I am thrilled to hear so many plans to extend Slice of Life Story Challenge to your classrooms. Thank you to those who have shared their thinking. My friend Ruth Metcalfe (she posts in the comments as "the other ruth"), has generously shared her reflective thinking, anchor chart, and templates for a SOLS Challenge book… Continue reading SOLS Challenge in the Classroom
Category: Reflective Practice
How’s Your OLW?
I think choosing a OLW (one little word) for the year is a great way to embark on a reflective life. When I chose vitality for my OLW, I knew I was in for a lot of learning. I expected to learn about physical health and healthy eating, but I also learned about spiritual and… Continue reading How’s Your OLW?
Share this:
Share this:
An Inspirational Professional Text + A Giveaway
When I was a classroom teacher I had my fair share of challenging students. Through the years I taught had quite a few students with social-emotional issues, learning disabilities, and discipline problems. I've had students hide underneath desks, crawl on the floor of the classroom, and who've screamed at classmates when things haven't gone their… Continue reading An Inspirational Professional Text + A Giveaway
Share this:
Share this:
NCTE: A Very Brief Reflection
Hugged.Home.Unpacked.Can't wait to talk with Andy.But first, a very brief reflection of NCTE. I promise more will come. Still, in a word, this is what I'm taking away from NCTE 2010:JoyYes, joy. I am joyful for the privileged work I get to do each day. I'm joyful to write alongside students, allowing my love for weaving words… Continue reading NCTE: A Very Brief Reflection
Share this:
Share this:
Feeling Stressed?
It's that time of year for teachers . . . everything is piling-up, we've passed the "honeymoon period," and our lists of things to do could stretch to the moon (and back). Add on top of that the shorter days of the season, as well as the upcoming holidays and it is no surprised many… Continue reading Feeling Stressed?
Share this:
Share this:
Will you be at KSRA?
Ruth and I will be presenting twice at the upcoming Keystone State Reading Association Conference in Hershey, PA this-coming Sunday and Monday. Our presentations are scheduled for Sunday afternoon, October 24th at 4:00 p.m. and on Monday morning, October 25th at 9:30 a.m. Both presentations are entitled "Refining Reflective Practice: Pathways to Building a Stronger… Continue reading Will you be at KSRA?
Share this:
Share this:
Conferring.
Tomorrow I get to meet with a book study group. We're going to read Conferring: The Keystone to Reader's Workshop by Patrick Allen. Deb Gaby, an incredible reading coach for my district is leading the study and asked us to reflect on a few questions before tomorrow. Write down what you hope to gain from… Continue reading Conferring.
Share this:
Share this:
Highlights from the Week
I have been in a lot of different writing workshops lately. Just this week I've been in 13 writing workshops and have met with 13 different teachers in either reflective practice meetings or planning meetings. Therefore, I have SO MUCH I want to record. Which leads me to my current dilemma: what do I not… Continue reading Highlights from the Week
Share this:
Share this:
What is MOST important?
This question has been tumbling around in my mind lately: What is most important when it comes to literacy instruction? It stems from state mandates, district expectations, curriculum guides, and instructional minutes being cut. More importantly, though, I believe it is a question each of us ought to answer. Years ago I read a book… Continue reading What is MOST important?
Share this:
Share this:
Words that are Speaking to Me
There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside of you. --- Maya Angelou Remember awhile back when I shared about my YA reading life? I promised to share the way I'm closely rereading and studying a few of the books. One of the titles is Kristina McBride's (she's blogger!) The Tension of Opposites… Continue reading Words that are Speaking to Me
Share this:
Share this:
Reflecting on Reading Like a Writer
So I took some time to create a video about the system I created in order to track and reflect on my summer reading. Because I pushed myself to reflect in a new medium, I feel like I dug deeper into the work I've done with reading like a writer. (I hope it's not too… Continue reading Reflecting on Reading Like a Writer
Share this:
Share this:
Reflection after Returning the Manuscript
According to Merriam-Webster Online: Main Entry: copy editor Function: noun Date: 1899 1 : an editor who prepares copy for the typesetter According to me: Main Entry: copy editor Function: to prevent me from being embarrassed when my words are published Date: 19 July 2010 1 : a person who knows when to use "that" and when… Continue reading Reflection after Returning the Manuscript
