Thursday, November 30, 2017
Tuesday, November 28, 2017
Hamilton Strikes Again
My Hamilton obsession strikes again. Carvens Lissant was the guest on The Hamilcast and, among the many riveting things he said, this gem was one. "I was in awe of people who had dexterity in language."
What a quote! He was speaking as a poet, as a manipulator of words, as someone who pays attention to how others use words to communicate their point. It has stuck with me. I may need to put it up next to my desk.
Tuesday, November 21, 2017
Weather Report: Reality or Myth - The Anticipation
It first showed up more than a week ago; the potential of rain. When there is rain in the forecast everyone here is glued to their weather app. It was forecast for Saturday night. We were set to go camping Friday and Saturday (our weekend). Rain is such a rarity that we don't have camping gear for it here, (as opposed to our camping gear in Seattle - rain/shmain). Knowing that a forecast is a moveable target that far out, I was just hoping it didn't creep up into our camping trip.
As we packed the car Thursday night the rain had been pushed into Sunday. Phew!
Often rain disappears from the forecast completely or diminishes to a 10 - 20% chance, which are not odds worth playing. When we got back from our time at Wahbah Crater the rain was still in the forecast, now for Monday night. Not only was it still in the forecast, but it was spread across many hours and with a 60 - 90% chance. I'll take those odds!
We don't get snow days here. An inch of rain annually is a strong dose. Our best chance of a day off, due to weather, is a heavy rain that is timed just right so that the transportation department decides it isn't going to send the buses out. The possibility had the teachers a buzz.
"Now it says the rain will last until 4 a.m."
"My app says 5!"
"We probably need it an hour past that, though." [sigh]
And so it went, but I have to admit, I figured it was wishful thinking. We also had a thunderstorm forecast for during the school day. Sure enough, on the way to school our usually vibrant blue sky was filtered by a blanket of clouds. The lighting in the classroom felt off as the sun couldn't be found. As we settled into Writing Workshop I promised my writers that if they focused on their writing, I would keep an eye on what was happening outside. If rain fell, and they could line up silently, we would sneak out of the building and enjoy it.
There's the proof! We were all excited for the few drops. After about ten minutes we snuck back into our room and continued with our writing. Surprisingly, it continued to rain. As you can see, this outside area is mostly covered so when it came time for recess, they headed out. The ground was wet and the sky (and roof) were dripping, but physical exercise is a great thing for the brain.
Then the fire alarm went off. I left the task I was trying to accomplish while they were out of the room and headed out the door to join my students (who were all lined up where they were supposed to be when I arrived). The volume was a bit louder than normal, but since they were squatting above puddles of water AND getting splashed on their heads, it was to be expected.
***
Comparing weather apps after school we knew there was a slight chance of the confluence of events that could lead to not having to go to school in the morning. I put a little extra work in my bag, locked the Chromebook cart, grabbed my abaya, and headed home with a bit of hope.
It is amazing what the anticipation of a possible day off school can do. Unfortunately it is not the same as a known day off school and the evening's chores still have to be done as the alarm will go off in the morning.
Turns out that my daughter did not share in our anticipation as she had big plans for school the next day. While visions of her next library book danced through her dreams, I was thrilled when the call came in saying that the Minister of Education had cancelled all school for the following day. I turned my alarm off and crawled into bed, only to be awoken by water dripping on my bed.
I hadn't anticipated a night of moving buckets, changing towels, and having no bed to sleep in that didn't have a leaky ceiling above it. A day off; the myth can be better than the reality.
Monday, November 20, 2017
Book Room: Before and After
One task on my 'to-do' list at the start of the year was to have an accessible Book Room for faculty. This is the space that has most of our books sets for groups during Reading Workshop be it Guided Reading, Strategy Groups, or Book Clubs.
BEFORE
There had been some organization, but they were not easily accessible. (Each book also had a level plastered to the front cover. The levels are now discreetly written inside the back cover.)
AFTER
Books are now visible. Each set is in a baggie. The sections are labeled by reading level. And the top shelf is empty since only one of us could reach it without a step stool. Additionally each teacher has clothes pins with their names to mark the spot they check something out from for easy returns. After scrounging around for magazine files that weren't being used throughout the building the only expense for this revamping was the cost of the baggies.
BEFORE
There had been some organization, but they were not easily accessible. (Each book also had a level plastered to the front cover. The levels are now discreetly written inside the back cover.)
AFTER
Books are now visible. Each set is in a baggie. The sections are labeled by reading level. And the top shelf is empty since only one of us could reach it without a step stool. Additionally each teacher has clothes pins with their names to mark the spot they check something out from for easy returns. After scrounging around for magazine files that weren't being used throughout the building the only expense for this revamping was the cost of the baggies.
Tuesday, November 14, 2017
Restraining the Eye Roll
Most families don't commute together. Since we all attend the same school we are piling into rushing through our morning to ensure we can pull out on time in the morning. We often listen to audiobooks, but prior to pressings 'play' we make sure that anything that needs to be said has a chance to come to light.
Family discussions in the car on the way to school cover a wide range of topics, but I never thought I would hear, "Well. I know it could happen because I've seen "Barbie Princess Charm School" and they..."
I stopped listening and stifled my chuckle.
Now that I've had a chance to step back and reflect on her comment my first response is to chuckle and roll my eyes, but right after that I realize that the fact that she is completely engaged in the conversation. She is thinking about what we are saying and pulling from her experience to find a place to engage.
Perhaps my parenting win for the day is what I didn't do. I didn't laugh out loud. I didn't point out the fictional aspect of the storyline she was relating to. I didn't comment on the probability of the absurd scenario that the Barbie Princess storyline.
I did press "play" and let Amber Brown take us to a different place.
Tuesday, November 7, 2017
Write! - Right?
You never know where inspiration will strike. Students have left the building. A colleague has left my room. I feel like all thoughts have left my brain. What is one to do?
Check Facebook, of course. Lin-Manuel Miranda posted this quote...
I was inspired. Inspired to remember why we write.
When it is Tuesday, write. When people frustrate you, write. When your students are demonstrating their learning, write. When you demonstrate parenting failure, write. When life brings you a sundae with whip cream, cherry, AND sprinkles - write. When life brings you lemons, write.
I need to carve out the time to write regularly. It is what March is great for. (Can I get an 'Amen!'?) I make the time to put the discipline into the rest of the year - perhaps not everyday, but more than screeching because it is Tuesday and I haven't written.
Monday, November 6, 2017
What Are You Reading?
It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA!
It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme started by Sheila at Book Journeys and now hosted by Kathryn at Book Date. It is a great way to recap what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and to plan out your reading and reviews for the upcoming week. It's also a great chance to see what others are reading right now...you just might discover your next “must-read” book!
Jen at Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee of Unleashing Readers decided to give It's Monday! What Are You Reading? a kidlit focus. If you read and review books in children's literature - picture books, chapter books, middle grade novels, young adult novels, anything in the world of kidlit - join us! We love this meme and think you will, too. We encourage everyone who participates to visit at least three of the other kidlit book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.
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