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.

October in Cafe 16

Isn't this year...both 2016 and this school year...slipping by so quickly?

Just a quick note regarding my previous post...not sure I will complete the four novels I had hoped to read; well, okay, I know I won't!  Not that I haven't been reading; I just haven't been reading these books.  I am just okay with this.  To be good to myself, I am taking it upon myself to extend this deadline until Thanksgiving...still fallish out there; actually, here in Arkansas, the temps felt more like summer today than fall!  Maybe...just maybe Mr. Carl with the RIP Challenge will not mind!

Now...to Cafe 16:

1. I have great groups of kids this year.  They are funny; some are more than willing to learn; some need persuading; did I mention they are funny?  They just are.  
2. With my English 12, I just finished Julius Caesar.  The most interesting thing happened...as I read, I noted repetitions within the play I did not catch last year; am going to work them up into lesson plans for next year.  Such as...
1. Shakespeare's thoughts on women as support for their leader husbands.
2. Leaders agreeing to disagree for the betterment of the nation/people.
3. Mark Antony's persuasive tactics...and obtaining what he wanted all along.  Such a manipulator.  Very interesting.
3. With English 10, we just completed a mini-Poe unit we inserted between units.  May have to read just one more of his poems...after all, Monday is Halloween!
4. My Teacher Cadet class is awesome!  Love working with prospective teachers.  Love it very much!
5. On Fridays, I prepare coffee for my kiddos; they love this so.  The willingness to work for a small cup of coffee is just so worth it!  
6. I have the same mentor group as last year.  Such a powerful concept.  Finally, this idea is working within our building.  We attempted this a few years ago, but we did not have the needed support to ensure its success; thus, it died a very horrible death.  Yes, administrative support is a must with some to encourage a success of needed programs.  I digress...I have "adopted" my mentees...I am their school mom.  Some of them so much much need one...very much so.
7. 2nd Block...as we call our mentoring time...has taken on a life of itself as much is crammed into this 40 minutes.  This time we use for interventions...probably too much as some students will never experience enrichment...and neither will core teachers, since they are pulled to teach these interventions.  We seem to be in overdrive...whereas, last year, we were in slow-mo.  Again, as I often say, the answer is a happy medium, a blend.  Leaning to one side in any situation is just that...leaning.
8. I am enjoying working with my very young English department.  This past week, I turned 50...wow!  The other three are all below 30.  Yes, I am their English teacher mom.  :)  I try hard to not sound too motherly (aka bossy)...to which they might suggest I should try harder?!
9. Did I mention this week I turned 50?  As I shared with my kiddos, turning 50 has its advantages, including I am much wiser now.  Oh, the difference between 49.364 and 49.365...or 50.  Not sure they believed me!  :)  I will keep working on that!
10. Faculty Book Club continues this year...we are now reading Mark of the Thief (also the book of the month for the student book club) and have chosen Richard Paul Evan's The Mistletoe Promise for December.  I love book clubs!  Next week, we begin a study of Jeff Anderson's Mechanically Inclined with our English department.  Later, in November, we are all attending the Arkansas Reading Association's Literacy Conference, where Anderson will be presenting.    Yes, that's right...the nerd in me is very excited about this!

Not sure this is my Top Ten...but ten it is for now.

Just a few questions for you:

1. With which text will you celebrate Halloween with your students?
2. What texts are you teaching?  Do you teach thematically? Incorporate grammar?
3. Do you use diagramming as a method?

Yes...more to come...

May you have time to read this weekend!

RIP Challenge 2016

September has arrived and with it comes the RIP Challenge.  For the last several years, this has signaled, for me, the beginning of fall, which for some reason, and more so than usual, I am so in anticipation of its arrival.

Fall is such a favorite:  the smells, the temperatures, the colors...pumpkin spice coffee on a brisk morning, hot dogs and s'mores around the fire pit, the crunch of leaves on walks with The Man...all add up to a wonderful time of the year.

For this challenge, I am choosing Peril the First...or to read four books throughout the next two months.  This is the category I usually choose and, for most years, have completed.

I currently am reading Unwind, a book suggested by a student and one I had on my shelf; therefore, this one will be my first read.

Currently, my students and I are hosting a re-read of the Harry Potter series.  For this, I will read book three...The Prisoner of Azkaban.. (and maybe number four).  Earlier this summer, I read the 8th book...I enjoyed reacquainting myself with the characters again and meeting their children.  Very interesting read.

For our faculty book club we are reading Girl on the Train...not sure I would count that for this challenge, but I will certainly encourage their choosing one for October that I might add to this level of Peril.

I began The Historian a couple of years ago for a book club...yes, began.  I hope to pick that book up in October...re-read and complete the journey this time.  I remember enjoying the plot; just had too many obligations at the time.

One of my all-time favorite books remains Katherine Howe's The Physick Book Deliverance Dane.  I have yet to read her Conversion...so let's add that to the RIP TBR!

So...here goes...I hope to read the following:

Welcome Back...three weeks later

Three weeks back...and just now taking the time to react to 2016-2017!

Take this glimpse into my year...

1. New room layout.  Like very much.
2. New English teacher in our department.  Brand new...he just graduated college this past May.  Welcome, Hunter!
3. Great to be back working with the other two English teachers...all young, all under 30.  All my kids.  Yes, my shoe size continues to increase as I near 50 this year!  I ever more admire that little, ol' woman who lived in the shoe!
4. Our ELL teacher is also a super friend:  we think alike, pray for each other's "real" kids, and prepare all our others at school for a better life.  Bless her.  She has a heart larger than Arkansas for these students who face such language challenge.
5. Three preps:  English 12 (three sections), English 10 (two sections), and Teacher Cadet (one section)...brand new class!  Love it!)
6. Same literary curriculum.  Still attempting to co-exist with it.
7. Same mentor group.  I like them.  Very much. 
8. Many students...all unique, all making me laugh and learn.  
9. My daughter is a senior.  Wow.
10. Four or more teachers every day joins me for lunch.  Plus, the daughter and at least one or more friend.  Sometimes, a student or two stops by to work.
11. Preps all before lunch.  Morning flies.  Afternoons very busy!
12. Hosted first book club meeting and chose our first book of the year:  The Girl on the Train.
13. Met with our Beta Club officers and held our first meeting.  Lots of energy working for some very good causes.
14. Wrote our first passage somewhat modeled after the test our state mandated test.  No, not necessarily teaching to the test, just using their model to prepare our students for success within our own classrooms.  After all, this one's main character was Garfield; just don't think he will make it to a state/national exam!
15. Attended our first football game and watched The Girl do her Athletic Trainer thing.  Proud of her!
16. Already served many pots of coffee (decaffeinated...please don't tell them, for these kiddos have yet to discover this secret!)  My, what work one can obtain in exchange for this bit of hydration!
17. Created two of the cutest bulletin boards, using the least amount of work ever, as I recycled some VBS decorations!  This is the only elementary characteristic that resides in my body...planning them, making them, putting them together...I enjoy all of it.
18. Entered grades...into a new system that I am learning...and learning.
19. Have more papers to grade.
20. Student stopped by and asked if I had ordered those books for him.  Uh?  Upon reminding me of the titles, I did!  So cool when a boy loves to read!
21. Convinced 8-10 football players to read Kwame Alexander's Crossover.  Yay!
22. Another young lady stopped by and asked if I would host the student book club as she needs a club to join.  Okay.  Note to self:  schedule that first meeting.
23. Three others stopped and asked if we could continue our read along...or re-read...of the Harry Potter series.  Yes.  Scheduled a date on one of the girl's birthday.  Yes, must have dessert for that one!
24. At least three days a week, The Girl and I ride together to school.  I am enjoying it...as she will graduate this year.  (I am mentioning that again...allowing it to sink in!)
25. Chose a young man, a senior with Down's Syndrome, to be the Grand Marshall for our Homecoming Parade.  That selection makes me happy.
26. Began my 26th year...and was ready to do so!  Here's to at least two more...and probably more than that...of being blessed to work and play all day long in what I was born to do.

Please tell me!  How has the start to your school year been?  

A Cornerstone for Me

I spent the better part of the last three days working with Arkansas Reading Association leaders...and had such a grand time.  We worked non-stop the entire time and enjoyed pulling this leadership treat off for the local council leaders.

For the next year,  I will assume the role of Public Relations Director on the board of this fine group of literacy leaders in our state.  Yes, I am excited!  Very.

This year's president's theme focuses on this group becoming more of a cornerstone in our state, not just for our members, but for anyone looking for literacy leadership.  The group has become a cornerstone for me as it is becoming an outlet for hobbies I truly enjoy...literacy technology and reading.  Call me a nerd!  I also am truly enjoying getting to know the leaders within this group; they motivate me with their talents, energy, and friendships.

While at this Council Leadership Institute, I wore two hats, one for the ARA and another for my local council, the White River Reading Council, for which I serve as secretary.  We chatted and planned and confirmed our areas of outreach for this upcoming year during which we will combine two of my above mentioned hobbies as we host a Literacy Technology Bootcamp over four meetings held throughout the year using Google as our tool of choice.

I encourage all teachers to reach outside the walls of their buildings and become involved in leadership and fellowship with other like-minded peers.  Besides the Arkansas Reading Association, I am progressively becoming involved in Arkansas Teachers for National Board Certification, another group in which I believe, another group working hard to better our profession in our state.  This summer, I was asked to serve on their board, and I look forward to learning more and working with this group.

This summer I also received an email in response to my inquiring about the Delta Kappa Gamma, an honor society for women educators.  While working with some educators earlier in the summer, a member shared about the activities of this group.  Maybe more on this will occur...

For me, the most important gain from such groups is the interaction, the sharing of ideas and goals and trends, the fellowship of like-minded, achieving persons who want more for themselves, their students, and their communities, always leaving with some nugget of knowledge.  One can become stagnate within four walls...sometimes without even realizing it until presented with an opportunity to venture out.

If you live within my area and want to become involved in any of the above mentioned groups, let me know!  I will share!

In what groups are involved?  Do you play a leadership role?  How have you grown within these groups?

I'm Back...Again

Yes, I took a break.  Yes, I took a break for several reasons.

Yes, this blog means much to me.  Too much to just not return.

Why not on Independence Day?

Today, besides a day to celebrate our independence, always symbolizes that summer is half over...or that my summer is half over, especially this year, since I go back on August 8, with school starting on August 15...and between now and then I have eight days of PD.

Now, my brain begins to shift toward returning to school, to meeting and greeting new students, and stamping out a bit more ignorance!

My Initial To-Return-To-School Checklist:

1. prepare a booklet of resources for our department to utilize this upcoming school year.
2. finalize my 2016-17 classroom decor ideas.
3. pull out my units and wrap my brain around where they need to go this year.
4. pre-plan for Beta Club activities.
5. plan for a brand new class...Teacher Cadet...by attending a three-day workshop.
6. enjoy my growing friendships with the ladies and gents of the Arkansas Reading Association.
7. clean out Narnia.
8. read a few more books...both for fun and for professional purposes.

As I typed this list, I decided that each should be a blog post topic.  Great Idea.  Love being inspired!

Of what have you most enjoyed this summer?  Hope you are having time to renew and read!

NPM: #9

During National Poetry Month, I will attempt to write a poem a day.

_________________________

Soul Medicine

Laughter
Good for me,
Good for friends,
Good for the audience.
Good.

Laughter
With girls,
With friends,
With soul sisters,
With 4100 Jesus Girls.
Giggle.

Laughter
About friends,
About mother-in-laws,
About frizzy hair and thighs,
About moments not to be forgotten.
Cackle.

Laughter
Towards jokes,
Towards groups,
Towards spanx and skinny jeans.
Towards memories brought to surface.
Roar!

Laughter
Releasing stress,
Releasing bitterness,
Releasing negative holds,
Releasing pressures inside held.
Smile.

Laughter
Good for the soul,
Good for the future,
Good for women to share.
Laugh, we did.

____________________________

This morning, while at Women of Joy, we listened...and laughed with...a Christian comedian.  I so enjoyed my time spent with my three lady roommates and travel companions.