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
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!!!!
