Reflections for Today I Write 12-31-19

REFLECTIONS

Representing 2019

Goal-setting for 2020

I receive emails from Ryan Sheehy (@sheehyrw), author of Be The One For Kids. Yesterday's email included a weekly challenge to ask myself two questions. I responded to the two questions in my notebook, and decided to record them on my blog as well.

Question 1: What 5 things would represent your 2019 year? (no particular order)

• My cellphone represents my connection to the world through social media, specifically my favorite site, Twitter. I have connected with authors, speakers, and educators who have contributed to my personal and professional growth, social and emotional well-being, and health and fitness goals.

• This past summer I started a journey of writing, so my writer's notebook is a representation of this time.  Two of my writing pieces were published in a blog; I read some amazing books as a part of a summer writing camp with Kate Messner; and I participated in the #100DOSW19 (100 Days of Summer Writing).

• Books would make the list every year, probably, because I love to read. I read some insightful professional education books that have grown me as a teacher/leader. I read some very entertaining picture books and middle grades books. I have received and read some culturally diverse books that my Scholars and I have enjoyed in the classroom, thanks to the #clearthelist movement.

• Fitness and living a healthy lifestyle have been important to me for most of the last 4-5 years. Running was my primary means of staying in shape, until I was introduced to CampGladiator. It has completely changed my life, my mind, and my body. My workout mat and weights represent the health and fitness aspects of my life.

• A baseball represents my being a Baseball Mom. My 12-year-old son plays Select Baseball, for most of the year. Being present at every one of his games is a high priority.

Question 2: What are my goals for 2020?

Responding to this question was actually easier than I thought. I tend to be a "go with the flow" kind of person and with a "let's just see what happens" mindset.  But, after experiencing Rachel and Dave Hollis and Trent Shelton via social media and podcasts, I had already given some thought to what I want to achieve in 2020.

• Write Daily - I began my writing journey again on December 15, 2019. It felt like an old hat. I challenged myself that day to write something everyday. (I prayed to God for help, too.) So far, so good.  I started blogging my notebook entries, and am scheduled to participate in the #100daysofnotebooking with Michelle Haseltine (@Mhaseltine).

• Stop Snacking - I know the importance of eating healthy, well-balanced meals and snacks for overall health and fitness, and I do a fairly good job with being consistent with breakfast and meal-prepping lunch. But, I so enjoy chips. My sweet tooth has been tamed, but salty snacks are my nemesis. Ya'll pray for me!

• Create Graphics - Shout out to Meredith Johnson (@mjjohnson1216), who tweeted about educators creating a #OneWord2020 graphic for her bookcamppd.com/oneword2020 web page. I had no idea how to create a graphic, but I learned by trial and error after receiving suggestions on which apps/resources to use.  I played around with a couple of apps; creating a graphic or two.  I even modified a graphic to use in one of my recent blog posts.  I think I'm hooked. I can't wait to show my 2nd Grade Scholars what I learned and how to use these apps, too.

I am beyond excited for what's to come in 2020. I challenge you to reflect on the two questions above. If you are a write or ever thought about writing, join me on the notebooking journey for the next 100 days. Until next time.

Today I Write 12-30-19

Writers' Notebooks

Today I had the pleasure of writing with a group of established writers from various parts of the United States, as well as across the pond in England. We each shared the type of writing on which we would be working. From proposals to poems, journaling to writing a book, our writing projects represented the variety of purposes that written text can have.

I, personally, brainstormed ways I will introduce and implement writers' notebooks with my 2nd Graders in January. I want to provide my Scholars a means to write creatively using picture prompts.

I was able to flesh out a weekly writing plan, a schedule for conferring with Scholars, and a procedure for allowing them to share daily. Scholars will have the opportunity to choose daily whether to revise/edit their work-in-progress or to begin again, changing the direction of their ideas altogether.

I hope this experience will help my Scholars understand that writing is a process, and it's okay for our writing to be messy and ever-changing over time.

Today I Write 12-29-19

Putting yourself out there for everyone to see is very scary.

I did it anyway. I made the decision to record my journal entries on this blog I created in the summer when I initially began this writing journey.

Today, at 5:08pm Central Time, I posted a piece to Facebook and tweeted the same piece to Twitter.

I desperately want feedback, comments, and critiques. But, maybe I shouldn't really worry about that. Maybe I should just count it as a move toward stepping out of my comfort zone.

Yeah, that's it! That's exactly what I will do!

#TodayIWrite

Today I Write 12-28-19

I hope I'm not alone.

There are times when I need help, and I ask for help. But, I often ask for help just before the thought comes to me that I could probably find answer to my question, the solution to my problem, the information I am seeking, with a click of a button or a stroke of a key. In my defense, there is so much information and technology currently accessible. Honestly, it's hard to keep up with it all and with what it all can do.

Well today, I am proud of myself. I am proud to write that after asking for help, and researching for my own solution, I created a graphic for the first time using an app I downloaded on my phone. I, then, went a step further and dabbled with creating a graphic on my computer using a different app.

All this learning and growing started when I read a tweet on Twitter about creating a graphic of my #OneWord2020 by Meredith Johnson (@mjjohnson1216). "Determined" is the One Word I felt spoke to me for 2020. I am determined to write, determined to step out of my comfort zone, and determined to immerse myself in the use of technology for creativity-sake.  Moreover, I am determined NOT to wait until 2020 to get started.

#NoTimeLikeNOW

#TodayIWrite

Check out the #OneWord2020 web page - bookcamppd.com/oneword2020/

Today I Write 12-15-19

Today I write.

I write, because I have not since school started in August. I write, because I want to do something at which I am not good; something that seem impossible until it's DONE. (Thanks Amanda!)

Today I write.

I am making time to put pen to paper and to get my thoughts out of my head and on a page. I write through anxiety, thoughts of judgement from those who walked my short-lived writing journey from this summer, and fears that I won't stick with it.

I know the value of being a writing teacher and a teacher who writes.

God help me make this a habit.

Today, I write.

Drop Everything And Read

Drop Everything And Read
Donnetta Norris

Educators definitely do not work a 40 hours work week.  At least, I don't. During the year, I give my all to my students and their needs, planning and implementing effective lessons, serving on school committees, and collaborating with my team and school staff. That's just during the school day. At night, at home, on what should be on my personal time, I give more of myself to responsibilities that sometimes cannot be or don't get completed during the work day.

It is for these reasons that I often find it hard to sit down and enjoy reading for pleasure when school is in. I love to read, but I find in hard to take my focus away from school and family responsibilities.

Now that it is summer, I have been intentional at making the time to read as much as I can. I even got reacquainted with my local library.

A couple of professional development reads have given me insight into creating and cultivating a climate and culture in my classroom and my school that demonstrates to our students that they are the most important people.

I have been exposed to a plethora of mentor texts that can be used to improve my writing and my teaching of writing.  I have been given permission to steal writing, encouraged to empower girls, and to hack discipline. I learned that one drop of kindness really does make a difference, and I can't wait to play math games at recess.

I am excited to be on summer break, but I am enjoying getting ready for next school year, as well.

Professional Development

Mentor Texts

Transforming My Writing for My Students

This summer, I took the time to reflect on what went well during the school year, and what I want to improve next year. I recently completed my 10th year of teaching, but my first year in a new district with new instructional expectations. Despite having a learning curve, I know I did my best to give every student in my class the education they each deserved.

In reading and math,  all of my students made significant improvement when comparing beginning of year and end of year benchmarks and assessments. While there are some lessons and activities in both that I want to tweak and make more effective, for the most part, I am satisfied with the growth my students and I were able to accomplish.

As for writing, that is a totally different subject (pun intended). I am far from satisfied with my student's growth, since there wasn't much overall. Writing was a struggle for many of my students, because I struggled to provide them with effective instruction. To be honest, I have struggled as a writing teacher for many years. Sadly, it has taken me this long to finally decide to do something about it.

The first step I have taken toward transforming my writing instruction has required me to change how I feel about myself and writing. This was a mental and a physical process.  I had to stop tell myself I wasn't good at writing. The truth was I had never really tried to write. It dawned on me that in order to teach writing well, I must write. So, I started writing. I started keeping a journal/notebook and putting forth the effort to write everyday. Thankfully, I stumbled upon a couple of opportunities on Twitter that helped to focus my purpose for writing (@TeachWriteEDU and #100DOSW19). I'm not sure I would have known where to start, otherwise.

Next, I started thinking about what I want my students to be able to do as writers. I realized that they needed opportunities to write., as well...to journal, to reflect, to experiment with ideas, and to do it daily. So, I decided that every student will keep a writer's notebook, as I do. They will be encouraged to write about anything...interests, hobbies, fiction, non-fiction, poetry, whatever.

Now, I am intelligent enough to know that a writer's notebook alone would not lead to the high-quality writing I am expecting from my future scholars.  No, that comes only with effective instruction. As I visualized what writing instruction would look like, I knew what I didn't want. I didn't want to continue with the cookie-cutter, everyone writes about the same topic in the same manner in which I model, instruction. I want my students to be able to write the way real writers and authors write.

Thankfully I found "The Writing Thief" by Ruth Culham tucked away on one of my bookshelves.  This gem has provided me with real and relevant mentor texts I can use to SHOW my students what good writing looks like and how they can take what an author has done and use it in their own writing pieces.

The final step, for now, is to practice for myself what I expect my scholars to do. Maybe by the end of this summer, I will be have become a writing master...well, maybe not. Hopefully, I will have at least improved enough to produce a few mentor pieces of my own.

Summer Firsts

So, a thing happened today. I created a blog using Blogger.com.  Obviously, this is a first. By its very definition, create means to make something that has never been. I guess that's really the definition for invent, but as far as I'm concerned, I invented a blog that belongs to me.

Summer break has just gotten under way, since my last day of school was Wednesday, June 5. However, it has already been full of excitement and anticipation in this short period of time. 

First, I decided I would write during his summer... write something, anything... be a writer. A writer of ideas for now. Maybe books, later.

Next, I wrote a short piece about getting started as a writer. It was published in a blogspot for TeacherWrite.com on June 10. At the same time, I have been writing/journaling daily for the #100DOSW10 (100 Days of Summer Writing).

Then, I registered for a virtual writing workshop for teachers via TeachWrite. This evening, I participated in my first workshop and wrote for an hour (never done that before), producing five journal-pages about "Hair". Apparently, I had a lot to say about that.

I think I'm going to stick with this writing thing. Set some goals and write everyday.