Slice of Life - Mentoring 101

TWO WRITING TEACHERS

Last week I received a book from a friend titled Mentoring 101 by John C. Maxwell.

My friend is a pastor at one of our churches.  His children attend our school, and his wife teaches here.  He actually leads a bible study and prayer group with a small group of teachers here at school.  I know - I hear some of you gasping right now.

We meet before our school day officially begins.  The power of prayer for our students and colleagues, diving into the Word of God, his inspirational text messages, and focusing on these throughout our day is amazing.  It is one of the highlights of our week.

I haven't read past the preface and first chapter of the book, but I think this book has the potential to be inspiring.   I have been placed in a couple of new leadership positions this year, and with that comes opportunity and professional growth, but also many new challenges.  Although I love the challenge, it is harder to find the time to do the things that I love...reading and writing.

A line in the preface says "If you want to grow and become the best person you can be, you've got to be intentional about it."  This is still a work in progress in many areas of my life.  My intentionality right now is not including the reading and writing that I so enjoy and need in order to become a better teacher.  I miss that, and I am searching for some balance.

Also in the preface, the author says "...life is busy and complex.  Most people run out of day long before their to-do list is done."

My to-do list included a longer slice but....I have run out of day!  Seems to be a pattern lately.

I have read more of this little gem of a book since I first posted this.  Check back this week for more inspirational tidbits.

Slice of Life - Reflections

Since I started writing this summer, I have found that I do more reflecting than I have ever done before. I have always thought about how lessons and days went and how I could I change things, but now it is different.  Maybe it's because I am taking the time to actually write things down instead of just "thinking" about things.

Last week was just an all-round great week, so I decided to write a little bit about what happened in Room 19B.

1.  We received our standardized test results for last year, and 100% of the students I had all year passed!  I was thrilled to say the least.  They worked really hard to become better readers in an environment which was heavily focused on assessing.  Not something I like, but today's reality.

2.  We started our Independent Work Time and I started small groups and conferences.  This went exceptionally well.  I have modeled, and we have practiced and practiced, but it is so satisfying to see it all come together.  We even had an unexpected visitor and our room was buzzing with reading work.  I was very proud of my kids.

3.  We were reading The War with Grandpa, and the kids were begging me to read more.  I love it when that happens!  This an older book, but the kids love the story.  I always read it when we first start story elements because it has such great events in the rising action and climax.  If you haven't read this book, you might want to see if you can find a copy.

4.  I placed an order for the following books:  Counting by 7's, Paperboy, Every Day After, and The Center of Everything.  I can't wait to get started on these new books.  I am starting a Mock Newbery Club for my high ability 4th graders, and these are some of the ones I have been hearing about.  If any of you have read these, I would be happy to hear what you have to say about these titles.

   

5.  My students posted their first post on Kidblog.  I had shown them my blog when school first started and they were all excited to become "published writers."  I even had a couple of students go online at home and create a post and comment on students' writing.  I think this will be fun!

6.  The last thing and probably the best thing that happened last week was that we found out they have decided to make our part-time teacher full-time.  Today I will go from 36 students in the afternoon to 23 all day.  We all know the importance of building relationships with our students.  It was simply impossible to that effectively with 36 students.  Today will be like another first day of school and I can't wait to meet my class....AGAIN!

Slice of LIfe - Better than Yesterday

TWO WRITING TEACHERS

Last week on Portable Teacher, Lea Ann wrote a post about a comparison of running and creating curriculum calendars.  Her running trainer from Camp Gladiator sent her a photo with a quote:  "It's not about being the best.  It's about being better than you were yesterday.

This quote came to life several times this past week.

We received DIBELS scores which of course reminded my of the post from Two Years and Finishing Strong.  When I think about the kids with the "red dots,"  I know I need to remind them that it is not about being the best reader in our classroom, but about being better than you were yesterday.  So many of them are aware that they struggle with reading, but become embarrassed because of the books they are reading or because they go to the resource room. They just want to be like the others who are reading at grade level.  But it is about the small gains they make from reading every day and working hard to improve, not about being the best.

I am a mentor teacher to a new teacher in our grade level.  He was all excited today because he was going to start his small groups in reading.  He had everything ready to go - plans made, groups formed, and books chosen,
                              ...and things
                                     ...did not go
                                               ...as planned.

By the end of the day he was very disappointed, exhausted, and overwhelmed.

He told me

• they got started late because of our school morning meeting
• things took longer than he expected
• the kids didn't stay focused on the task at hand
• they were late for lunch
• there were behavior problems

I told him, welcome to teaching, where things don't always go as planned.  I tried to use this quote as advice to make him see that this was just the first day.  It wasn't about being the best day, but learning from what went wrong, and making sure that tomorrow was better.

Last night we received our state standardized test results.  If you live in Indiana, then your know what a fiasco this has been.  Our school's results, as well as my own, were quite good.  But being the self-critic that I am, I looked at the fifth grade math scores and compared his to mine.  A conversation I had with my principal last year about this teacher immediately came to mind.  The gist was that "He gets results."

In my mind I added ..."but you don't."  That self-doubt came bubbling up and poured out today.  I questioned what and how I did things last year.  How could I have done things differently to get better results?

I had to give myself the advice I have been giving others...

It's not about being the best, but about being better today than yesterday.

So, tomorrow I will continue to build relationships with students and colleagues, work hard, have a positive attitude, and continue to make today better than yesterday.

Slice of Life - My First Featured Student Reader

TWO WRITING TEACHERS

In my last slice, I wrote how my reading heart was smiling.  The second day of school, I "caught" a student reading a book tucked inside her desk while I was giving a spelling inventory.  I knew she was a  girl after my own heart!  Today I have chosen her to be my first Featured Student Reader.  Thank you Ramona for the inspiration and for sharing your idea.

Jenna is a student in my fourth grade classroom and shares my passion for reading.  She began reading Harry Potter as a third grader!  As I was typing Jenna's answers, I decided it would be fun to answer the questions myself.  So, here is a peek into our reading hearts.

1.  What are some of your favorite books?  Why are they your favorite?  Some of my favorite books are Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, The Candy Makers, Runaway Twin, and Ella Enchanted.  They are some of my favorite books because they all tell an amazing story.  All the stories are different and I would recommend them to anyone.

I have read so many books that it is difficult to list favorites....my list would be too long.  But, my list would definitely include:  Bridge to Terabithia, The War with Grandpa, Wonder, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, and my all-time favorite adult book is The Thornbirds.  I am an emotional reader.  I love books that tug at my heart and even make me cry.  

2.  What makes you choose a book?  I choose a book because the cover and the back look interesting.  Sometimes I close my eyes and pick a book and end up loving it!

I prefer realistic fiction, and I like to read books that my friends or students recommend.  Reading other teachers' blogs has given me enough book ideas to last a long time!

3.  Where do you like to read?  I like to read in a quiet place with my pillows and blankets.  In my room I have a pink chair.  It's very comfy and it's my favorite place to read.

I love to read by the pool in the summer time.  I also read every night in bed before I go to sleep.  It is a way for me to unwind.  (Don't tell my students, but I also love to read in the bathtub!)

4.  What do you remember about learning to read?  I remember the popcorn words we had to know how to read because you couldn't sound them out.  Some of the ones I remember were:  I, have, were, and how.

Although it was almost 45 years ago, I remember being able to read the word "the" and being able to find that word in books.  I also remember learning how to read with the Dick and Jane books.

5.  If there was one author you could meet, who would it be?  If I could meet any author, it would probably be Peg Kehret.  My favorite story by her is Runaway Twin.  I would choose her because I love her books!!!  

An author of adult fiction I would like to meet would be Karen Kingsbury.  Again, her books make me cry and I am amazed at how God has used her writing to inspire so many people.  J. K. Rowling would be a children's author I would like to meet.  But, not because I like Harry Potter (fantasy is NOT my favorite genre!).  I think her story of how she became a writer is very interesting and I would love to sit down and have her tell me about it.

6.  If you had a friend that didn't like to read, what would you tell them?  How would you get them to start reading?  If I had a friend who didn't like to read, I would tell them that no matter what you like, there's a book for you.  I would get them to start reading again.  I would find a book that has their "likes" in it.  I would give it to them and hope they like it.  If not, I would find different books and try over and over until I find the right one.

My answer is very similar to Jenna's.  I love sharing books with others and the more we do that, the greater chance we have of turning someone on to reading.

7.  Is there someone or something that inspired your love of reading?  I think my teachers helped me love reading even more.  They encouraged me to try my hardest at reading, and I feel like they helped me a lot.

I am a third generational reader.  My mother and my grandmother are both voracious readers.  I remember when I was a little girl, going to the library on Saturdays with my mom.  We would go home, fix popcorn and read our new books together.


I hope you enjoyed reading about Jenna.  I look forward to sharing books with her this year.

Happy Reading!

Slice of Life - My Reading Heart is Smiling

TWO WRITING TEACHERS

It was not a typical first week of school.

I started out the week with 36 students and by this time next week we will have hired a part-time teacher.  Thirteen of my students will be going to the new teacher in the morning for reading and writing instruction and will return to my classroom for math and science in the afternoon.

I always start my year creating our community of readers and writers, but this was very difficult because we were not sure what was going to happen.  I decided to teach just a few of my beginning lessons, but leave most of them for next week when I have my "true" class.  

One of the lessons I taught was "How or Why We Choose Books."  I asked them if they were to go into a library or book store, what would make them pick a book from the shelf.  I made a chart and listed the students' replies.  This list included things like looking at the cover, read the first page, favorite author or series, and recommended by a friend.  

I then had them look at the list and tell me what they noticed.  What was NOT there.  Eventually, they saw that "because it is in my AR level" was not on the list.  I told them about a time when one of my students went to Barnes and Noble and she was so excited because her grandmother was going to buy her some books.  That Monday I asked her what she bought, and she said she didn't get any because she couldn't find her level.   (Totally made up story, but they don't need to know this!)  

This is when I love to see their reaction.  I tell them that I don't want them to choose a book because it is in their AR level.  Instead I want them to choose a book because of the reasons we listed.  I also tell them they do not have to take a test on every book they read.  I want them to read for fun.  This is foreign to them, because AR is really pushed in our corporation...but not by me.

Fast forward to our Meet Your Teacher Night.  I had a parent tell me that her son came home and was so excited about reading this year because "we get to read for fun!"  I know a part of that is really sad, but my reading heart was smiling because he got it!  He is looking forward to reading this year.

The second day of school I was giving a spelling inventory.  I looked over and a student was hiding a book inside her desk and reading in between words.  I tiptoed over to her, leaned down and whispered, "Is it good?"  She thought she was in trouble until I smiled at her and asked to see what she was reading.  She was reading Runaway Twin by Peg Kehret, and I whispered that is was a great book.  I told her I had several more by the same author that I think she would also like.  My reading heart was smiling!  

When I got home last night, I had a text from my sister.  I always get my niece and nephew books for Christmas and their birthdays.  Last Christmas I chose a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle book (something he is interested in!) and a couple of Biscuit books.  He is now in the first grade and her text said that during their reading time before bed, he read the whole book himself!  She said he was so proud of himself and again, my reading heart was smiling!

So no, it was not a typical first week of school, but it still made my heart smile!  I can't wait until next week when I can intertwine my community building lessons with my standards lessons, build those relationships, and get us on the road to reading!

I hope your reading heart is smiling this week too!

Slice of Life - Becoming a Sentence Stalker

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Who would have thought I could get so much teaching material from a simple sentence?  This summer, I reread parts of Mechanically Inclined by Jeff Anderson and was zoning in on using mentor sentences as a way to teach grammar and writing mechanics.  As a result, I have become a sentence stalker, searching for sentences to use not only for mechanics but also for craft lessons and response to literature.

Reading the work of Katie Wood Ray also fueled my "sentence stalking."  She talked about creating names for what we see in mentor texts.  As I read The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester, I found that Barbara O'Connor used words and phrases in triplicate throughout the book.  I named this "writing in three's."  I can't wait to share this example with my students.

I also came across Holly Mueller's blog, Reading, Teaching, and Learning where I found a post on collecting sentences.  In her post, she talked about using sentences for responding to literature and gives some great examples of student work.  After reading this, I began collecting sentences as a reader, looking for sentences that meant something to me or inspired me to write.  

As I read the book Jinx by Sage Blackwood.  One sentence that stood out for me was:

"Many things in life are difficult, but to those who persevere, all things are possible."

This made me think about my students, as well as my writing journey.  There are days when writing is difficult for me, whether it be choosing a topic to write about or simply finding the time to write, especially now that school has started.  

I have found that if I keep after it, writing does get easier.  I have been trying to keep a notebook with ideas, snippets, entries and now sentences.  I have learned to use my notebook to write blog posts and to use as examples for my writing lessons. By actually going through the difficult parts, I know it is going to be easier for me to share the writing process, both the ups and the downs, with my students...a lesson in perseverance.    

Becoming a sentence stalker has changed the way I read books, because now I am reading not only as a reader, but also as a writer.  I see things differently as I read.  Something as simple as a sentence can be packed with potential teaching material - once you have become a sentence stalker.  

Slice of Life - What a Week

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This is the first week this summer that I have not been writing, reading books, or spending much time on my computer.

Two reasons for this.

One:  I spent some time with my sister, sister-in-law, daughter and niece in Tennessee visiting my youngest sister.  We had a great time and it was great to get away.  They have a no tax weekend and we shopped til we dropped!

Two:  The size of my class this year is unbelievable.  I received student number 37 yesterday.  No, that is not a typo.

Thirty-seven.....30 + 7...3 tens and 7 ones...can you tell I also teacher math!

We start school on Friday, and that is when they will decide whether or not to hire a third teacher.  So, needless to say this week has been very hectic trying to decide what to do and what to wait on.  I have to believe that they will do what is best for students and hire another teacher.

I wrote a poem last week about Back-to-School Insomnia that I am sharing this week as my slice.

Hopefully next week I can get back to writing and reading...I miss it!

Back-to-School Insomnia

Does anyone else suffer from back-to-school insomnia?  The time has come where I lay in bed, and I just can't turn my brain off.  Constant thoughts of school and what still needs to be done and ideas to try  and the numbers of students I have and...

Now that I am trying to live this "writerly life," I thought I could turn this into a poem.  Several of these lines came to me while waiting for sleep to come.  Eight more days....of summer and sleepless nights.

tick

tock

I see you there

glowing in the dark

laughing as my mind races

with no shut-off valve

thoughts turning

lists growing

book boxes to fill

lesson plans to make

36 name-tags to write

not enough desks

or chairs

or space

data folders to assemble

did I mention 36

it makes me tired 

to even think about it

as I watch your time move on

wishing sleep would come

tick 

tock

I hope these next fews days or weeks or whatever you have left, are filled with summer fun and hopefully sleep!

Slice of Life - Worry Lines

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"Be careful!'  

"I am.  Why do you always say that?"  he asks.

"Because I'm your mother...it's my job!"

This has been a typical conversation around our house the past couple of months.  We have hit some major life milestones.  My son got his driver's license and my daughter turned 21 over the weekend!

Someone should have told me when I was pregnant that you not only have strange middle-of-the-night cravings, baby weight that is hard to get off, and stretch marks that never go away, you also get worry lines.

As I sat on my back porch the other night enjoying this unusually mild weather for this time of year and reading a blog I learned about from Ruth Ayres, I came came across a post about worrying...what timing!

It was a guest post by Gari Meachum on Ann Voskamp's website, A Holy Experience.  This is a beautful place.  Many times I go here just to listen to the music as I am working on my computer.  If you have not experienced this, here is a gentle nudge....you will be glad you did.

Gari talks about raising teenagers and the "worry praying" that accompanies it.

"I spent many a night “worry praying” my way through the hours until my kids were safely back in their beds, sensing that worry is like a rocking chair—it consumes a lot of energy and takes us nowhere."  

So here I am, rocking away with my what-ifs on either side.  I have two wonderful children who have always made good life choices.  But worry just hangs around.  Uninvited.

She goes on to say that worrying means that we don't think God can look after the practical details of our life.

I know that there are many things in my children's lives that I cannot do anything about, even if I am their mother.

I know as a Christian I am to let go and let Him take care of things....all things

I know that worry doesn't move God's hand, faith does.

I know.

But... this isn't easy for me.  Because I am their mother...it's my job!

Wise Words From a Pre-school Teacher

After reading Michelle's slice at The Literacy Learning Zone about potty training her girls, I couldn't help but remember some wise words spoken by my children's pre-school teacher.

Seventeen years ago my husband and I were faced with an important decision - whether or not to send our daughter to pre-school.  I had been a stay-at-home mom and "letting go" was not something that came easily for me.  We were very fortunate in that she had a wonderful teacher, Miss Jhan.  Miss Jhan was passionate about the life of three and four year olds.  It certainly made our decision much easier.

I learned a very important lesson from Miss Jhan as I stood in her classroom with tears in my eyes on the last day of school.  It was difficult thinking that my first born was leaving her caring classroom and would soon be starting kindergarten.  She looked at me mother to mother and assured me that every stage of Megan's life would be wonderful.

Megan will be 21 in a couple of days and you know, Miss Jhan was absolutely right.  I look back and remember...

• the day she read a book to her kindergarten class
• learning how to ride without training wheels
• the toothless first grade picture 
• the first spelling word she missed
• the day she learned about Santa
• her first basketball game
• not being able to unlock her combination lock in middle school
• walking out onto the court as a varsity basketball player
• getting behind the wheel of our car
• her first fender bender
• broken hearts
• girl drama
• prom
• graduation
• her first day of college

Megan will start her third year of college in the fall, planning to become an elementary teacher and high school basketball coach.  I am so proud of her, and I look forward to the life stages yet to come.

So for those of you who have young children, let me remind you of the words I once heard from a wise preschool teacher...each stage of their life is wonderful.  Just slow down and enjoy it, because in the blink of an eye, they will be 21!

Still...

This weekend I will celebrate my 23rd wedding anniversary.  Some days it is hard to remember what life was like before meeting my husband.  Those first two years were a time of learning about each other, learning about give-and-take, learning about love.  

Our love then, was young and innocent...our love now is becoming seasoned.  I don't need words or gifts, his presence is enough to fill my heart each day and for years to come.  But there are days when the two loves merge and take me back to those first two years.  

I remember.  I smile.  I think about our life together.  I anticipate what is to come.

Still

Love is more than

three...little...words

it’s that smile 

shared across the table

still...for my eyes only

it’s the touching of elbows

sharing the swing

still...stirring the butterflies inside

it's the snapping of the dishtowel

standing at the sink

still...playing like young lovers

it’s falling asleep 

your heart in rhythm with mine

still...after all these years

I am so blessed and grateful for these 23 years with my husband, especially after reading Linda Baie's post over at  Teacher Dance.  What a special kind of love!

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An Unexpected Hero

My grandmother turned 88 this month.  She is still very independent, but shows characteristics that are typically found in the elderly.  Remembering things that happen and the details surrounding them, are sometimes difficult for her.

So, when I was told of an incident that happened Sunday morning, I have to say I was a little skeptical.

Grandma was getting ready for church around 7:00 am.  She looked out the window and saw a little girl with long hair walking with two dogs.  She seemed to be around three years old.  Knowing that the little girl was too young to be outside unsupervised, Grandma went out in her bare feet and robe to see about the girl.  They walked around the block, thinking someone would be out searching for her.  At some point while they were walking, the dogs disappeared.  Since the little girl was too young to know her address, and no one was looking for her, Grandma saw no other option but to take her home.

She called my aunt and told her about the situation, and my aunt immediately called the police.  When the police arrived, they knew the little girl.  As it turns out "she" was actually a boy, and the police took him home, which happened to be several blocks away.

The police called Family Services.  Unfortunately, this was not the first time.  Supposedly, the little boy climbed over his gate and somehow got out the door.  The parents were still home asleep in bed.

I know that small children learn quickly how to maneuver gates, latches and locks, but when I think about what could have happened to that little boy, it makes me sad and angry at the same time.  I have to wonder what would have happened had Grandma not been looking out the window at that time?  What if she would have ignored it?  Were the dogs walking with the little boy sensing they needed to protect him?  Did they know the little boy wasn't supposed to be out there alone?

I don't think this was a coincidence.  God was looking out for that little boy, and at the same time, He gave my Grandma a gift of pride - something everyone needs, especially the elderly, especially the unexpected heroes.

A Lesson From Katie Wood Ray

I have always believed in the saying that "you get out of something what you put into it."  I say this to my students all the time, but recently this is a lesson that I have learned.

Last summer I bought and started reading What You Know by Heart from Katie Wood Ray.  I have to admit that I abandoned it.   I could not connect with it, and I was not getting anything out of it.

Fast forward a year.

This summer I decided that I was going to concentrate on becoming a better teacher of writing.  The first thing I did was to create this blog and start writing!  I also ordered several professional books on teaching writing.  Here is what I ordered:

Before those books arrived, I decided to dig out Katie's book and give it another try.  Reading it through a different lens, (that of someone who is actually writing) has been a "light bulb moment" for me.

She says, "We look at the texts of our experiences to see where ideas come from, how those ideas are developed, how a writer gets a draft started, what happens along the way as the draft progresses, and on and on."  p. 17.

The rest of the book uses those experiences to develop writing curriculum and minilessons.  The first time I tried reading this book, I was not putting anything into it - I was not writing.  Therefore, I did not get anything out of it.

Now all that has changed.

I have a notebook with ideas, and drafts, and revisions, and yes even published blog writing.

I have those experiences on which to draw.

I have visions of using my writing as mentor texts to teach these process lessons,

AND I can speak from experience when I say "you get out of something what you put into it!"

A Slice of Life - My Classroom Library

The middle of July brings with it thoughts of a new school year and teachers heading back to their classrooms in preparation for a new class of students.   I spent several mornings last week cleaning, unpacking, and trying to get my room back together.  

The area of my room which ALWAYS gets my attention first, is my classroom library.  It is my absolute favorite part of my room, and I believe it is a direct reflection of me and what I believe in. When someone walks into my classroom, I want them to think, "reading is important in this room."

The past four years I have arranged my room so that the library is like a little room within my classroom.  It is a secluded area, and the students love to go in and lay on the floor with pillows and read.  When the students arrive on the first day of school, the library is blocked off, so they can't go in or even see in.  They all want to know what is in there...creates quite a mysterious effect.   I always tell them it is a very special place, and some day soon they will be able to go in.  A couple of days later, we have a library grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.  I give them bookmarks and pencils and together as a class, we have our first reading celebration.

This year due to the high number of students in my class, I have had to open up the library to allow more room.  At first I did not care for the new arrangement, but I am starting to see the possibilities.  It now houses my gathering spot for minilessons and what better place than my library!

The past couple of years I have also made some changes on how I organize my books.  We are an Accelerated Reader corporation and most teachers have their books arranged by book levels.  I am not a fan of AR and quietly express this to my students, parents and other teachers.  I think there are many other ways to get kids to read - but that is another post!

Trying not to rock the boat but still hold fast to my beliefs, I started organizing my books by different categories.  I pulled out the most popular series, favorite authors, Mrs. Eck's picks, and new books and created separate baskets for those, while leaving most books still organized by AR levels.  This worked well and only solidified my belief that kids need to know how to choose books arranged as if they were in a bookstore, not by AR level.

This year I have decided to organize some new baskets according to genre.  As I was perusing the baskets and pulling out books, I started thinking about how these new baskets could be used with my genre lessons while creating a learning experience for my students.  I am thinking about letting my students do the organizing as they are reading.  After a student reads a book and uses what he/she has learned about genre, they can decide where the book belongs.

As of right now, the baskets are empty, waiting for books that my students will read.  What do you think?  Do I dare continue decreasing baskets of AR book levels and creating more authentic organization, or do I keep it in AR levels like most other teachers.  I would love to hear your thoughts and how your classroom libraries are organized.

Have a great week!

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A Slice of Life - Celebrating Firsts

A common strategy used in teaching students to generate ideas in their writing notebooks is to make a list...things you love, favorite places, special people, just to name a few.  I have always had my students create a list of "firsts" - things they remember doing for the first time.  As an adult, trying to seriously use a writer's notebook for the first time, I have found that I could write my personal lists as a child, a mother, a wife, or as a teacher.

After last week, I can now write about things I want to remember as a writer.

• my first blog
• my first post
• my first slice of life
• my first comment from Katherine Sokolowski

After my first slice last week, I became courageous enough to leave a comment on Katherine's blog telling her what an influence she has been on my teaching, reading and writing life.  She thanked me and told me she was off to find my blog.

Later that day, I opened my laptop and sure enough, she not only found it, but she left a comment.  I felt like a child at Christmas time....Santa not only stopped at my house, but he left me a present!

Last summer was the first time I started reading blogs.  I spent hours reading the endless trails from one blog to another, many times getting lost along the way.  I honestly do not remember how it all happened, but I do know that Read, Write, Reflect was the one I connected with.  It was first on my bookmarks and the first one that I read every day.  

I don't know if the connection was because Katherine lives somewhat close to my hometown, compared to the locations of some of the other teachers on the blogs I was reading.  It may have been that I actually lived down the cornfield...I mean interstate...from where she lives.  That was many years ago during my first career as a retail district manager. 

What I DO know is that I admired her way of teaching and her "reading relationship" she had with her students.  I was like a sponge and absorbed every word she wrote.  After reading her thoughts on teaching and education and learning about some of the things she did in her classroom, I knew that was how I wanted my classroom to be.  This gave me the courage to teach in ways I knew in my heart were  right, but was afraid to do them for fear of being the only one.  I know I became a better teacher last year because of her and what she taught me through reading Read, Write, Reflect.  As I told her in my comment, she was my silent mentor, and I wanted to be just like her "when I grew up."

Now that I am focusing on becoming a better teacher of writing, I know I will continue to read her blog along with many others, to gain inspiration and knowledge.  I still have so much to learn about this blogging, writing world, but I am grateful for this new chapter in my life, for Katherine's inspiration, and for celebrating my firsts.

Slice of Life hosted by

TWO WRITING TEACHERS

A Lesson From May B.

I just finished reading May B. by Caroline Starr Rose.  Beautifully written in verse, this book reminds me of a combination of  Little House on the Prairie, Thank You, Mr. Falker and Love That Dog.

May B's family sends her away to help a neighbor and his new wife adjust to pioneer life.  After a short time, May finds herself left abandoned in the sod house on the prairie during a blizzard.  As May struggles to survive, she thinks back to her time at school and the relationships she had with two very different teachers.  We also find out that she has a learning disability which diminishes her dream of becoming a teacher.

I have been reading/thinking about mentor sentences and their use in writing as well as responding to reading in my classroom.   Which sentences speak to me, resonate with me, make me think about something a little deeper?  Although this is a book of survival, it is also a book about determination and having dreams.  I heard these sentences loud and clear:

"What does it matter those things that hold me back?  What does it matter when I make mistakes?  They don't make me who I am."

How many times do we have students who hold back from doing something because of their struggles or mistakes?  How many students think those struggles make up who they are and influence who they want to become?

Mr. Falker, Miss Sanders, and Miss Stretchberry are my role models.  When we start school in five weeks, I know I will have students like May B.  I hope I can reach them, encourage them, and inspire them to realize "...there's no shame in hoping for things that might seem out of reach."  Everyone has dreams.  I can't wait to share mine with my students, learn about theirs, and achieve them together.

Slice of Life - Milk Jug Calendar

Time has a way of slipping by, and the older I get, the faster it goes.  And NO I did not believe that when my grandparents would say those words when I was a child.

I have this quirky way of watching time go by...especially as it relates to school--reading the date on the milk jug.

We go through about three jugs of milk a week at our house and paying attention to the dates is just something that I do.  Those dates have a way of marching through time.  At the end of the school year, I can't wait until I finally see May, then June with the anticipation of summer break.

Last week I grabbed two jugs of milk and I couldn't believe my eyes...JULY8th!  I gasped, my heart started racing and I broke out into a cold sweat (well maybe I just gasped!)  It couldn't be!  I blinked to make sure I was reading it correctly.  Yes, it did say July.  I knew then that it was all down hill from there.  Summer was flying by and not even a jug of milk could stop it.

This week as I timidly approached the refrigerated section and opened the door, I opened one eye and then the other.  Oh no...July 18th!  I slammed the door shut and said, "No thanks, I think I'll try the OTHER store!"

Baby Steps

My first "official" step as a writer was to join Teachers Write! at Kate Messner's website.  I was a little late getting started, but our first assignment was to start a writer's notebook.  I have one and have started writing in it.  Now it is decision time.  How do I want to organize it...baby steps!

Tuesday's assignment was to think of a place you love and start with,

Sometimes, .....

Sometimes, I sit at the top of the mound

overlooking our small town

the sun

slowly closing

its droopy eyes on the day

but notefore reminding me

with its hues of red, yellow, and orange

that today was a great day

and not before night

restores and refreshes

my mind, body, and soul

ready to start again.

A Day in the Life

This is it!  My first blog.  I have been reading blogs for a little over a year now and have decided to take the plunge....or maybe just stick my toes in the water, because I really have no idea of what I am doing.  It all starts with the first step....today.

I have been an avid reader all my life and share that passion with my students.  That's the easy part.  Writing on the other hand, is much more of a challenge.  When I was younger, I loved writing and I still do, but I just don't do it as often as I would like.  Maybe it is a fear of rejection or no one reading it.  I feel putting my writing out there is like exposing myself with only my fear to cover me up.

Hopefully this blog will become my place of freedom, a place for reflection of who I am, what I do and who I want to become.  It's my place...a day in my life...a day in the life of a teacher, a reader, and a writer.

Here goes....!