Friday we walked, talked, walked and finally checked GPS.
“I think we need to turn here.”
Not quite sure, we made a turn. We walked and talked some more. The weather was balmy.
The conversation: Kids. Family. Work. Life. Catching up on life changes. On slicing. On plans for the weekend.
We walked, talked, and walked some more.
“Oops, let’s recenter the map.”
“And now that means retracing our steps.”
It was enough that the daily goal was met. Better yet, we laughed at mis-steps and retracing our steps when we made wrong turns. The destination was talk and enjoying NYC – not our physical location.
The errors were not totally “user errors” as Google Maps on my phone has only ever given driving directions. (And Google loves to volunteer information based on past information.) It wasn’t “set” for walking directions so a three or four block walk was over 10,000 steps by the end of the afternoon. The directions were a source of laughter. After all the weather was comfortable, the company was delightful, time was plentiful, and the conversations connected on so many levels.
So how does this GPS/Google Maps story connect to Saturday and the 96th Saturday Reunion at TCRWP?
Before the final Saturday keynote at Riverside Church, I was quizzed by the master. After telling Lucy Calkins that it was a fabulous day, of course, she asked me what made it so good.
Gulp. . . On the spot . . .
Every session talked about purpose. Purpose for teachers. Purpose for students. Joyful purpose. Not “git’er done, struggle through it” purpose! And make no mistake about it, it’s also all about student choice. Student choice in what to read and write is the foundational framework that motivates more reading, more writing, more thinking and sustains it at deeper levels when it gets tough. It’s not about FUN, it’s not about cute activities, and it’s not about the chevron-themed classrooms. Instead it is about following interests and passions of students, allowing students to blossom and grow . . . And it is also about relationships. Our relationships with each other as learners, as readers, as writers and thinkers, as coaches of teacher leaders, coaches and administrators. Our relationships with books, writers’ notebooks and the work that we ask students to do. Life work, not just compliant school work. And of course it’s not easy, but with a group and the continued support of our community, WE can do this together. We can rise to the challenge because our expectations are the students’ ceiling!
HELLO, isn’t that why thousands of teachers were REALLY in New York City on a Saturday for a day of free learning at the 96th Saturday Reunion at Teachers College Reading and Writing Project?
The literacy levels that your students reach are in your grasp. Stop fussing about the *$&@$/ tests and all the “things” outside your control.
You are the GPS, the Google Map, the roadmap for your students’ success.
YOU!
YOUR RESPONSIBILITY!
What will you do to ensure that you grow and learn in order to be the best YOU that you can be?
What will you read?
What will you write?
What will you think?
What words can you go back to?
Who will you partner with to sustain your work?
You will have to return for details in future posts . . . fun in NYC beckons!
Thank you, Betsy, Beth, Deb, Kathleen, Kelsey, Lanny, Melanie, and Stacey for this daily March forum from Two Writing Teachers. Check out the writers, readers and teachers here.
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My favorite part was when the Master— and I do think of her as a Jedi of sorts-, quizzed you, on the spot! Thank you for sharing what really matters and your take aways from today’s reunion. Being all the way across the country, I feel lucky to have read your post about the chevron classrooms and student choice!
So worth the travel from Iowa for the day of learning and time to look around NYC as well!
So much going on in this post. Love the meandering in NYC w/out Google maps interfering, and those both blocks are long. Excellent return to the map metaphor toward the end.
Thanks, Glenda. It’s been a fabulous excursion to NYC. Always more to learn about literacy and life with friends near and far!
getting lost with a friend is not bad when the weather and mood are good. Choice, passion, purpose – key words for learner agency.
Terje,
Such a great trip for learning more about literacy . . . and life. Sometimes slowing down, meandering in the city, is also another way to recharge and refuel! 🙂
Your connection to the GPS is a great one, Fran, and I love the takeaways you had for the day. Your questions are powerful ones, as is the reminder that we are the GPS systems for students. Great intro to some of the learning and recaps, which I’m guessing you’re crafting, knowing you. SO fun to see you.
Melanie,
What a day and to start and end the day in your company and then coffee at Starbucks as well. So glad to see you F2F!
Your post is just like the day, jammed packed and full of learning. What I enjoy most about the reunion weekends is that the presenters are down to earth, their talks full of their own missteps and what ifs. Nice meeting you yesterday.
Susan,
So great to meet another “Slicer” F2F and to learn with you at Meghan’s session! Real learning from real folks. Great models of folks who continue to grow and learn! ❤
Fran, I loved everything you put into words about what the day was about and why it was so rewarding and important to be there. I think I am going to have to put this date on my calendar for next year. Your post and your questions have convinced me that I must make the time. Years ago, a group of us went on Friday and stayed until Sunday. I do miss it!
Lynne,
It’s such a re-charge for the heart, brain and soul to have so many folks gathered to learn about literacy! Great learning company helps as well! ❤
I like how you connected the GPS directions to the work in the sessions you attended. I would have been tongue tied had Lucy asked me to explain what I meant. Your answer is perfect.
Diane,
I tried out Clare’s strategy for connecting a snippet of life to a bigger issue. The best part was that I didn’t get to say all that to Lucy because (thank goodness), some one interrupted for pictures! I’m glad she pushed my thinking though so I was hours ahead of synthesizing my learning! ❤
Fran, I can’t wait to share your post with my colleagues. It was so motivating and inspiring. You certainly captured the essence of what literacy instruction should be and the sense of community around the work. I look forward to hearing more about your learning at the Saturday Reunion!
There will be more to come in the slices ahead! Thanks for reading and connecting!
It was a great day of learning and a great day of wandering with you. Thank you for sharing your time, humor and wisdom with me. There is so much to a learning community. I loved the emphasis on the human need to connect. When Annie said, “human right that when you are thinking you do it in the company of others” my mind, heart and soul connected with her. This is so true and this is what this weekend meant to me. It was my need to think in the company of others — so glad you were that company! Enjoy your last day in the big city.
Safe travel today and thank you for your time, dinner and conversations. So fun to hear your NYC connections! And so much to be said for learning and thinking together. Do teachers and students have this?
So many juicy nuggets here, Fran! “Life work, not just compliant school work.” “it’s not about cute activities, and it’s not about the chevron-themed classrooms.” “. . . And it is also about relationships.” When we are purposeful, and I mean really contemplating the purpose for every book, approach, conversation, activity…we can make better decisions for our students and not rely on someone else’s GPS to guide their learning. Thanks for sharing your learning with those who couldn’t trek to NYC this weekend!
Thanks, Paula. I would have loved to see your sketchnotes for the day.! Purpose, relationship, relevancy to life! So many critical intersections! ❤
It’s on my bucket list for sure, Fran!
You are right, Fran, It is not about “FUN”. “Instead it is about following interests and passions of students, allowing students to blossom and grow.” However, if this is what we strive for then I feel it will be “fun” for the students and they will enjoy blossoming and growing.
I believe that some folks have mixed up fun, entertaining, and engaging activities. As you said, we can use students’ own interests and passions to be the “fun” as they learn that learning is self-fulfilling FUN rather than some artificial goals! ❤
Isn’t it funny that when you are wandering (and getting lost) while sharing good conversation with a friend it doesn’t feel like you are lost at all? You could totally lose your way, but the friend and the conversation keep you from getting nervous (if you were alone, you may be nervous). As for my favorite part and line – “It’s not about FUN, it’s not about cute activities, and it’s not about the chevron-themed classrooms.” I completely agree with you. My goal is to turn every single kid that walks through my door into a passionate reader (I know people think that is unrealistic, but I don’t). If I can turn them into an avid reader, they can do anything. And I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE – “And of course it’s not easy, but with a group and the continued support of our community, WE can do this together.” Thank you for some Sunday inspiration!
To be clear the comment about “chevron-themed” was totally on me. I agree with you that the goal needs to be to turn every kid into a passionate reader! Lofty goals are important!
Enjoy your Sunday!
Fran, So enjoyed seeing you in person yesterday at the reunion. Loved reading this piece. Fav line: The destination was talk and enjoying NYC – not our physical location. NYC does offer the best in fulfilling the goal of talking and walking, always a good goal when with the right people. Your connection to teachers being GPS is perfect, too! I’m going to keep that metephor with me as I return to work this week. Safe travels back to Iowa!
Sally,
So good to see you and to be in Katie’s session together. FYI; Melanie Meehan will be at the Graphic Novels Institute this spring. Love “Slicer” connections!
NYC has so much to offer. Always fun to add more to any visit. Keep an eye on your GPS as a guide! ❤
Love the idea that we are the GPS leading our students onward. it takes persistence, determination, and purpose. I am so sorry that I missed TCRWP yesterday.
Carol,
That is so true. More than one way (route) and persistence. YES!
I adored the way you brought me right in with the piece about walking and using a GPS and connected it with the learning you had yesterday. The end message, though, was the best. Every teacher is the roadmap to a student’s success!
Thanks, Stacey.
The idea for the pattern came from Clare’s slices. A bit of a small moment and then the rest of the story. Every teacher is the roadmap!!!