Tammy's Travels - Summer 2018

For twelve days, I traveled from one professional development experience to another.  What a blessing!  So much fun.

Want to tag along?

The first stop on this journey was the Arkansas Reading Association's summer Council Leadership Institute.  A very busy two and half days!

Here, the Board invited local council leaders in for two days of plotting and planning to ensure 2018-2019 is quite the success.  Besides being actively involved in the Board, I again will serve as President of my local council.  I have a dream...that more of our teachers will be involved within our local council this upcoming year.

May I encourage you to become involved in your local or state literacy organization?  Nothing more inspiring than planning events with other literacy leaders!  Yes, more to come as we plan our 46th Annual Fall Literacy Conference and our 2nd Annual Online Conference.  Fun!

From these two and half days, I flew to Orlando, Florida, to spend three days with fellow National Board Teacher and Arkansas Teachers for National Board Certification Board member at the National Board Academy, an event where the NB Networks meet and plan for the upcoming year.  From the moment I arrived, I knew this year would be different as my friend was inspired, engaged, and motivated to re-energize our ATNBC.  This began quite the intense several days of birthing a vision.  Ever given birth?  It's work!  But so rewarding.  I look forward to seeing this plan come to fruition.

Then, we played.  Our last evening there, we visited the Magic Kingdom, my first visit in 25+ years.  Fun, indeed! 

May I encourage you to become a National Board Certified Teacher?  Without a doubt, some of the best personal growth and reflection in which I have ever engaged.    Plus, what a group with whom to connect!  Powerful!  #NBCTstrong!

Following these days, I spent one (of the three offered...but on a very tight schedule) at the Digital Ed Alliance Google Summit, hosted annually in Trumann, AR.  There, I presented a session on Collaboration...using Docs, Slides, Classroom.  There, I attended sessions and fell further in love with Google Sites (I have moved my website to a Google Site and purchased my own domain name...may check it out here:  CafeGillmore).

I had intended to complete Level 1 and 2 of Google Educator in June...hummm...yes, well, where has this summer gone?!  Still committed to completing this goal!

May I encourage you to complete this goal with me?  This year, we continue further implementing a 1-to-1 endeavor in grades 6-12, so staying abreast of all-things-Google is my goal!

The next morning...way before the break of dawn, I arrived at the airport by 4:00 AM to fly to Austin, TX, to attend the International Literacy Association's annual conference.  Friday was a workday for state affiliates...Sat/Sun were conference days...with Monday's being the first annual Children's Literature Day.  I soooo enjoyed all days.  Attending sessions with the greats...Penny Kittle and Kelly Gallagher...and then attending their sessions...and many others I admire...that was just the cherry on the top of this very delicious cake of continual professional development days.

Children's Literature Day...what a day!  Three keynotes (had to miss the last one to catch my flight home...and was I ready...remember, this was Day 12 on the road!)...Author Meetups (seven authors...and seven new books!)...a delicious lunch...and then a meeting with two authors and Jacqueline Stallworth (Twitter:  @thebigseablog...she is amazing!). 

During this last session, the books presented further inspired two units I want to create and lead/teach with my English 11 class (first time I have taught this grade level in some time...!...)  More about this later in the year...as these units will be hosted second semester.

I attended this conference with four others from the Arkansas Reading Association.  We accomplished much by networking during much of our time there.  Confirmed our January book club with author Michael Shoulders!  Yay!

May I encourage you to be a Changemaker?  This I want to continue to be this year...with my students, with my peers...for myself.  Won't you join me?

Thanks for taking this journey with me!

Please share!  What was the best professional development of your summer?

My Future Determined?

This week, I assisted in admininstering our state exams and am again reminded of why and why not teacher accountability should be held to these text results.

NO!  How frustrating to watch a student not try, not even attempt to use the brain cells he/she must have in there under all that hair.  Seriously.  Speedy would be an understatement.  (FYI:  this one is not one of "my" students...or not one who had spent much time in my class this year).

To spin off of William Carlos Williams' poem...

So much
depends upon

A test-taking
student

Using knowledge
stored within

Due to his
teachers' devotion.

YES!  Then, there sit my darlings working from timer to timer, knowing I believed in them, knowing that the time for my devotion was expended, ended, terminated and 'twas time now for them to show up and show out...if they would just try on every question on the test.

YES!  Just do your best on the test!

This year, we tried the following:  extended lunch for working diligently...or, at least, appearing to work diligently. 

This year, I tried the following:  for receiving a ticket each day for the extended lunch...a party with Gillmore Brownies and Gillmore Chili Cheese Dip...their two requests.  Would you believe that every student in both of my classes received two tickets?  YES!

For 27 years in this business we call education, for 27 years in this career for which I have a passion, I have always set the bar just a bit higher than they wanted to reach...and then watched them reach it.

This week's bar...just try on every question. 

Did they succeed?  Hummmm...I know my darlings...and I know their love for going into busy mental boxes...BUT this I do know:  they reached higher this week than they had orginally intended because I told them I knew they could.

Yes!  The Gillmore Brownies are baked and ready to serve to my achievers!

Senior Seminar Board - Yikes and Yay!

This year, our department reinstated the Senior Seminar Board...a very good decison...one that requires much work and much diligence in adhering to the schedule, for once the days the board will arrive are set, all documents have a hard deadline!

The seniors are meeting this deadline...and showing up and showing out, professionally, that is!  I am so very proud to them!

In their honors...and because this is National Poetry Month, below is my poem dedicated to them and this event:

College and Career Ready

Day by day, the teacher did assign,
Choosing the lessons to align,
To ensure her students the school motto met.
Her students' skills gained an asset.

College and career ready, they say.
You can do this, she did parlay.
To often, their achievements underplayed.
Not here, though, their futures an extended highway.

Each assigned.
Each accomplished.
A resume.
A paper.
A speech outline.
A Google presentation.
Dressed up for their oration.

All heroes and herones on these speaking days
As heart rates speeded, running many verbal relays.
Shaking knees and shaking hands,
Prepared to reach the bar, their teacher understands.

Proud they are, breathing silent sighs of relief.
Mental high-fives, huge smiles signifying belief.
Forget all the moans.  Forget all the groans.
Forget all the "I can't's."  Forget all the work zones.

Today, they came.
Today, they spoke.
Today, they answered.
Today, they "Thank you"ed.
Today, they proved "College and Career Ready."

So proud she is, this teacher of theirs.
In these proud moments, she shares.
She thinks they can.
She knows they can.
They prove they can.

I think I can.  I think I can.  I think I can.

Simply became.

I can.

I am.

College and Career Ready.

NPM - Poems 6-11

I sure hopes this find you writing, creating, singing, drafting poetry throughout this month of April.

I am!

For the sake of time...which seems to in short supply!...may I provide the links to poems 6-11 where these literary creations reside?

• Day 6:  "The Necessary Tool" - about online conference calls
• Day 7:  "The Sisterhood" - to and about the ATNBC officers/board
• Day 8:  "Happily Ever After" - a "real" fairy tale about a Queen...and her King
• Day 9:  "The Outer Dead" - a tribute to seeds
• Day 10:  "Three Saved" - thoughts on the importance of giving blood
• Day 11:  "The Shortest Song" - a jingle I use as a cue to get to work!
• Today:  not written yet, but I know the topic, for today, my Beta Club will host a Mini-Relay for Life Walk to increase awareness about the type of cancers.  Those walks are just so powerful.  I can already hear the words coming to me!

So, I wonder...

• Where do you write?
• From where do you ideas arrive?
• What is your poetic style?
• Do the words spill forth...or come slowly...one by one?

As for me...

I write in my comfy chair about events that happen that day.  My style?  That all depends on how fast the words upchuck!  Sometimes, I slow that poem down...with just one word...and spacing...creating a pause, for, otherwise, I might not breathe!

I do hope you are taking advantage of the month and writing at least one.  That accomplishment just feels good during this month of April!

REMINDER!  Not too late to join my poetry challenge!  Right here!

NPM - Poem 6 - The Necessary Tools

The Necessary Tools

Gathered around a screen.
Supplies nearby...
Calendar.
Pen.
Phone.
Sticky notes.
Notepad.

Ready.

Gathered around a screen.
One by one the voices arrive.
The faces appear.

"You there?"
"I can see you, but I can't hear you."
"Hello!"
"I'm in my car."

Text messages begin.
"Password needed?"
"Be right there.  I'm running late.  Again!"

Greetings aside,
Business begins.
Decisions to make.
Ideas outbreak.
Traditions to forsake.
Questions to debate.
Awards uptake.
Conference to partake.

Ready?

Sitting in the parking lot.
Under that big light.
Internet connection sought.
There, brains connect to our delight.

Typing.
Scribbling.
Scrolling.

Time flies
15 minutes
30 minutes
45 minutes
An hour...already?

Yes, ready we are,
For, once again,
Technology stars.
There, the group discovered "I can."

I can meet.
I can plan.
I can question.
I can acquisition.
I can coordinate.
I can acclimate.
I just can.

Time for goodbyes.
"It's been great."
"Love talking to you all."
"Until next time."
"Shall we set a date?"

Gathered around a screen.
Connected by a phone.
Bonded with friendship and these machines.
Established there in that work zone.

Thank you, Mr. Internet and Ms. Air Waves.
Our lives too busy; time just saved.
Thank you...this evening you connected...
Friends.
Peers.
Leaders.
Decision makers.
Sisters.
Family
Conference partakers.

Just that simple, you see.
A conference call turns into The Conference.
All planned...just for thee.

NPM - Poem 5 - Just a Second...or Two

Just a Second...or Two

Time is short.
Time is not mine.
Time thwarted.
Time is kind...just not mine.

Wish this could me longer.
But, time...just too demanding.

See you...yes, next time!

NPM - Poem 4: Our Love Grows

Our Love Grows

He came to us a 1.7 pounds, shy and small.

He grew.

He came to us with a voice, insistent and loud.

He grew.

He came to us untrained, frequent and inconsistent.

He grew.

He came to us with senses asleep, self-absorbed and focused.

He grew.

He came to us with full of love, wiggling and twisting.

He grew.

He came to us and grew and grew.

Now, he knows

No.
Treat?
Kaiser!

He came to us learning.

Tammy is Alpha Queen.
Jay is Alpha King.
Holly is Alpha Princess.

Where does this leave Kaiser?

Alpha Dog!

Lover of the inside.
Lover of running like a herd of horses.
Lover of "Holly's home!"

Forever changed we are,
For Kaiser adopted us.
We are his people.
To him we are equal.

Go, Kaiser!
Run, run, run!

Go, Kaiser!
Out, out, out!

Go, Kaiser!
You, dog!  You messed again!?

Go, Kaiser!
I am so glad you joined our family.

Go, Kaiser!