Better ~ #DigiLitSunday

Today I am participating in Digital Literacy Sunday with Margaret Simon at Reflections on the Teche, where we are thinking about the word "better."

Two events happened this week that are a perfect reflection for this word.

My teaching partner retired this year, and my last days of teaching with her were last week.  I have been sitting in on interviews for her replacement.  This is not an easy thing to do when you need to replace a perfect partnership.

During each interview, we hope the questions we ask become conversational, depending on the answers from each interviewee.  Although no two interviews are the same, there are two or three questions that I make a point to ask each person.  

One of those is what are some things you do to improve your teaching?  

I am one of those teachers who continuously reflect and search for ways to improve my teaching practices, and I want to work with a teacher who does the same.  I read blog posts and professional books and articles.  I attend conferences and participate on online professional development.  Settling for the status quo or relying on the phrase "we have always done it that way" does not work for me.

I just finished my tenth year of teaching, and there are still so many things I want to learn and to make better in my classroom.  And I want my teaching partner to share in this learning.

The second event was a blog post from We Are Teachers.  I, along with several of my blogging friends, were listed as Twitter accounts teachers should follow.  I am very humbled to be included on this list along with these amazing teachers.  But what I liked most was what the author of the post, Kimberly Moran, said about me:  "...obsessed with improving literacy in her classroom."

By using those words to describe me, Kimberly could not have given me a higher compliment.  She captured my drive, my passion, and my need to get better, just from my online presence.  

My summer has begun and with that come many hours and days of trying to become better.  

My students, my colleagues, and my new teaching partner deserve that.

Another Chapter - A Nonet

It's Poetry Friday, and Margaret Simon from Reflection of the Teche has the round-up.

Different times write different chapters, but all are written in my book of life.  At times, I anticipate the end of the day, wishing I could erase the choices I made, the words I said, and the actions I took.

Other days, I linger in the day, wishing it could last just a little bit longer.

But each day moves on while adding another chapter.

Awhile back, I played with writing a nonet.  A nonet is a nine line poem, with the first line having nine syllables and counts down to the last line which has one syllable.  It was one of those days when I had time to linger in the goodness of the day.

That Time of Year - Celebrate 2017 (fourteen)

Each week Ruth Ayres extends an invitation to share the celebrations from our week. 

Four more days - I have four school days left.  It has been a long year, and I am ready for time to refuel with days in the sun, reading and writing when and where I want and taking things at my own pace.

At the end of these four days, my teaching partner will be retiring.  I taught with her my first year in fifth grade and followed her to the middle school.  It has been just the two of us for three years, and I will miss her terribly.

Pool time - My sister opened her pool this week.  This is where I spend almost every afternoon during the summer and is where my sister, my daughter and I solve all the world's educational problems.

Graduation Open Houses - My first class of 4th graders are graduating this year.  I have enjoyed watching them grow up and become such wonderful role models for my current students.  I am honored that some of them of invited me to share their important day.

It is the time of year when we look back and reflect, yet we also look forward to the days ahead.  It is the the time of year where we celebrate all we have accomplished and anticipate the celebrations to come.

Have a wonderful week and may you find many celebrations along the way!

A Simple Thought ~ Celebrate 2017 (thirteen)

Each week Ruth Ayres extends an invitation to share the celebrations from our week. 

I can't believe it has been a month since I have written a blog post.  While participating in the March Slice of Life challenge, I felt like I did more slapping of words on paper than actually writing.  To some people, "slapping words" is still a form of writing.  But I want more than that.

The words have been floating around in my head, but none have made their way out.  

My page is blank.

I have been absent in my writing communities:  Slice of Life, Celebrate this Week, Poetry Friday, Spiritual Journey Thursday.  I have missed them, but it hasn't been enough to pull me out of my word drought.

Until today.

I thought about writing a celebration post.  I actually had an idea worth writing about.  After I opened my computer and found my way back to my blog, I saw I had a new comment. (I don't check my gmail account which gives me comment notifications.)  

It was a simple message.  

Ironically, Loralee has done this before. She seems to know just when I need a boost.

Take some time today to let someone know you are thinking of them.  It might just be what they need to celebrate once again.