Grade Sheets...and Such

In my English 10 classes, I handed back a recently written three-chunk paragraph and asked them to create a grade sheet determining how much each component/part/sentence would be worth.  I heard...

• "We made this worth too much."
• "This is hard."
• "I am just going to wait on Mrs. Gillmore to give us the points."

Interesting.

Should do this more often...before they write.  I know this.  Why do I not do what I know I should?  

You know the answer:  this assignment came to me on the spur of the moment...and it was a good one...of course!  Then, as they began handing them in, I knew...I knew they, too, had written on the spur of the moment.  Thus, today...we slowed down, worked on a common grade sheet, and then took the time to rewrite, this time earning the points on the grade sheet.

Good day in English 10.

Literacy Giants...or just too biased?

Living in this country is such a privilege, one we cannot appreciate, for we have always been blessed in such a way.

With that said...

Throughout my 26-year career in education in the literacy field, I have come to admire and respect and somewhat faithfully follow some of whom I refer to as the Literacy Giants.  I purchase their books, read their blogs, "follow" and "friend" them on social media, and attend conferences just to hear them speak...and maybe even obtain their autographs!

Until.

This election.

Where sides seem to be enemies.  Where one is a deplorable if not on the right side.

I will not apologize for who I am...an educated, white woman who lives in the South who does not go barefoot and have only once been pregnant in my 50 years.

I have read their posts, nearly all political, all alienating approximately 50% of their readers.

I read...and read.

Then, I began to mute and hide their posts, for I do not read their tirades to change my political views.  I read to grow professionally. Of this, I so wish these Giants would remain cognizant.  My not purchasing their books will not break their bank accounts, and, honestly, should one ever happen on this post, certainly, the response would be a further attempt to belittle me.

I so hope I am wrong, for I want the Literacy Giants to continue making money off of 100% of their readers, followers, purchasers of paper products (and digital ones, also...just enjoyed that alliteration!).

Part of the privilege of living in this country remains having diverse opinions.  Goodness, people, we haven't agreed since the founding of this nation.  Before that even.  When this opportunity no longer exists, what will we have?  Not America.

I love America.  She is I.  I am She.

Disagree with me.  Accept me.  Work with me.  Teach me.

Do not shut me down.  Do not shut me out.

Please remain the Giants you are to me. Help me to continue to grow professionally.

Thank you.

Blogging 101...Or 107?

This year, my classes are blogging again.  Has been a while, for our department abandoned this tool some time ago.

This past week, each student created his/her own blog...and the engagement was 100%.  Totally.  Maybe this comment summed up this assigned task:  "This is fun.  Why can't we do more things like this?"

We can.  As in one post a week kind of fun.  :)

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We have now begun week three of blogging, with my assigning topics, sometimes a single topic, sometimes allowing choice of three, planning ahead, announcing today that Writer's Notebook will become a house of topic choices.

So far?  HUGE success, with the students posting, thinking, discussing.

In another week or so, the goal remains to take this to the next step:  creating dialogue online via the comments.  Using the links to each class, each student, the writers will be assigned two blogs to read and add comments.  Using the lists of blogs, the students will rotate through the list, the end result being they read and comment on all the blogs this spring semester.

__________________

As much as we love social media, why not utilize a tool or two within the classroom?

Tell me...what teacher does not enjoy a quiet classroom...with every student engaged...type, type, typing their thoughts?

Just cool.

2017's My One Word

The below post was written with and for my students in my English classes.
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INTRODUCTION:  My one for 2017 is diligent, continuing a now seven-year tradition from which I have gained much more insight about myself.  In what ways do I need to become more diligent, more conscientious?  I suspect in many, including personal and professional ares of my life.

CHUNK 1:  In some ways, some would say that I chose this word.  Maybe I did, for as the month of December rolls around, I do begin thinking of what my next word will be.  I think.  I read.  I ponder.  I listen.  I read some more.  I awake at night...and think.  This time, no word came.  Until.  Until New Year's Eve...about 10:30.  Then, I knew.  My word would be diligent.

CHUNK 2:  I would say, though, that diligent chose me.  So how does a word choose me?  Hummm...it just happens.  (I know...I am not supposed to use the word it.  That's right...counting on my student NOT reading this!)  So how does a word choose me?  I just feel that nudge, that conviction.  When I think of another word...and I did...my brain just immediately shifts back to this word.  As I assigned this to my word choice to my students, this method worked for some of them, for before I was finished, I heard some saying, "My word is..."  Words do choose people.  Ask them.

CONCLUSION:  For these reasons, I look forward to the results of this word diligent in my life...both its impact on me and the ways in which this word will affect others in my life.  From my previous years' experience, I know this is a life-changing experience...if taken seriously.  Just the other day, a lady shared with me her word...and then her two previous words and the impact they had had on her.  Awesome!













Some harbingers that might suggest this word's success in my life would be...

2017's Intentions

For several years now, I have written Intentions...instead of resolutions.  The beauty of an Intention?  This word gives one the grace to try again, which I often do not find with a Resolution.
  My previous post reflects on my completion of the last year's Intentions and based on that reflection, I should intend to list some of last year's Intentions again!

Here goes...all 17...in no particular order!

1. Read more!  Last year I read 39 books...11 of those completed in the last two weeks of the year.  That's right...I went through quite a spell of not reading at all.  Not good.  A book lover, as myself, an owner of many books, as myself, just not just purchase books to sit on a shelf.    Thus, this year, while realizing the commitments within my life, I intend to read a book a week...not a total of 52..but one book per week.
2. Read the entire Bible this year.  I completed my first read...but that took me two years.  
3. Write more...here...and on my other blogs.  May just be short posts.  Better some reflection than none, as I put off writing what I hope will be extensive thoughts due to lack of time.
4. Continue involvement within my professional memberships.  These groups brought immense professional validation within my life last year.  A blessing beyond measure.  AND the friendships I treasure. Again, a blessing.
5. Witness my daughter graduate and begin her first year of college.  Wow!  
6. Practice my markswomanship.  I have said this in the past...but I want to do this!  AND this means spending time with The Man.  Yes.
7. Learn what this year's My One Word...diligent...has in store for me.
8. Continue involvement in two book clubs:  Paper Chase Book Club and BHS Reads.  AND this will result in 24 of my 52 books!
9. Be more hospitable by inviting friends and family into my home.  I do and have hosted events at school and within my church, but inviting persons into one's home is just more personable.  
10. Continue my women's Bible Study Group:  Making Choices for Him.  This past year we concluded out meetings with a Christmas dinner at my house.  Fun, food, and fellowship.
11. Be blessed as I witness the growth of  those within my Sunday School Class; this class has grown some this year in numbers.  I like them!  Great people.
12. Be ready to walk through open doors, to leave alone doors that are locked to me, and to enjoy simply looking through a window should be what is before me.
13. Be creative...whether through making quilts, painting on canvasses, or finishing cutouts prepared by The Husband.
14. Push my "kids" in all my classes (high school, college, and church) to learn just a bit more than they thought they wanted to learn.
15. Be timely, arriving on time, if not early.  To sit and wait for a meeting to start is a waste of time during which I could be accomplishing something else.  That's right...I have never thought I was one to run late...I was just always multi-tasking.  Right!  BUT those observing my arriving late do not know what I just left...they just see me as late.
16. Attend events, concerts, conventions that ensure that I continue to grow and learn.
17. Spend more time with my side of the family and appreciate the gift they are to me.

There. All 17 Intentions.

Good luck to me!

Now, to read for a bit.  Yes, see numbers 1, 2, 8, and 10!

Reflecting on 2016...

Hasn't this year just flown by?  Time to reflect...just a bit...

Listed below are my 2016 Intentions...and my thoughts on my achieving...or not...these intentions:

1. My One Word Challenge: all.  
1. This year's word spurred me during times I needed to be sure to include all, to do all, to be all...  This word became the gentle reminder that He gave all...just for me.
2. Read.  
1. I read less.  Less than I intended, probably due to my spending too much time on my cellphone!  Not sure of my final count yet...30+ books for the entire year.  I do love to read and have spent some of this Christmas break reading.  I hope to read one book a week next year...at least.
3. Become more involved in my professional memberships.  
1. Yes!  This past year I was asked to join the boards of two professional memberships!  Wow!  Truly, a highlight of my year.
4. Enjoy time with My Daughter.  
1. She obtained her driver's license, turned 17, got her first job, became a senior, had her senior pics made, while I spent time in the passenger seat, listened to her stories, paid for her senior year expenses, and designed her senior yearbook page.  Wow! 
5. Enjoy time with The Husband.  
1. I like him.  Very much! 
6. Book Clubs...
1. I love book clubs.  Very much.  I let the book clubs at school get behind...we didn't meet enough.  Hope to work on that!
7. Book Clubs, Part 2
1. I have enjoyed getting to know the people within these books clubs as we stretch our book likes and read what we might not would have.  This year, one of the ladies passed, which sure left a hole in our group.
8. Bible Study:
1. Our ladies' book study group is still meeting...and growing.  They bless me.  We ventured out and took in a study or two by various authors; then came back to Beth Moore.
9. Ladies on a Mission:  
1. Life got busy...and this group ceased to meet.  This is a good idea...but it just spread this group too thin.
10. Music...piano...songs.  
1. We learned a few...but not nearly enough.  We learned "The Birthday of a King" for Christmas.  Such a beautiful song.
11. Quilt.
1. I made six baby quilts this past year.  Love making quilts for babies...enjoy thinking about who the baby will become.  Currently, I am making a quilt for my brother.
12. Be a friend.  
1. I worked on this...I think I succeeded...some.
13. Write.
1. I did not succeed on this one.  BUT I sure hope to over this upcoming year, for I sure have a lot to write about on a lot of topics!
14. Tammy Time. 
1. I did work on this some...spent time attending Christian events...just for me.  For most of them, I took a group.  This year?  I am okay with just going by myself.  Not sure that will work out, as I tend to invite...and others tend to want to come along!
15. More organized.  
1. Nope.  Did not succeed here, at all!  Goodness!  Staying organized takes time...and I just do not have a lot of that!
16. Less teaching.  More teaching.  In some areas of my life I have resolved to commit less in some areas.  Just the way it has to be for now.  In other areas, I shall teach more.  Oh, for the wisdom to know how to handle both...and handle them well.
1. Here, I achieved...I taught less and may have to continue to do so, yet, at church, I taught more...three times a week.

One more...for the first time in a many years, I did not include "lose weight," which I never did...but I have lost a few pounds this year.  Not enough!  Just a thought, though...I am not going to include it next year, for I want to keep losing!  Yay!

When I look back over this year, I purposely stayed involved...attending conferences, book clubs, always giving myself something to which to look forward.  I enjoyed that very much.  This I want to continue.

Conference Time: A Success!

This past summer, I accepted two board positions, one for the Arkansas Reading Association and another for the Arkansas Teachers for National Board Certification.   After hours of work...and many emails created and sent...I have now attended and enjoyed, maybe, just maybe, what has been the best conference ever...the 44th Annual Literacy Conference, which brought together quite the list of speakers from across the nation, including professional leaders and authors Jeff Anderson, Valerie Ellery, and Marilyn Pryle, authors Margaret Peterson Haddix, Alan Gratz...and many others.  Wow!

Event Coordinator Julie Reardon amazes me with her leadership style.  One day, when I grow up...okay, I'm there!...I want to emulate her, for I truly appreciate her ability to empower.   Earlier this year, because of her recommendation, I was asked to come aboard the Core Conference Committee, a decision that has resulted in a major impact on my life.

I also worked quite closely with Ms. Susan, and when these two began to email, the conversations...yes, multiple ones...at the same time...they flew.  Wow!  Learned much, and my appreciation of this leadership style grew...and continues to do so.

My responsibilities included advertising the conference via email blasts and other created advertisement pieces.  I also designed and created the 48-page program, totally immersing myself in the conference.

Here are a few highlights from the conference:

• Meeting and introducing Jeff Anderson, author of Mechanically Inclined (which my English Dept is reading and discussing) and other works.  Awesome presentations (heard him speak twice), full of mentor texts and many methods to engage readers and writers.
• Helping set up for events...such as Children's Book Awards.
• Dinner with friends and authors and speakers.
• Working on a presentation of my own with peer JimBob Turner, who presented with me when he was a student in my methods class a few years ago.  
• Breakfast with ARA leaders...and having my position officially approved!
• Working with students in our first-ever Student Symposium, which featured authors Margaret Peterson Haddix, Alan Gratz, and Michael Shoulders.  Those kids were meeting stars!  They were so excited...and that excited me!
• Presenting...and having 14 people show up...and share...and leave excited to use what we had discussed.
• Lunch as author Haddix talked about her many books...very interesting.
• Finishing up the most awesome of conferences by planning for the next one.  Yay!

That's right...the planning has begun for the 2018 45th Annual Literacy Conference.  I am ready.