Summer Final Day

Having the opportunity to hear Stacey Shubitz speak about writing was fantastic.  She was difinitely inspiring.  Sharing her slice of life writing was the perfect way to thing about writing everyday.  The more posts she shared, the more I couldn't wait to get started.  Her stories were the everyday stuff that life is made of and I am definitely thinking that it would be a great way to allow me to write more and write everyday.  Since finishing the course, I have been researching and really working to design my inquiry project.  Hopefully in the next week or two, I can get started with my own slice of life writing. 

Packaging the first presentation with the opportunity to be in workshop with Lynne Dorfman, could it get any better.  Lynne brought forth so many different techniques with which to share with our students and liven the writing workshop.  All the things I learned from her that day will be exciting to use throughout the year.  Lynne and Stacey's passion filled the soul with the energy for writing and leading a writer's life.

 In the end. the day was filled with fantastic information about the use of a writer's notebook and I so enjoyed spending that day writing and writing with other authors!  At the end of the day, it felt so up lifting, so refreshing. When the day ended, I longed for more.  Wishing the day had gone slower or been longer.  Weeks later, I am still feeling lucky to have had the opportunity to hear these authors and share the room with their writing and thinking.

Reflection- Day 11

Great Day - Terrific way to wrap up the workshop with wonderful reflection.  Deanna had so many thoughtful activities for reflection.  Perhaps the one I enjoyed most was reflection that was embedded within a free write.  It seemed so natural to talk back to your wonderings.  I think having students do more reflection is a worthwhile use of time.  Definitely something I need to incorpoate into my classroom. 

The presentation on digital writing was great fun and thought provoking as well.  With some of summer still ahead, it will be fun to further explore the sites to find ways to use these ideas in our classroom.  It is another hook to bring students into the writing world and invite them to explore. 

Reflection Day 10

Phew!  Our demonstration has come to an end and now the inquiry begins!  At first I have to say, I felt nervous which is highly unusual for me.   Having stayed the night before until five, I thought things would come together, but yet I hesitated.  Once we began, it seemed to take on a like of its own.  The presentation came together with each one of us ebbing and flowing like we have worked together for quite some time.  From here, the hard part, what to do with it all and how to bring bit into the classroom.   A daunting task to say the least. 

In the beginning, I have to admit that I dreaded the demonstration because I couldn't see how it would all come together and now I can't imagine not having done the work in such an authentic way to inform and mold our instruction......

Reflection-Day 9
So good to be back, but feeling a bit lost as well.  Everything is so slow.   I  don't know what I was thinking.  Somehow I really believed that it would be able to use my right hand to at least type, but part of my hand is numb and the cast keeps hitting the keys.  I  can do this!

The demos today were great!   With each demo, I came away with great ideas that can be used in my classroom.  Mini-lessons in reading and writing are the best!  I use them all the time in my reading workshop, but truly loved the lessons presented today.  It would be great to teach the students the activity about  summaries and tag lines to create a resouce board of book titles for readers to go to when looking for their next independent reading book.

Our focus this past year has been the creation of the PLC for science.  Throughout the process, we have been focused on the creation of formative assessments.  Having been part of the process throughout the year, it was great to see the value of formative assessments presented in another way.  I am so sad to have missed the others, but am grateful to have been a part of them today.

Reflection - Day 5

Today was a whirlwind of day, but hugely helpful.  The gift of time is truly a precious gift to have been given.  Although I arrived in of the middle of the day, I  was able to get in the grove and use my time effectively.  More work has been done on my narrative, just one last nagging question to be answered and then I will submitt it.  Brainstorming for the argumentative writing is all complete as well.  Tonight I will work to begin that piece.

Our group is really starting to gel.  When we first began meeting, I couldn't imagine how this was all going to come together, but working with these two ladies is the second gift of the day.  The three of us have worked exceptionally hard to find the heartbeat of our presentation and let that be our guide as we carefully choose our activities for the group and work toward pulling all the potential pieces of our presentation.  As a group we evaluate, critique, wrestle with, and modify what needs to be done.  I couldn't be more thrilled with how the process is going, the heart of the group and the work that has been put into the final outcome.  Lastly, I have to say that the group has been empathetic to my plight and totally supportive.   Trying to be proactive, I have worked ahead to prepare things ahead of time as not to disappoint my team.  Thank you Rich and Brend for letting me stay!  I am totally loving this class!!!!

Floating Around

Finishing the rough draft was more challenging than originally thought.  Finally, surrounded by the inspiration that I needed, I waded through memories, throughts, and feelings, the heartbeat came in an instant.  Grabbing it quickly, the writing seemed to flow from my fingers and a rough draft  appeared on the screen. 

Reading and rereading.  Changing words, and discovering descriptions that had illuded the author during the writing were some of the final tasks.  Ahhhhh, saved.  Time to put it away for the night and float around in the sea of the narrative written for class.  Float with the currents of the story, and ruminate over the ideas on the cool waters while sipping languidly on the soury, sweetness of the message.

All at once, the tranquility is interrupted as a random child jumps into the pool, upending the float.  Instead of floating around, I emerging spitting water as the thought of sharing my piece creeps into the picture.  Ugh, the dreaded day appears on the horizon like that child or big brother looming large waiting for the perfect moment to launch themselves haphazzardly at the tube upsetting the delecate balance.

Reflection - Day 4

Today I fought my dragons and won.  An opportunity to share presented itself and I felt as though I had a piece worth sharing.  Confidence? Maybe?  Perhaps the sense of community in the room, knowing that it was a safe place, a place of encouragement for a beginning writer.  Perhaps too, it was the feedback that I received on one of my blogs that gave me the courage, as I realized the truth in what was told to me from a writer that I admire.  Thank you for those words!  Today was a beginning, at last.