Measuring Time

Thank you Two Writing Teachers for creating this space for me to share my corner of the world.

Last night I finished reading Hour of the Bees by Lindsay Eagar.  This story is about the relationship between a young girl named Carol and her grandfather who has dementia. This book is beautifully written, and I strongly recommend it. 

An idea threaded throughout the story was how we measure time.  Serge, the grandfather measures it by the work he does with the sheep on his ranch.  Carol starts to measure it in many other ways.  This idea of measuring time along with my one little word, intent, is the inspiration behind this poem.

How do you measure time?

Do you measure time

from sunrise to sunset,

admiring God's paintbrush

as he blesses us with another day?

Do you measure time

by the passage of the seasons,

observing the signs of spring,

peeking from under the blankets of winter,

giving us signs of hope and renewal?

Do you measure time 

through life changes

as you watch young ones 

in the blink of an eye 
grow into young adults?

Do you measure time
when loved ones pass,

leaving a new generation

to carry on their legacy?

Or do you measure time 

with each breath you take,

intently inhaling and exhaling, 

caressing each moment 
of precious life?

Life Preservers and the Island of Isolation

Thank you Two Writing Teachers for creating this space for me to share my corner of the world.

I am in my ninth year of teaching, and I am amazed how much education has changed in that short amount of time.  Some of that change has been brought on by education reform, and some of that change has been my own reformation, which has not always been easy and many times quite lonely.

My first year of teaching, I taught 5th grade reading.  I used a basal series and all that accompanied it.  I hated it, and so did my students.  The following year I moved to 4th and my quest for change began.

That summer I read The Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller.  This book was my life

preserver, and I clung tightly to every word she wrote.  We are an Accelerated Reader district, and I knew better ways to motivate and create readers were out there; I just had to find them.  The Book Whisperer validated my beliefs while I tried to survive on that isolated island where we teachers sometimes inadvertently find ourselves.  This book was the catalyst in changing the way I taught reading.  

I began to:

• give kids more choice
• improve my classroom library with books kids wanted to read
• unlevel my classroom library
• decrease the use of worksheets
• increase the talking about books

It was slow, but it was a start.  Each year I implemented more and more of her ideas. My classroom was changing in ways I could not even imagine.  Now I read The Book Whisperer every summer to reaffirm my beliefs.

My eighth year of teaching I moved to middle school and felt like a first year teacher all over again.  I knew I could carry over many of the ideas and methods I used in my elementary classroom, but I also knew I needed to change some of the ways I approached independent reading.

My next life preserver was Book Love by Penny Kittle.  I read Book Love for the first time last summer and it completely changed how independent reading looks in my classroom this year.  Again, I held on tight and became brave enough to make some changes that I knew I needed to make.

I began to:

• include independent reading every day during my 48 minute periods
• establish reading rates and keep track of pages read
• have students keep track of books read using an online reading record
• have students rank the difficulty of their reading though reading ladders
• have students reflect on their reading
• conference with my 100+ students on a regular basis
• eliminate Accelerated Reader

I know that I am a much better teacher because of the influence of these two women and the books they have written.  The reading culture in my classroom is magical. And that is not an easy task to attain with middle school readers.  Turning students into readers has become my passion and my primary existence in the teaching world.  

Change is not easy, but when we have mentors like Donalyn and Penny who throw us life preservers, we musy grab them and not let go.  We must be brave enough to make the tough decisions.  And brave enough to swim off that island.

My Journey to Bullet Journaling

Thank you Two Writing Teachers for creating this space for me to share my corner of the world.

About the same time I decided on my one little word for 2016, I also came across this phenomena called bullet journaling.  I was intrigued by this idea for several reasons.  I want need to be more organized.  The older I get, the more I forget and I need help to get it together.  I want to keep a notebook where I can keep blog post ideas, quotes, snippets of my life, scripture verses and other things.  All of these things seem to be everywhere except in one place.  Most importantly, I want this year to have more intent.  I want to pay more attention to the things that matter.  

All of this fits into a bullet journal.

So what's a bullet journal?  

A bullet journal is an organizational system that teaches you to do more with less.  

"For the list-makers, the note-takers, the Post-it note pilots, the artful organizers, the dabbling doodlers.  Bullet Journal is for those who feel there are few platforms as powerful as the blank paper page.  It's an analog system for the digital age that will help you organize the present, record the past, and place for the for the future." 

          

~ Ryder Carrol, Inventor of the Bullet Journal

My Bullet Journal Beginning

I ordered my bullet journal on January 20th, thinking I would start in February.  The expected delivery date was March 7th...so much for starting in February.

March 7th came and went...with no journal.  I didn't pay attention to the seller when I ordered it on Amazon.  I began doing some research on Amazon and it appeared that I was not the only one who was not receiving their journals on time.  I read complaint after complaint about the same issues I was having.  I finally emailed the seller and told them to cancel my order and refund my money.  So much for starting in March.

Yesterday, I bought a squared Moleskin journal.  It is not what I wanted, but I want to get started with this new type of journaling.  How about starting in April?

More Information on Bullet Journaling

If you are interested in reading more about bullet journaling then check out these websites:

Tiny Ray of Sunshine

The Originator of The Bullet Journal

Boho Berry 

My Bullet Journal Pinterest Board

Follow Me on My Journey

I plan to blog about my journey to bullet journaling.  I hope you follow along.  Maybe even grab a notebook and pen and start with me!  I AM starting in April!

"Notebooks are my canvas.

When I write in them, I dare.

Dare to create.

To make.

To plan.

They're a creative

playground where you 

breathe life into ideas."

~ Ryder Carroll

Now

Thank you Two Writing Teachers for creating this space for me to share my corner of the world.

I started my spring break with a shopping trip with my daughter Megan.  We spent a lot of time at Barnes and Noble, yet I only came home with two books.  After I added them to my TBR stack, pile, shelf...or whatever else you want to call it, I realized this would be a perfect day to try some book spine poetry.

After pulling and shifting, and shifting and pulling, I found one.  I think it is a message that I sometimes need to hear on a daily basis.

all the bright places

finding serendipity

all we have is now

Sometimes I think we get so wrapped up in finding those brighter places that we tend to forget that all we really have is the now.  Today.  

Make it a great one!

Bloggers note:  I intended for this to be a haiku.  I thought it was until I typed the titles and realized the first line actually had 6 syllables.  Darn!

#BestSchoolDay

Thank you Two Writing Teachers for creating this space for me to share my corner of the world.

I am also celebrating with Ruth Ayres today - a day late!

Thursday morning began just like most days.  Got up, checked my email and Twitter feed while I ate breakfast, showered, and left for school.

I arrived at school, opened my computer, and waited for it to update.  Checking my email, I noticed a new email from Donor's Choose with the subject as #BestSchoolDay Surprise.  I didn't pay much attention to it because I knew they were doing a hashtag blitz that day.

As I looked at it again, I noticed it also said:

Hi Leigh Anne,

Congratulations! Every Child Deserves a Literacy Experience has been fully funded. Herbert Simon Family Foundation and the Pacers Foundation completed your project in honor of #BestSchoolDay.

"We are immensely grateful for all you do for your students each and every day. Today is a celebration of you and your fellow teachers. We hope the materials our generous donors have funded for you today will push you one step closer to the classroom of your dreams. Thank you for your dedication, for your enthusiasm, and for your contribution to the education of our nation's youth. Happy Best School Day from the entire DonorsChoose.org Team."

What a surprise it was!  I had less than two weeks left to fund this project which was more books for our book clubs.  I really did not think I would make it. Now, I have 46 more books on their way to my classroom and into my students' hands.

Today I celebrate Donor's Choose and the wonderful things they do for teachers.  I also celebrate my blogging friends who helped fund this project!  Since we just finished our first round of book clubs, a post will be coming soon!

It was certainly a #BestSchoolDay Surprise!

Little Green Army Men

Thank you Two Writing Teachers for creating this space for me to share my corner of the world.

Today's post has been delayed due to a little red fox named Pax.  I was all set to write my celebration post on my Donor's Choose project, but this little fox has stolen all of my free moments today.  I will celebrate that tomorrow!

What is it with little green army men?  

Before I became a teacher and before my reading diet consisted of kid lit, I read Christian fiction.  My favorite author was Karen Kingsbury.  She wrote a two book series (or whatever literary term that is called) about the War in Iraq.  In the second book a little green army man ripped out my heart, and I literally sobbed while reading this book.  I knew then that I would never look at a little green army man the same way.

      

Until I read Pax...

I had been about 50 pages into the book for some time.  I stopped reading it because from what I had heard, I knew I wanted to be able to finish the book one sitting.  And I did.  Today.

This book is relevant and timeless at the same time.  The significance of the little green army man is wrapped in love, betrayal, and trust.  I think because I had such deep feelings about little green army men from Kingsbury's book, it became a pivotal point for me.

If you have not read any of these books, I highly recommend them.  Only then will you know what I am talking about when I say...

What is it with little green army men?

Let Spring Break Begin

Thank you Two Writing Teachers for creating this space for me to share my corner of the world.

Today has been one of those whirlwind-kind-of days.  The day before spring break and routine was nonexistent.  Need I say anymore?

We were on an early release schedule which always makes for a confusing day.  

We played Kahoot in my only two regularly scheduled classes.

I gave make-up tests to students who were absent yesterday.

I chased down students to get permission slips to publish pictures on Donor's Choose website.

We showed the movie Max for our ISTEP Reward Party. (A great book and movie!)

We went to the Washington D.C, student trip informational meeting.

We watched the Color and Winter Guard Convocation.

I came home and took a two hour nap!

Ahhh...let Spring Break begin!

Currently I'm...

Thank you Two Writing Teachers for creating this space for me to share my corner of the world.

Tonight I played around a little with Picmonkey.  This didn't turn out the way I wanted, but my computer was being contrary and I just wanted to get it done.  So here is an old standby...

Pile Upon Pile, File Upon File

It is hard to believe another March has arrived, and it is time for another Slice of Life Challenge.  This is my third year of participating.  Thank you Two Writing Teachers for creating this space for me to share my corner of the world.

I am a "pile-er" and I am not afraid to admit it.  I have piles on my desk, piles on my kitchen table, piles on my nightstand, piles on pretty much anything that has a flat surface.

I know what is in those piles, and I can usually locate whatever I may be searching for.

But...I usually get to a point where I stack everything up in one big pile and then sort. I typically throw many things out or put them in a file or place where they belong. And I always feel so much better when I am through.  I often ask myself why I don't just take the time to put things in their proper place the first time around.

I don't have an answer for that.  Maybe it is laziness; maybe it is I am too busy at the moment to do it.

I have noticed lately that I am also a pile-er even on  my computer.  Now, I know you may be thinking, how in the world can you have piles on your computer.  Let me show you.

This is my desktop!  If you look closely in the right hand corner, I have file upon file.  There is no more room.  I think it is time to clean it up!

Today I took some time to drag documents into files and others into the trash.  This is what it now looks like.

But now, I probably will not be able to find a thing!

Ohh...the life of a pile-er.

Awakening Assumption

It is hard to believe another March has arrived, and it is time for another Slice of Life Challenge.  This is my third year of participating.  Thank you Two Writing Teachers for creating this space for me to share my corner of the world.

Last week as I was leaving school, I noticed the buds on the small maple trees along the walkway. I know it is wishful thinking, but could spring be on the way?  Here is a quick draft of a spring haiku.

buds bursting open

awakening assumption

spring is arriving

Reading Relationships or Superpowers?

It is hard to believe another March has arrived, and it is time for another Slice of Life Challenge.  This is my third year of participating.  Thank you Two Writing Teachers for creating this space for me to share my corner of the world.

Last week our health teacher walked into our wing with a book in his hand.  He walked up to me and said, "I think this belongs to you.  I am not sure who was reading it."

I took it from him and said, "Oh 'Abigail Fall' is reading that.  Thanks."

He looks at me with a puzzled look on his face like "How did you know who was reading that?"  But instead he says, "Yes, that is who sits there."

I knew who was reading that book because I know my readers, and I strive to create reading relationships with them.  Would I know what every single one of my 105 students are reading?  Probably not, but I could get pretty close.  Knowing what my students are reading is important to me.

Taking time to confer with my students is the key.  It is during these short talks that I get to know their reading preferences so I can recommend books to them.  Conferring at the middle school level is not an easy thing to do with 48 minute periods, but I know those conversations are valuable.  

As they walk by in the hall with their books in their hands, I observe what they are carrying around.  I stop and ask them how it's going or where they are in the book.  Our joke is to ask, "Has the dog died yet?" even if there is no dog in the story.  These kinds of conversations are how I connect with them and the books they are reading.

Reading what they read and sharing my reading life are essential to creating discussions about books.  I post the books I have read on my door so that they can see that I am a reader too.  When they need a new book, I catch them many times looking at my door to see what I have read, and the conversations begin.  

I am a reading teacher, but I do not have superpowers.  Instead, I have reading relationships, and that is enough power for me.

Aaahh...

It is hard to believe another March has arrived, and it is time for another Slice of Life Challenge.  This is my third year of participating.  Thank you Two Writing Teachers for creating this space for me to share my corner of the world.

You know that feeling you get when you have worn a pair of jeans all day that are just a little too tight, and you finally change to sweat pants?

Or when you have been wearing heels all day and you finally change into a pair of tennis shoes?

Or when you overeat at Thanksgiving (or any other meal) and you let the belt out a notch...or two?

That is how I felt this week - very restricted and confined.

We began the first round of our state testing this week.  Earlier in the week I moved my students from small groups into nice, neat rows of desks.  Perfect for test takers.  I shut my blinds to avoid distractions and to help with concentration.  Perfect environment for test takers.

Today I was allowed to change into those sweatpants and tennis shoes and let out my belt.

My desks are back into small groups ready for turn and talk and true collaboration. Perfect for engaged learning.  I have a corner room with three large windows.  The blinds are now open, letting in natural light and brightening my room again.  Perfect for engaged learning.

I looked around my room and let out a sigh....I can start teaching again!

*This post was written on Friday afternoon.

Meeting My Blogging Friends - Celebrate #3

 

Today I am doubling up with my celebration post and my slice of life.

I started blogging the summer of 2013.  I joined the Two Writing Teacher's Slice of Life on Tuesdays and eventually participated in the March challenge.  Soon after that, I followed many slicers over to celebrate on Saturdays with Ruth Ayres.

Both of these communities have allowed me to grow as a teacher, a reader, and a writer.  Through these communities, I created friendships which have become so important to me.  Two years ago I attended the All Write conference in Warsaw, Indiana and finally met many of my blogging friends for the first time.  The following summer I added more to that list.

This past week I began finalizing my plans for All Write 2016.  I am thrilled that I will finally get to meet Michelle Haseltine at One Grateful Teacher.  I not only to get to meet her, but I also get to room with her.  (I bet those two days will be filled exclamation mark moments!!!)

During the Slice of Life Challenge we begin to "meet" people and find that many are just like us.  We make connections.  We find our tribe.  When these connections are nurtured throughout the year, special friendships form.  And when we finally to get meet them face to face ~ well, those are just special moments.

It is one thing to know people through their writing, but to spend time with them and eat, laugh, talk, cry, and yes, even learn together brings a whole new perspective to the power of our words we share each week.