June 12, 2017

Today is the first day of our #CISDLitCamp and we are talking about how teachers must be passionate about reading and writing themselves if they are to impact their classroom. And then I look at the last time I've posted to this blog and it has been almost 3 months!  Eek!!
What is the cause of this lapse in time? Is it that I'm too busy? Too distracted by technology? Don't have anything to write about? I think it could be a combination of all 3 things. I am about to embark on two writing challenges for the summer; Teachers Write 2017 and A Slice 0f Life 2017. Hopefully this will be the kick start that I need to get back into writing.
Currently reading: Book Scavenger
Currently writing: Working on an idea for a children's book :)

March 28, 2017

How is it that my writing on this blog ebbs and flows like the mighty Mississippi? I always have the best of intentions to write daily; weekly; ok, even monthly would be great at this point!! As a reading and writing teacher, I value the importance of daily reading and writing with reflection time. Except that if I'm totally honest, it just doesn't happen.  So, how do I encourage my students to do the one thing that I myself find difficult to do? We set a goal, we try to muster through and then we accept that we can only do our best. So for today and moving forward, I am going to try to post a couple of times a week. We'll see how it goes!!

Teacher's Write 2016
June 30, 2016

Quick Write- Saying More with Metaphors: Using the Element of Surprise to Say Big Things

Today we are challenged to put words together to create a vivid metaphor. I decided to play with worry and a forest fire.  Worry can start out as a single thought, an idea or concern. It takes only one match to start a fire. As we worry and fret over what may or may not happen, we fan the flames. A small fire might burn only one twig but if left unattended, it soon engulfs the entire forest. If we continue to fret and worry, we are soon consumed just as the forest fire licks each branch and mighty oak!!

Teacher's Write 2016
June 28, 2016

Today's assignment: 100 Steps

I modified my assignment so that it landed me at a Starbuck's that I don't normally frequent. So for 10 minutes, I am just going to observe and record...

Music playing overheard
Customers ordering fru fru drinks
A person bent over their drink, earbuds wrapped around their ears- either deep in thought or quietly asleep
An iPhone signaling someone has a new message or text
Baristas dropping dishes
Silly laughs resulting
Animated conversations between friends


This picture is in front of me at Starbucks.  And I think it captions what I saw and heard.

                       Seconds, Minutes, Hours, It's Life

           The music blares from some speaker overhead
She is bent over her drink, is she deep in thought or asleep?
      "I'll have a Frappuccino, please, light on the cream."
Drop, crash, laughter all around, what a sight, seeing coffee on the ground...
             "But then you know what I said to him?"

Everyday people. Everyday events. Putting their heart into their job and into their lives. And just because I chose to sit back and observe I got to see it unfold in front of me!! How much more we could see, when we put our heart into it...

Teacher's Write 2016
June 27, 2016 What's In Your Notebook?

Let me start off by saying that I have been looking forward to participating in Teacher's Write since last summer! I encouraged people to join me and be a reader who writes and a writer who reads. So what happened? Why am I over a week late to the party? Because I took my yearly vacay with my sisters and this year's cruise was nothing short of spectacular!! And I have had a hard time re-entering the real world!! I have taken a nap. every. single. day! I have yet to finish unpacking my suitcase! And I am counting the days to my next getaway!!

So with that me being said, I decided today, I have to take the plunge and dive in!! I will be behind for a couple of days, but, I really want to be present in this writing camp!! So as we said in Jamaica, "No problem, mon!!"

What's In Your Notebook? asks the age old question- electronic or paper and pencil? Each year I struggle with way I want to record my summer musing and thoughts. I always start with paper and pencil, because just like books, I like the feel and smell of paper. Then I will transfer to digital so that I can share and collaborate with others. I love how it is suggested that we need to make sure that for our learners the notebook belongs to them and that it is for them. Too many times as teachers, we feel the need to tell our learners what to write or how to record it. What if this was truly of collection or a house for their thoughts, their dreams, their wonders? I've bookmarked this blog entry so I can revisit it early August before school starts.

Day 7 of Our Poetry Challenge

Day 7 of Our Poetry Challenge

Today we learned about the poetic device of similes and metaphors and we are trying to write a poem using them.

Dew on the Grass

by Mrs. Cook

In the early morn I walked 

Across the dewy grass

My toes scrunched up

The cold bit them hard

They were blocks of ice!!

4-6-16 Day 6 of our Poetry Challenge

4-6-16 Day 6 of our Poetry Challenge

A Smashup of Trees and Onomatopoeia

by Mrs. Cook

A peach tree was bought

But I think it was for naught

It sits in the pot

While the weather gets hot

And I am about to go

Kapow!

#SOL16 Tuesday Writing 4-5-16

#SOL16 Tuesday Writing 4-5-16

My students and I couldn't leave our daily writing behind when March was over. So I suggested we do a Poetry challenge for the month of April. Today we learned how to write a Cinquain. So my slice of life today is written in the form of a cinquain.

Spring Fever?

The children continue to come to school each day

But their minds are elsewhere

Could it be that spring fever has hit?

The weather is lovely; some may say too hot

School isn't over yet. 

Day 4 of Poetry Challenge

Day 4 of Poetry Challenge

Play

by Mrs. Cook

I read a book or two today

School is over and 

Now it's time to go and play

The sun in out

We scream and shout 

I read a book or two today. 

4-3-16 Day 3 of Poetry Challenge

4-3-16 Day 3 of Poetry Challenge

Spring Is Here!

by Mrs. Cook

Twitter, twitter, chirp, chirp

Two birds flutter on the roof

A fallen log

A croaking frog

Signs all around that spring is here!!

4-2 A Morning Walk

4-2 A Morning Walk

A Morning Walk

by Mrs. Cook

Started my walk early this morning

Nobody out

Peaceful yet windy

Ducks flying overhead

6 miles later, 

I was ready to fall back into bed!

4-1-16 April Fool's Day

4-1-16

April Fool's Day

by Mrs. Cook

I am not a fan of this day

Tricks and jokes aren't just child's play

My students were kind and let me be

And then my sister pulled a prank on me!!

#SOL16 Day 31 The Last Day of Our Slice of Life Challenge

#SOL16 Day 31 The Last Day of Our Slice of Life Challenge

I was sharing with my students this morning that today was the last day of the Slice of Life Challenge. A small group of them have been participating with me! We have all grown through this experience. We are better readers and better writers because of it!

At the end of our sharing time, I had an "aha moment." Why should we stop just because the challenge was about to end? So, I proposed that we do another challenge for the month of April. We have been studying poetry and so we are creating our own Poetry Challenge. I am so excited that they were willing to continue on this journey with me!! Then they asked, "So what about May? We've decided during May we will share our reading experiences!!" How cool is that?

As for me, The Tree Fairies story continues...I won't get to write or revise it tonight due to other commitments but tomorrow, I'm back on it. I woke up in the middle of the night knowing how it ends. Now, I just have to get through the middle of it. :) I am loving this!!

#SOL16 Day 30 The Tree Fairies, con't.

#SOL16 Day 30

The Tree Fairies, con't.

Long, long ago there was a land full of tree fairies. Although no one had ever seen one, the old folk would tell stories of magic and lights. It was said that when the moon came out each night, that one only had to make a wish and that a tree fairy would grab the wish and carry it up to the moon. One night as her family took their evening walk, Sue Ellen saw the moon and remembered her grammy telling her the story late at night. So she closed her eyes, and whispered, "I wish I could fly." No sooner had the wish left her trembling lips then she began to feel the leaves swirl beneath her feet. The winds danced around her ankles and she felt herself floating off the ground.

Sue Ellen couldn't be sure if it was the wind that carried her or something else. A faint light could be seen around her scuffed up tennis shoes. Was it just an ordinary lightning bug? The kind that she would run after and put in an old mason jar? She tried to capture the light between her hands but it swirled to and fro. This wasn't an ordinary lightning bug. Could it be a real tree fairy? The glow became brighter as it circled Sue Ellen's head. 

The glow twinkled and she yearned to reach out and touch it. She lifted her arms out to her sides. But the rushing wind carried her higher. She pinched herself to see if she was really flying or only dreaming. Looking down she saw her family running after her. On the edge of a cloud she heard her momma say, "Sue Ellen, you come down here right this instant. You hear me?" She began to giggle and said, "Momma, I've got to see the Tree Fairies." 

#SOL16 Day 29 Continuing with yesterday's slice...

#SOL16 Day 29
Continuing with yesterday's slice...


Long, long ago there was a land full of tree fairies. Although no one had ever seen one, the old folk would tell stories of magic and lights. It was said that when the moon came out each night, that one only had to make a wish and that a tree fairy would grab the wish and carry it up to the moon. One night as her family took their evening walk, Sue Ellen saw the moon and remembered her grammy telling the story. So she closed her eyes, and thought, "I wish I could fly." No sooner had the wish left her trembling lips then she began to feel the leaves swirl beneath her feet. The winds danced around her ankles and she felt herself being pulled up off the ground.

Sue Ellen couldn't be sure if it was the wind that carried her or something else. A faint light could be seen around her scuffed up tennis shoes. Was it just an ordinary lightning bug? The kind that she would run after and put in an old mason jar? She tried to capture the light between her hands but it swirled to and fro. This wasn't an ordinary lightning bug. Could it be a real tree fairy? The glow became brighter as it circled Sue Ellen's head. 

Friends,
If you read this slice, could you let me know what you think? I would love to continue this and see where the story takes me. 
Thanks!!

#SOL16 Day 28 Tree Fairies

#SOL16 Day 28 Tree Fairies

When I was out for my walk today I  saw a tree that had a magnificent knot hole. All around this knot hole were little holes that had been burrowed out. And a story was born.

Long, long ago there was a land full of tree fairies. Although no one had ever seen one, the old folk would tell stories of magic and lights. It was said that when the moon came out each night, that one only had to make a wish and that a tree fairy would grab the wish and carry it up to the moon. One night as her family took their evening walk, Sue Ellen saw the moon and remembered her grammy telling her the story. So she closed her eyes, and thought, "I wish I could fly." No sooner had the wish left her trembling lips then she began to feel the leaves swirl beneath her feet. The winds danced around her ankles and she felt herself being pulled up off the ground.

Not sure where it is going from here, but, I am enjoying this "seed" from a tree...

#SOL16 Day 27 Maybe That Wasn't the Lesson I Was Supposed to Learn...

#SOL16 Day 27 Maybe That Wasn't the Lesson I Was Supposed to Learn...

This morning as I was walking, trying to get in my steps before church, I was pondering on why was it so hard for me to write yesterday. I know that it happens to the best of writers. And no, I'm not putting myself in that category. But every day in class, when our students say those dreaded words, "I can't think of anything to write," I say, writing is just like talking. Everyone has something to say. Just talk to me on your paper. But it isn't always that easy is it?

So yesterday, when I hit that stumbling block, maybe the lesson wasn't what do we do when we hit our writer's block. Maybe the lesson(s) was: stop, take a look around you. Appreciate what is right in front of you. Enjoy the ordinary-ness of today. Find something simple and look for the pleasure in it. I think sometimes I can get so wrapped up in all of life's trappings and I miss out on so many little things. And isn't it really the little things, that all add up to become the big things? Maybe my lesson to learn was what do we really do to help kids when they say they have nothing to write about. Is my trivial little remark really going to help think grow as a writer? Maybe instead I should sit with them and just talk. Perhaps a spark will come out of that which will become their story. I think sometimes I just need to stop and see it through the eyes of my 8 and 9 year students. Writing can be scary. Writing can be fun! Writing can heal. Writing can cease! It is what we do in the "in between times" that makes it worthy of writing!!

As we near the end of this 31 day writing challenge, I'm glad that this lesson presented itself to me!!

#SOL16 Day 26 Writer's Block Has Hit Today

#SOL16 Day 26

Writer's Block Has Hit Today

I spent the entire day trying to find something to write about. I was observant during my 2 1/2 hour walk this morning. I saw a slow creek running along beside me. I saw squirrels hopping across fallen trees. I heard dogs barking and saw a lot of people walking or running ahead and behind me.

Later I joined hubby for a day of errands. I read for awhile, we talked, we ate and we went to Home Depot and bought a peach tree.

By the time we got home, I was beyond tired. So I have mindlessly watched old tv reruns and dreaded having to write today's slice. Because I still couldn't think of anything to write about. So today, it is just about the ordinary. A typical Saturday with nothing outstanding. But even in the everyday ordinariness (is that even a word?) I was at least able to put something down on paper.

#SOL16 Day 25 Not Quite What I Had Planned

#SOL16 Day 25 Not Quite What I Had Planned


Today I had a plan. One that I was looking forward to!! We had the day off due to not using our Bad Weather Days. I was going to drive and look for fields of bluebonnets and/or tulips. I knew I wanted to be outside and not cooped up in the house doing laundry or cleaning.

So I got up early this morning, got ready and headed out. My drive was short. It didn't lead me to fields of bluebonnets or blooming tulips. It lead me to shopping. Clothes for myself and hubby. I did get to walk outside as I was going from shop to shop and that was ok. Something about feeling the sun on my skin made me smile.

Hopefully I will get to see the bluebonnets soon. My sister suggested going to the Arboretum. I may have to put that on my to do list!

#SOL16 Day 24 To Do or Not to Do?

#SOL16 Day 24 To Do or Not to Do?

There's no school tomorrow. It  is Good Friday. But that is not why we are off. It is a Bad Weather Day, and since we didn't have a snow day this year, we get tomorrow off. There are a million things I need to do. That I should do. Continue cleaning that I started last weekend. More organizing. Report card grades are due next week. The list just keeps growing. Every time I cross off something, I find myself adding at least 2 or 3 more things that have to be done. Right. Now.

But...my friends have posted pictures of recent trips to bluebonnet fields and tulip trips. Their babies are sitting in the fields. Their puppies are frolicking in between the blooms. And I want to be outside. I need to be outside. So I think a field trip is in order. I mean, the mess, the laundry, the report cards, they are not going anywhere. But the bluebonnets and the tulips- their days are numbered. And I need sunshine. I need to be able to walk, outside...
Anyone out there with me on this?