Happy Place

I love being in my classroom. It truly is my happy place. The only other place I would consider to equally as intoxicating is the beautiful and mostly unnoticed island of Culebra.

This year, in our classroom, I decided to go with tables rather than desks. Last year I dumped my "teacher" desk to make room for a kidney table. It made a wonderful place for kids to plop while they're reading, and spurred SO much conversation with my kids. Since getting rid of my desk made such a difference, my hope was to make my kids' work space feel comfortable, flexible, welcoming, and be a catalyst for conversation, thinking, investigating, and growing. Fortunately, my principal, Ben Gilpin, was totally and completely supportive (typical) of this and made sure I had the tables. I also persuaded my husband to build a couple more bookshelves, as my classroom library was busting at the seams! A by-product of this was that it allowed me to make more cozy spots for readers, for collaboration, and for - well, for anything!

Little did I realize how much of a positive impact it would have on our small community of learners and on me.


1. The learners in our room feel more comfortable to move around the room. With desks, there was more of a sense of "this is mine, so don't sit here." Now, I am constantly surprised with some of the choices my kiddos make in where they park themselves.

2. Learners share with each other and tend to make sure everyone has what they need. If there aren't enough colored pencils or some need sharpening, they pitch in and help each other. There's no hoarding; they are practicing kindness and reciprocity.

3. Collaboration is authentic. Kiddos can talk with someone across the table or right next to them. They make connections in various ways.

4.  Nine- and ten-year-olds learn to make smarter decisions and take more responsibility. We have chatted often about how important goals are, how we achieve those goals, and what gets in the way of reaching our goals. Now these kiddos articulate clearly if they need to move to a different table, or will trade spots at the table if distraction becomes a hindrance to learning.

5.  The room feels more friendly. I cannot even remember how many people have commented on this. Parents, grandparents, college students, tech crew members, visiting teachers, and even my own daughters have noticed it! That's huge.

Are we done? No, I'm already thinking of other ways to tweak our setup! But it's great to know we're on our way!

What have you done in your classroom to make it more inviting? Learner-friendly? Please share! We're better together!

Dublin Ohio!

It's late, but I'm pretty excited to be attending my first Dublin Literacy conference! I'm looking forward to catching up my twerps and learning a ton from some super smart people!

I am feeling extremely blessed to be here and so thankful to my family for agreeing to let me come (or maybe they really just wanted me out of the house for a couple of days!!

A huge thanks to Franki Sibberson for organizing this, too! Now to read until my eyes droop shut...

About Those Assessments

Formative assessments, summative assessments, standardized assessments, and report cards. How do they shape instruction? What impact do they have on learners (and their parents)?


As a kid, I took the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS) each year, an early standardized test. I don't remember ever knowing what my score was, nor did I care. But I do remember hating having to take the test and feeling stupid every time there was a question I was unable to answer with confidence. When I think of standardized assessment for the kids in my class, I have that lingering memory and attempt to assuage fears, embarrassment, and feelings of inadequacy that many of them have attached to them like an extra appendage.


At the beginning of each school year, and then as a reminder several times throughout the year, I give a little talk to my kids. I tell them about my two daughters and their potty-training experiences. Jessie was our first and she was completely potty trained (even through the night) about a month before she turned two. She has only wet the bed once in her life. When Hannah came along, it was quite another story! Although she walked much earlier than Jessie, she was determined NOT to potty on the potty! We tried everything in the book, but it seemed that she'd just hang out on the toilet, often crying, screaming, yelling about how she didn't have to go potty. When we would finally let her get off, she'd promptly "do her business" in her diaper. We were convinced she'd still be in diapers when she went to college. As it turned out, she was four before we could safely say diapers were no longer in her future. The point that I make to my kids, though, is that even though the two girls had completely different timelines in their potty training, they both eventually got there! And that's how it often is with learning.

Literacy assessment is so important, and we use it on a daily basis to help my kids grow. I conference with students about their reading, writing, and math. We are honest with each other about how they are growing and what learning goals they have. When they are working toward their goals, they own their learning more readily and have an intrinsic motivation for achieving that goal.


It is important to show that students are growing in all areas of literacy and moving toward becoming proficient and eager readers and writers. Just as children learn to walk at different ages, kids are going to develop their skills in literacy at different ages. Our assessments should reflect goals reached, strengths, weaknesses and next steps in development. What I find often is more of a status symbol or (at the other end) a statement that a child is not up to snuff. do is reflect a "grade equivalent", as this leads to children (and parents) feeling either inferior or superior (stupid or smart). Once a child feels "behind" it can often be counter-productive to maintaining a positive mind-set in literacy development. And yet, often children will naturally grow within the "normal range" if that pressure is simply removed.


My job as an educator is to help all kids learn to love reading, and lead them to become independent readers who can find and choose "good fit" books. In writing, it is to develop a love for getting their thoughts and ideas down, with confidence that small ideas, crazy ideas, everyday ideas often end up in a great story! It is also to help them embrace the fact that while they typically read a book from the first page to the last, writing is an exciting journey that holds many revisions, and although there are deadlines for completing some writing in our classroom, they are free to keep putting their ideas down on paper (or on the computer) for the rest of their lives! There's no need to "finish"! (unless you are fortunate enough to get a book deal!)


In the last couple of weeks, my kiddos had both math and reading standardized tests (online). While I am very proud of their progress, I also know that some of them had an off day, so the scores still don't reflect their true amount of learning. In addition, some of the questions were very difficult to understand, so that threw off kids enough that it did not reflect their true knowledge.


Honestly, I'm not sure that standardized testing does anything positive for our kids' learning. Inevitably I think about all the things the kids could be engaged in to learn every single time they sit down to take one of those tests. It won't help them learn math, spelling, language, problem solving, history, vocabulary, or social skills. However, I'm sure it makes some people a lot of money.


Here's a fun video on testing!

Two Days - Two Books

Land turtles are slow. They plod. Stop. Plod. Stop. Sea turtles are calm, graceful, powerful, and fast.

When it comes to reading, I have several "sea turtle" friends. Typically, I'm more like a land turtle. In the last two days, though, a couple of books have captured me and not let go. This, despite my incredibly busy (and admittedly out-of-balance) life.

BOOK ONE:

EL DEAFO is a book several of my PLN buddies have raved about. I hadn't seen it, but caved to the peer pressure, ordered it (from an independent book seller), and it finally arrived.

Once I opened the front cover, though, I couldn't put it down, even though graphic novels are not typically a format that pulls me in. The way in which the subject matter is presented, and the way it's written, is magic. It takes on authentic challenges, real feelings, and true-to-life responses. I appreciate how it addresses the hearing impaired main character dealing with not being able to hear, with her having to get hearing aids, and how she felt about it and dealt with it! My classroom kids will be able to relate that to another of their favorite characters, August, from WONDER, by RJ Palacio, which is another of their favorite books. 

I imagine every kiddo in my classroom who reads it will pass it on to another and another, and another, and... Which means kids will have a shift in paradigm and a more healthy understanding of what it is like to live with a hearing impairment. YAY!!!

Way to go Cece Bell!! You're a genius - and a superhero!!

Here's Cece talking about her experiences as a kid! (I'm showing this to my kids tomorrow!!)


BOOK TWO:
There are books I think I "should" read because they're Newbery Award books. Since I'm a late-comer to the the whole "reading for pleasure" thing, there are MANY books I've missed out on. One of my unofficial goals is to begin to fill in the gaps by reading several Newbery books each year. I recently purchased A SINGLE SHARD by Linda Sue Park. I've already read A LONG WALK TO WATER, which I LOVED (and so have many of my students), so I figured it was a pretty safe bet.

Probably if you've read the rest of this blog so far, you're thinking that I'm some freak who shouldn't be teaching reading to fourth graders because I probably write like a middle schooler with a mighty big crush on books and their authors. However, I'm so excited about A SINGLE SHARD - and on so many levels - that I'm going to put aside those thoughts and spout for a few minutes.

First, I love the notes that Linda (I'm going to pretend we're on a first-name basis) added at the end, giving historical credibility to her story. Her precise and intentional decisions as she wrote put her writing at a whole new level. Kids will want to look up this "celedon green" on their ipads and see if they can find the same vase online. They will also most likely look for Korea on the world map, and hopefully try to find the route that Tree-Ear followed as he made his trek to the palace. I will proudly announce this as a new addition to our historical fiction section in our classroom library and will encourage our school librarian to order several copies as well so my kids won't fight over who gets to read it next.

I love the loyalty Tree-Ear shows to Min, despite Min's harshness. I equally love Tree-Ear's loyalty to Crane-Man, who has loved him as a father for most of Tree-Ear's life. I love the ability Linda Sue Park has to allow me to even smell the village, under the bridge, and how she allows us to peek into Min's wife's kindness and growing love for Tree-Ear. The understated leadership Min's wife demonstrates is truly remarkable, as is the unwavering care Tree-Ear shows to his elders.

To me, this is an unconventional read-aloud, but such an important one. Probably every reading/language teacher worth his or her salt has read it and/or recommended it to kids. Now I can say that, too!

The more I read the more thankful I am for the amazing people who dare to share their writing with us.

Waiting for Normal

The cover of Leslie Connor's middle grade novel caught me. An old classic yellow trailer sitting at the bottom of a wistful blue sky. It didn't let on how much heartache, bravery, blurred lines, and love were contained in its pages.

Addie's story brought life to statistics that tell of children whose lives are anything but "normal." Her willingness to do what she needed to do in order to survive was amazing. Sadly, her story is similar to too many kids today.

I thought I'd write a "full length" review on Waiting for Normal, but I don't think my words can bring justice to it. You will come away with more empathy, hopefully more caution before passing judgement on the kids in your school/classroom, and become more of a cheerleader for those whose lives are spent without supportive parents. If a book could be judged on how much it makes you ache, this one would be one of those at the top.

Thank you, Leslie, for bringing Addie's life into ours. Thank you, HarperCollins, for bringing it to us.


Wow! That's a lot of awards!!

~New York Public Library’s “One Hundred Titles for Reading and Sharing”

~School Library Journal Best Book

~ALA Notable Children’s Book

~ALA Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults

~The Schneider Family Book Award

~Texas Lone Star Reading List

~Cooperative Children’s Book Center Choice

~2009 Connecticut Book Award

The Honest Truth by Dan Gemeinhart

I have a friend and relative who is one of the most avid readers I know. He's recommended more books to me than anyone else. He has also been the biggest inspiration for me as a reader. However, in all the years I've known him, he rarely does more than recommend and talk about a book. So when he walked up to me carrying a book in his hand and put it into mine, saying, "You have to read this book," I knew it was something special.

The Honest Truth by Dan Gemeinhart is truly an extraordinary book, not only because its young main character, Mark, faces a cruel and unforgiving illness, but also because of the bravery he demonstrates and the loyalty he shares with his dog, Beau. Dan wrote this story for his friend, Mark, who also faced this illness courageously but unfortunately lost the battle. The story isn't focused on the illness at all, but on the steadfast courage of this remarkable young man. He is someone you'd really want to know and his story is incredible, yet totally believable.

Once I'd finished reading the book, I couldn't wait to get it into the hands of my kids. Fortunately for me, I was able to acquire a second copy of the ARC at NCTE, so it has been read and fought over by my fourth grade readers. As readers in my classroom read the book, we shared our own perspectives with each other. We all were impressed with Mark's journey, his smarts, and his dog's loyalty.

One aspect about the writing that has been unanimously noted is the "half" chapter following each chapter. The chapters themselves are written in first-person, from Mark's perspective. He is chronicling his own journey that he feels compelled to complete, despite the dangers. He tells of his detailed plans, how he places his trust in his best friend, Jessie, and the details of interactions with people he meets along the way to climbing a mountain that has been a long-time goal of his. He has not told his parent any of this, knowing they would not approve. The half chapter following is written in third person, giving readers an update on what is happening with Mark's frantic family and the struggle Jessie has with keeping Mark's secret.

The Honest Truth is one of those rare books I can put into the hands of every reader in my classroom. It is easy to identify with and admire Mark. Dan has written it in such a way that even reluctant readers are sucked into Mark's mission. The bravery shown by Mark, the loyalty of Beau, and the friendship of Jessie are not missed by kids, and they have been powerfully impacted by these admirable qualities.

My readers are looking forward to January 27, 2015, when Scholastic Press will be releasing the hard cover book. We'll be buying the book, knowing it will be one of those treasures we will want to re-read again and again.

A First Date

Do you remember your first date with a special someone? Your heart races; you don't want the date to end; you wish you'd met that person before; you can't wait until the next date. Well, that happened to me November 20 through 23 in Washington D.C. And to be honest, my date wasn't with just one person. It was with hundreds.

Several friends (especially from Twitter) have told me that NCTE is a not-to-be-missed event. I had never attended before this year. My friends were spot on. The National Council for Teachers of English conference was life-changing for me. This annual event is one I've been hoping to attend for several years. This year some last-minute things fell into place so I loaded my suitcases (one of which I left at school), hopped into my car, and drove for about nine hours, not having any idea how incredible this journey would turn out to be.

Once checked in at the hotel and registered (on-site) for the conference, I scoured the program to make plans for sessions to attend. There were plenty that were right up my alley. Sonia Nazario is a Pulitzer Prize winner for her research and writing about a Honduran boy whose desire to be reunited with his mother in the U.S. took him on a perilous journey. Her story was compelling, raw, and inspiring. Another session reached to the depths of my own journey in reading, as it probed the idea of people who feel a sense of shame in their reading lives. There were joyous sessions which included authors and illustrators sharing their own journeys of creating stories and bringing them to life. There were sessions, too, that pulled out self-reflection of my teaching practices. And, of course, there was the exhibit hall, where I had the fortune of meeting and chatting with so many of the authors my kids (and I) appreciate so deeply. I also left a boat-load of money there, and brought home books for my classroom!

In the process of attending these incredible sessions and exhibits I was fortunate enough to meet not only authors, but some pretty incredible people in other areas of language arts, too. These individuals ranged from researchers to teachers to illustrators, publishers, and book distributors. It was truly a haven for anyone who loves to read, write, and inspire others to do the same. Sometimes just listening in on conversations gave me inspiration; sometimes hearing the words of a person who has been involved for years in the business of helping kids read and write made an indelible impression on me.

From this experience, I returned to my classroom even more determined to honor each child and to nurture his or her love of reading and writing. Some of the tools and resources from NCTE have and will continue to impact my life and the lives of my kids.  I brought back over five shopping bags of books; enough to hand a new book to every reader in my classroom on the first day back. Some of the new friends I have made will challenge me in ways in which they probably aren't remotely aware.

One thing is for sure: I am surrounding myself more and more with people who inspire me so I can inspire my kids.

This first date with NCTE will not be my last, and I look forward to a long-term relationship!

Really?

“Each person’s task in life is to become an increasingly better person.” -Leo Tolstoy 

Really? Really?? Did she really insist that their building scores were "good enough" and there was no reason to change anything they're doing?? Really? Adding that "besides, it would be too hard" took me a while to process. At first, I couldn't believe it had come out of an educator's mind, let alone mouth.

I have to be honest; I was really... irritated. 

For days I wondered why this bothered me so much. I kept rolling it over in my head, but couldn't quite put my finger on what it was about the comment that ruffled my feathers so much. Granted, this building has good scores in the particular area of content we were talking about. In fact, this building is typically at or near the top of the list in the county. Obviously they're doing some great things. 

Still, the comment would not let go of me. The philosophy of it went against my grain and it frustrated me relentlessly. Their scores were "good enough" and change is just "too hard."

I began to wonder what would happen if all (or even most) teachers bought into that kind of thinking. What would happen to those kids who fell into the percentage group that didn't make the grade? Do we just buy the idea there's nothing we can do for them? 

There are kids in my classroom who fall into that "other" group. Fortunately, though, we also have license in our building to try new things, do what it takes, and to keep working for those kiddos. It's not easy. Sometimes it's an uphill battle and downright frustrating. But we are determined. We are committed to each and every learner, child, or whatever you'd like to call our kids; not just a percentage of them. Those kids who don't get the learning the first, second, third, or tenth time don't just hear adults encouraging them, they see adults sticking with them. They have adults cheering them on. We are committed to not give up on them simply because it's time to move on to the next "thing" in the curriculum or because it's too difficult. We keep on. We keep learning, investigating, and working for our kids. I am so proud and honored to be part of that team.

Guess what? We don't have perfect test scores. But what we do have is worth so much more than that. We have kids who are believing in themselves. They are realizing they ARE important. They CAN learn. They even enjoy learning! They have people who care, who create, think, work, strive - and love - them.

Would we have that if our mindset told us our scores were "good enough"? Definitely not.

We must embrace change. We must. It's crucial for our kids' futures. For the well-being of them and their future families. Will it be chaotic? Probably. Will some attempts flop? Sometimes. Will everything we try work? Of course not. Will some of this be uncomfortable? Most likely. 

Sometimes - no, often - change is hard, but it's still necessary as long as it's impacting our kids' learning positively. And sometimes the hardest changes are the best changes. 

“All great changes are preceded by chaos.” -Deepak Chopra


Christopher Emdin: Teach teachers how to create magic

A Return to the Blogosphere

I've been on a type of blogging hiatus. Thinking about why I've blogged, why (or why not) I would continue to write posts, what kind of an impact it has on me and the teaching community around the world, and all sorts of things tied loosely - or closely - to the topic. So I pulled back and took the pressure off myself for a while.

Wrestling with being truthful with myself about what drives me to post was a biggie. Is it to get my name out there? For others to be impressed? It has been a several-month inner conversation that maybe is finally wrapping itself up to a conclusion. There have been times I've started writing; I don't even want to think about how many drafts I have.

The blog-writing process took on an important purpose when I was teaching on a tiny island a few years ago. It kept me connected to my family back home and to friends who were interested in what real life is like somewhere else. Some people found it interesting just because it was different. For me, though, it was a way to reflect back on the day, remember the joys and challenges of it and, perhaps most importantly, to solidify some learning I'd had.

This school year has flown quickly to the end of the fourth week. I have been so busy there's been little time to reflect fully, adjust as effectively as I'd like, and go as deeply in my thinking as I'd want. In fact, though, it has revealed to me how important it is that I learn from this and make some commitments. I certainly don't want to find myself in the same place next year. With that reflection, these are a couple of important things I'm learning from this first month of school.

1. At the beginning of the school year from now on, I will not allow anything to complicate or impinge on the time needed to be available for my classroom and my daughter. The things that are most important to me have not been given the quality time they need to be at the place where I want them to be. My commitment is to say "no" or "let's reschedule for later in the year" to other things, even though they may be great. It's my goal to set my own students and my daughter up for success. That's done by making myself available as much as possible. My standards are my own, I know, and often there are friends who offer reassurance to me that I'm doing a "great job". However, because I know my own standards and know, too, all the things I haven't done, the desire to make next year a different story is gnawing at me. 

2. Blogging is very important for my own growth. Will I ever have thousands of people reading my blog? Highly improbable. But that's not why I do it, and if that ever becomes my motivation, someone please gather up my friends and plan an intervention! I do this for my own growth, and because maybe there are ideas that come out and help or encourage others. There are many people who have put in much time and effort writing their own blogs, and those folks have encouraged, taught, and made an impact on me. It's quite possible what I have to say will do the same for someone else. I hope!

So, in thinking about some of the learnings I've had this year, there are several things in my head that I'm looking forward to writing about. Want a short list of what's coming up? You're getting it, regardless, because it will help my memory!

• The Move from Desks to Tables: Pros and Cons
• The Importance and Usage of Up-To-Date Data
• Would It Help To Have Lit Coaches in Every Grade of Elementary?
• Ensuring Positive Relationships With Families and Why That's a Big Deal

Okay, so how's YOUR year going? What have you been thinking about? Will you change anything next year?  What are you learning? How are you adjusting?? Let's talk about it!

Why We Skype

Today we had the privilege of Skyping with a class of fourth graders in Kenya. There were twenty-two amazing students in the class. Those kids and their teacher made it one of the biggest educational moments of the year for my kids.

It was educational because

• my kids got to hear people speaking a language they had never even heard of.
• my kids got to hear other fourth graders express that their favorite thing to do is to sing! Then they sang for us and it was, well, amazing. My kids sang our national anthem and were shocked that the kids from Kenya sang it along with us!
• my kids got to share their favorite books with kids on the eastern side of Africa, and they did it with enthusiasm, clarity, and respect.
• my kids became aware of how privileged they are to have the means and the education to read chapter books and novels, while the students in many third world countries only have books that are very similar to "Golden Books." My kids couldn't get over the fact that they had ZERO chapter books.
• one of my kids realized that not all kids who go to school in Africa live in an orphanage.
• many of my kids learned that they wanted to share books with their new friends.
• the entire class was mesmerized throughout the Skype, which was close to an hour. (I thought their attention span was about ten minutes!)
• my kids gained a new appreciation for their educational opportunities.
• they thought deeply about what it would be like to live in a place where zebras, giraffe, and lions are indigenous. They were amazed the other kids had no idea what a deer looks like.
• There are countless other lessons my kids will learn that will serve them for the rest of their sweet lives!

Because of our visit, my kids decided they would each bring in a book to send to our new friends. They're each going to sign the book they bring. They also plan to write a book talk about the book and slip it inside so the students will be able to choose their book just like we do in our classroom. I'm so proud of them.

It would be wonderful if you'd check out the kids' posts and comment on them! Click here to go to our KidBlog!

I love my job.

Things I Love About School

SHOUT OUT!!! We're super excited about nErDcamp MI 2014! Put July 7 and 8 on your calendar NOW so you don't miss out, and click on this link to find registration (and other) information so you can be part of it! nErDcamp MI


This week I (again) realized I have so very much to appreciate about my life. After reading a blog post that was very negative and critical, I realized it left me feeling icky - and a little negative - myself. That's not a feeling I like to hang on to, so I decided a remedy was to focus on and talk about some of the great things going on in education and particularly in our classroom.

As this perspective burrowed its way into my thinking, it occurred to me there are some very important things that happen in our district, our building, and in my classroom I truly love. They are those things I believe, if fostered, will make a significant difference in peoples' lives. There are, of course, endless things I could list, but here's my top-of-the-list things I love about my life at school.

I love it when kids are excited to learn something new.
     I can still hear and picture the students who were totally and completely stoked with a concept we were practicing in math. Some kids have worked on these skills for quite some time, and did not give up. As a result, lights were coming on, kids were finding success through hard work, and it was amazing. These kids were proud, confident and ready - so ready - for their next challenge. I am incredibly proud of my students for hanging in there when sometimes reaching a learning target seemed almost impossible.

I love it when people praise others behind their back.
     This past week I had the opportunity to hear some of my colleagues praising the efforts of several other staff members in our building. These deeds were not necessarily huge (some of them were), but they all added something positive and beneficial to at least one student and/or colleague. When I hear comments like these, I not only admire the person who was given the praise, but also the person who gave it. When we praise someone behind their back the effects can be amazing.

I love it when kids get the love and support they need from their parents.
     Over the past month or so, several parents who have been rather quiet and uninvolved have stepped up and helped their children accomplish an educational goal. Each kiddo was excited about his or her learning and potential, and the parent seemed to have a new breath of life as well. Those parents are seeing some great things happen, and hopefully will have a closer relationship with their child as a result.

I love it when educators work together to help kids rather than complain.
     Most of us are probably aware that we've complained about one thing or another that is totally out of our control. We also know this is a useless (and often draining) endeavor. Yet it happens all too frequently. It is incredibly powerful when educators come together and make a choice to align and speak words that add life and vitality to our students' lives rather than complain about situations that are out of our control.

I love it when kids feel totally accepted and loved.
     There are kids in all of our classrooms who have horrific baggage weighing them down when entering our classrooms every day. Sometimes those kids are easily identified but sometimes they go undetected. It wrenches at my heart to hear some of my kids' stories. It also reinforces how much they need educators who truly accept and love their students. One of my primary goals with my students is that each one will feel known, accepted, and loved by me; that each will know that no matter how old he or she is, each one will always be "my kid."

I love that we have the freedom to be agents of change.
     Change is sometimes very hard. Our world is changing so quickly it's often mind-boggling. Technology natives have a reality far different than the reality I experienced as a youngster. However, as a life-long learner, I've made a commitment to learn - all of my life. That means learning what I need to know in order to foster that same love for learning in my students. That means being okay with being uncomfortable. That means I need others to help me in my journey. When we are committed to being learners that also means being a positive agent of change in the lives of people around us. When we model taking risks in our classroom in order to create a better learning environment, we are showing our kids it is okay to be a risk-taker and that change can be a very good thing.

Our world needs champion encouragers. It needs people who will do far more than badger kids into submission. Our world needs teachers who will seek out the strengths in our students and assist each one in the development of individual interests, even when the interest doesn't match up with our own.

What do you think??

Best Day Ever

Tonight I took my teen-aged daughter to the mall to pick up some items we had ordered. As we approached the service desk the sales person recognized me, gave us a huge smile, and proceeded to tell me how her daughter came home from school today, proclaiming it to be "the best day ever!" The daughter went on to let her mom know that she now loves social studies!

It just so happens that I have her daughter for social studies.  During our time together, we had a class chat on how they might want to approach our next topic of learning. We've been working diligently on close reading non-fiction text so many can do this effectively and independently. Many, if not most, are ready to dive in and be independent learners, using these close reading skills, with some coaching from me. So today I asked the kids to think hard about how they can best learn this next topic. They were given several ideas and then we brainstormed together. Some wanted to team up with another classmate, some wanted to work independently, and some wanted to work with me. I challenged them to be honest with themselves and told them that truthfully I think some of them still need quite a bit of support from me, but that many could work on their own learning quite effectively. 

To watch their faces as they realized they had a choice in how to learn was priceless. Listening to them brainstorm resources and formats for demonstrating their learning was even cooler. They are thinking of themselves as researchers. They are asking questions and thinking about what is important to learn and know. They are truly embracing their own learning.

Little did I know when we had our chat today that I would hear such positive news about it from a mom the very same day. Nor did I dream that a girl's view of her learning would be so drastically altered. Hearing how enthusiastic and excited she is gives me incredible joy. 

Tonight, I'm thankful I was able to release the reins in my classroom a bit. I'm even more thankful for the life it breathed into my kiddos. I hope today will spark more ideas of ways I can allow my students to have more ownership and flexibility in their approaches to learning and demonstrating their learning. 

I'll wager there are many of you who have found ways to open the floodgates of learning for your kids. What do you do? How do you do it? Would you be willing to share? I would love to hear any ideas you have!

Okay For Now

I just finished reading Gary Schmidt's book Okay For Now. It was amazing. Truly. The main character, Doug, is a kid who has an incredibly awful home life, with a dad who's a total jerk. Dad's abusive and hangs out with another jerk, which only makes matters worse. Most of Doug's teachers think he's a trouble-maker and give him nothing but negativity and judgement. 

The way Gary gives Doug a voice (using first-person narrative) is stunning, and he allowed me to deeply engage with Doug's struggles, fears, anger, and doubts. Doug's story resonated so much with me, I think, because although many of my students have homes with stability, love, support and encouragement, I also have those who are hanging on by a thread. Kids who, like Doug, come to school with so many other issues pressing on them that survival is what is their highest concern.

This year, it seems more of my kids are finding themselves in that awful position. As our relationships have developed, my heart aches for them. One student has repeatedly told me this year that she never wants to leave my classroom. She loves being at school. Apparently her mom has had multiple boyfriends in their home and a former husband who is in and out of the picture. It's her first year at our school, but she missed the last three days before break. Word on the street is that her family is moving. They've been evicted. This girl is smart; she's connected with another student in my classroom who is on the spectrum and that's given her purpose. It's helped her to connect and feel needed. She has grown in every area of the curriculum and as a person, too - by leaps and bounds! She qualified for our district's spelling bee, but no one brought her. 

I so wish I could write the rest of this girl's story and control the ending. Her family would see the light and embrace her unique qualities. They would learn to love and appreciate each other. They would celebrate the good in every member of the family and reach goals together. Mom would be an advocate for her kids in their learning and in their interests. She would get her daughter involved in healthy relationships and never miss an opportunity to allow her to shine. 

What makes this even more disheartening is that there are way too many in my classroom who are in similar circumstances. The time in our classroom is precious because it gives those kids hope. Shows them they are important. And capable. Gives them opportunities to face and overcome challenges in order to grow, knowing they have a community of encouragers believing in them. 

It is especially for those kids that we create classrooms where acceptance, understanding, encouragement, teamwork, and learning opportunities are constants. We expect kids to be challenged and we believe in their abilities to be their best. I want every single one of my kids to always know and remember that no matter how old he or she is I will always be his or her advocate and cheerleader. 

Gary's story of Doug's journey may be fictional, but my hope is that for my kids, whether parents come around or not, they will know their worth and abilities. They will enjoy learning because they will know someone truly cares and believes in them.

An article worth reading: 
Parents Aren't Necessary For Students to Learn by Ben Johnson 


Ted Talk by Rita Pierson

Lily's Crossing

What an incredible story this is, written by Patricia Reilly Giff. I hesitated to write about it, because it's really a book review, but since this is how I spent part of each day this past week, that would be okay, right? Plus, I LOVED the book, so it would be pretty difficult for me to not share it with you!

We get to know Lily in this Newbery Honor winning book initially as a spunky girl who is not afraid to disobey and sneak around, although her grandmother diligently attempts to keep her in line.  She's precocious, yet she loves spending her summers at her grandmother's house on the ocean. She is especially adept at anything having to do with water (swimming and boating, especially) and lying - about anything. Much of her life she has spent those summer days with Margaret, but because of World War II, Margaret's family must move to Detroit where her father will go to work for a company that builds equipment for the war. 

Patricia Reilly Giff tells this story beautifully, weaving in details about how families had to make adjustments due to the wartime situation in such a way that the reader is pulled in completely. I found myself empathizing easily with that generation and appreciating the sacrifices they  made in order to make a stand for world peace.

I loved the way Lily grew throughout the story, especially through the losses of old relationships and new ones that came to be, naturally unfolding much like they do in our own lives. Patricia created genuine people with real problems and answers that were not always black and white. And although the ending was satisfying, I found myself wishing for a sequel. I want to keep up with Lily.

If you have not yet read this wonderful story, please do so as soon as you can! You will be enriched by it

Tickets

I've missed the last two days of SOL, but seriously, my life has been crazy! It's not that I don't want to write, it's that my schedule this month is non-stop! Today's a snow day, though, and I have a little bit of time...

Yesterday morning I took off for my seven o'clock appointment. I have three of these every week. It takes  about 20 minutes to get there, ten minutes for the treatment, and then another 20 minutes to drive back home or to school. It's one of those annoying non-negotiables that must be squeezed into an already over-taxed schedule. Plus that, I was running late and in my sprint to the car I realized several necessary things I had forgotten to do. That meant rather than going straight to school, I'd have to swing back by the house and get those things wrapped up before going in to my classroom. Arggh!

Fortunately, traffic was calm so my drive in and back were uneventful and efficient. I had the radio on, too, to help my frame of mind and hopefully calm down before the day really kicked into gear. As I pulled back into my garage, the announcers on the radio station declared they were giving away two tickets to see "The Sing-Off" on tour. Being a singer myself, it's one of my favorite shows on television these days and I truly appreciate the work it takes to even make it on to the show. It's totally up my alley! They discussed how they would decide on a winner. Initially the directions were to sing a cappella to them. Cool, I thought! I can do that easily! Then they did the old switcheroo and proclaimed whoever called needed to "beat box." NOT my thing. I decided I'd still give it a try, but since I rarely win anything, the chances of me getting those tickets were pretty slim. It just so happened, though, that I was able to pull into the garage, put my car in park and ready my phone for when they announced the  number. I dialed. I heard the ring tone at the other end. It rang and rang.

Just as I was about to give up on anyone answering my call, I heard, "Hi! Who's this?" My heart skipped a beat or two. I began my own rendition of beat boxing. When I finished, the announcers compared my attempt to the sounds of laser tag! Hmm, don't think that's a good thing. I shot back that I would have been super happy if they'd stuck to their original task of singing a cappella, so they suggested I do that. Making something up off the top of my head, my song was to the tune of "If I Only Had a Brain" from "Wizard of Oz." The lyrics were something like, "Oh, I'd love to see the Sing-Off, it would be a total pleasure, if I only had a ticket."

Both announcers laughed and one even recognized the tune. They proclaimed me the happy recipient of those two tickets! I truly can't imagine winning a better prize (other than maybe a trip to a tropical island.) Even better, my husband is a fan of the show, of music, theater, performances, and all that, so both of us will thoroughly enjoy our date together!

Think of us on Wednesday evening as we make our way over to the Royal Oak Music Theater and enjoy and evening of incredible music!! Thank you, Home.FM!

Special Assignment

I just got home and immediately put on my flannel pjs. The couch feels great, especially with the snuggly fleece throw over me and only my hands sticking out. The day was full, my tummy is full, and I'm feeling relaxed.

Today was spent shopping in one of my favorite malls at some of my favorite stores with the person I love shopping with most in the world. She's getting ready to go on a pretty amazing trip, so it was my duty to help make sure she had the appropriate clothing. She needed traveling clothes, clothes for warm weather, clothes for a day in the rain forest, clothes for sailing,  clothes for layering, and, of course, a purse! Shoes were pretty much the only thing not on our list. We were up for the challenge and by noon we had several full shopping bags on our shoulders. The sushi lunch gave us the energy we needed to complete this rigorous expedition. It was only when we were making our way to the car that we realized it was dinner time. 

It was sweet to be able to assist my pal and help her get ready for her trip. It was even better to simply spend the day together. 

Heaven

After a long week, my head needed a break. Truly. It has been a looooooong week. Fortunately, though, we  already had plans for a weekend that exactly fit the bill.

We drove a little over an hour to meet with our financial planner, who also happens to be my best friend's husband. Hope had also wanted some help with picking some new paint colors for her house, so we stopped by to pick up some paint samples. That was followed by a very fun dinner in an excellent Mexican restaurant, complete with an entertaining and talented Mariachi band. We had great food, we got to sing "Margaritaville", and enjoyed plenty of laughs. 

Upon our return to their house, we experimented with the paint colors and stuck them to the walls. It was fun to collaborate together and come up with some beautiful combinations. Tomorrow, we're going shopping for the day to unwind and be together. To be human and find some rejuvenation. 

I am so thankful for this amazing friendship that's really more of a sisterhood. The tension headache and upset tummy I had earlier is gone. I'm completely relaxed, thankful for this 24 hours of escape!

New Printer Cartridges

My ancient school-issued desk-jet printer ran out of ink – again. There were several things that needed high-quality and/or color printing for my kiddos, but I had no time to actually go get the cartridges. No, they’re not supplied (or paid for) by the school system.

Tonight, though, after piano lessons were done, and my hubby was still at his middle-school conferences, it seemed like the perfect time to run that annoying errand. I bribed Hannah into going with me, glad for an opportunity to spend time with her in the car, which is when she usually does the most talking. We hopped in the car to retrieve the expensive but necessary supplies.

For no apparent reason, after I found the needed cartridges, I took a little gander down the printer aisle. (I’ll admit, I was a bit curious about the price of a new printer.) Shock took over when I realized it would cost me approximately ten dollars more to buy a brand spankin’ new wireless printer (with cartridges installed) than it would be to replace the cartridges for my dilapidated one that had to be tethered to my laptop to work. Ten dollars, for cryin’ out loud!! And the one sitting on the shelf was wireless, could scan, and  even print documents from my phone (not that I even know why I would ever want to do that). It took me all of one minute to make my final decision. That pretty baby is now in the back of my car, waiting for installation tomorrow after our staff PD.

We followed up our short-but-sweet shopping spree with a low-key dinner at a local sandwich shop. My daughter chatted about random things. We laughed together. Then we made our way home, where she gloated about not having to go to school while I’ll be involved in a professional development all day. 

She may be relaxing all day tomorrow, but I’m happy as a clam to know I’ll be printing wirelessly with full ink cartridges.

One and Only Dad

Just as we were sitting down for dinner, my phone rang. It was one of my brothers. We typically talk at least several times a week. I answered, made a smart-aleck remark, and then he asked (in a serious tone) if I had a minute to talk. From the tone in his voice, I hated having to say that I didn't, but let him know I'd call back right after supper.

My imagination was getting the best of me when I returned his call after an expedited meal. We started with small talk and I was beginning to think the concern was unwarranted. That thought was short-lived.

The news was that our Dad had a pretty bad day on Monday. You see, my 83-year-old father lives in a constant state of cardiac arrest. He's had this since he had rheumatic fever as a young teen. Every time he sees a new physician the nurse who checks his vitals practically has a heart attack because he doesn't ever have a steady heart beat. Ever. Despite this, he's lived through brain surgery and other health issues. But on Monday, he could hardly breathe and had to stop his wood chopping (which I hate him doing, anyway), go inside and lay down.  He spent most of the day in bed, was weak, and had chest pains for hours.

Of course, as soon as my brother and I ended our conversation I called my dad and he brought me up to date in his own words. As his words soaked in I felt almost panic that he could be gone forever any day. 

Life ends sometimes without warning, and that jolted me. Tonight I realized again how much I love my dad and  how absolutely horrible it will be when he passes on.  I so hope it's a long time from now.

Star Trek - The Final Frontier

Today, my daughter was thrilled to not have to go to school (Only Juniors had school, for testing, of course). She was so overjoyed, in fact, that she even asked if there were any chores for her to do while Stan and I were at school! (I did give her some, so as not to disappoint her!)

On Sunday of this week she already had planned out what would occupy her day: watching "Star Trek" episodes from season four. She even begged for a bottle of Coke when we went grocery shopping this past weekend to save for the special occasion. It's hilarious, really, because our older daughter, Jessie, bought the set for my hubby for Christmas, yet Hannah has become the one who is obsessed with it!

After school I came home to discover that Hannah had done her due diligence on the chores. I then taught piano lessons, just like every Tuesday (and Thursday), which was followed by the typical conversation revolving around what to have for dinner. We were all in the mood for breakfast food, so Stan made the toast while I scrambled the eggs. 

Once everything was on the plates and ready to go, I noticed Hannah still sprawled out on the couch, remote in-hand, engrossed in an episode. Although dinner is almost always a family gathering at the kitchen island or the dining room table, with proper place settings, I asked to no one in particular if we would rather eat in the living room. Without missing a beat, Hannah gasped, "YES!" So Stan and I smiled at each other, took dinner to our delighted daughter, propped up our feet, and watched one of the most cheezy shows ever. 

It's amazing to me how sometimes the simplest things delight us. Hannah fully engaged in this fifty-year-old rerun was such fun. Stan and I sitting side-by-side, glancing at each other to roll our eyes at the particularly unbelievable scenes, made for a wonderfully relaxing and fun evening!