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Thursday, May 20, 2021

#MarvelousMaryLee


 Wow! Is there dust flying in the air as you open this post??!! It's been so long since anything has been posted on this blog, that there was at least an inch of dust when I opened the blog to submit a new entry.

But what an amazing reason to open the blog - celebrating MaryLee on Poetry Friday:

  • #MarvelousMaryLee
  • #PoemsforMaryLee
These are the hashtags being used to honor MaryLee today.

While poetry isn't something I normally write, I gave it a try, especially for ML. Congratulations on your retirement!!

Thirty-five Years of Knowing and Learning With ML


In the beginning…


One hot summer day in 1986

Two teachers new to a district

Moving in across the hall from each other

Teaching 4th grade together


“Hi, I’m Karen.”

“Hi, I’m MaryLee.”

ML inquired if I knew 

Donald Graves,

Lucy Calkins,

The concept of writing workshop,

Charlotte Huck


I knew none of those names or ideas

So my learning journey with ML began.


Our first year together…


Rooms caddy-cornered from each other

Sharing ideas

Classroom successes

On an almost daily basis

Discussing do-overs we wished we could have

Celebrating students

And student writing

Building poetry book libraries together

Trying to find the next great read aloud for our classes

Reading professional books, and

Reflecting on them as we learned from mentors

Trying and refining writing workshop in our classrooms


One year later, August 1987


I had been in labor with our first child for 36 hours

(started labor in July..)

MaryLee and another colleague

Calling to check on my progress on a constant basis

While at the Worthington Arts Festival

As soon as she heard I had delivered,

She got in her car to come see me

Besides my husband and me,

And before any grandparents arrived,

ML was literally the first person

To celebrate this amazing life event with us

On August 1, 1987


Through our Years in Dublin…


Continued those collegial conversations

Grew as an educator from each and every one of those chats

Eventually we went to different elementary schools

But continued to stay in touch through...

Scarves and Hats party

Teaching me how to begin a blog

Books and Brunches

Many trips to NCTE conventions

Road trip to MRA

Jeni’s for ice cream


And so much more.


And now today…


Celebrating all the lives -

Students, educators, parents, administrators, poets -

That MaryLee has changed

And made better.


A teaching life well lived.

An amazing educator.

A prolific poet.


Congratulations!

Can’t wait to be part of the next journey 

You will travel.


How fortunate I have been to know you as a friend and colleague the last 35 years!!!!


Sunday, August 11, 2019

#PB10for10 - August 2019


It's that time of year again - time for #PB10for10! It is so fun to see the list of 10 picture books others have curated around a topic or theme. After a two year hiatus, I decided to join in the fun again this year. Thanks so much to Cathy and Mandy for hosting this fun for the past 10 years!!!!

I have the great fortune this year and last to work and collaborate with language arts teachers in grades K-8. A conversation I've had in all my professional development either this summer or sometime in the past year centered around the power of picture books at all grade levels. Though I don't have the exact quote, I shared the thinking of Dorothy Barnhouse about the importance of using simpler texts when introducing more complex learning. The complex learning can be around a standard or a goal, OR it can be about being a better person or community member. Barnhouse's idea is so applicable for all students, both young and adult.

So, my #PB10for10 for 2019 is focused on picture books I've shared in my coaching and consulting work in different school districts during the last 12 months for a variety of reasons. 

Here are the pic-collages of the books I'd like to share this year:



Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall - What a wonderful book to begin work with a new community of learners, rather they are adults or students. This book is about being brave and tackling something out of your comfort zone, yet knowing that you have people to scaffold and support you as you work toward your goal, whatever it may be. I begin every session with new adult learners this way, thanking them for trusting me to be their scaffold and support as we learn together. It is also a wonderful community builder for the classroom - how students can support one another as they work to achieve things in the classroom.
The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires - I come back to this book time and time again when thinking about perseverance. Another great community builder in the classroom. With adults, when we approach new or revised learning, it is a great read about NOT throwing out everything we may have tried before, but rather finding the pieces of instructional practice that allow us to really help students grow and learn in their time with us.

The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld - Another terrific book for building classroom community in all grades. Sometimes when a person gets frustrated, they don't want another person to give them a million suggestions for how to "fix" the problem; they just need someone to listen to their frustrations. At all grade levels, learning to listen is a powerful skill. I use this with adult learners, especially coaches, when talking to them about how important it is for them to listen to their colleagues carefully, and then, together, figure out what next steps might be.

Imagine by Juan Felipe Herrera and illustrated by Lauren Castillo - The beauty of this book is in the one word title - if we begin to "imagine" what is possible, the outcomes can be amazing, no matter where we began in life. Another great text for the classroom and imagining the possibilities of where students will be as they grow throughout the year. This is also a great tool in my consulting/coaching. I have shared this book as a read aloud the past year when asking adult learners to think about the bigger picture of what we want for our students. Beautiful text and illustrations.

I Walk with Vanessa by Kerascoet - Being kind is a lesson we as educators address every single year. Rather you are a kindergarten or an eighth grade teacher, this is an important book to share with your students. As with all the community builders mentioned so far, it also addresses the concept of theme and doing what's right, even when that feels difficult. 




Bear Came Along by Richard T. Morris and illustrated by LeUyen Pham - This is a book that was shared with me this summer by a literacy coach from Maine (thanks Susan Dee!). Though I haven't shared this book with adult learners yet, it is a great beginning of the year book for building community, and thinking about how each of us brings our own set of concerns to a school year. But we learn that if we work together, we can do it. My favorite line is:
"So many different animals
living their separate lives,
but they didn't know they
were in it together...
until..."
A great book to read aloud for adult and younger learners alike!

My Papi has a Motorcycle by Isabel Quintero, and illustrated by Zeke Pena - Many of the first five books had diverse characters. Each story wasn't about teaching diversity; the characters just happened to be diverse. This book is such a lovely view into the Hispanic community of Corona, California, the  childhood home of the author, the friends and family she encountered on a daily basis. This book could serve as a mentor text for any type of narrative, small moment, or memoir writing a student might do.

The Proper Way to Meet a Hedgehog (and Other How-to Poems) selected by Paul B. Janeczko and illustrated by Richard Jones - Another big thank you to Susan Dee for this book title, also! Poetry is a genre that should be read and written in all grade levels. It is such an accessible form of writing. The poems selected for this book are fun - mostly "how to" poems over a variety of topics. More importantly, just like all the poets who contributed are different, so are the styles of the poems they wrote. A great way to have students see a variety of poetry formats. This is another book I haven't had an opportunity to share yet, but it will be coming to my September book talks.

This is How We Do It: One Day in the Lives of Seven Kids from around the World by Matt Lamothe - I know there is a separate time tor sharing nonfiction titles, but this is such a "go to" informational title for me, both when modeling for students or working with adult learners, I had to add it to my list for this year. Following a typical school day for children in 7 different countries is a fascinating way to begin to share about the differences in our own school days - from types of families to what is worn to school to what is eaten for breakfast to how students travel to school, and so much more - this is a book that you will come back to time and time again to help kickstart meaningful conversations about the world and your own classroom communities.

Shaking Things Up: 14 Young Women Who Changed the World by Susan Hood, and illustrated by many... - When I have shared this book in the past year, I share it because I love everything about it. Not all the women who are mentioned here are common names. The setup of the pages is appealing - on each 2-page spread there is an illustration, a quote from the young woman, a poem about the person, and some informational fact about the young woman as well. This book is a celebration of young women who truly made a difference in our world - what a wonderful message to share with our students!

Well that's it for this year. Thanks so much for stopping by. I hope to be a bit more active with the blog (see more about that in the "About Me" tab at the top).
I am so looking forward to what made everyone else's lists!




Saturday, March 31, 2018

Walks Bring Renewal - #SOL18 - 3/31/18



**I'm so grateful to the #SOL community for welcoming me each and every time I post a slice. Thank you so very much to the team at Two Writing Teachers for coordinating and hosting this slicing community for the entire month of March for the Slice of Life Challenge. You all rock!!**

**It is amazing that this is the final day of the Challenge. Out of 31 days, I managed to post 27 slices. So not everyday, but writing habits were built. It's been fun to meet new friends during this month-long challenge, as well as visit with old friends through our commenting. Thanks to everyone who has stopped once or more than once to share a comment with me. It's been great being on this journey with all of you! Congratulations to all of you who wrote each and every day.  I look forward to staying in touch on Tuesday Slice of Life.**


Today I took a walk.

The sun was shining, the birds were singing.

Signs of spring were everywhere - blooms pushing up from the soil, grass greening, streams full of rainwater rushing under bridges.

The wind was gusting through the trees, bringing fresh air to all around.

Every time I take a walk at this time of the year, my heart overflows with hope and renewal.

Wind blowing, sun shining, flowers blooming, grass greening, birds singing, streams rippling

Today I took a walk and felt renewed.







Thursday, March 29, 2018

Weather Woes - #SOL18 - 3/29/18



**I'm so grateful to the #SOL community for welcoming me each and every time I post a slice. Thank you so very much to the team at Two Writing Teachers for coordinating and hosting this slicing community for the entire month of March for the Slice of Life Challenge. You all rock!!**

*During this year's challenge, my plan is to reflect on a slice of my life from that day, or the day before, and write about it. No theme to tie my writing together this year, no plans ahead of time.  Just glimpses into slices of my days. Not having a plan is a very uncomfortable place for me, both as a person and a writer, so fingers crossed for the 2 remaining days!


A conversation 2 days ago:

1st person: This weather has been so depressing. Snow or rain, and gray skies forever.

2nd person (someone feeling quite full of themselves): You know, the weather this February and March really hasn't bothered me that much. I guess it's because when we were in Florida for the entire month of January, and I think I just stored up huge quantities of Vitamin D just being out in the sun everyday. It has managed to lift my spirits even on the gloomiest of days now. It's all good.


Today:

2nd person looks at the 10 day forecast:




What that same person feels like now (not quite so full of themselves):
Flummoxed!!


Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Porches and Patio Fun - #SOL18 - 3/28/18




**I'm so grateful to the #SOL community for welcoming me each and every time I post a slice. Thank you so very much to the team at Two Writing Teachers for coordinating and hosting this slicing community for the entire month of March for the Slice of Life Challenge. You all rock!!**

*During this year's challenge, my plan is to reflect on a slice of my life from that day, or the day before, and write about it. No theme to tie my writing together this year, no plans ahead of time.  Just glimpses into slices of my days. Not having a plan is a very uncomfortable place for me, both as a person and a writer, so fingers crossed for the 3 remaining days!

(My slice is more late than normal tonight as I just got home from the event I wanted to slice about.)

Tonight was a gathering of our Porches and Patios group. We have evolved over the years: we began as a group refining our use of technology to enhance our instructional practices in the classroom. And we always had chips and queso dip to eat, and we would gather on each others' porches or patios. Nowadays, it is far more about the food (tonight had an amazing Mexican food theme), the conversation, the learning, the laughter, and the fun.

There is no way to capture all the special, and often times hysterical, moments of our evening together, but here are a few of the conversational snippets overheard tonight:

On Voxer, is that "tap to talk"? 

Passion planner, panda planner, or bullet journal ?

Got it on Amazon - 'Something Wish' pen holder

Sketchnoting - yo need to get your head around process vs perfect

The Kids Should See This

Your name is _____, but you told me to call you 'Hot Mama'

We're going to ride fancy class with air waitresses

Anello backpack - is it a backpack or a wine carrier or both??

The 3rd piece of pie makes it

Funny thing said by teacher: 'Why are you licking your chair?'

Funny thing heard by teacher: 'Keep your balls low to the ground; it's windy today."

It's not a private school. They can't tell me what to wear.

Winky faces - what's with them? Send or not send?

You need to fix your face

Did you ever go to that jeweler?

At what point do flip flops become inappropriate?

You need to see these Kid Snippet videos

Truth

So, that's it... a random sampling of some of our conversations tonight.

Thanks for stopping by to read this silliness.

Tuesday, March 27, 2018

My Brain is Energized! - #SOL18 - 3/27/18




**I'm so grateful to the #SOL community for welcoming me each and every time I post a slice. Thank you so very much to the team at Two Writing Teachers for coordinating and hosting this slicing community for the entire month of March for the Slice of Life Challenge. You all rock!!**

*During this year's challenge, my plan is to reflect on a slice of my life from that day, or the day before, and write about it. No theme to tie my writing together this year, no plans ahead of time.  Just glimpses into slices of my days. Not having a plan is a very uncomfortable place for me, both as a person and a writer, so fingers crossed for the 4 remaining days!

Today, I went to Capital University, for a meeting with Dan, a faculty member in the technology department. He was bringing me up to date with the new platform I would need to use to communicate with students when my summer semester class begins in May.

As I worked with Dan and after, two thoughts were percolating in my brain:

1) I love learning. All different types of learning.
I've always had a passion for it. Being a learner energizes and enriches me as a professional and a person. Today, as I drove away from campus, I left feeling totally jazzed. My brain was firing on all cylinders, and it was exciting stuff.

2) When learning something new, I need to do, not just be told what to do.
When Dan was introducing the new platform to me, he kept demonstrating on his computer how to do it. He clicked this, then he clicked that, then this, then that... you get the picture. I had to slow him down, pull out my laptop, and have him watch as I tried to replicate some of the work he had shown. When that happened, with his guidance and scaffolding, I was able to achieve success with the tasks.

I'm really looking forward to teaching summer semester, but as I reflect on my own learning today, I will continue to look at all learners (student, pre-service teachers, adults) with whom  I work with different eyes, knowing that they have specific needs as learners as well.



Monday, March 26, 2018

The beauty of sharing book titles - #SOL18 - 3/26/18




**I'm so grateful to the #SOL community for welcoming me each and every time I post a slice. Thank you so very much to the team at Two Writing Teachers for coordinating and hosting this slicing community for the entire month of March for the Slice of Life Challenge. You all rock!!**

*During this year's challenge, my plan is to reflect on a slice of my life from that day, or the day before, and write about it. No theme to tie my writing together this year, no plans ahead of time.  Just glimpses into slices of my days. Not having a plan is a very uncomfortable place for me, both as a person and a writer, so fingers crossed for the 5 remaining days!


There is a beauty in sharing books with others.

Like the time this January I reconnected with college friends after 40 years, and one of my favorite parts was when there was a sharing of adult book titles we loved. One of those titles actually became a book club choice for one of my book clubs the very next month after I recommended it to them!

Then there was a recent retirement luncheon when the person across the table for me asked what I was currently reading, and it evolved into everyone chiming in and sharing titles across the entire table of ten.

This past Saturday, my trainer, Tami, was talking about the Easter basket she wanted to put together for her son, M. She wanted to include some books, so she asked me for my recommendations. Luckily, I had just read the following three:


I was more than happy to recommend all three of them to her. I knew her little guy (a kindergartener) would really dig the visual nature of Baby Monkey, Private Eye.

If you don't know these books, and you read with children, they are all great. But I have to say the biggest must have of these for me is The Rabbit Listened. I read this book multiple times to capture all that it had to offer in terms of message. 

It is a children's picture book, but it would also be a great book to use with adult learners. Coaching and collaboration requires a high level of trust, and this book addresses one of the keys to developing that trust. 

Loved this book, and will be purchasing it immediately.

Since sharing books is a thing of beauty, feel free to share one or two titles you are loving as well.

Happy reading!