Last Minute Shopping - Christmas Haiku #22

last minute shoppers

push, shove, toss kindness aside

in search of bargains

©Leigh Anne Eck, 2015

Summer Wishes - Christmas Haiku #21

My December haiku writing challenge took a short detour due to chaos:  end of the semester, Christmas, and life.  But break has officially started today, and I am back writing again.

Last week as I was shelving books in my classroom library, I noticed the syllable count of many titles.  So many titles had five syllables which was perfect for a book spine haiku.  I have played around with book spine poetry, and it is not an easy poem to "write."  So what made me think book spine haiku would be any easier?  I began pulling titles and rearranging.  It actually became quite fun!

This one is my favorite because I think the only good thing about the months of December, January, and February is Christmas.

takeoffs and landings

the last best days of summer

where I'd like to be

Santa's Job Description - Christmas Haiku #14

This haiku is part two from a writing assignment I gave to my students.  We were talking about point of view.  This one is from Santa's point of view.  Click here to read from the unhappy little girl's point of view.

my job description

says:  bring joy to little children

does this look like joy?

©Leigh Anne Eck, 2015

Picture with Santa - Christmas Haiku #13

I have been writing a haiku a day for the month of December.  In my classes this week, we are writing from two different points of view from a picture prompt.  I chose this picture, and I decided to write beside my students.  My haiku is in rough form and was written in ten minutes.  This one is written from the little girls point of view.  Tomorrow will be from Santa's.

with my Christmas bow

and on Santa's lap, someone

take the picture, please!

©Leigh Anne Eck, 2015

The Toy Boy - Christmas Haiku #12

When my daughter Megan was about 3 or 4 years old, she called Santa the Toy Boy and it has just stuck with us.  Here is  my haiku about The Toy Boy.

Photo by Flickr

the toy boy putting

smiles on children's faces

on Christmas morning

©Leigh Anne Eck, 2015

A Christmas Story - Christmas Haiku #11

Last night I went to my former school and helped at their Family Christmas Night.  I snapped this picture of the daughter and husband of a former colleague.  It reminded me of reading Christmas stories to my own children.  

My children were always surrounded by books.  Reading to them was not only a pleasure, it was also a responsibility I took seriously.  But the Christmas books were only brought out at Christmas time.  I wanted those to remain special.  Because they were so well-loved and could only be read for a small number of days, I read the books to my kids again and again...a wonderful memory.

Snuggling up close

to hear a Christmas story 

again...and again

©Leigh Anne Eck, 2015

Cookies for Santa - Christmas Haiku #10

Photo by Flickr

cookies for Santa

lovingly placed on his plate

only crumbs remain

...and there are always crumbs.

©Leigh Anne Eck, 2015

What Has Twitter Done for Me Lately?

I love Twitter, although many of my colleagues have yet to find its worthiness.  I have tried to start Twitter chats in my district, and only a few teachers participate.  I talk about Twitter and how important being a connected educator can be.  But they just don't see it.

I am often asked about my take-aways from Twitter.  Some teachers think it is all technology related, while others think it is a waste of time.  But Twitter is so much more than that.

I know that I am a better teacher because of Twitter and the PLN I have established.  Twitter is full of golden tweets.  Sometimes it is just a simple quote that makes me smile or think about something in a different way.  Other times it is an idea, a lesson, or information on something I want to do in my classroom.

Many times when I am asked about Twitter, I am unable to quickly recall something I have taken away from tweets or links from tweets.  Curating the information from Twitter will allow me to show my colleagues just how valuable Twitter can be.

This Week's Twitter Take-aways

Readers' Notebooks

I want to do more with writing about reading with my students, as well as with my own reading.  This week Clare and Tammy from Teachers for Teachers wrote a post about using a virtual mentor text using the strategy of "lifting a line" which is from Notebook Connections by Aimee Buckner.  They took their thoughts from their notebook and "wrote long" or in this case, wrote a blog post.  Click here to learn how they a created virtual mentor text for reading notebooks.

Big idea notes from the notebook of Clare and Tammy at Teachers for Teachers.

Highlighting their big ideas in their blog post.

Reading Levels

I am always looking for ammunition to use against "living by levels alone."  This picture taken by Travis Jonker from 100 Scope Notes only solidifies my beliefs that levels are only a number...and many times not an accurate one.

Assessment

It is important for me to reflect on my assessment and grading practices.  I know I need to improve in this area, and reading about these two areas only helps me to become a better teacher. This is a quote I found on an assessment post by Erin Murphy at Murphy's Musings.

Independent Reading

Because I am an advocate for independent reading, I am always looking for articles and posts to read about this topic.  This week the International Literacy Association had an article by Deborah Hollimon about independent reading.

"There really is a proven formula which, when practiced with fidelity, consistently produces lifelong readers. I call this four-part formula the ACTS of Reading:  Access, Choice, Time and Socialize."

I have given two presentations on motivating and creating lifelong readers, and reading this article motivates me to keep advocating for independent reading in our classrooms. 

A Little Laugh

That wraps up my week on Twitter!  What has Twitter done for you lately?

Advent Wreath - Christmas Haiku #9

Photo by Flickr, wilsonevergreens 

wreath of evergreen

symbols of Christmas joy, the

coming of the Lord

©Leigh Anne Eck, 2015

Oreo Cookie - Christmas Haiku #8

who will be the first 

to dig through the box and find

Oreo cookie

©Leigh Anne Eck, 2015

For 16 years, this is the ornament that everyone digs to find and fights over because everyone wants to be the first to put the Oreo on the tree.

A Writing Life

Thank you to Two Writing Teachers for creating a place to share our Slice of Life.  Read more slices or add you own here.

Last week I was reading a slice at Carol's Corner and saw where she was joining Mary Lee Hahn at Poetrepository to write a haiku every day in December.  Haiku is my favorite poetry form to write and I loved the book Santa Clauses by Bob Raczka, so I thought why not?  

So far I have published every day.  Many of the poems revolve around Christmas memories in my house with my children.  I look at the tree and many ornaments bring back such special times I have shared with my family.  Since my children are now 19 and 23, this challenge has been serendipitous for me.

Then last Friday Mary Lee wrote on her Poetry Friday post about this December challenge.  Her words gave me much to think about.  She told about how she challenged herself last year, but she wrote alone.  This year is much different, as others have joined her.

She wrote, "I am learning (again) that while the writing habit opens my eyes to the world, encourages me to notice, and instills discipline, it is the community and the conversation that make it a writing LIFE."

When I think about how my writing life has changed in the past several years, I know it is because of the communities in which I belong and participate.  You, my dear slicers and writing/blogging friends, are what keep me writing and have influenced what I can now call, my writing LIFE.

So, being the reflective teacher that I am, I ask myself:  How could participating in writing communities affect my students' writing lives?  How can I create safe, risk-free writing communities which extend beyond the regular classroom for them?

This is now something I will think about over the Christmas break and be ready to implement in January.  Feel free to suggest any ideas in the comments section.  

Also, please check out my Christmas Haiku along with Carol's and Mary Lee's this month!  And feel free to join in.  It's never too late to start.

Poinsettia - December Haiku #7

red poinsettia 

"Flower of the Holy Night"

a gift for Jesus

©Leigh Anne Eck, 2015

Patchwork Stockings - Christmas Haiku #6

from the mantle hangs

Christmas patchwork stockings with

Santa's surprises

©Leigh Anne Eck, 2015

Anticipation - Christmas Haiku #5

slumber slips away
excitement envelops the
anticipation

©Leigh Anne Eck, 2015

The picture inside this ornament was taken nineteen years ago and still hangs on our tree to remind us of the excitement of Christmas seen through the eyes of a child.

Celebrate Turn #32

 

Each week Ruth Ayres extends an invitation to share and celebrate events, big or small, from our week.  This year I have numbered my celebration posts.  I am only at 32, so I have missed a few along the way.  I may not have written, but I have always celebrated.  I have learned it is the celebration that is most important. 

Today I celebrate finding the good.

Thursday night I attended my daughter Megan's first Christmas program.  Watching her students on stage, I stood in the back of the dark auditorium.  A young man with a hood over his head comes up to me and whispers, "Hi Mrs. Eck."

Did I mention it was dark?  He gets closer and laughs because he knows I can't see who he is.  "It's me, Nathan."  

And he hugs me.

Nathan (not his real name) was a student I had in my ELA class last year.

Nathan is in trouble again.  This breaks my heart, because I know Nathan is a good kid.  He has rough edges, and sometimes people see these edges as a reason not to care or a reason not to find the good in students.

And I am sure many believe that a kid with rough edges is not a person who hugs a teacher.

He told me what happened and how he was sent to our detention center, was on house arrest, and now on probation.  

When I had Nathan as a student last year and he would get in trouble, I always talked to him.  I always told him he was better than his actions, and that I believed in him.  He always promised he would try to do better.

I always found the good.

I did the same Thursday night.

After our conversation, I searched in my purse for my notebook and wrote down my email address and my phone number.  I handed it to him and told him, "Call me if you need help with anything. You're a good kid, and I still believe in you."

Nathan did not have to come up and speak to me.  Nathan did not have to hug me.  But he did. For me, that hug speaks volumes about trust.  That hug is a true celebration.

Life is so tough for many of our students.  I want to believe that Nathan will make it because he has the ability to do just that.  But he is also going to need someone who believes in him and someone to just find the good in him.  Nathan may have left my classroom last year, but he never left my heart.  

Today I celebrate finding the good.

Have a great week and may you find many celebrations along the way.

Snow Angel - Christmas Haiku #4

an angel image

disturbed by blowing snow dust

leaves only wing prints

©Leigh Anne Eck, 2015

Lighting the Way - Christmas Haiku #3

Picture from Flickr Creative Commons

in the horizon

one bright start lights the way to

an unlikely gift

©Leigh Anne Eck, 2015

Candy Canes - Christmas Haiku #2

peppermint delight

leaves behind sticky fingers

waiting to be licked

©Leigh Anne Eck, 2015

Snow Globe - Christmas Haiku #1

This week I was visiting Carol's Corner and saw where she was joining Mary Lee Hahn at Poetrepository to write a haiku every day in December.  Because I also love the book, Santa Clauses by Bob Raczka, I began thinking...and that is always scary,

Hmmm...sounds like a great challenge.  But do I really have the time to do this?

I also read Michelle's slice about her return to writing.

Hmmm...I really need to do this.

Then I saw on Twitter many tweets about #writedaily30.

Hmmm...Can I do this?

I have no idea what I am thinking, but hey, let's do this!

Flickr Creative Commons photo by JW Ogden

a Christmas snow globe

awakens excitement with

shaken memories

©Leigh Anne Eck, 2015

A Big Heart

Thank you to Two Writing Teachers for creating a place to share our Slice of Life.  Read more slices or add you own here.

I, along with many other teachers, have often expressed our gratitude for Two Writing Teachers and this community.  Last week my gratitude was lifted to a new level.

This year I wanted to start book clubs with my students as a different way to keep reading as a social event.  But in order to have book clubs for 100 students, I needed books.  Many of my fellow teachers have had projects funded through Donors Choose, so I looked into this as a way of acquiring funds to support this endeavor.  

Two weeks ago I submitted my first project for Donors Choose.  They suggested posting the project on social media, specifically Facebook.  I am not on Facebook, so I tweeted the link and wrote a short blog post explaining the details.

A few days later, I noticed a comment on the post.  It was from a fellow slicer asking about how to make a donation.  I sent her the information and it wasn't long after that I received an email that the remainder of my project was completely funded.

Bernadette from Haddon Musings, who I only know from sharing our slices on Tuesdays and our celebrations on Saturdays, opened her heart to my students.  Here is what she said,

"When I was a child, books opened up a world that wasn't known to me or available to me. Books fed my mind, gave me hope, and saved my life. But the ownership of a book was a rare treat. I hope your children aren't as in need as I was but it sounds like ownership of a book is still a treat to them. Enjoy."

Needless to say, my heart is full.  Bernadette does not know me personally.  She only knows me through our shared words from our own little corners of the world.  Because of her generosity, I now have 36 books making their way to my classroom and into the hands of my students.  I cannot wait to share this story with them.

Thank you, Bernadette!

Since my first project was funded so quickly and since it is that giving time of year, it was suggested that I start another project.  Here is the link to part two of my book club project.  

Bloggers note:  Since posting this slice I have had other slicers donate to my project.  I am so grateful for the support my students are receiving from my blogging friends.  Please know, my intention for writing this post was to share the amazing rewards of being a part of this community.  My heart continues to be filled ~ thank you!