#SOL17: Silver Lake
Where do YOU begin?
Here’s a simple list of words from my writing notebook
Begun with an early morning observation
Sipping coffee
Waking up
At Silver Lake
Some words from the present.
Some from the past.
Some added over time.
How does a list evolve?
Grow?
Morph?
What categories would you make?
While waiting for inspiration to strike,
I’ve learned to keep my fingers moving across the keyboard.
Looking for photos
Looking for organization
and word clouds suddenly appeared in my brain.
Changing colors
Changing shapes
Changing colors
Adding a filter.
Using a visual as a stimulus . . .
Ready to write!
One of Those Moments
One of those moments
Etched on my cornea
Burnt into my brain
Captured in my heart
Gray sky
Combinations of clouds
White, thin, wispy
Surrounded by large and fluffy white-topped clouds
With an under girding of gray
Ready for a sprinkle or
Perhaps a shower or
Sheets of rain or
Buckets full pouring from the heavens
Harmony in thoughts shared
Rich in laughter
Engrossed in fun
So much to do!
A boat ride,
Pictionary,
Writing talk,
3 Truths and a Lie, and
Learning to play a ukelele.
Friends
Voxer Cousins
Readers
Writers
Thinkers
Teachers
Students
Bound together by a few moments in time
One of those perfect summer moments!
June 24 – Silver Lake, MN
How do your thoughts become your ideas?
What shapes your format?
Where does your organization come from?
How do you share this process with your students?
Thank you, Betsy, Beth, Deb, Kathleen, Lanny, Lisa, Melanie, and Stacey for this weekly forum. Check out the writers, readers and teachers here. 
Process:
My first draft was totally a description – what I saw, heard and felt while outside
But it seemed really boring
And felt like it could be any lake anywhere
So this is Draft Two . . . after some revision!
#SOL16: #NCTE16 Friday Takeaways
Bookended by our Thursday and Friday evening dinners . . .
are over 16 pages of notes, hundreds of storified tweets, pictures galore and thousands of words. Words Matter. Words matter whether spoken or written. Words in the heart matter as well. As a #TCRWP aficionado stunned by the passing of Deputy Director Kathleen Tolan this weekend, I celebrate my learning about small group reading instruction last summer with Kathleen even though I still yearn for more. That gritty, passionate, talented, brilliant and sometimes “pushy” Deputy Director would want us to carry on . . . Make the students in front of you YOUR PRIORITY! FOCUS on students!
FRIDAY at #NCTE16
The Heinemann Breakfast on Friday honoring the Legacy of Don Graves was a star-studded celebration. I felt like the red carpet was rolled out to recognize the literacy superstars in the room who all had stories to tell that encouraged us to roll up our sleeves, pay attention to students and get to work. From Penny Kittle’s, “When Don asked me to do something, I did it!” to her credo “NCTE is a place to settle your soul” we were entranced! Katherine Bomer reminded us that “Writing to discover what we care about is brave and that writing is a way a student’s voice comes into power and reminds us that we are all human.” Allison Marchetti and Rebekah O’Dell shared that their “mentor text drop box – a way to organize and access mentor text – represents the generosity of Don Graves.” This breakfast was a family breakfast that reminded us of who we are and where we are going together. ( Heinemann Podcast Link)
Charts as Tools for Conversation, Advocacy and Action (Martinelli, Schwartz, & Luick)
The focus of this presentation was on the purpose of charts, ownership and environment, reflection and action. The two words that I heard over and over were “purposeful planning”! This is embodied in sketching out the steps to check clarity, the vocabulary used, and the ability of the chart to act as the teleprompter for the teacher. Of course, a crystal clear teaching point helps!
One caution was to make sure that students’ voices were included in discovering learning together . . .students could contribute definitions, examples, and even make their own tools to use. Tools that begin in the minds of teachers become ideas that can eventually be handed over to the students. (Isn’t that what transfer is REALLY all about?) I’ve heard many, many, many TCRWP staff members say that when we introduce a tool, coach and provide support for a tool, we MUST have a plan for the tool to go away. Graphics in a chart are really meant to be replaced by pictures or names of your own students. Or even better, by students who make their own charts because they know the purpose and that’s good for teachers, students, and LEARNING!
Vocabulary Matters! – Valerie Geschwind, Shana Frazin, Katy Wischow and Char Shylock
How do students ever learn enough words to improve their vocabulary? How do students become invested in their OWN learning? Who’s really doing the work in vocabulary learning?
Step 1. Listen carefully.
Step 2. Wait.
Too often when students say things that are untrue or unbiased, teachers jump in. Instead of the teacher teaching 24/7, maybe students should teach us so that they have the skills that they need for the rest of their lives!
Step 3. Think. What do we know ( or What do we think we know) about …”
Step 4. Audition what you know. Try it on. Is this idea never true? Sometimes true? Always true? (or True for me? True for us? True for you?) Set up a place or way for students to go do this!!!
Step 5. Revise and rename. What assumptions changed?
Step 6. Spread the word.
This presentation included opportunities for us to think about shifting our beliefs, taking note of vocabulary words, increasing our word curiosity and consciousness and “settling our souls in teacher church”. Shana Frazin told us that “English is her superpower and Hebrew is her kryptonite.” If we think of a word in another language, how does that add to our repertoire? How does working with “categories” help students access MORE words. And then Katy illuminated some FUN, JOYOUS ways to find a few minutes to incorporate vocabulary work. . . in a closure – share, in a mid-class tip, in spare 5 minutes before the bell rings or even a simple conversation like . . .
“Wow guys, you are doing such fascinating work with characters… let’s talk about…. which would you rather be, character A or character B and why?”
Some activities take time:
- Sentence game
- Grid game – person and question
- Play with words – Beck’s Bringing Words to Life (Would you rather? How much would you like to ? Which is more important to ? When/ how should you?)
- Word sorts – content words for open or closed sorts
- Other work – paintings or artwork.
Vocabulary work that has student learning and ownership as the goal WILL stick with students. Vocabulary work that has “correct answers on the quiz” as an end goal . . . NOT so much!
The Power of Low Stakes Writing with Ralph Fletcher
Fun
Laughter
Advice from students
“Use top shelf adjectives and verbs”
Metaphorically
Like a big balloon…
Real choice
Audience (beyond the teacher)
A sense of fun and adventure
Teachers who value
Invention, originality and voice
So what happened to the big beautiful balloon?
Student Choice increases energy and excitement to make the balloon soar.
Test prep brings the balloon back to the ground.
There is a battle between freedom and discipline
But teachers do have choice and must be
BRAVE to bring choice back with any of these . . . (and also low-stakes)
- Free Choice Fridays
- The Writer’s Notebook
- Class Writer’s notebook- Students inspired by what others write
- Classroom blogs
- Slice of Life Challenge
- Open Cycles – where students chose the topic and genre
- Need writing green belts – tap into the writing Ss are doing
- FERAL writing
- Study Driven Writing (Source Katie Wood Ray)
Recklessly wonderful writing.
Students choose to work on writing because
The ideas of writing give them energy.
Multiple Layers of Literacy Learning –
(Amy Brennan, Dani Burtsfield, Jill DeRosa, Kim Gosselin, Jennifer Hayhurst, Kathryn Hoffman-Thompson, Marissa Moss, Stefani Nolde, Erica Picarole, David Schultz, and Kari Yates)
What do you think of when you hear professional development? Who is it for? This session included conversations about learning for teachers, parents, and students. Learning, fun, and choice are necessary ingredients for multi-dimensional opportunities for all to grow! Summer school included learning for teachers and the students!
Advocating for Revision in Reading: Meaning Making as a Journey, Not a Destination – Ellin Keene, Matt Glover, Dan Feigelson and Kathy Collins
Students who are reading and writing A LOT know a lot. Ellin had an example of a six year old who understood the use of metaphor. Students who read and write have the tools to share their thinking at deeper levels than we may have considered. How do we help them revise their thinking? Sometimes it means the adult must close his/her mouth in order for the student to take the lead! Students need to learn to be comprehension decision makers! Students have to be flexible thinkers and not seekers of “right” answers. Building a “Reader’s Identity” is a desired outcome, not a letter of a level! What are the characteristics of a reader that you admire? That’s a different question than those that are typically part of a story inquisition! Product and process do matter so
“Privilege all texts”
” Our attention shows what we value!”
“Show reading identities.”
“Elevate the book.”
“Elevate the readers of the book.”
Dear Reader, Are you still here with me?
At this point we were off to the #HeinemannPub reception for the #TCRWP Reading Units of Study Libraries, the #StenhousePub reception for authors, and then dinner with #G2Great Voxer cousins! Many miles of words and ideas heard, considered and studied!
So what caught your attention on this overview of Friday’s learning at #NCTE16?
When were you nodding your head and saying, “YES”!
Thank you, Betsy, Beth, Dana, Deb, Kathleen, Lisa, Melanie, and Stacey for this weekly forum. Check out the writers, readers and teachers here.
And a “Paul Harvey – the Rest of the Story” video here . . . How Friday ended!
#DigiLitSunday: Gratitude for #NCTE16 Learning
Margaret Simon at Reflections on the Teche encouraged us to blog about “Gratitude” this week. Read more links here.
.
My gratitude is for all those who attended (in person or at a distance) #NCTE16 and shared their reflections. Here are my favorite quotes from our conference days. (Note they are NOT numbered so that I can include those that are “sticking with me” without stressing over the ones that have to be left out!)
- “Courage is more exhilarating than fear–and in the long run it is easier.” ~Eleanor Roosevelt via Tom Newkirk
- “We do not teach for mastery. We teach for revolution.” – Cornelius Minor
- “Classrooms have to be spaces of light. That’s our revolution. What you do on Monday at 8:30 is gonna change the world.”— Ernest Morrell
- Successful readers revise their thinking, and there is a huge chasm between those kids and the kids who grab a thought and then just hold on to it. – Ellin Keene
- “You probably don’t know adults’ DRA, you don’t know what level book they are reading. You might not even know what their community values. We acknowledge their habits and behaviors.” – Matt Glover
- “Exploration, risk, and failure are essential components in a writer’s growth. Exploration and risk will not occur if everything is graded.” – Kelly Gallagher
- “When we give students multiple choice tests, you get multiple choice test thinkers for an essay world.” – Kelly Gallagher
- From Julieanne’s blog and some of the sessions we attended together!
And from sessions that I did not attend personally but could still learn from due to generous Twitter and blog authors:
- “End every day with JOY no matter how the rest of the day may have gone.” – Franki Sibberson
- “It’s not what I do that matters, it’s what I do in relation to what my students need that makes a difference.” – Chris Tovani
- “DO NOT USE THE TERM THOSE KIDS. Every kid that walks into the classroom needs an opportunity. They all need you.” – Sharon Draper
- “All of life is material for writing. I rewrite the past as I wish I’d done.” – Tim Federle
- “When you don’t know the language, you don’t realize how important it is to have language.” -Shana Frazin
- “If you don’t struggle in front of students, they think you have a writing gene they don’t.” – Kelly Boswell
- “When I’m not writing I notice a huge difference in my teaching. I need to be writing.” – Beth Moore
- “Help kids revalue themselves as readers by explicitly showing them the complex work they are already doing.” – Dorothy Barnhouse
- “The Just Right Book is the book that meets the head and the heart.”- Penny Kittle
- ““If I gave a child a topic, I would find out what they know about the topic, NOT what they know about INFORMATION writing.” – Mary Ehrenworth
- “We must not judge a child’s story by the chapter of his/her life that we walk into.” – Kristin Ziemke
- “We have an obligation to tell and share stories. And we must make all kids visible in our learning communities.” – Sara Ahmed
What were your favorite quotes? What continues to linger in your mind?
Thanks to all who tweeted and / or blogged about #NCTE16! Amazing Learning!
#SOL16: Capital E = Essay
There’s a glow, a rainbow, a light spirit still leaking from my pores and so much fun and learning from #NCTE16 yet to be shared! My top two sessions from the three days are a toss-up.
Poetry? Essay? Which will change the world?
At #NCTE16 it was readily apparent that BOTH writing forms are capable of reporting on AND changing the world. You can read more about poetry in last week’s “NCTE16: Incredible Learning” here.
A focus on writing ANYTHING and EVERYTHING will of course have the power to potentially change the world because the pen is mightier than the sword. The constant focus on assessments and screeners that produce fast yet aliterate readers has created a new tension in schools. What’s the solution for this new breed of readers who do not choose to read and who do not fall in love with the written word? Are they an unconscionable byproduct of too much focus on reading “outcomes/products” (ie, something that can be counted as in words read per minute) and too little focus on the thinking, the joy, and the love of words that result from daily writing in schools – daily writing of their own choice? How can we regain JOY and LEARNING? Poetry and Essay tied for first place at #NCTE in bringing JOY to my world and in igniting a quest for more learning.
The Transformative Power of Essay
This panel on Sunday was amazing (and had many noteworthy literacy celebs attending as well). And NO moans or groans because of the word “essay”.
From R to Left: Katherine Bomer, Allyson Smith, Corinne Arens and Matthew Harper
Story after story.
Straight from the students.
Student writing examples . . .
pages and pages and pages of writing from individual students!
Students conferencing with teachers in videos.
Students sharing what essay means to them.
Students sharing how their lives have changed.
Teachers sharing how their lives have changed.
An administrator sharing how the district has changed.
Summer week long writing institutes in the district.
Building trust.
Building communities.
Teachers doing the “writing work” expected of students.
The audience laughed.
The audience cried.
The audience applauded vociferously.
Transforming our thoughts, perhaps our future actions . . .
Essay with a capital “E”.
(NO five paragraph essays anywhere!)
Thank you, new friends from Blue Springs, MO!
What evidence of transformation?
Tweet 1:
Tweet 2:
Did you catch the date? 9-15-16
Not waiting for “routines” but beginning the year boldly with essay writing to allow student voice to “spill yourself onto the page”.
And a final piece of evidence . . . Margaret Simon’s post today found here.
The Transformative Power of Essay
Have you read The Journey is Everything?
Read it. Try writing an essay and then let’s talk!
Thank you, Betsy, Beth, Dana, Deb, Kathleen, Lisa, Melanie, and Stacey for this weekly forum. Check out the writers, readers and teachers here.
Looking for more information?
Previous posts:
#DigiLitSunday: The Journey is Everything!#DigiLitSunday: The Journey is Everything!
Literacy Superheroes (I counted FIVE of these essayists + Katherine in the room!)
Photo Essay (another public essay!)
A Favor – My essay (with a comment from Katherine Bomer – another fangirl moment)
And the common denominator for both poetry and Essay was Katherine Bomer!
No wonder they tied!
#SOL16: JOY
My #OneLittleWord for 2016 has been JOY and this past weekend at #NCTE16 was packed with joy every minute of every day. Surrounded by professionals that I know, admire, and constantly learn with, it was quite easy to forget the policies, problems, and politics that have rocked the U.S. landscape lately.
See how many “Slicers” you recognize at the Saturday dinner.
(Bonus: How many of the blogs can you name?)
“Slicer” dinner at Amalfi’s Pizza Saturday
The JOY began with a #G2Great meetup Thursday night at Max’s Coal Pizza. This group chats online on Thursday evenings with Mary Howard, Amy Brenneman, and Jenn Hayhurst as co-moderators.
Thursday night #G2Great meetup at Max’s Coal Oven Pizzeria
Do you know which 4 are in both groups?
Can you name the states represented?
And of course another night of conversation and JOY.
Friday night at Legal Seafood
On Sunday we actually found time to visit before leaving Atlanta!
Julieanne, Tara, Margaret and me!
One of the highlights of my travels was my great roommate, Dani Graham Burtsfield, from Kalispell, MT. Thanks so much for all your great work as our “historian”!
Joy with some of the audience members for the poetry session are found here!
At poetry with Mary Lee, Julieanne and myself – just missing Steve!
And even MORE JOY with some of the presenters!
Have you checked in on your “One Little Word” lately?
Thank you, Betsy, Beth, Dana, Deb, Kathleen, Lisa, Melanie, and Stacey for this weekly forum. Check out the writers, readers and teachers here.
#NCTE16: Incredible Learning
,
When learning is in the very air that you breathe, it’s totally exhilarating. And that’s just a small piece of #NCTE16!
Session G12: Writing for a Better World: Poetry Responses to World Events
I laughed.
I cried.
I read.
I wrote.
I learned.
This session should have been live streamed for educators around the world. Poetry is such an important part of the “meaning making” that we must construct of our daily lives.
if poetry is not a typical part of your repertoire, why not? Humor can add fun. Serious topics can add empathy. And above all, poetry can add truth to your life.
Check out this storify that introduces the folks at this session. In no way does it capture the essence of the conversations. That richness lies in the poetry of their talk.
Poetry – Do you need to add some to your life?
Do you need to add some to your teaching life?
Additional Poetry links from/about NCTE poetry presentations:
Poetry is Truth – Irene Latham
Risking Writing – Heidi and Mary Lee Hahn
Kate Messner – Collaborative Poetry Writing
From our view together again at #NCTE
(Still practicing on “selfies”)
#NCTE16: Celebrate
Atlanta . . .
The home of a fabulous Civil Rights Museum
The home of Martin Luther King Junior
The home of thousands of teachers this weekend
Spending Friday, Saturday and Sunday together
Learning together
Feeding their souls
Fueling their passions
Collecting their energy
Forging a future
In this fabulous #NCTE16 family!
I am so humbled to rub elbows among so many talented readers and writers who are so willing to chat, to dig into answering those clarifying questions and to help out in so many ways. And who in their lives have chosen “kind”.
Thanks for Voxer cousin Erica, the MARTA directions were perfect. Wowza! What an easy way to travel from the airport to the hotel. Thanks to the #G2Great dinner organizers – such a treat to meet up together before the sessions began. Looking up and down the table at all the JOY (my #OLW) amidst the hugs and conversations, there was a moment when I wanted to hit the pause button. Just a few short seconds to admire my companions and the many paths that brought us together from across the country. Together we are better. We bring our knowledge, our skills and our hearts together to improve literacy in our communities.
We are activists.
We are here.
We are learning together.
We are reading together.
We are turning and talking.
We are growing together.
And the rich conversations continue long after the sessions as we naturally have t0 share our learning with each other.
Friday was the first full day of #NCTE16 and it was a long day. It was a joyful day from the first navigation of the convention space to the Donald Graves Legacy Breakfast. Thanks to Heinemann for such a wonderful gathering. In the same space on stage: Tom Newkirk, Penny Kittle, Georgia Heard, Katherine Bomer, Smokey Daniels, Cornelius Minor, Allison Marchette, Rebekah ODell and Kim Parker.
Sharing memories.
Sharing credos.
Tweet worthy quotations.
Watching a master at work on a video.
Writing our own credos.
And then we were off.
Every session has close to 50 choices. Hard choices for learners. Who do I REALLY need to hear? Who will affirm my beliefs? Who will push me to new understandings?
Learning from Ralph Fletcher, Ellie Keene, Kathy Collins, Matt Glover, Marjorie Martinelli, Shanna Schwartz, Alecia Luick, Shana Frazin, Katy Wischow, Val Geschwind, the amazing #G2Great crew (Erica, Amy, Jenn, Jill, Dani, Kari, Kathryn) and the many gracious Heinemann and Stenhouse authors filled my brain, my heart and my soul.
One of my favorite sessions was “Low Stakes Writing” with Ralph Fletcher. If we want joyful student writers, Ralph proposes that we must add some green belt writing for our students. The metaphor that he used to describe writing energy was the hot air balloon and he challenged us to think of when the balloon would rise – when writing workshop is going merrily along and when the balloon would sink back to earth – with the addition of test prep work and mandatory writing tasks that literally suck the JOY out of writing. As teachers, parents, administrators, we do need to be aware of our own limitations but we also need to stretch ourselves as readers, writers and thinkers. We must be the models of the writing that we want our students to do. The concept of “feral writing’ is fascinating. A feral animal – one who was once domesticated who has now returned to the wild. Writing that students choose to do on their own time. The creation of new genres of writing that arise from choice as students do find their writing voice. How can we honor those voices?
No pictures here in this blog post. My computer is taking a break so I’m composing this on my iPad mini. It’s not my favorite device. It’s challenging as I type in the dark out of kindness to my roommate at zero dark thirty.
Day Two begins at 8 am and goes until 5:30 pm.
Decisions about sessions.
Decisions about when to visit the exhibit hall.
And what about those favorite authors and those friends from twittter who we have not yet connected with?
Much more joy and learning ahead!
How will you spend your Saturday?
#SOL16: Quiet Anticipation
Excited and thinking the best,
Anticipating
Friends . . .
Fellow Twitter Friends
Fellow Voxer Friends
Fellow Bloggers
Fellow #NCTE14 and #NCTE15 attendees
The shiny ball is going to drop on #NCTE16 and I can’t wait!
Professional Development is an “investment in yourself” – Check out this blog post from #NCTE15! Continual growth matters!
Learning
Listening
Learning
Eyes wide open
Learning
Within a cocoon of friendship
Learning
Around every corner
Learning
At every session
Learning
In Atlanta!
Looking forward to meeting up, face to face, with “Slicers” Saturday night.
Will you be there?
Thank you, Betsy, Beth, Dana, Deb, Kathleen, Lisa, Melanie, and Stacey for this weekly forum. Check out the writers, readers and teachers here.
What have I learned from #NCTE in the past?
#NCTE 14 (First Timer Report) here, (Community, Collaboration & Social Justice) here, (Our presentation – Story as the Landscape of Knowing) here, (Top 10 Quotes I Have Used from #NCTE14) here and (Close Reading and the Little Ones – Chris Lehman, Kate Roberts and Kristi Mraz) here.
#NCTE15 (Vicki Vinton & Katie Wood Ray) here, (Kelly Gallagher’s Top 10) here, (Sessions – Colleen Cruz, Jennifer Serravallo, Clare & Tammy, #G2Great) here and (Involving Students – 2 #tcrwp sessions, Kylene Beers, Bob Probst, Donalyn Miller, Seymour Simon, Linda Hoyt, Kelly Boswell and more) here.
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