Categories
Classroom Writing

Pronouns, Code-Switching, & Beyoncé

Today I learned about pronouns, code-switching, and Beyoncé. It’s a long day; we cover a lot of ground.

Pronouns: Pronouns have always been close to my heart. Well, to be honest I probably firmly learned what a pronoun is last year, but I’ve always loved them, even without knowing their proper label. Why? Because they’re so telling. I love the moment in a relationship when you’re no longer you or I, but we or us. If you’ve been around me enough you’ve probably heard me comment, “love the pronoun,” especially when I see the move to a we or us. Weird, I know.

Today, when we were thinking of ways to revise our memoir pieces, looking at mentor texts, we noticed that sometimes authors will purposely switch from We to I or They to We as a craft move. Using these words influenced the reader’s connection with the text. As I looked through my piece, I noticed there were places I wanted my reader to connect with me in my reflection and other places where I felt the need to stand apart. By playing with the pronouns, I was able to create this effect in different places within my piece.

Code-Switching: This topic was actually covered in more than one of my classes today. And while I have addressed this topic with some of my kids before, it was never with any more intention than passing on some teacherly good advice. Code-Switching is simply this, when people make choices to change the way they speak, act, dress, or write depending on the audience. When I was in middle school this would have been called being a poser. Now, I realize it’s just smart. It’s also smart to have this conversation with our kids.

Let’s face it, when I’m with my friends I talk one-way, but when I’m working on business my vocabulary changes. In fact I dress differently at work, at church, and at home—and it’s purposeful. I’m not being a poser; I’m being smart. In writing, the way I write this blog is different than how I would write a research paper or a business plan. Having this conversation with kids, and then having them practice code-switching with different audiences in mind gives them valuable tools for the future.

Beyoncé: One of the things I have become more aware of this year and this week is that I need to pay more attention to the media, pop-culture, and maybe play a few video games? Anyway, I laughed when my teacher put the music video “Single Ladies” on the screen and asked us to generate ideas for writing from it. But seriously, what a great idea!

Nonfiction: How to Walk in Heals

Narrative: A story about a time you tried really hard for a long time but still couldn’t make work

Poetry: How it feels to be loved

Persuasive: Why it is important to respect women

Comic: Guy is a jerk. Girl finds new Super Guy with Ring.

The whole Beyoncé thing makes me laugh, but you could do it with any video and if the kids all share-out their ideas, someone is likely to grab something great. It’s the end of— I don’t know what to write about today!

 

Categories
Classroom Professional Writing

Catching Up

As it turns out, both Stacy & I are away at conferences this week. If you’ve never been to a great summer conference, I would check one out. Last year, I did the Kutztown one the Stacy is at, and I loved it. This year, I’m opting for two weeks at Columbia—it doesn’t really matter where you go, just go. There is something about being in a community of people who are all excited about teaching that gives you new ideas and new courage to take risks in your classroom.

I thought I would have been posting Monday, seeing as I am so excited to share with you. As it turns out, I had forgotten about having homework and still trying to live like a New Yorker and how tired that makes me. So, here it is day three, I’m still not done tomorrow’s homework, but I wanted to pull out something from the 50 pages of notes I’ve taken so far.

Goal Setting. I’ve known it was important since, well since forever, my Mom does teach at Benchmark after all! I can set goals for myself with my eyes closed, but writing goals have been another story. Truth, I’m still not where I want to be when it comes to writing conferences. Truth, I’ve come a long way. What I was reminded of today was something I learned at Benchmark years ago and had forgotten to take into my conferences this year. Goal setting should be teacher directed at first, but the job should be gradually released to the students. Clearly, this will be easier for some students than others, but independence in goal setting is crucial to developing a writerly life.

 

So, here are my notes from my morning session with the AmAzInG, Sara Kugler

 

Goal Setting

  1. Identify Writing Goal- based on the qualities of writing. It should be big—across a whole unit and multiple genres
  2. Choose a mentor text that will help you
  3. Study mentor text for- What, How, Why or What Effect
  4. Apply it to your writing

 

Somehow I’ll get around to writing more, and if for some reason I don’t get around to it while I am up here, I promise to keep the happiness coming as soon as I get home.

Categories
Professional

Dean’s Institute

I have just finished my second day of The Dean’s Institute at Kutztown University (ok, so it isn’t Columbia in NYC)  My first two days have been with Mark Overmeyer talking about writing workshop.  If you haven’t heard of Mark yet, find out where he will be speaking and go to see him.  If you are looking for a lot of bells and whistles with his presentation you won’t get them (thank goodness!), what you will get is a down to earth, honest, extremely talented teacher of writing sharing what he has learned through years of working with teachers and students.  It feels so good to sit in a room with an “expert” presenter and practicioner and feel like he is a kindred spirit, I have had a smile on my face the whole time.  Just to throw you a few examples of his message:

  • If they can’t talk it they can’t write it- students need to talk about their writing before they write anything
  • Write everyday, no matter what, if they learn that writing is something we are all welcome to do they will not fear it.
  • It doesn’t matter the level of the student, they all deserve an opportinuty to be a better writer.
  • The only student who you can’t help with writing is a student who has a blank page.
  • If students are behind their peers they need to do more writing, not less.
  • Accelerate not decelerate
  • When looking at student writing, if you go straight to evaluation you miss many opportunities to learn from the student, admire their writing first and foremost.

I told you he was great!  The simple message I hope for all  teachers to take from Mark is to ADMIRE student writing, start from what they can do and move forward from there…what a different world of writers we would be growing if everyone truly lived this.

Categories
Professional

Brooklyn Bound

Columbia

I’m on my way to Brooklyn, classes start on Monday at Columbia University’s Teacher’s College where I’ll be attending The Writing Project for five days. The following Tuesday I’ll start classes for The Reading Project.

I’m crazy excited. Last summer I attended just the writing portion and it changed my life. This summer I’m expecting nothing less, and I’m totally excited to be in class all day from 9AM-4PM!

Here’s why I’m telling you all this. I’ll be blogging a bit more while I am away—Hopefully, sharing great information that you can use in your classrooms!

Feel free to:
-Join in. Leave Comments and Discuss
-Ask me questions to ask the people up at Columbia
-Repost something I write on your Facebook or Blog
-Send links to the blog to your colleagues
-Talk even if you’re not a teacher, I love your voice, share away ☺

Categories
Classroom Writerly Life Writing

Business as Usual?

My brother tells me I’m getting a little sappy on here—who knew my brother read these anyway? But since he is my big brother, and he stopped locking me in Mom’s closet at least ten years ago, I’ll take his advice and get down to business.

It is business I’m writing about today, or I’ve been writing about? For the past week I’ve been working hard to write a business plan for a new business I’m starting with a friend. I love writing, so I thought this would be a great way to kick of the summer; I was wrong.

Why? Because I’m a teacher, all the classes I’ve ever taken have been geared toward that. I can write a research report on any topic in the educational field and still hold true to my natural writer’s voice and style. But, this business plan? Nope, it painfully ripped style and voice straight from my brain. It also didn’t help that I had never even read a business plan before, the vocabulary was new or at least uncertain—even the format confused me. I struggled.

So here was my process.

  1. Google Business Plan
  2. Read online advice & online examples
  3. Attempt to start writing on my own
  4. Run to Barnes and Noble and buy “My First Business Plan”
  5. Begin to write 24 page Business plan while holding book in my hand and using Merriam-Webster Dictionary app on my cell phone every five minutes
  6. Drink wayyyy too much coffee at local Starbucks
  7. Complain
  8. Read over first six pages with business partner
  9. Call a friend who knows more than I do
  10. Repeat steps 5-7
  11. Finish 24 page Business Plan

Even just looking at that list kills me. It was such a painful process; I felt so confused. And then I got to thinking, is this what happens to our kids when we ask them to write something new? Something hard? How do they make it?

I know I pressed on because I was working on something I believed in, because I knew that I needed this document to further the company that I’m passionate about. If I was not passionate about the company I would have given up at step three.

How do we keep our students going when the genre is new, difficult, or confusing? We give the writing, or the project, or whatever it is real value. And then we keep encouraging them like crazy.

Is my business plan good? No.

Do I know more now than when I started? Yes.

Am I proud? You bet ya’

Now, on to Revision!

 

Categories
Writerly Life

Reflections

Slept in, check.  Went to the beach, check.  Read a mindless book, check.  The first week of summer to do list is done, now that I have recharged it is time to look back on the last, frantic weeks of school…

Celebration, that is the word that comes to mind when I think about the end of the school year.  The celebrating that went on in our school was different this year, it wasn’t about “yeah, we made it”, it was about “Look at what we did!!”.   What they did was some amazing writing and those of us who were lucky enough to celebrate along with these writers will forever be touched by their words.

It started with Twenty:5, an unforgettable evening of magical words, but it didn’t end there.  The last two weeks of school my appointment calendar was filled with celebration invitations.  The celebration format varied from “open house” type classroom galleries to formal readings of personal anecdotes to a coffee house of poets, but each one was the same in that it truly celebrated the satudents and their words.  The pride that was pulsing through our school was unmistakable, it could be felt the minute you walked down a hall.

How did this happen?  What took us from one gallery to a school full of writing celebrations?  Some say it came from reading Writing Gems, a book that can change how a teacher looks at writing.  Maybe, but I think it came from amazing teachers.  Teachers who let their guard down, who let their students lead the way and teach them about how to teach writing, teachers who were willing to take the risk that they were asking their students to take.  No matter how it happened, the results will forever change the students who sit in one of these classrooms and that is all that matters.

Categories
Classroom Writerly Life Writing

happy kid notes

 

Taking Time out to Reflect

I’ve been teaching full time for six years; I love my job more now than I ever have. If you had told me that when I was twenty years old walking into my first class as Drew McCorkell’s support teacher, I would have laughed in your face. As things progress they tend to get mundane, or routine at the least. But at six years in, I don’t think I will ever use those words to describe my job or my heart for it.

This morning I finally sat down with the bags. I’d like to think all teachers have this day or this time where you sit down and unpack all that you deemed worthy of bringing home for the summer. For me, it usually takes a week or so to motivate myself to do it. Probably mostly because I have no idea where I’ll put all that stuff for the summer, but also in part because I know I’ll start seeing my kids in those bags and in the beginning I’m just not ready too sad for that.

And then I found the folders, labeled with their blocks, containing handwritten feedback happy kid notes from my students writers. Soon the floor was covered in their writing, and the tissue box was sitting next to me.  Of all the assignments I give in a typical year, this one is the most selfish. I know that; I don’t care. I tell them to write me, what they loved and what they hated about the year so that I would know what to change and what to keep—then I throw onto the end, add in anything else you want to tell me, no rules at all.

This year’s end result were notesfromhappystudents, and of course since I am ahappyteacher I couldn’t have been more pleased or moved by the power of their words. If you’ve never had your students write you notes, if you’ve never written someone a note of encouragement, sit down—write—it breathes life into unspoken truths.

So I’m going to leave you today with a unique note written by one of my writers— she caught me off guard with this style—she had tears in my eyes before the first comma, because in the end, each year is like its own fairy tale, my childhood dreaming, my adult reality.

 

Dear Miss Smith,

Once upon a time, there was a teacher who cared about her class. She taught from her heart and her mind was so connected to them, it was so unreal. She made them feel so safe and secure, as if they could never get hurt. Her class was like a big sanctuary of secrets. Only her students knew what was up.

She showed them videos of what her neighbors had to say, and videos of poets who inspired their eyes word by word. Like someone who had them all brainwashed. Only for the good. Because truly they were the stars. The ones shining above the rest. Each and every day.

And they glistened in her eyes as she watched them grow and become writers instead of kids who scribbled their minds across a blank page. She crafted them. She molded her students into better people inside and out of the classroom. She told them continuously, over and over, like a broken record, that they were special. That they could easily make a difference in this world. They didn’t believe her at first. But now they do. And some of them believe in themselves. All because she dedicated her heart to them and continued to love them no matter what the circumstances were. Feeling like they were on top of the world, this class loved her back.

So once upon a time . . .

This unforgettable teacher was you. And those crazy students . . . well . . . they were us.

Yeah . . .

It was definitely a wild adventure . . . and honestly, I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way either.

 

 

 

Categories
Writerly Life

Guest Blogger- Amy Petrilla- Last Days Journal

Below, Amy Petrilla, guest blogger and amazing teacher, shares her heart with you as she bravely faces her last days of school this year. Feel free to give her feedback below; I’m sure she’ll love it!

Last Days at McVey

 

“If you can advocate for something- ANYTHING- do it! There are so many who cannot.” A couple years ago, those were the words that a parent shared with my graduate class. Today, I spin the wheels of the Hot Wheels car that was passed out to us by that parent’s son (who has autism), and the words echo through my mind.  Faces, lives, SOULS, flash before my eyes.

This is my fifth year teaching and somehow it is by far the hardest year to say goodbye to my students and their families. Perhaps this is because not only are some students moving on to new districts, but also I am moving on to a new school. Perhaps “the end” is so tough this year because my co-teacher and I worked so well together.  Or perhaps I am still recuperating from proudly crying and watching three of my boys graduate from kindergarten and do an amazing job on stage (when at the beginning of the year they would have been terrified). I could keep guessing and adding in factors- but this afternoon during my drive home, in tears, I realize why I’ve become so emotional.

This is the year that I wrestled and struggled with special education, its politics, and my own “talents” and knowledge. I want to proclaim this and throw down an anchor for this to be known. This is the year in which my heart and soul went through a battle- and I came out on the other side knowing exactly, beyond a shadow of a doubt, why I do what I do. This is who I am. I AM A TEACHER. And I am an advocate. When the seasons and circles of life continue and September rolls around again, I will re-read this journal.  Why? Because I will be so unbelievably stressed! But from this day forward I will remind myself that today- though it may bring tears- will always come. I will always be SO proud of my little guys. And certain parents’ words of thanks and appreciation will wonderfully pierce me to my core.

Teachers are supposed to change students’ lives and drive them towards a direction that causes them to be who they are truly meant to be- even when no one else believes in this. However, today, I say THANK YOU to my students and their families who have given me a purpose. Without them, I’d be lost. When I feel discouraged, I will remember to keep pressing forward because my students have shaped me and helped me be who I am truly meant to be. I can only continue to return the favor and strive to be their voice- encouraging them and their families along the way. I am more than a teacher. I am an advocate- and I will proclaim to my students and the world around them about how important and loved they are until I take my very last breath.

If you’re reading this, I urge you to pursue YOUR passions. Dig deep inside and you will find it.  It is who you were created to be- and somewhere out there, a group is waiting for you to shape and love. Speak up for the voices that cannot speak. Hear for the ears that do not hear, and move for those who are immobilized.  How could you do anything less?

Categories
Classroom Hidden Gems Book Talk Writing

Gallery Reflection

Thank you Cafe 110!
Twenty:5, A Writer's Gallery

Maybe the original idea for this gallery came from Hidden Gems by Katherine Bomer, or maybe it came from my last day at Columbia University’s Writing Project with Chris Lehman. My teaching life has been flipped upside down in the best of ways this year. Celebrating has been at the heart of it, and after two formal Writer’s Galleries in my classroom, I felt these eighth graders deserved a little more. Regardless of how the idea came about, I certainly did not realize what it would become . . .

It all started after Easter, true to form I asked the kids to generate ideas about what they would write about. We talked about the importance of writing strengths, we wrote seed ideas for some, we made mini-plans; we did what was natural. Then we chose our topics and drafted.

At this point we camped out with revision; we had Stacy and Evan visit our room to help us—I researched how to revise poetry. Our pieces were shifting, they were becoming stronger—we were talking more, giving good feedback and pushing each other; we all wanted the gallery to be good. By the time we got to editing, I could feel my nerves rising. We brought in Courtney for event planning and organization/mounting of their pieces in the gallery. When I tell you these kids worked hard on these pieces, I want you to know—they worked hard.

On the day of the gallery, we arrived (Courtney, Hannah, & I) at Café 110 around noon. Dressed in workout clothes and sweating from the lack of air conditioning, I looked at the blank walls and the huge stack of pieces. Doubt poured through ever fiber of my being. Would people come? Would they point out the two spelling mistakes I just saw? Would people just “hang out” and read nothing, negating the purpose of the event altogether? But regardless of the questions hanging in the thick air around me, I would have to press on; the event had 189 reservations—too much to cancel for tonight.

The three of us, moved through the afternoon, talk was quick and focused. As I pressed the sticky tack against the walls, I would look at the pieces and hear my heart pounding. I saw the countless revisions. I saw their work on sentence structure. I remembered asking them why this was important to share. It was then that I got it. This work, written by my students needed to be there, outside of the school, in a gallery. I needed to say with my actions, you’re right, this is important to share—I believe in you. Student by student the pieces went on the walls next to a nametag that bore the phrase, Featured Author. If we didn’t need to move so fast, I would have turned to mush weeping at the power of the affirmation of putting their words on the wall.

In no time at all, I was getting dressed and heading downstairs. At five o’clock exactly the first guests began to arrive. The rooms began to fill; my heart began to race. Soon, I was greeting people and hugging students (Have I ever mentioned that social situations like this give me anxiety? I don’t like parties of more than three, seriously what was I thinking?)

I wish I could tell you something that someone said to me that night; I wish I could describe a student’s face or tell you about the parents I saw cry over their child’s written words. But I can’t, it’s a blur.

But here is what I can tell you, people came, and lucky for me they wrote comment cards. I want to leave you with some of these comments typed out—they warmed my heart, they reminded me why I do what I do, they validated my theory that celebrating kids is one of the most important jobs a teacher can do.

Awesome event.

You have been a wonderful inspiration to_______. I feel she has really grown in her writing this year. You made her year.

My daughter and I teared up reading your letter. Thank you for this opportunity!

I never knew my daughter could write like that.

Every part of this night had a definite “touch of class”

This was a beautiful event that shows how much you care about your students.

I never knew my son felt that way about life.

Tonight felt so professional. I love being a real author.

I would have loved to be part of this when I was in 8th grade or any grade! These kids write incredibly!

Each child captured their heart and put it on a page. The beauty of their writing caught me off guard.

To see more AMAZING pictures of the night, Click here: Twenty:5, A Writer’s Gallery.

 

A Few Important Thank You Shout-Outs!

This night would not have happened without you . . .

Cafe 110- Thank you for your amazing service and your willingness to help pull this event off!

Courtney- Event planning, Organizational Support, Invitations, umm Everything?

Hannah- Lovability, Day of Event Everything Go to Girl, People Counting, & Did I mention love?

Matt- Parking & Ballons!

Mr.Cressman & Ms. Tashner- Parents and Amazing Photographers

Evan & Stacy- Revision & Coming up beside me when this idea was just a dream, oh how I am thankful for you!

Columbia University, Chris Lehman, & Katherine Bomer- Teaching me that I can be the kind of teacher who does stuff like this!

Carolyn- Everyday classroom help, I couldn’t have done it without you!

Ryan, Lauren, Amy, Omar, Devon, Mr.Bramhall, Hannah, & Courtney- Event Clean-Up!

Mom- Believing in me, teaching me to treasure and affirm.

In case you don't know what we look like . . .Stacy & Rachel

 

 

Categories
Writerly Life

sad teacher

I can’t find my happy teacher. She’s here somewhere; I have to believe it. But for now, I can’t find her. And the longer I stay in this profession, the more I learn that’s okay on days like today.

Most teachers don’t claim to be upset by the last day of school. But for me, I usually go home all twisted up inside, throw myself on my bed and I cry. I don’t let myself cry at school, that’s the last thing fourteen year olds need—more drama delivered by their teacher. Ha.

I have no problem admitting this to you, because it seems the most natural thing to do. When you spend 180 days with the same group of people, pouring yourself into teaching them, reading their journals, and loving their spunk, it just seems strange to move on without a good cry or two.

So for now, I’m gonna be sad. But tomorrow, watch out.

Because if there is one thing I’ve learned this year, it’s not to waste time—and all those dreams I’ve been blogging and blogging about, well they’re looking at my summer schedule with eager eyes and whispering to my aching heart, “Now is our time, let’s do this!”

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