Orange You Glad...?

This has been a busy week of readying my room for Open House, which is scheduled for next Tuesday.  Already! Wow.

I spent much of July traveling and attending meetings and returned from this journey rejuvenated and validated.  Then.  The reality of how far behind I was/am sank in, resulting in my beginning to plot and plan, deciding that orange/coral needed to be a part of my life this year.

Since a significant number of hours are spent in my classroom, I have always enjoyed making this space a place I can enjoy.  During my first years of teaching, I spent hours making bulletin boards, choosing a theme and transforming my room.  Then, several years ago, I was afforded a room makeover, choosing this time a cafe theme, one I have maintained until last year when I began adding some beachy items.  This year's additions are the colors of orange and coral.

To the right is my third set of these letters.  These were an easy switch and an easy place to add to my changing color scheme.  I purchased four 11 x 14 canvases and  painted them...then, dry-brushed some additional colors onto them.  The letters are some of my favorite scrapbooking papers, all of which are decoupaged onto the canvas.  My original layout was for the E and A to be switched...which, of course, resulted in READ being misspelled!   Actually had it placed on the table as RAED...also, had a horrible headache last evening; thus, the lesson is...proofread before decoupaging!  I am fairly certain that everyone will just think I meant for the layout be as is in the pic!  Only you now know the truth!

To give the pillows to the right a face-lift, I purchased a throw and sewed new pillow covers.  I saved some money...but...this material made quite the mess as it shed everywhere as I cut and sewed the sides together.  But...well worth the trouble, as you will see in a picture below.

I have several "comfy" chairs and benches on which I keep pillows, mainly, for the purpose of giving the students a surface for a makeshift desktop.  They seem to enjoy them very much!  I really like how these turned out!

I painted this "Everyone Has a Story" to go with an ongoing project that I want to begin with my students on the first day of school.  I used this theme/idea several years ago (still have that painting...but it is too large for the area I now wanted the canvas, so just had to paint another one!).  This idea came back this summer after I attended a session at the ILA conference on infographics.  On the first day, my students will receive two pieces of paper folded in book format and will be asked to create a table of contents for their lives and to write the dedication page.  Throughout the year, in their writers' notebooks, they will draft the chapters of their lives, as I will also, as I write/create the assignments along with my students.  We will then publish the "books"...that I will need to think through a bit more!

I look forward to their stories, to learning about them and their families, to teaching them the features of a narrative.  I have a book or two I might begin, one with English 10 and another with English 12.  Hummmm...more about that as this project continues to develop.  Sounds fun, doesn't it?

See the pillows again?  Love them!

I added these two lamps to my collection  (have I mentioned that in the entire time I have decorated my room this way, I have only received two negative comments, both people mentioned lighting.  During the day, we only use the lamps...kids love it!  So do parents, other teachers, visitors.  I will leave it to you to deduce who does not appreciate them as much as everyone else does!)  Because these lamps were short (which means they were in my budget!), I asked The Man to build these pedestals for them. Then, yes, I decided to add some of the orange to them!  I am very much in like with them!  (Need to purchase another power strip as the cords will not reach the outlet.)

See those yellow candles on the wall in the photo...yes, I am purchasing new ones to add just two more drops of color!

I am feeling much better about my room being ready for Open House...and when all is finished, I will post a "final product" photo!

"Orange" you glad you stopped by and glanced into my classroom?  I am glad you did, also!  Stop back anytime!

Happy birthday, Harry!

If I could have adopted Harry Potter while I was reading the series...or since...I would have.  He just needed a good momma!

Wish I had time now to dive back into this series, but I just have so many books to read! (Sorry, Harry!)

In the meantime...Happy Birthday, Harry!

Tammy's Travels...Part 2

This has been the best summer of professional development!  I wish you could have traveled with me!  REALY wish you could have traveled with me!

1. National Board Academy...need to review my notes for our plans for Arkansas, as we have an online meeting tomorrow evening...making those plans happen!  This could be such a powerful group in our state...in many areas.
2. ILA Conference...am already looking forward to this meeting next year.  When my friend Julie brought me on board the Arkansas Reading Association, and ever since, she has consistently used the word network.  I am seeing that word come to pass.  Meeting and greeting and learning...again, need to review my notes...taking much of what I learned into my classroom...including that energy from this conference.  A very good thing!
3. Midsouth Google Summit...I learned more about Google (especially Google Sites...which I like) and I presented using Blogs as a tool to write WITH our students.  We concluded the 1 1/2 session by agreeing we need a full day next year to dive into this tool!  (Traveled to Trumann for this summit...on my way home on the second day, I received a text that my daughter had been in a wreck...she is fine!  Bless that girl!)
4. Council Leadership Institute...then off to Searcy to work with my Arkansas Reading Association friends/board members in preparation for CLI.  These ladies inspire me.  They work so hard and are so committed to being a part of this organization.  Then, on days 2-3, another 40 ladies joined us.  Much was accomplished as the county reading councils planned for 2017-2018.  Yay!
5. Laying the Foundation/Literacy, a part of the National Institute for Math and Science...four days of meeting with literacy teachers from our district.  Much...if not most...of this content I use already...or at least had heard of...but...BUT...reminders are powerful.  Everyday I committed to use something this year.

The total of these five?  If I include one day of church in there, these meetings added up to 19 days straight of meetings.  Back to back.  No overlap.  Amazing!

The power of these five?  I am taking them into a new/different curriculum this fall into my classroom.  Yes, again, we are switching curriculum.  Honestly?  I am not sure what number this one is (I do know this will be the third for one teacher is who beginning his fourth year).  While we have met several times and worked on the UbD docs in preparation, I have been a bit resistant (as we had a new superintendent joining us and not knowing what changes he might ask), BUT no noted changes, so I am feeling a bit more excited, for we were given many liberties as we plan for this fall:  to choose from three curriculums, which results in much liberty!).

As I begin my 27th year of teaching and as committed as I am to education, I appreciate anyone who respects what I bring into the classroom.  I am a veteran teacher.  There.  I typed it.  Yes, I am.  :)

The timing of the above five...and this "new" curriculum...well...just seems timely!  I do so love designing lessons.  Love it! (Grading it...not so much!)

So....so...off of here:  Time to finalize my classroom...then to dive into the above five...no, the above six...the blending of all I have learned this summer...with a different curriculum...and my 26 years of experience.  Go, me!

Happy New School Year!

Tammy's Travels

Hello from Orlando, Florida, where I am attending the ILA Conference with several friends/peers from the Arkansas Reading Association...after having just returned from a National Board Academy in Las Vegas.  Fun!  Excited!

This a first time to attend both of these conferences so much learning is occurring!

At the NBAcademy, we networked with representatives from 34 other states and developed a needed plan for state of Arkansas affiliate.  I am looking forward to progress within this organization.

Now, at ILA, we are here, also, to network for our upcoming conferences and book club and to brush up on my nerd skills (not much help needed in that area!) as I am excited about the line-up of authors here at conference:  Carol Jago, Ralph Fletcher, Kylene Beers, Robert Probst...and!  Am very much looking forward to the next four days!

Then, when I return to my home state of Arkansas, I will attend a two-day Google training, three days of Council Leadership Institute for leaders across our state in our reading affiliates, and four days of in-service for school...all back-to-back (with just one day off)...wow!  Yes, now in that back-to-school mode!

More about all this in the next few days!

Year 26 Reflections

Such a blessing to acknowledge this number of years in education.  As Year 26 comes to a closure and before I begin thinking too much about Year 26 (already planning!), here are some thoughts:

1. I have blogged little this year for a couple of reasons:  1) we were still immersed in a curriculum of which we had little choosing, which would have resulted in too much negativity on my part, and 2) I was busy!  I enjoy blogging, though, and, again, am committing to adding my input here.
2. I had the best of classes this year.  I still work them hard.  Maybe too hard?  I begin to think so, until this year I received the highest of compliments before school was even dismissed when several entered the door, after having tested for two days, saying, "Mrs. Gillmore, we aced that test.  You had us ready." (We'll see...sure hope so!)  Another added, "I was going to take Comp I and II my senior year; now I think I need to take your class so I will be ready to write for college."  Okay.  Thank you.  Good kids.
3. For the first time, I taught Teacher Cadets, still a fairly new class and move in our state to encourage students to be come teachers, for we have such a shortage of teachers in Arkansas.  The TC's seemed to enjoy the class (received college credit for the second semester), which involved much application...and no tests or extended papers.  Good news!  All ended the year more affirmed than ever that teaching is their correct career choice.
4. New curriculum coming in 2017-2018!  During the last week of school, our curriculum coordinator met with department and brought the winds of change and new beginnings, after which we met and began the process of selecting essential standards.  We have committed to meet in a week and build the units.  Yes.
5. At semester this year, my daughter switched English 12 classes and became my student.  This was a good move for us.  Making more precious memories.
6. I baked at least 75 boxes of brownies this year.  Don't think that is exaggerated by one box.  These kids will work for food!  "We want some of your brownies."  They would work, and I would reward.  Recipe:  purchase two boxes of any brand of brownies from your local grocery story.  Pour ingredients into mixing bowl.  Stir.  Pour into a greased 9 x 13 pan.  Bake for 31 minutes.  Yum!  Easy!  Cheap!
7. This year I taught three sections of English 12, two of English 10, and one Teacher Cadet class.  I enjoy all levels.  The hours fly by.  Then the weeks...months...until I sit here on my first Monday morning off from Year 26 typing this...reflecting.

What is a highlight from your year?

Now for a few weeks of "down time"...then the fun begins again.  Okay...now for a busy summer...more about in the next post!

Summer Begins!

Year 26 is in the books!  Wow!  Now, summer begins!  A summer of reading begins!

May I share my reading plans?

• ARA Book Club:  New!  In this one, we meet and read books with authors...LIVE!...in a private Facebook group page.  This summer, we are reading Jewell Parker Rhodes Towers Falling.
• BHS Reads:  After some discussion, we have settled on our first read:  A Court of Thorns and Roses, the first of a trilogy, each of which contains a retelling of some fairy tale.  Those in the club are discussing summer reads...not sure if we will finish the trilogy or choose other titles.  
• Paper Chase Book Club:  June's book is Death Comes to Pemberly.  Then in July I host book club with the novel Lowcountry Boil, the first in a series.  I do so enjoy meeting with this group of ladies and chatting about books.
• Book Love Book Club:  Penny Kittle is hosting an online book club, during which four books will be read.  So far, 400+ from across the land have signed up.  Cool!
• Online Bible Cafe Book Club:  Each month, this group reads a fiction and a nonfiction book.  I have purchased the three fiction:  Sarah Price's First Impressions, Lauraine Snelling's Someday Home, and Jane Kirkpatrick's This Road We Traveled.
• NCTE Reads Book Club:  For the first time, NCTE is hosting a summer read during the month of June of Teaching Reading with YA Literature by Jennifer Buehler.
• Talks with Teachers:  Each summer, this site host three books (fiction, nonfiction, and a book for teachers).  The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead will be this summer's fiction read.  

Have to stop!  No more!  Well...we'll see!

Now, for the total...and how many do I own and still need to purchase?

• 15 total...with more to be added.  Hummm...can I do this?
• 11 purchased
• 4 to buy (see last two bullets)

With all this in mind, I need to complete my current read of When the Morning Glory Blooms for the Online Bible Cafe Book Club's May read.  

Just writing this excites me...for I dearly love books...and has given me an idea...or two...for our faculty book club.  The trend seems to be to host book clubs using a group on Facebook; five of the above seven use this format (mine other two meet face-to-face...and that is a beautiful thing), but time often is our enemy with hectic schedules and such.  BHS Reads already has a Facebook group page....hummmm...:)

What are you reading this summer?  Diving into a To Be Read pile (mine just grew!)?  Happy summer...and happy reading!

Top Ten Gillmore Extracurricular Clubs

Below is one of the weekly blog assignments my students were assigned...that I wrote with them.

_____________________________________________

Type a three sentence introduction. (Startling Statement)

Queen of extracurricular; that is I, who I have always been.  High School.  College.  Then back to high school.  These clubs are part of the reason that my vocation is also my avocation.  This I wish for everyone.

In no particular order are ten of the clubs in which I have participated while teaching at Batesville High:

1. BHS Reads:  BHS Reads is a book club I created several year ago for teachers.  We have read everything from fiction to nonfiction...adult to young adult.  Currently, we are choosing our three summer reads; the first of which will be A Court of Thorns and Roses.
2. Paper Chase Book Club:  A few years ago, I joined our local book store's book club and have so enjoyed getting to know these ladies.  For June, we are reading PD James' Death Comes to Pemberly.
3. ARA Book Club:  This book club is brand new!  Very excited to see where this endeavor will take us.  In this book club, the author(s) join us for some/all of the meetings, the next of which will be Jewell Parker Rhodes as we discuss her novel Towers Falling.
4. Beta Club: This one is my baby.  This past year, I was recognized for having sponsored Beta Club for 25 years.  Wow!  Time has flown!
5. Student Council:  For a while, I also helped sponsor Student Council and enjoyed the activities and conferences we attended with this group.  One club, though, really is enough!
6. Drama:  During my first year at BHS, I was taught drama...sort of.  We even brought two productions that year.  Very amazing...considering my lack of background.  :)
7. Debate:  During that first year at BHS, I was also given the debate team, for which I also had a class.  I quickly learned that what I thought was debate was not quite what this class would work to accomplish.  We traveled.  We competed.  I learned so much!
8. Yearbook:  During that first year...and for several years...my students and I designed and created the yearbook.  Someone more analytical than myself might conclude that based on 6-8...I was either being encourage to leave...OR...Mr. C. certainly had confidence in me!
9. Student Book:  This one should have fallen after #2, as out of BHS Reads came a student book club.  With a bit more emphasis, this group could be much more active.  Need to work on that next year!
10. Project Unify:  During year one of the organizing of this group, I worked with them; then after a year two or so, I faded out of this one, as others, much more capable than myself, took over!  I learned much at Special Olympics and partnering with these students.  Very powerful.  Very.

Conclusion (Refer to the Introduction)

Clubs keep me young!  Forever young?  Working with students, assisting them as they develop as leaders, watching them grow, finding themselves and who they one day want to be, this is just one of the many perks of teaching.  Blessed I am!