writing workshop

Monday Musings.

Ruth Ayres

Happy Monday!  Sometimes I find myself editing the content of what I want to post because I feel this blog is more formal than the others in my life.  But today, I’m just going with what’s on my mind — no matter how random it may be.  Here’s to some Monday Musings —

  1. Hip hip hooray for completed K – 5 Materials Adoption!  I’m so thankful this leg of the journey is over and we can now look forward to the next.  Our corporation decided to adopt Rigby Literacy By Design and Words Their Way.  I would love to hear any & all comments related to these programs.  Although Rigby LBD has a writing component, we decided to adopt the Lucy Calkins Units of Study for Primary Grades + Ralph Fletcher & Joann Portalupi’s Teaching the Qualities of Writing for the intermediate grades.  Next week we will decide on 6 – 12 materials adoption.
  2. I miss teaching.  It is part of what defines me.  I try not to be defined by my career, but there it is.  I’m a teacher in my bones, in my heart, in my soul.  And even though I’m loving being home with three dear children, I still miss teaching. 
  3. I love, and I mean lovelovelove, being a mom.  I love the creative play and the running around outside and the exploration of childhood.  I love to see learning occur — in front of my nose, in my house.  Kids are amazing and I am so thankful they fill my home.
  4. I have flowers blooming along my front walk.  So grateful for this small sign of spring.  It’s in the seventies here in Indiana today!
  5. I’m recovering from being sick — again.  I’m amazed how I’ve been struck with one thing after another.  For someone who is rarely sick in bed, I’ve had my share the past month.  I’m reminded again of the importance of taking care of myself.  Exercise and good nutrition and some time to reflect are good for my body and good for my soul.

How about you, any Monday Musings today?

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Published by Ruth Ayres

Unhurried. Finding the magic in the middle of living. Capturing a life of ridiculous grace + raw stories.

10 thoughts on “Monday Musings.”

  1. Pingback: More on LA Materials Adoption. « TWO WRITING TEACHERS
  2. Pingback: ugh – « TWO WRITING TEACHERS

  3. Wow — thanks for all of the comments. I think this is definitley a conversation to pull into more blog posts! Let’s see, I was getting ready to type out answers to questions, but I think I’ll just post a follow up on the main page instead. Thank you for your comments and thoughts. They are VERY much appreciated.

    And on the personal side of the post, thank you KAREN for your comment. It resonated with me & was just what I needed to hear.

    Again, thanks so much for reading & sharing everyone!

    Ruth

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  4. I keep hearing about how great Words Their Way is, but I find it to be very overwhelming. I can’t figure out how to have individualized reading AND writing AND spelling going on in my room. I use Working With Words and Making Words (cunningham, I think) and again I keep hearing how WTW works well with these methods. I read the books and get excited. I have made some of the centres and games. But I just don’t get how to implement the program. I think I need training. Will your teachers get some training, or just the book?

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  5. Our district is starting the Rigby LBD next year. I am looking forward to actually having a bit more guidance with reading instruction that what we currently have. We also aren’t doing the writing component and are instead doing a Regie Routman writing workshop.

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  6. I use qualities in my room AND LOOOOVE IT! The audio CD is great and my students enjoy listening to Ralph- I think that they feel more connected to his writing and what he has to say.

    We just adopted McGraw-Hill. Not really excited about it at all…

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  7. My Monday musings:
    1. I love Mondays with my students – long afternoon that is PERFECT for a reading workshop and we have art in the morning, so I have a quick break!
    2. I love Mondays because I have kickboxing at night…I love hitting that bag and after our adoption meeting, i was wanting it!
    3. I don’t understand why no one seems to be helping with the price of gas!
    4. I enjoy my students…I don’t want the school year to end. How many teachers say that?
    5. I have 12 days until my mini-marathon…I can’t believe it’s getting close.
    6. I realize that I haven’t truly written or read in several days…I’m missing it.

    And I’ll definitely be checking in to see what people say about Rigby…

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  8. Ruth,
    I agree with your musings # 2 and #3 — I stayed home with my children for 2 years when my oldest daughter was in preschool and kindergarten. I loved every moment of being a mom! I still do! However, the piece of me that longs to learn and teach and create communities of children, can only be fulfilled when I’m in the classroom. Recently, my job as a curricular support person was terminated for financial reasons. So, now I’m going to be back in the classroom full-time. I’m looking forward to it. Being a mom is incredibly rewarding, but so is leaving school and knowing what I said, did, or taught made a difference — especially in a child’s literacy life!

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  9. I’m a regular reader of your blog, and really enjoy reading what other teachers around the country are up to! I teach in Missouri, it’s so cool that teachers from all over the US can take ideas from each other and implement them in their own classrooms!

    Last year my district made the huge leap of adopting different components for our K-5 Communication Arts curriculum. As far as I know we are the first district in the Mid-West to do so.

    For Writer’s Workshop we have Great Source-WriteSource & WriteTraits and Lucy CaulkinsUnits of Study

    For Reader’s Workshop we have Making Meaning and Guided Reading materials from National Geographic and Wright Group. We address fluency through Benchmark Reader’s Theater and our class libraries are stocked through Book Source

    Word Study: Spelling for Writers

    Phonics: Fountas and Pinnell

    Vocabulary: Scholastic Text Talk

    Most teachers were thrilled to get away from a basal and teach from a Balanced Literacy approach. Although, I have to admit it’s not been an easy transition for some. Our biggest issue is assessment.

    Good luck with your adoption, they are a huge undertaking!

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  10. I would love to hear more about the decison-making process you went through with regard to Words Their Way. Our district is in the process of reviewing materials around word study to pilot next year and this is one of our options. What other materials did you look at? What clinched the decision for you?

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