a drama queen.  But words couldn't express how proud I was of the girls working together to find success for all of them.

Little N next to them spoke up, "Can I get some help over here?  This is hard work!"

M and S:  Okay!

Sometimes SOLC #11

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Two Writing Teachers

Sometimes I wish I was an introvert.

Someone who would think first, talk later.

Someone who would have filters.

Someone who could wait her turn to talk 

And not be so quick to respond

And then ask for forgiveness.

Sometimes it's hard to be who you are

And not worried about

What everyone else is thinking 

And how they might want you to be different

Quieter, more thoughtful

More in tune with the world around you

And just less loud.

Sometimes it's hard to be

Who you are

Because you are wired that way

And no amount of training

Or coaching

Or advice

Will change you.

Sometimes you have to decide

That you are okay

Just the way you are.

Creativity SOLC #10

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Two Writing Teachers

When I play a Go Noodle brain break for the kiddos, I stay near my computer.  I have a clear view of all the dancing kiddos, and it's the few minutes of the day I'm anywhere near my desk.  My student R likes to sidle right next to me.  If she could, I think she wouldn't mind crawling in one of my pockets!

One day she noticed that I had a poster hanging above my desk with "a lot of Cs."  I read them to her:  collaboration, creativity, communication, courage (from our building) and critical thinking.  We are trying to keep these ideas in mind when planning instruction.  I explained that I could show her what these are throughout our day.

During partner work I reminded the students to collaborate.

During math she needed courage to keep trying (math is not her favorite subject).

I asked the students to use their critical thinking skills 

When students turned and talked I labeled it communication.

I realized we have been missing creativity in our first grade classroom.

Then Day 120 of school came about.  BINGO!

Today we created necklaces of 120 Froot Loops (the classroom smelled so sweet!), kids were able to build creations with our 3D shapes (triangles, hexagons, etc) and a few fantastic 120 hats were glued and stapled.

They were awesome.  They were creators.  There was minimal off-task behavior.

Yes, I will remind myself to provide more opportunities for kids to use their critical thinking, collaboration and communication skills.  I will definitely remember that this class craves time to show their creativity.

Reignited SOLC #9

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Two Writing Teachers

In our district it's been a year of BIG changes for everyone.  Everything in the district was adjusted, from the curriculum approach to the schedule.  The biggest change for me was my switch into first grade.  I was a reading intervention teacher for thirteen years until program changes brought me to the door of Room 107.

It's been a year of learning, roller coaster emotions and me wanting to use all the best practices I've learned over the years all the time in my classroom.  Let me tell you from experience, it's not best practice to try everything.

Today I attended a grade-level symposium at my school district.  I realized what I've been missing this year.  Today I had the opportunity to learn and teach and share resources with my teammates, my grade level colleagues and the instructional coaches.

YES!  I love to talk and collaborate and share!

I've tried to be helpful to my teammates, but I've really had to lean on them (they are the best team!) and I feel like I've emotionally drained my resource pals, Michelle and Karen.  I'm not used to getting help.  I prefer to help others find resources and solutions.  I have been very, very needy this year.  It's not a feeling I like.

Today reminded me what I am really passionate about.  Today I was helpful to others.

• I love to match kids and teachers with books.
• I love to teach teachers about Twitter and how to find resources and who to follow.
• I love to share resources (websites, mentor texts, who's who in reading & writing).
• I love to think big and out of the box and far-reaching and short-term (and in a circular fashion!) (my blog does have "chaos in the title!").

Tomorrow I return to my classroom with a lighter heart.  I have so much to share with my students about my learning with other teachers.  I want to know what they discovered about the books I left with the guest teacher.  

I guess I just needed a day to really share and smile and feel confident.

I needed my learning fire

reignited.

The Couch SOLC #8

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Two Writing Teachers

The Couch is the favorite place in our house for my daughters and their friends to hang out.  Of course, the two groups are never in the basement at the same time.  One group (usually youngest and friends) will get relegated to the great room (with no TV) to watch a movie on a laptop.

I would like to replace The Couch.  To me it's worn out, the cushions are all squished and it has it's share of spots that won't come out.  When I posed the idea of media chairs to the girls, they responded with a resounding, "Oh, no, mom! Don't get rid of The Couch!"

I sent a text to my older daughter, Lindsey, and friends why they love The Couch.

Lindsey:  Mom, I'm not sure you could capture the essence of The Couch in just words.

Katie:  It's so much more than a couch.

Lindsey:  It doubles as a bed, a couch and a living area.

Me:  It's a comfortable, safe place to share your hopes, dreams and fears with your friends?

Lindsey:  That's deep.

Katie:  You can build forts with it!

Emily:  Because it symbolizes friendship, rainbows and hugs.

Lindsey: BOOM.  Nailed it.

I guess we will be keeping The Couch for a long while.  It's very important to these kids, and it's pretty comfy, too!