tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14035314067779568272024-03-14T15:10:04.798-04:00The Book Maven's HavenLiteracyDocenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746444238586627666noreply@blogger.comBlogger85125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403531406777956827.post-50865369586134837552016-10-28T13:20:00.000-04:002019-10-12T22:11:43.911-04:00"Re-Visioning" the Dreaded Reading Log<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkAaYA6W8fmsejr4nYhIDAaUQXPseeErDkRP5vgsuvMXTSsnKE_Z2QHV03dx_X-EMYJqvnjquH46xZUryuQs1qHltu_utJTP-J0eb0qt6q4j3YIiBC967QWxlfl7a6veslSGHd__SAIqXS/s1600/readers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkAaYA6W8fmsejr4nYhIDAaUQXPseeErDkRP5vgsuvMXTSsnKE_Z2QHV03dx_X-EMYJqvnjquH46xZUryuQs1qHltu_utJTP-J0eb0qt6q4j3YIiBC967QWxlfl7a6veslSGHd__SAIqXS/s1600/readers.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If I were to rank the questions I get asked by teachers most frequently, reading logs would be right at the top of the list. The topic of reading logs brings up strong opinions, both from teachers and parents. Educators whom I greatly admire have written posts questioning the <a href="https://medinger.wordpress.com/2016/06/05/in-the-classroom-the-problem-with-reading-logs-and-what-i-did-about-it/">authenticity</a> of reading logs, rethinking reading logs as an <a href="https://pernillesripp.com/2014/09/06/before-you-assign-a-reading-log/">at home assignment</a> and <a href="https://readingbyexample.com/2014/07/17/rethinking-reading-logs/">alternatives</a> to using a reading log. I agree with all they and others have written on this topic. I've used many of the ideas they mention in my own teaching practice. But before we "throw the baby out with the bath water", I would like to offer another perspective that I've been "writing" in the air of my thinking and conversations with others over the past few months. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I first started teaching fourth grade, I used a reading log for keeping students accountable for reading both inside and outside of school. Parents were asked to sign an at-home reading log to verify that their student actually did the reading. I even gave points that counted toward a reading grade. I cringe even as I type this! What I came to realize was that the voracious readers hated them. The striving readers didn’t fill them out. Parents signed them, often times on Friday morning while sitting in the drop off line. A parent signature didn’t always mean that the reading actually happened. I was always chasing the missing logs. But the thing I realized most was that I was sending a very unintended message that reading was a school job. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As my understanding of best practice deepened and evolved, I reflected on this practice that, while well intended, was doing more harm than good. Readers who read for pleasure rarely, if ever, keep a daily, detailed account of their reading. Taking time to keep track of minutes or pages read did not encourage reading for enjoyment, nor was it improving reading skills. Rather, the opposite was happening. Reading was being viewed as a “chore”, something that was a school “job” and was devoid of enjoyment. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I knew that:</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">To become a reader, you have to actually devote time to reading. I believe that it’s important that time for independent reading be provided both at school and at home. </span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The most reliable data I could collect in regards to stamina, fluency, and reading growth was that which I could document while students were in school.</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The single greatest factor in reading achievement is reading volume (Krashen, 2004) so I needed to have some formative way of documenting students’ reading volume.</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When implemented as a way to ensure that students were reading at home, the mandatory, at-home reading log was not bringing the benefit initially expected. </span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I stopped using an at-home reading </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">log</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, instead focusing on the reading time I could control at school. Students still kept a </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">record</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> of the books they read during the school year, but rather than minutes and pages, they kept track of title, author, genre, start/end date, and a simple rating. The shift that made the most impact in the value of the record was that I devoted time for students to reflect on their reading record, guiding them to notice how they were growing as a reader, and helping them set goals that expand their reading repertoire. During small group work and conferring I would guide students to identify patterns in genres, formats, and authors they had read to help them see how they were expanding their reading lives. By always referring to them, students came to value them, keep them up to date, and use them for goal setting, pushing themselves to outgrow their selves as readers. </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In my role as a Literacy Strategist, my teachers have been grappling with the same questions and struggles in regard to the dreaded reading log. As I’ve talked about my own experience over the past few years, I’ve come to understand that what made the shift for me was my reflection on the </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">purpose</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> of asking readers to record what they were reading. These conversations brought me to the realization that there are actually two different ways of asking students to keep track of their reading, but each serves a different purpose. </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">log (n)</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> an official, systematic documentation of an event, such as ship’s journey, or a diet plan kept for intervals of time</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">record (n)</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> a list of items or events, written down over long periods of time, as a way to preserve for later reference/reflection</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none;">A </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">reading log </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">could be used in 1 to 2 week intervals at various points throughout the trimester for the purpose of assessing reading stamina. You might also consider a reading log at the beginning of a non-fiction unit of study, when stamina and volume are likely to decrease. The reading log allows for </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">student </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">reflection, analysis and goal setting. These logs would include students documenting pages & minutes read each day. </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-left: 0pt;">
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none;"><colgroup><col width="48"></col><col width="229"></col><col width="73"></col><col width="69"></col><col width="73"></col><col width="76"></col></colgroup><tbody>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="background-color: #bec0bf; border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 5px 5px 5px 5px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #bec0bf; color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Date</span></div>
</td><td style="background-color: #bec0bf; border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 5px 5px 5px 5px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #bec0bf; color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Title</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #bec0bf; color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Write whole title once per sheet, then abbreviate title to one word until book is complete or your start a new sheet)</span></div>
</td><td style="background-color: #bec0bf; border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 5px 5px 5px 5px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #bec0bf; color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Start Time</span></div>
</td><td style="background-color: #bec0bf; border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 5px 5px 5px 5px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #bec0bf; color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">End Time</span></div>
</td><td style="background-color: #bec0bf; border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 5px 5px 5px 5px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #bec0bf; color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Total Minutes</span></div>
</td><td style="background-color: #bec0bf; border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 5px 5px 5px 5px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #bec0bf; color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Number of Pages</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 5px 5px 5px 5px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 5px 5px 5px 5px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 5px 5px 5px 5px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 5px 5px 5px 5px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 5px 5px 5px 5px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 5px 5px 5px 5px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 5px 5px 5px 5px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 5px 5px 5px 5px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 5px 5px 5px 5px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 5px 5px 5px 5px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 5px 5px 5px 5px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 5px 5px 5px 5px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 5px 5px 5px 5px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 5px 5px 5px 5px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 5px 5px 5px 5px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 5px 5px 5px 5px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 5px 5px 5px 5px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 5px 5px 5px 5px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Example provided by Molly Leding</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">A </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">reading record</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> would be used from the beginning of the school year (or beginning of new reading unit) for the purpose of documenting the books a student reads over the school year (or unit of study). A reading record is used for </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">student</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> reflection of authors and genres read, goal setting, and to assess volume. The reading record would include title, author, genre, rating scale, and date finished. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Screen Shot 2016-08-31 at 8.22.42 PM.png" height="134" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/qKW4a0KZgkfpFfEh8-DfgicXMgneYvZ-9jdxB1rRtz0MBqi84l4G7s_-jPzV-XtVFtEn0ECzTFesdRuLg5UxW58osxwfZ71fjeUOSQOELfwHwcvm3sN81ft6UwPmhjk_M23Urik" style="border: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From Reading in the Wild by Donalyn Miller</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Will you still need to remind students to keep their reading log or reading record up date? My first response is “Yes, you probably will.” But my second response is a question. You wouldn’t stop reminding a child to brush their teeth or wash their hands or any of another 1,000,000 things we remind children to do on daily simply because they have yet to “see the value” in doing those things, would you? I believe there is value to using these tools in the classroom. There are certainly <a href="https://www.smore.com/tszg-traversing-the-technology-terrain">digital options</a> available for recording one's reading history. I have used them. But I would argue that those options are only viable if </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>all</i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> students are provided access to them at school. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When we keep "purpose" in mind, and use the things we are asking children to do in authentic ways, they will engage. The key to </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>these</i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> particular tools becoming useful to readers is that they are referred to consistently, both by the teacher and </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>with </i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the student, as a tool for reflection and goal setting. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
LiteracyDocenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746444238586627666noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403531406777956827.post-47764705683434605642016-08-10T09:01:00.006-04:002018-03-22T10:05:40.623-04:00August 10 for 10 2016~#pb10for10<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWU7xdXN4cSVk-6H2NCILWkhu2c3OmpIKqie5dhbv-Xdcing9uoCJNjRCUBNu5EfPBXFMHo9YbIK-S0vk5fmWpfUhkjkokNrbpg18OV5GhI4hdTfxl8vqij3Z53jR0lt2H60Bx2WiFATvf/s1600/pb_10_for_10_015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWU7xdXN4cSVk-6H2NCILWkhu2c3OmpIKqie5dhbv-Xdcing9uoCJNjRCUBNu5EfPBXFMHo9YbIK-S0vk5fmWpfUhkjkokNrbpg18OV5GhI4hdTfxl8vqij3Z53jR0lt2H60Bx2WiFATvf/s320/pb_10_for_10_015.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsXc9KJzcICabGVw_ddw2v-yJ9UmnU9QF_yx8G_TR6gVieAqgy4dvC2YFWE8QZABFYGFTPIetnzTequXbHv97pW80l0bIaXPJEJTMuvk38HNDbs0cd1TS0k-wrUmr-GcrOiGmH-Aa-Datq/s1600/imgres.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsXc9KJzcICabGVw_ddw2v-yJ9UmnU9QF_yx8G_TR6gVieAqgy4dvC2YFWE8QZABFYGFTPIetnzTequXbHv97pW80l0bIaXPJEJTMuvk38HNDbs0cd1TS0k-wrUmr-GcrOiGmH-Aa-Datq/s1600/imgres.png" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYrp2JMHD4FG-umha7FUv7c88JiO0MZ7YsoAAO4Bu7dj_ihJsFAKJhhOpBZeqPFlo7HGPMZ3PmGwqenf6yfXIqUmZm479EYRKUzc2r8tIdg2zPOIVpO4wVFGCPRdXkQqKPpPmZDfFXVBmt/s1600/imgres.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYrp2JMHD4FG-umha7FUv7c88JiO0MZ7YsoAAO4Bu7dj_ihJsFAKJhhOpBZeqPFlo7HGPMZ3PmGwqenf6yfXIqUmZm479EYRKUzc2r8tIdg2zPOIVpO4wVFGCPRdXkQqKPpPmZDfFXVBmt/s1600/imgres.png" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
*cue music* It's the most wonderful time of the year! There'll be lots of list making and lots of book buying for sure! It's the most wonderful time of the year!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Seven years of #pb10for10! Wow! Today is a day I look forward to every year. I have my public library account open and my reader's notebook and pen close at hand. I'm always inspired by the thinking that each person puts into their list of 10 picture books. </span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Today I'm sharing some picture book titles that lend themselves to <i>argument and debate work</i> in grades K-5. For each book, I've included a possible debate question you could use, but please know these aren't the<i> only</i> debatable questions you could use. I've organized the books in a grade span sequence with level of the debate question increasing across a progression. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In today's world we need people who can think for themselves, who read to be informed so that they truly understand an issue before having an opinion, and who can work for change when needed more than ever before. Embedding argument & debate into all content areas benefits students in so many ways:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li 400="" baseline="" dir="ltr" disc="" font-style:="" font-variant-caps:="" font-variant-ligatures:="" font-weight:="" list-style-type:="" none="" normal="" text-decoration:="" vertical-align:=""><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span 400="" baseline="" font-style:="" font-variant-caps:="" font-variant-ligatures:="" font-weight:="" none="" normal="" pre-wrap="" text-decoration:="" vertical-align:="" white-space:=""><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Shows students their voice matters</span></span></div>
</li>
<li 400="" baseline="" dir="ltr" disc="" font-style:="" font-variant-caps:="" font-variant-ligatures:="" font-weight:="" list-style-type:="" none="" normal="" text-decoration:="" vertical-align:=""><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span 400="" baseline="" font-style:="" font-variant-caps:="" font-variant-ligatures:="" font-weight:="" none="" normal="" pre-wrap="" text-decoration:="" vertical-align:="" white-space:=""><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Allows students to get better at talking “to” rather than “at” other students</span></span></div>
</li>
<li 400="" baseline="" dir="ltr" disc="" font-style:="" font-variant-caps:="" font-variant-ligatures:="" font-weight:="" list-style-type:="" none="" normal="" text-decoration:="" vertical-align:=""><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span 400="" baseline="" font-style:="" font-variant-caps:="" font-variant-ligatures:="" font-weight:="" none="" normal="" pre-wrap="" text-decoration:="" vertical-align:="" white-space:=""><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Sharpens students’ listening skills</span></span></div>
</li>
<li 400="" baseline="" dir="ltr" disc="" font-style:="" font-variant-caps:="" font-variant-ligatures:="" font-weight:="" list-style-type:="" none="" normal="" text-decoration:="" vertical-align:=""><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span 400="" baseline="" font-style:="" font-variant-caps:="" font-variant-ligatures:="" font-weight:="" none="" normal="" pre-wrap="" text-decoration:="" vertical-align:="" white-space:=""><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Helps students consider another point of view</span></span></div>
</li>
<li 400="" baseline="" dir="ltr" disc="" font-style:="" font-variant-caps:="" font-variant-ligatures:="" font-weight:="" list-style-type:="" none="" normal="" text-decoration:="" vertical-align:=""><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span 400="" baseline="" font-style:="" font-variant-caps:="" font-variant-ligatures:="" font-weight:="" none="" normal="" pre-wrap="" text-decoration:="" vertical-align:="" white-space:=""><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Strengthens students’ ability to use evidence from text to support thinking</span></span></div>
</li>
<li 400="" baseline="" dir="ltr" disc="" font-style:="" font-variant-caps:="" font-variant-ligatures:="" font-weight:="" list-style-type:="" none="" normal="" text-decoration:="" vertical-align:=""><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span 400="" baseline="" font-style:="" font-variant-caps:="" font-variant-ligatures:="" font-weight:="" none="" normal="" pre-wrap="" text-decoration:="" vertical-align:="" white-space:=""><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Promotes re-reading which deepens understanding of the text</span></span></div>
</li>
<li 400="" baseline="" dir="ltr" disc="" font-style:="" font-variant-caps:="" font-variant-ligatures:="" font-weight:="" list-style-type:="" none="" normal="" text-decoration:="" vertical-align:=""><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span 400="" baseline="" font-style:="" font-variant-caps:="" font-variant-ligatures:="" font-weight:="" none="" normal="" pre-wrap="" text-decoration:="" vertical-align:="" white-space:=""><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Oral rehearsal of ideas (reasons & evidence) improves opinion writing</span></span></div>
</li>
<li 400="" baseline="" dir="ltr" disc="" font-style:="" font-variant-caps:="" font-variant-ligatures:="" font-weight:="" list-style-type:="" none="" normal="" text-decoration:="" vertical-align:=""><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 16pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">Promotes 100% engagement during read alouds, conversations, and writing</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span id="docs-internal-guid-405bdb1b-7238-a7a2-6c96-9191479593c1"></span>All book descriptions are from Goodreads.com.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvWSQXiHqLwuPLrVSl8p159YVYYpT31Nb31tmKOQCZHxcZXGku2DnayLxnNhHD1ZBctevhrYm5qSvCRElfahfHAcj8QLox1rfuAADzGiXh9LppzJMbHAJAUMISW__8Y29Xa70WLVLBgxkr/s1600/imgres-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvWSQXiHqLwuPLrVSl8p159YVYYpT31Nb31tmKOQCZHxcZXGku2DnayLxnNhHD1ZBctevhrYm5qSvCRElfahfHAcj8QLox1rfuAADzGiXh9LppzJMbHAJAUMISW__8Y29Xa70WLVLBgxkr/s320/imgres-1.jpg" width="301" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span 21px="" font-family:="" georgia="" line-height:="" merriweather="" serif="">Ugly Fish is ugly and big and mean, and he won't share his driftwood tunnel or his special briny flakes with anyone. And that means the wimpy little fish who keep showing up in his tank have </span><em 21px="" font-family:="" georgia="" line-height:="" merriweather="" serif="">got to go</em><span 21px="" font-family:="" georgia="" line-height:="" merriweather="" serif="">. But then one day someone bigger and uglier and maybe even meaner arrives . . . and suddenly Ugly Fish isn't feeling </span><em 21px="" font-family:="" georgia="" line-height:="" merriweather="" serif="">quite</em><span 21px="" font-family:="" georgia="" line-height:="" merriweather="" serif=""> so confident anymore. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span 14px="" 21px="" font-family:="" font-size:="" georgia="" line-height:="" merriweather="" serif="" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span 21px="" font-family:="" georgia="" line-height:="" merriweather="" serif="" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Debate Question: Did Ugly Fish deserve what happened?</b></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span 21px="" font-family:="" georgia="" line-height:="" merriweather="" serif=""><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3K_v5DrRTZlALopF8kEHFowJi_RMYGBA-mCsl40-mfoKinTczcv8LntqtKtO1mV_V1rt7LjaQKoyZD4uN2tBtaUCBevMVC5bAHmBlEbw72hJk-vv_xjPE4VfudY7sSpc0lirZnCgXtN_0/s1600/9780061963315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3K_v5DrRTZlALopF8kEHFowJi_RMYGBA-mCsl40-mfoKinTczcv8LntqtKtO1mV_V1rt7LjaQKoyZD4uN2tBtaUCBevMVC5bAHmBlEbw72hJk-vv_xjPE4VfudY7sSpc0lirZnCgXtN_0/s320/9780061963315.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span 21px="" left="" line-height:="" text-align:="">Meet Petunia. </span><span 21px="" left="" line-height:="" text-align:="">More than anything, Petunia wants a pet. I</span><span 21px="" left="" line-height:="" text-align:="">'ll feed my pet every day, she promises her parents. I'll take her for walks. I'll read stories to her and draw her pictures. </span><span 21px="" left="" line-height:="" text-align:="">Petunia knows she can take care of a pet, but what happens when the pet she most desires is a skunk?</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span 21px="" left="" line-height:="" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;" text-align:=""><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span 21px="" left="" line-height:="" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;" text-align:="">Combine fiction and non-fiction evidence for this question, using <a href="https://youtu.be/ckvSOqjC3qU">Pet 101: Pet Skunks</a>.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span 21px="" left="" line-height:="" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;" text-align:=""><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span 21px="" left="" line-height:="" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;" text-align:=""><b>Debate Question: Would a skunk make a good pet?</b></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-o0PVPns-qkZ8t5DmFSu6Uxi07jA1J_wfPmo977czZnz1YHQh7qcBbn7dH2zpXFDdt5S_ngukpdjSZn-fvcEtbV7LCQVX5tHHgXKtQE_RFeSs64HRA8QtYHqTa_BskmHjhtz6pMdjMrx/s1600/imgres-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-o0PVPns-qkZ8t5DmFSu6Uxi07jA1J_wfPmo977czZnz1YHQh7qcBbn7dH2zpXFDdt5S_ngukpdjSZn-fvcEtbV7LCQVX5tHHgXKtQE_RFeSs64HRA8QtYHqTa_BskmHjhtz6pMdjMrx/s320/imgres-7.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span 21px="" font-family:="" georgia="" line-height:="" merriweather="" serif="" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Lilly loves everything about school, especially her cool teacher, Mr. Slinger. But when Lilly brings her purple plastic purse and its treasures to school and can't wait until sharing time, Mr. Slinger confiscates her prized possessions. Lilly's fury leads to revenge and then to remorse and she sets out to make amends.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span 21px="" font-family:="" georgia="" line-height:="" merriweather="" serif="" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="color: #181818; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Debate Question: Is Lily a good role model?</span></b></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzKr4ptlvx99j0KasYUXWc0psFrJ4rVTRiZUTWT6S7xzBjHIKqJggvrzOPC9y2t8a8zisUPcpArFjo_hl3HdmT-Oez0yoo0r1ip6a6wkzX8Zb9oIqRx0JCmyBkRJH0cHx0JbZ37OCoAipH/s1600/imgres-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzKr4ptlvx99j0KasYUXWc0psFrJ4rVTRiZUTWT6S7xzBjHIKqJggvrzOPC9y2t8a8zisUPcpArFjo_hl3HdmT-Oez0yoo0r1ip6a6wkzX8Zb9oIqRx0JCmyBkRJH0cHx0JbZ37OCoAipH/s320/imgres-10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">All Jeremy wants is pair of black high tops with two white stripes, the ones everyone at school seems to be wearing. But Jeremy's grandmother tells him they don't have room for "want", just "need", and what Jeremy needs is new boots for winter. When Jeremy's shoes fall apart at school and the guidance counselor gives him a hand-me-down pair, he is more determined than ever to have those shoes, even a thrift store pair that are much too small. But sore feet aren't much fun, and Jeremy comes to realize that the things he has --- warm boots, a loving grandma, and a chance to help a friend -- are worth more than the things he wants.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Debate Question: Who helps Jeremy more, Grandma or Antonio? </b></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_FnM0bQ7z9QyCwTqyw7ao1N9D4Yza_UAmX2YReLiEMdZ3NNQUZWRIqQfj7_3MCf9sQL-iCNgHR4DYfPGSzl4N4GuqPiyJigoYfxcFtxeAG071eCBN02qad5O8TbloSHtFxujaXItQtJIO/s1600/imgres-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_FnM0bQ7z9QyCwTqyw7ao1N9D4Yza_UAmX2YReLiEMdZ3NNQUZWRIqQfj7_3MCf9sQL-iCNgHR4DYfPGSzl4N4GuqPiyJigoYfxcFtxeAG071eCBN02qad5O8TbloSHtFxujaXItQtJIO/s320/imgres-4.jpg" width="275" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span 21px="" font-family:="" georgia="" line-height:="" merriweather="" serif="" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Ian always follows the rules. His sister, Jenny, breaks them all the time-especially "Don't pinch." So Ian is thrilled when the house where his family is vacationing posts a tidy list of rules. But when Jenny breaks them all, the house itself decides it's time for payback. The rug, the stove, and the bathtub are hungry for rule breaker soup, and they've found the perfect ingredient: Jenny! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span 21px="" font-family:="" georgia="" line-height:="" merriweather="" serif="" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span 21px="" line-height:="">Debate Question: </span>What helps the most with Ian becoming more flexible, Jenny or the house monsters?</b></span></div>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9AdbR6EX9F820P51I1Md6wusQnRDguEuBTRe5ShU-UCG5bm0tc_KwLlXu__XHIKX6qbK8KReiDrzSS3kXDMy6d6GeSlZNWPwgY_mbMIuBmrtcBjoes14qra1BIvatQ5kL4tIn-gPzpn-S/s1600/imgres-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9AdbR6EX9F820P51I1Md6wusQnRDguEuBTRe5ShU-UCG5bm0tc_KwLlXu__XHIKX6qbK8KReiDrzSS3kXDMy6d6GeSlZNWPwgY_mbMIuBmrtcBjoes14qra1BIvatQ5kL4tIn-gPzpn-S/s320/imgres-5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span 21px="" font-family:="" georgia="" line-height:="" merriweather="" serif=""><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span 21px="" font-family:="" georgia="" line-height:="" merriweather="" serif="">Frank follows the motto, "Honesty is the best policy." He tells the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Frank never lies to his schoolmates, he always tells the truth to adults, and he’s always honest with police officers. The balancing act of finding tact, that fine line between telling the truth and telling too much truth, is the main theme of this story, and it's very funny --- but n</span><span 21px="" font-family:="" georgia="" line-height:="" merriweather="" serif="">o one is quite as impressed with Frank’s honesty as he thinks they should be.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span 21px="" font-family:="" georgia="" line-height:="" merriweather="" serif="" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span 21px="" line-height:="">Debate Question: </span>Who's happier with more sugar and less pepper when it comes to honesty--the speaker or the receiver of the comment?</b></span></div>
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpWHo1QKYpF6i2iu4lc7lQhksZlYxgNJfumWBBFgXoiQIadjUVceEajsDavG-pmP8SuNRFI5fLG7gykP6O3QSoZ1gni8zce4sgLGwnGA8dq0_wlHXbhki7tW-ON0SrY-iQtL3SvDGz0p2/s1600/imgres-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpWHo1QKYpF6i2iu4lc7lQhksZlYxgNJfumWBBFgXoiQIadjUVceEajsDavG-pmP8SuNRFI5fLG7gykP6O3QSoZ1gni8zce4sgLGwnGA8dq0_wlHXbhki7tW-ON0SrY-iQtL3SvDGz0p2/s320/imgres-8.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Monique hates her school uniform. Brown and blue? Who wants to wear brown and blue? Monique wants to be different. One day she finds a trunk filled with her mother's old clothes, and the next day, and the day after that, and the day after that Monique transforms her boring old brown and blue (and herself), until she finally learns that no matter what you wear, individuality always shines. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Debate Question: Does Monique's feeling of success result more from her flexibility or more from her perseverance?</b> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF0QvswnTjmcG94c7MmRCzy5OHEfID7WhN7FLAG6Fo-hRp2RwVfaLkzroXLfvoSTQSNHQm3XztYYXeJxeK7vpO2qpH0uTAaFyZOPIYi8o9gWxFRmlTxA165RrvOcqOEJAhds-fXhTp90vy/s1600/imgres-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF0QvswnTjmcG94c7MmRCzy5OHEfID7WhN7FLAG6Fo-hRp2RwVfaLkzroXLfvoSTQSNHQm3XztYYXeJxeK7vpO2qpH0uTAaFyZOPIYi8o9gWxFRmlTxA165RrvOcqOEJAhds-fXhTp90vy/s320/imgres-9.jpg" width="261" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Meet Brian, the invisible boy. No one ever seems to notice him or think to include him in their group, game, or birthday party...until, that is a new kid comes to class. When Justin, the new boy, arrives, Brian is the first to make him feel welcome. And when Brian and Justin team up to work on a class project together, Brian finds a way to shine.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Debate Question: Who ultimately helps the most to make Brian become more visible, Brian or Justin?</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Debate is a great way to teach figurative language and/or writing craft! </span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhw4uE3HEzXvUGxtdrQjVsT2qZlXEg_XI2g_J4EUXX5wxXww1wW_OC2DXe2TTg7777NaCTB34riHG0Nmdc6N3KVn6iFMVa2TyfIOb0g7gC-AMnCyGhasl4Pl3RROtMss0HDjZu4x09AY19/s1600/imgres-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhw4uE3HEzXvUGxtdrQjVsT2qZlXEg_XI2g_J4EUXX5wxXww1wW_OC2DXe2TTg7777NaCTB34riHG0Nmdc6N3KVn6iFMVa2TyfIOb0g7gC-AMnCyGhasl4Pl3RROtMss0HDjZu4x09AY19/s320/imgres-6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span 21px="" font-family:="" georgia="" line-height:="" merriweather="" serif="" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Caldecott medalist, Beth Krommes and Newbery Honor-winning poet, Joyce Sidman celebrate the beauty and value of spirals. What makes the tiny snail shell so beautiful? Why does that shape occur in nature over and over again but also celebrate the beauty and usefulness of this fascinating shape.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span 14px="" 21px="" font-family:="" font-size:="" georgia="" line-height:="" merriweather="" s="" serif=""><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span 14px="" 21px="" font-family:="" font-size:="" georgia="" line-height:="" merriweather="" s="" serif=""><b>Debate Question: Is the spiral (swirl) a better symbol for beauty or safety?</b></span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidALtCyLKezZTnQSVSp6jyJnLEaTYMc5pNb5DMthNO8705bsnJoW32Rkxmuk0KtrVQl-J1kCgQUIgzKJlrR7PqdnRt26l8PjdLl1sWGCMTNLydiDS8MD6BVXOw11gT9xGDTgeleFXc9Kum/s1600/imgres-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidALtCyLKezZTnQSVSp6jyJnLEaTYMc5pNb5DMthNO8705bsnJoW32Rkxmuk0KtrVQl-J1kCgQUIgzKJlrR7PqdnRt26l8PjdLl1sWGCMTNLydiDS8MD6BVXOw11gT9xGDTgeleFXc9Kum/s320/imgres-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span 21px="" font-family:="" georgia="" line-height:="" merriweather="" serif="" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">An injured magpie and a one-eyed dog live happily together in the forest, until a jealous fox arrives to teach them what it means to be alone.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span 21px="" font-family:="" georgia="" line-height:="" merriweather="" serif="" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span font-family:="" georgia="" merriweather="" serif=""><span 21px="" line-height:="" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Debate Question: Does the author create a sense of character more through the use of dialog or through the use of descriptive details?</b></span></span></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I have to give a huge shout out to 4th grade teacher, <a href="https://twitter.com/mollyleding?lang=en">Molly Leding</a>, for welcoming me into her classroom to learn about this work alongside her and her students. She has answered more questions than I can count, coached me as I learned to coach other teachers, and offered great suggestions and feedback for many of the titles I shared in today's post. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I'm looking forward to seeing what books others have included in their lists this year! A huge thank you goes out to <a 14.49px="" 21.735px="" alatino="" bold="" font-family:="" font-size:="" font-weight:="" georgia="" href="https://twitter.com/CathyMere" justify="" line-height:="" linotype="" none="" palatino="" quot="" serif="" text-align:="" text-decoration:="" utopia="">Cathy Mere</a><span 14.49px="" 21.735px="" bold="" font-family:="" font-size:="" font-weight:="" georgia="" justify="" line-height:="" linotype="" palatino="" quot="" serif="" text-align:="" utopia=""> and </span><a 14.49px="" 21.735px="" alatino="" bold="" font-family:="" font-size:="" font-weight:="" georgia="" href="https://twitter.com/mandyrobek" justify="" line-height:="" linotype="" none="" palatino="" quot="" serif="" text-align:="" text-decoration:="" utopia="">Mandy Robek</a><span 14.49px="" 21.735px="" bold="" font-family:="" font-size:="" font-weight:="" georgia="" justify="" line-height:="" linotype="" palatino="" quot="" serif="" text-align:="" utopia=""> for continuing to host the amazing celebration of picture books. I'm off to check out the </span><a 14.49px="" 21.735px="" alatino="" bold="" font-family:="" font-size:="" font-weight:="" georgia="" href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities/109747361653807401083" justify="" line-height:="" linotype="" none="" palatino="" quot="" serif="" text-align:="" text-decoration:="" utopia="">#pb10for10 Google Community</a><span 14.49px="" 21.735px="" bold="" font-family:="" font-size:="" font-weight:="" georgia="" justify="" line-height:="" linotype="" palatino="" quot="" serif="" text-align:="" utopia=""> and hope you will too.</span></span></div>
<span 14.49px="" 21.735px="" bold="" font-family:="" font-size:="" font-weight:="" georgia="" justify="" line-height:="" linotype="" palatino="" quot="" serif="" text-align:="" utopia=""><br /></span>
<br />
<div 14.49px="" 21.735px="" alatino="" bold="" font-family:="" font-size:="" font-weight:="" georgia="" justify="" line-height:="" linotype="" palatino="" quot="" serif="" text-align:="" utopia="">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">You can see my past lists here:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div 14.49px="" 21.735px="" alatino="" bold="" font-family:="" font-size:="" font-weight:="" georgia="" justify="" line-height:="" linotype="" palatino="" quot="" serif="" text-align:="" utopia="">
<a href="http://thebookmavenshaven.blogspot.com/2010/08/august-10-for-10-picture-book-event.html" style="color: #a90087; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Top 10 Picture Books for Kindergarten Readers</span></a></div>
<div 14.49px="" 21.735px="" alatino="" bold="" font-family:="" font-size:="" font-weight:="" georgia="" justify="" line-height:="" linotype="" palatino="" quot="" serif="" text-align:="" utopia="">
<a href="http://thebookmavenshaven.blogspot.com/2010/08/august-10-for-10-picture-book-event_10.html" style="color: #a90087; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Top 10 Picture Books for Intermediate Readers</span></a></div>
<div 14.49px="" 21.735px="" alatino="" bold="" font-family:="" font-size:="" font-weight:="" georgia="" justify="" line-height:="" linotype="" palatino="" quot="" serif="" text-align:="" utopia="">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://thebookmavenshaven.blogspot.com/2011/08/august-10-for-10-building-character.html">Top 10 Picture Books for Building Character & Community</a></span></div>
<div 14.49px="" 21.735px="" alatino="" bold="" font-family:="" font-size:="" font-weight:="" georgia="" justify="" line-height:="" linotype="" palatino="" quot="" serif="" text-align:="" utopia="">
<a href="http://thebookmavenshaven.blogspot.com/2012/08/august-10-for-10-celebrating-maine.html" style="color: #a90087; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Celebrating Maine Authors & Illustrators</span></a></div>
<div 14.49px="" 21.735px="" alatino="" bold="" font-family:="" font-size:="" font-weight:="" georgia="" justify="" line-height:="" linotype="" palatino="" quot="" serif="" text-align:="" utopia="">
<a href="https://www.smore.com/txut-2013-pb10for10" style="color: #a90087; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Top 10 Book Trailers</span></a></div>
<div 14.49px="" 21.735px="" alatino="" bold="" font-family:="" font-size:="" font-weight:="" georgia="" justify="" line-height:="" linotype="" palatino="" quot="" serif="" text-align:="" utopia="">
<a href="http://thebookmavenshaven.blogspot.com/2014/08/2014-picture-book-10-for-10.html" style="color: #a90087; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Top 10 Picture Book About Books & Reading</span></a><br />
<a href="http://thebookmavenshaven.blogspot.com/2015/08/august-10-for-10-2015pb10for10.html"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Top 10 Picture Books for Professional Development/Coaching</span></a></div>
LiteracyDocenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746444238586627666noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403531406777956827.post-6794004688883560622016-07-01T15:12:00.001-04:002016-07-17T20:22:49.511-04:00Poetry Friday~Possibilities<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqpP1awj0Yks8reV9A80Caq8nZNNM9aukhf-KU65rNdCYzBM-3yo0ISrjOdG9TyRltGIRipdzf4-L7U1VgdYX65a0lAyHPdh0mCZCkO03j4wQqs6WLPsOwr2nh99aO4ICnZbI18VV5RtJM/s1600/imgres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqpP1awj0Yks8reV9A80Caq8nZNNM9aukhf-KU65rNdCYzBM-3yo0ISrjOdG9TyRltGIRipdzf4-L7U1VgdYX65a0lAyHPdh0mCZCkO03j4wQqs6WLPsOwr2nh99aO4ICnZbI18VV5RtJM/s400/imgres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Today I finished part one of the <a href="http://www.nwp.org/">National Writing Project</a> through the <a href="http://www.southernmainewritingproject.org/">Southern Maine Writing Project</a>. This has been a stretching journey for me but one I am so grateful I did. I'm sharing my first real attempt at poetry here today, both as a celebration of completing this part of the journey, but also to push myself to make my writing more public. This piece was first sparked by an activity we did on the first day of the writing project, where we were asked to choose an item from a table that sparked a memory based on the smell. I chose a box of crayons. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Possibilites</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>September brings a </i></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i> brand new box.</i></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Each created for a specific purpose </i></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i> waiting with anticipation </i></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i> for the artist to tap</i></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i> into their creative uniqueness.</i></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-b27d3158-a7d9-9815-74f7-be54e047df88" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>A rainbow of possibilities….</i></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>The artist’s understanding of the </i></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i> medium will be essential.</i></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Pushed too hard, they break;</i></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i> held too gently, they may not </i></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i> reach their potential. </i></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Mixing and matching </i></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i> the kaleidoscope of variant colors</i></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>The artist will meld the bold, the vibrant</i></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i> with the muted and delicate</i></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Uncovering the subtle shades of </i></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i> individualistic greatness </i></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>All the while creating a sense of iridescent harmony.</i></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A rainbow of possibilities.</span></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIVTvgDlgCbkaURmVy85w_PTK2E5xjD0Fxzq0n4hkeBX45CcV1Jb6suvbxyO4rjehNx5bcvvDQfIuv6zA3C4RKB8ox_ueTb2ILwwEOjXq5O0xvBapdpvzvAy0mHdiqLdxw9g3SCyQhc-Zs/s1600/ESTABLISHED+1856.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIVTvgDlgCbkaURmVy85w_PTK2E5xjD0Fxzq0n4hkeBX45CcV1Jb6suvbxyO4rjehNx5bcvvDQfIuv6zA3C4RKB8ox_ueTb2ILwwEOjXq5O0xvBapdpvzvAy0mHdiqLdxw9g3SCyQhc-Zs/s320/ESTABLISHED+1856.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I created the digital piece using <a href="https://www.canva.com/">Canva</a>. </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
LiteracyDocenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746444238586627666noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403531406777956827.post-79254494338205632982016-03-14T19:15:00.002-04:002016-03-14T20:02:38.011-04:00{solsc} The Flip! #sol16<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgyZfAz0REPyS78avp6f44fScIM2ZoSem4_eEAwCcFuP14PtpWEUzlKfmSDAYjnf7t5KLsPgSyDH_CAnQqnDYPss6Q1gi-zKETmxI5sfSyZi0pp4QqaReLlZFm0hGsa-W3YlXtlI-2TOo/s1600/imgres-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgyZfAz0REPyS78avp6f44fScIM2ZoSem4_eEAwCcFuP14PtpWEUzlKfmSDAYjnf7t5KLsPgSyDH_CAnQqnDYPss6Q1gi-zKETmxI5sfSyZi0pp4QqaReLlZFm0hGsa-W3YlXtlI-2TOo/s200/imgres-3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>The March Slice of Life Challenge</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>hosted by <a href="https://twowritingteachers.wordpress.com/">The Two Writing Teachers</a></b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b><span style="color: orange;">Join us for a month of writing!</span></b></i><br />
<i><b><span style="color: orange;"><br /></span></b></i>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I was a cheerleader. Not the technical, super athletic gymnast type of cheerleader. I was more of the super LOUD, extra enthusiastic type of cheerleader. I could lead chants and execute cheer moves with great precision. Yes, I was that girl practicing cheer moves at the bus stop, on the playground, walking to check the mailbox, pretty much anytime, anywhere. I was <i style="font-weight: bold;">very </i>serious about being a cheerleader. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
One Saturday night when I was about 15 years old, I let my pride get the better of me. My best friend, Tammy, had come over for a sleepover. As we sat around the living room, the conversation somehow led to my dad challenging me to a cheering competition. Being the serious cheerleader that I was, I jumped at the chance to show <i><b>old</b></i> dad just how good I was! As any gentleman would do, my dad let me go first. I "Ready!Okayed" with gusto then executed a near flawless cheer. It was inspiring! The crowd erupted in applause! Okay. Maybe it was just polite clapping. But I had performed my very best. And after all, I was up against my dad. What did he know about cheering? Not a whole lot...or so I thought.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He congratulated me on my well executed cheer and then he "Ready! Okayed!". It wasn't bad<i>,</i> a little over exaggerated, but not bad. I was feeling okay. He was making up some kind of cheer that made absolutely no sense. Another good sign that things were going my way. His movements were completely over the top. Seriously over the top. I started planning out the words of encouragement I would use to console my poor dad. And then it happened...right there in the middle of my living room with eight foot ceilings. My dad...my <i><b>old </b></i>dad....did a backflip to end his routine. <b><i>A backflip people!</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
How is a girl supposed to compete with that?!? Of course, I couldn't. The judges (my mom, my younger brothers, and my best friend) gave the victory to my dad. My <i><b>old </b></i>dad beat me that night...and handed me what would be one of my most favorite memories!<br />
<br />
So really, I was the winner after all.</div>
</div>
LiteracyDocenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746444238586627666noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403531406777956827.post-7541792934951169412016-03-11T20:07:00.005-05:002016-03-11T20:08:18.422-05:00{solsc} PL Day #sol16<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgyZfAz0REPyS78avp6f44fScIM2ZoSem4_eEAwCcFuP14PtpWEUzlKfmSDAYjnf7t5KLsPgSyDH_CAnQqnDYPss6Q1gi-zKETmxI5sfSyZi0pp4QqaReLlZFm0hGsa-W3YlXtlI-2TOo/s1600/imgres-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgyZfAz0REPyS78avp6f44fScIM2ZoSem4_eEAwCcFuP14PtpWEUzlKfmSDAYjnf7t5KLsPgSyDH_CAnQqnDYPss6Q1gi-zKETmxI5sfSyZi0pp4QqaReLlZFm0hGsa-W3YlXtlI-2TOo/s200/imgres-3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>The March Slice of Life Challenge</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>hosted by The Two Writing Teachers</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b><span style="color: orange;">Join us for a month of writing!</span></b></i><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>"School [districts] should always be on a pathway of self-improvement, with the expectation that teachers will outgrow themselves." Lucy Calkins </b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I remember hearing those words in Lucy's opening remarks, kicking off the 2015 Coaching Institute on the Teaching of Reading. They were powerful! Today I was reminded again, of how powerful those words were. I am grateful to work in a district the ascribes to this philosophy. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Today was a professional learning day for teachers. In my role as literacy strategist, I am responsible, along with my coaching colleague, for providing the professional development on these days. I always approach these days hopeful that teachers will view the day as a beneficial use of their time. I spend a lot of time thinking (code for worrying) about if teachers will find the ideas and information we share tied to the work they are doing, not something "extra" that they have to find time to do. I want them to walk away feeling validated, while also feeling empowered to go deeper. <br />
<br />
I'm exhausted and need to spend time reflecting with my coaching colleague on how we can improve for the next time. But my teaching heart is bolstered by the ways I saw and heard teachers expressing ways they can outgrow themselves. Tonight I'm letting those conversations, reminders that none of us (myself included) ever truly "arrive", replay themselves in my mind as I crash on the couch after a long but very affirming week! </div>
</div>
LiteracyDocenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746444238586627666noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403531406777956827.post-57772543105744197762016-03-10T20:46:00.000-05:002016-03-10T20:46:27.537-05:00{solsc} Shine #sol16<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgyZfAz0REPyS78avp6f44fScIM2ZoSem4_eEAwCcFuP14PtpWEUzlKfmSDAYjnf7t5KLsPgSyDH_CAnQqnDYPss6Q1gi-zKETmxI5sfSyZi0pp4QqaReLlZFm0hGsa-W3YlXtlI-2TOo/s1600/imgres-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgyZfAz0REPyS78avp6f44fScIM2ZoSem4_eEAwCcFuP14PtpWEUzlKfmSDAYjnf7t5KLsPgSyDH_CAnQqnDYPss6Q1gi-zKETmxI5sfSyZi0pp4QqaReLlZFm0hGsa-W3YlXtlI-2TOo/s200/imgres-3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>The March Slice of Life Challenge</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>hosted by The Two Writing Teachers</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b><span style="color: orange;">Join us for a month of writing!</span></b></i><br />
<i><b><span style="color: orange;"><br /></span></b></i>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: justify;">This week my colleague, Matt, and I had the pleasure of hosting site visits for two different teams of educators from other school districts. We wanted the visits to be useful for these teachers so we planned out a schedule that provided them with observations in three classrooms, where they were able to see the reading and writing workshop in action. After each workshop, the host classroom teacher joined us for a debrief session, allowing our visitors to ask questions about not only what they had observed, but also general questions about each teacher's experience with using the Units of Study for Reading and Writing. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Watching our host teachers navigate their reading/writing workshop, the observer might think it's seamless and effortless. Transitions are smooth. Students are engaged. There's a tone within the classroom that its members are about to embark on serious work. There's community. There's REAL reading and writing...no busy work to be found here! However, what was seen in these classrooms was accomplished through reflective effort on each teacher's part. I get to see this mastery every day, but to see it again through someone else's eyes, was so powerful. <br />
<br />
Moving into each debrief, we made a conscious decision to take a back seat, allowing our teachers to take the lead in the conversations. I was reminded yet again just how fortunate I am to be doing this coaching work. Each teacher articulated their 'story' with confidence, answering questions with thoughtful reflection of the instructional decisions and teaching moves they made. As I listened to them talk, I was struck by the fact that this was even more about giving my teachers the opportunity to reflect, as it was giving visiting teams the opportunity to see the work in progress.<br />
<br />
And here's the thing that makes this all the more wonderful. Our visitors could come back tomorrow, unannounced, and see the exact same level of excellence in our classrooms. This is the work we do, every day, whether the spotlight is shining on it or not. <br />
<br />
I'm just fortunate to be able to shine the light. </div>
</div>
LiteracyDocenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746444238586627666noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403531406777956827.post-83110858998983849662016-03-09T20:26:00.003-05:002016-03-09T20:26:53.264-05:00{solsc} Glorious! #sol16<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgyZfAz0REPyS78avp6f44fScIM2ZoSem4_eEAwCcFuP14PtpWEUzlKfmSDAYjnf7t5KLsPgSyDH_CAnQqnDYPss6Q1gi-zKETmxI5sfSyZi0pp4QqaReLlZFm0hGsa-W3YlXtlI-2TOo/s1600/imgres-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgyZfAz0REPyS78avp6f44fScIM2ZoSem4_eEAwCcFuP14PtpWEUzlKfmSDAYjnf7t5KLsPgSyDH_CAnQqnDYPss6Q1gi-zKETmxI5sfSyZi0pp4QqaReLlZFm0hGsa-W3YlXtlI-2TOo/s200/imgres-3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>The March Slice of Life Challenge</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>hosted by The Two Writing Teachers</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b><span style="color: orange;">Join us for a month of writing!</span></b></i><br />
<i><b><span style="color: orange;"><br /></span></b></i>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I stepped out of the school building this afternoon, anxious to see if the weatherperson had forecasted the day correctly. March weather in Maine has a reputation for being persnickety, often times feeling like the excess baggage of winter. So when the long range forecast indicated highs in the high 60s today, I did not get my hopes up. I mean, it's only the 9th day of March. No way could we possibly see temperatures that high this soon.<br />
<br />
Well, we didn't have highs in the high 60s. No. The weatherperson got it wrong. Again. Instead we had a high of 75. Yep. You read that right. 75 degrees on March 9, 2016 in Maine. I wasted no time getting to my car, popping open my sunroof, and starting home. As I started the 35 minute commute, my mind was busy rearranging my after school plans. The prep work for Friday's professional day was moved several rungs down the priority ladder, as going for a walk quickly moved to the top!<br />
<br />
What a glorious afternoon! Usually I'm trying to keep a swift pace as I walk but not today. Instead I meandered through the cemetery across from my house, breathing in the warm fresh air, listening to the birds and taking in the early spring smell of mud. As I returned home, I admit, the weather really got the better of me. I went right out to the pool shed to pull out the grill. Yep. First grilled meal of the season. And since I'd already gone that far...I topped this glorious glimpse of what's to come with a trip to get an ice cream.<br />
<br />
I know this weather won't last. I know there's a really good chance Winter will make it's presence known again before Spring finally takes hold for good. But this one day, holding out a carrot of what's to come, was a welcome distraction in my otherwise ridiculously busy schedule.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcazB6gtS-stQYHi2MDnEKahPMUYgy0vvVD_og6HiRQ2p_sZnmxMlRGeoh42ZsCUAW-QtQqMoIV_Rl7CJsV8uSsoxFPDfkuL-d5MbEHwRJsq4_gXJlHg-eC_o-0yGfMcySnEDmgFL3W73J/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-03-09+at+8.23.43+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcazB6gtS-stQYHi2MDnEKahPMUYgy0vvVD_og6HiRQ2p_sZnmxMlRGeoh42ZsCUAW-QtQqMoIV_Rl7CJsV8uSsoxFPDfkuL-d5MbEHwRJsq4_gXJlHg-eC_o-0yGfMcySnEDmgFL3W73J/s320/Screen+Shot+2016-03-09+at+8.23.43+PM.png" width="316" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It won't be long now, my friend! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
</div>
LiteracyDocenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746444238586627666noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403531406777956827.post-37696591813827307732016-03-07T21:55:00.002-05:002016-03-07T21:55:45.289-05:00{solsc} Today I... #sol16<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgyZfAz0REPyS78avp6f44fScIM2ZoSem4_eEAwCcFuP14PtpWEUzlKfmSDAYjnf7t5KLsPgSyDH_CAnQqnDYPss6Q1gi-zKETmxI5sfSyZi0pp4QqaReLlZFm0hGsa-W3YlXtlI-2TOo/s1600/imgres-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgyZfAz0REPyS78avp6f44fScIM2ZoSem4_eEAwCcFuP14PtpWEUzlKfmSDAYjnf7t5KLsPgSyDH_CAnQqnDYPss6Q1gi-zKETmxI5sfSyZi0pp4QqaReLlZFm0hGsa-W3YlXtlI-2TOo/s200/imgres-3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>The March Slice of Life Challenge</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>hosted by <a href="https://twowritingteachers.wordpress.com/">The Two Writing Teachers</a></b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b><span style="color: orange;">Join us for a month of writing!</span></b></i><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Today I...</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
....voxed words of encouragement to a coaching colleague dealing with a difficult situation</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
....taught myself how to trim and combine video clips into one video</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
.....created a new anchor chart, complete with little people drawings, for a lesson</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
....watched previous modeled lessons begin to take hold as readers became more engaged in reading</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
....read a professional article on coaching</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
.....prepped for two site visits later this week</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
.....finalized schedule for an upcoming TC Staff Developer visit</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
.....worked on content for Friday's Professional Learning Day</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
......participated in a webinar on Synthetic Phonics </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
......had dinner with a former colleague, catching up on our professional lives </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
......helped my niece, an education major, with an assignment on my drive home</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
......wrote something for the seventh day in a row</div>
</div>
LiteracyDocenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746444238586627666noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403531406777956827.post-77372689213089103732016-03-06T21:58:00.001-05:002016-03-06T21:58:46.421-05:00{solsc} Strong. #sol16<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgyZfAz0REPyS78avp6f44fScIM2ZoSem4_eEAwCcFuP14PtpWEUzlKfmSDAYjnf7t5KLsPgSyDH_CAnQqnDYPss6Q1gi-zKETmxI5sfSyZi0pp4QqaReLlZFm0hGsa-W3YlXtlI-2TOo/s1600/imgres-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgyZfAz0REPyS78avp6f44fScIM2ZoSem4_eEAwCcFuP14PtpWEUzlKfmSDAYjnf7t5KLsPgSyDH_CAnQqnDYPss6Q1gi-zKETmxI5sfSyZi0pp4QqaReLlZFm0hGsa-W3YlXtlI-2TOo/s200/imgres-3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>The March Slice of Life Challenge</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>hosted by <a href="https://twowritingteachers.wordpress.com/">The Two Writing Teachers</a></b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b><span style="color: orange;">Join us for a month of writing!</span></b></i><br />
<i><b><span style="color: orange;"><br /></span></b></i>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">"You lift my weary head. You make me strong instead."</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b>Words wash over my tired soul,</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b> </b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b> repeating the promise of strength. </b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b> </b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b>Although the lyrics have moved on,</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b> tears stream down; </b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b>Emotions bottled up release </b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b> in the solitude of the moment.</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b>Exhausted from holding up the shield </b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b> of confidence and positivity</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b>I drop the shield and stand, </b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b> allowing the promise of whose I am</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>Wash over my tired soul. </b></i><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2fEoh5NpnUskM7-zHKOizolSClHHUN25ENWQ9HnrmruKWsHjKyWt4mWT4f50k9SOa3DlymOA9HozMm2DdtcCWMaB1iQQ8ITXDcKUGhPI-4LkD-AISPO3NcwELup_JZRVzzKx9DPcdMB_l/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-03-06+at+9.56.36+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2fEoh5NpnUskM7-zHKOizolSClHHUN25ENWQ9HnrmruKWsHjKyWt4mWT4f50k9SOa3DlymOA9HozMm2DdtcCWMaB1iQQ8ITXDcKUGhPI-4LkD-AISPO3NcwELup_JZRVzzKx9DPcdMB_l/s320/Screen+Shot+2016-03-06+at+9.56.36+PM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image credit: Proverbs 31 Ministries</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
</div>
LiteracyDocenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746444238586627666noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403531406777956827.post-47832187374668230222016-03-05T19:49:00.001-05:002016-03-05T19:49:05.148-05:00{solsc} Special to Me #sol16<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgyZfAz0REPyS78avp6f44fScIM2ZoSem4_eEAwCcFuP14PtpWEUzlKfmSDAYjnf7t5KLsPgSyDH_CAnQqnDYPss6Q1gi-zKETmxI5sfSyZi0pp4QqaReLlZFm0hGsa-W3YlXtlI-2TOo/s1600/imgres-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgyZfAz0REPyS78avp6f44fScIM2ZoSem4_eEAwCcFuP14PtpWEUzlKfmSDAYjnf7t5KLsPgSyDH_CAnQqnDYPss6Q1gi-zKETmxI5sfSyZi0pp4QqaReLlZFm0hGsa-W3YlXtlI-2TOo/s200/imgres-3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>The March Slice of Life Challenge</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>hosted by <a href="https://twowritingteachers.wordpress.com/">The Two Writing Teachers</a></b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b><span style="color: orange;">Join us for a month of writing!</span></b></i><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEginIs97RteKbgECvxtKsIriHAjoJq0sDpsv-EEx6J0V9h0OPMntoL_H3pTnZOyzCdNYHAhkFBPcRd_7FMbUZ95lkK6ClnBhv-KD1D0oflnsURKb4K-5ZN3E9Yn1aCA4ipJVBkfniSqME0Q/s1600/200122_1962836951012_5599390_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEginIs97RteKbgECvxtKsIriHAjoJq0sDpsv-EEx6J0V9h0OPMntoL_H3pTnZOyzCdNYHAhkFBPcRd_7FMbUZ95lkK6ClnBhv-KD1D0oflnsURKb4K-5ZN3E9Yn1aCA4ipJVBkfniSqME0Q/s320/200122_1962836951012_5599390_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Auntie, you are special to me. Love, Kylie"<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This picture came up in my Facebook feed today. She wrote this to me when she was in first grade. She's twelve now. I have to be honest. I wish she was still six. She couldn't wait to get to my house, calling on Thursday so that we could make a list of all the things we would do during her bi-weekly weekend visits. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The visits are spread further apart now, as friends start to become more central to her world. She doesn't call to make a plan anymore. But this morning as we sat on the loveseat, her head leaning on my shoulder, watching episodes of Project Runway Junior I'd saved since her last visit, I was more focused on the moment. These glimpses of the "little" girl are cherished moments. I know that I'm still special to her. I also understand that the eye rolls when I say silly things that used to make her laugh are just a part of her growing up. I understand. I don't like it. But I understand. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
And I'm thankful for all the time I've poured into her life so far, because that bond will be an anchor for both of us over the next few years of navigating the middle school years. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
She's special to me too, as are all of my nieces and nephews. I'm so grateful God chose me to be their Auntie.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
LiteracyDocenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746444238586627666noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403531406777956827.post-86561908358025469242016-03-04T05:00:00.000-05:002016-03-04T19:45:04.933-05:00{solsc} Wait for It. #sol16<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgyZfAz0REPyS78avp6f44fScIM2ZoSem4_eEAwCcFuP14PtpWEUzlKfmSDAYjnf7t5KLsPgSyDH_CAnQqnDYPss6Q1gi-zKETmxI5sfSyZi0pp4QqaReLlZFm0hGsa-W3YlXtlI-2TOo/s1600/imgres-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgyZfAz0REPyS78avp6f44fScIM2ZoSem4_eEAwCcFuP14PtpWEUzlKfmSDAYjnf7t5KLsPgSyDH_CAnQqnDYPss6Q1gi-zKETmxI5sfSyZi0pp4QqaReLlZFm0hGsa-W3YlXtlI-2TOo/s200/imgres-3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>The March Slice of Life Challenge</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>hosted by <a href="https://twowritingteachers.wordpress.com/">The Two Writing Teachers</a></b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b><span style="color: orange;">Join us for a month of writing!</span></b></i><br />
<i><b><span style="color: orange;"><br /></span></b></i>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR2N7UniM02xHi9mGKrjBt9eAhJ9scArRvrGONG3eqS18xvoEMlFGQybpi8Ro7UhEQRFlPDrqUl_4tYd9OgH8Vpq7oj0Sngor_lW0ipPRbum65d2AgbpTx-vkVB5aqVPyy-Ztqwa1C3hGv/s1600/20160303_150010-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR2N7UniM02xHi9mGKrjBt9eAhJ9scArRvrGONG3eqS18xvoEMlFGQybpi8Ro7UhEQRFlPDrqUl_4tYd9OgH8Vpq7oj0Sngor_lW0ipPRbum65d2AgbpTx-vkVB5aqVPyy-Ztqwa1C3hGv/s200/20160303_150010-1.jpg" width="139" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
"<i>I don't quite get what you're trying to say,</i>" the fourth grade student said after his first grade buddy had tried to explain the feedback he was giving on his partner's writing. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: justify;">I knew they were supposed be talking about the content of the opinion pieces they had written after a debate on whether Lilly, the main character in </span><b style="text-align: justify;"><i><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780688128975">Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse</a></i></b><span style="text-align: justify;"> was a good role model. They had done that. I</span> sat with my body turned to the side, eyes looking away from the pair, and waited. I didn't jump in to interrupt. I didn't ask clarifying questions. I didn't try to redirect the conversation. I didn't say a word. I just waited. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
"<i>Well, like right here</i>" the first grader continued on, turning to the last page of his partner's writing. "<i>See here...when you read that to me,</i>" pointing to <b>Thank you</b> , "<i>you read it like an exclamation point but you put a period there.</i>"</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>"Oohh, I get what you mean. You think I should have used different punctuation, right?"</i> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
"<i>Yeah,</i>" and to further make his point, the first grader turned back to the first page, pointing to a certain place, "<i>And right here, I said it sounds like a question but there isn't a question mark. That's what I was trying to tell you.</i>"</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The fourth grader nodded in agreement. "<i>Yeah, well, I'm really not that great at punctuation.</i>" </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Silence. I turned slightly to see what was happening. They were looking at each other in awkward silence. I continued to wait. After about a minute, the brave first grader pressed on.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
"<i>Well, you could fix it now</i>," the first grader tentatively suggested.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
"<i>Oh. Yeah. Sure."</i> The fourth grader picked up his pencil and added the question mark. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
With growing confidence, the first grader continued <i>"I'm really good at punctuation. Do you want me to help you fix some more?"</i> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
And then I watched as the two diligently worked through the fourth grader's piece. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
As I thought about that exchange on my drive home I knew I had been <span style="text-align: left;">witness to some amazing editing work. Yes. It was exactly that. Amazing. But it was more than that for myself and the classroom teachers of these two young writers. It was an important </span>reminder of the ways kids can be the "lead" learner when we're willing to step back. Step back and wait. </div>
</div>
LiteracyDocenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746444238586627666noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403531406777956827.post-53295817533349318962016-03-03T05:55:00.000-05:002016-03-03T05:56:22.798-05:00{solsc} Worth It! #sol16<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgyZfAz0REPyS78avp6f44fScIM2ZoSem4_eEAwCcFuP14PtpWEUzlKfmSDAYjnf7t5KLsPgSyDH_CAnQqnDYPss6Q1gi-zKETmxI5sfSyZi0pp4QqaReLlZFm0hGsa-W3YlXtlI-2TOo/s1600/imgres-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgyZfAz0REPyS78avp6f44fScIM2ZoSem4_eEAwCcFuP14PtpWEUzlKfmSDAYjnf7t5KLsPgSyDH_CAnQqnDYPss6Q1gi-zKETmxI5sfSyZi0pp4QqaReLlZFm0hGsa-W3YlXtlI-2TOo/s200/imgres-3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>The March Slice of Life Challenge</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>hosted by <a href="https://twowritingteachers.wordpress.com/">The Two Writing Teachers</a></b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b><span style="color: orange;">Join us for a month of writing!</span></b></i><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: orange; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: orange;">My nephew, Tyler has had a deep, deep affection for McDonald's for his whole life. Granted he's only 14. But still, we're talking total and complete loyalty. If given the choice, he would eat every single meal there, on your dime of course. Unfortunately for him, the rest of his family doesn't share his affinity. </span><span style="color: orange;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: orange;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
When he was 10, my husband and I had taken him and his younger sister, Kylie to Florida for February Vacation. There are a lot of McDonald's in the Orlando area. Every single time we drove by one, Tyler asked if we could eat there. It didn't matter that we had already eaten. After one such request, I decided I would distract him and the following conversation ensued:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Me: "Did you know Uncle John used to work at McDonald's?"</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Tyler: (in complete shock) "WHAT??? Did you <i>really</i> Uncle John?"</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
John: "Yes, I did."</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Tyler: "Why in the world would you quit THAT job??? That's gotta be the <i>best</i> job in the whole world!"</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
John: (joking with him) "Well, Auntie told me she wouldn't marry me unless I made more money."</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It's quiet in the back seat for about a minute and then...</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Tyler: (w/ a tone of <i>great </i>disgust) "Well...I hope she was worth it!"</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
You can't make this stuff up. Humbling. And absolutely hysterical! </div>
</div>
LiteracyDocenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746444238586627666noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403531406777956827.post-42949427832932511092016-03-02T05:00:00.000-05:002016-03-02T05:45:39.042-05:00{solsc} I Should #sol16<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgyZfAz0REPyS78avp6f44fScIM2ZoSem4_eEAwCcFuP14PtpWEUzlKfmSDAYjnf7t5KLsPgSyDH_CAnQqnDYPss6Q1gi-zKETmxI5sfSyZi0pp4QqaReLlZFm0hGsa-W3YlXtlI-2TOo/s1600/imgres-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgyZfAz0REPyS78avp6f44fScIM2ZoSem4_eEAwCcFuP14PtpWEUzlKfmSDAYjnf7t5KLsPgSyDH_CAnQqnDYPss6Q1gi-zKETmxI5sfSyZi0pp4QqaReLlZFm0hGsa-W3YlXtlI-2TOo/s200/imgres-3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>The March Slice of Life Challenge</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>hosted by The Two Writing Teachers</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b><span style="color: orange;">Join us for a month of writing!</span></b></i><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I should have major burn scars on the left side of my face and arm. I should...but I don't. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I was 7 or 8 years old. I can't quite remember. But I remember that night as clearly as if it just happened. I guess you could say it was <i>seared</i> into my memory all those years ago. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
There wasn't anything unusual about this particular weekend camping trip. My three younger brothers and I had spent that Saturday swimming, fishing, playing on the playground, and running around playing hide-and-seek and other games. Dinner was over, and we were all sitting around the campfire...the fire that had been burning steady since Friday when we arrived. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
There were rules for being around the campfire. I was a rule follower. I can still hear my parents saying <i>"Never run or walk between the campfire and the camp chairs. Always go behind the chairs. Always." </i>And I always did...until that Saturday night. My brothers were sitting on the other side of campfire. They were teasing me about something, what I can't really remember. But as most sibling squabbles will go, at some point I reached my teasing limit. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Jumping up from my camp chair, eyes locked on the offending brother who was already planning his escape, I began running around the crackling campfire, forgetting the rule about going behind the camp chairs. Forgetting about the extra long log that had been placed in the fire, the end sticking out. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I don't necessarily remember tripping over the log. I DO remember lying on the ground, looking into the campfire, my left arm actually fully in the fire, the left side of my face laying full on the hot stone edging. I remember the heat. I remember the flames dancing around me. And then I remember my daddy picking me up, running toward the large water cooler we kept on the picnic table. I remember hearing him and my mommy as they quickly moved across the campsite, praying. I remember being held under the water cooler, pouring both ice cold water and prayers over my body.<br />
<br />
I remember that I didn't have even a trace of a red mark. Anywhere. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I should have major burn scars on the left side of my face and arm. I should...but I don't. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
LiteracyDocenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746444238586627666noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403531406777956827.post-47858593466113008502016-03-01T05:30:00.000-05:002016-03-01T06:27:53.457-05:00{solsc} Nudges #sol16<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgyZfAz0REPyS78avp6f44fScIM2ZoSem4_eEAwCcFuP14PtpWEUzlKfmSDAYjnf7t5KLsPgSyDH_CAnQqnDYPss6Q1gi-zKETmxI5sfSyZi0pp4QqaReLlZFm0hGsa-W3YlXtlI-2TOo/s1600/imgres-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgyZfAz0REPyS78avp6f44fScIM2ZoSem4_eEAwCcFuP14PtpWEUzlKfmSDAYjnf7t5KLsPgSyDH_CAnQqnDYPss6Q1gi-zKETmxI5sfSyZi0pp4QqaReLlZFm0hGsa-W3YlXtlI-2TOo/s200/imgres-3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>The March Slice of Life Challenge</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>hosted by The Two Writing Teachers</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b><span style="color: orange;">Join us for a month of writing!</span></b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b><span style="color: orange;"><br /></span></b></i>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I'm always thankful for the people in my life that inspire me to be the 'best' me I can possibly be. Those who encourage me in the things that I feel confident in while gently (and sometimes not so gently) nudging me to take risks; to push myself past what I *think* I can do. Those who see the possibilities I've yet to see for myself. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
My journey to taking part in this challenge started with a Voxer conversation and this tweet back in January:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPwiGqGdXVLgZhlxSoxYPiU_yTm6DCX5FW4Y2s-JeItSKxuoC-lWjteIKD6Z82XF5xbZhyphenhyphenG4u1STGXG2yNzS37g_ghjuJxuMAW4OI0PFS06XgdQT6OFSl9HpNjZoiUdVUCcFkVo7XwIKr2/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-02-29+at+9.22.15+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPwiGqGdXVLgZhlxSoxYPiU_yTm6DCX5FW4Y2s-JeItSKxuoC-lWjteIKD6Z82XF5xbZhyphenhyphenG4u1STGXG2yNzS37g_ghjuJxuMAW4OI0PFS06XgdQT6OFSl9HpNjZoiUdVUCcFkVo7XwIKr2/s320/Screen+Shot+2016-02-29+at+9.22.15+PM.png" width="303" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>Sure</i>, I thought, <i>I could surely write one post-it note a day for a week. </i> And so it began...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXl0lfrkt1i7sRfKuVVNweAuNm6VH-Dm5g8whyxjxdWqGbEZteLCOlGrzFtj2D-MKC_x_00iH_a03CB0x1WjszMbYpV8XdEweyc332gWpT8MHoi9C30Iw8rMBAa-LL6bnNmxQ0heVUdqlo/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-02-29+at+9.22.58+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXl0lfrkt1i7sRfKuVVNweAuNm6VH-Dm5g8whyxjxdWqGbEZteLCOlGrzFtj2D-MKC_x_00iH_a03CB0x1WjszMbYpV8XdEweyc332gWpT8MHoi9C30Iw8rMBAa-LL6bnNmxQ0heVUdqlo/s320/Screen+Shot+2016-02-29+at+9.22.58+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And I posted for a little over a week. Eleven days, in fact. I even went a little crazy in Target one day and walked out with "writerly tools". </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgz0-N2k742PGH70cnScCNswUQ_w7vZKOObecIoxZDxUTqmYvvpPofE5tf0mXtUb7x_blShNYWjUeJntYdsytcTMXV0qGnmsL0Z_JAVwDUMPdfz_evuGUdvQYg_kMgS_4xuMc6KQ2ondQE/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-02-29+at+9.35.22+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgz0-N2k742PGH70cnScCNswUQ_w7vZKOObecIoxZDxUTqmYvvpPofE5tf0mXtUb7x_blShNYWjUeJntYdsytcTMXV0qGnmsL0Z_JAVwDUMPdfz_evuGUdvQYg_kMgS_4xuMc6KQ2ondQE/s320/Screen+Shot+2016-02-29+at+9.35.22+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
And while I didn't continue with post-it notes, I didn't forget the nudges and conversations about the importance of living a writerly life. I made a few lists of ideas to write about. I bought a new professional book on teaching writing and re-read parts of professional books I already owned. I even wrote a few entries. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And then came another "gentle" nudge...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVK5lZlKcP-x-36jC06UAP1dBV92R5jqSMZt5bh_JmDwcd1sFtNyaA76rx2wl1epMC23pXUj1g4RJvX-znJq2lordvo_ywklqLaIAq0EYv_ipWeq0veNH3GrOoyyXuErAwqEslM3NMzQUw/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-02-29+at+9.05.06+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="123" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVK5lZlKcP-x-36jC06UAP1dBV92R5jqSMZt5bh_JmDwcd1sFtNyaA76rx2wl1epMC23pXUj1g4RJvX-znJq2lordvo_ywklqLaIAq0EYv_ipWeq0veNH3GrOoyyXuErAwqEslM3NMzQUw/s320/Screen+Shot+2016-02-29+at+9.05.06+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
...and here I am. Writing my first #sol16 post. But that's not the only result of those gentle nudges from a dear friend. No, I'm really taking the plunge and have just recently been accepted into the Southern Maine Writing Project's 2016 Invitational Summer/Fall Institute. I am making the commitment to nurture and grow the "writer" side of myself. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And so I want to thank you, <a href="https://twitter.com/MrsSokolowski?lang=en">Kathleen</a>, for your friendship, your dedication to your students, your passion for "<a href="https://twowritingteachers.wordpress.com/2016/01/24/to-write-or-not-to-write/">getting on the bus</a>" and your commitment to bringing others along on this journey. You never know where those "gentle" nudges will lead. This first #sol16 post is dedicated to you. </div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><b><span style="color: orange;"><br /></span></b></i></div>
</div>
LiteracyDocenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746444238586627666noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403531406777956827.post-89720919251175643192015-08-10T11:58:00.000-04:002018-03-22T10:06:48.854-04:00August 10 for 10 2015~#pb10for10<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0dO95vpC7fiSkRPRZtzs4u_NjTvYXSuS18XLlwc_bsH5V9gkhL2H6N6SqJgiH_3dWm7lxz3QAfvCayjAhVOIJ52nVNDUPedg6Gj-1fT7ysefmGPLekenlOrzIvQR1Abw944UgEd57nNMV/s1600/pb_10_for_10_015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0dO95vpC7fiSkRPRZtzs4u_NjTvYXSuS18XLlwc_bsH5V9gkhL2H6N6SqJgiH_3dWm7lxz3QAfvCayjAhVOIJ52nVNDUPedg6Gj-1fT7ysefmGPLekenlOrzIvQR1Abw944UgEd57nNMV/s320/pb_10_for_10_015.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
#pb10for10: Picture Books for Professional Development/Coaching</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
As my almost 4 year old nephew would say, this is my "pavorite" day of the blogging year, hands down! I can't think of a better way to celebrate the power of picture books across grade levels and content areas. Now in it's SIXTH year, I'm always inspired by the variety of book lists that everyone creates. Today, and in the days to come because it will take that long to get to all the lists, we will see old "friends" in new ways, find new "friends", and inevitably create long hold lists at our libraries and pricey shopping carts at local bookstores and/or online outlets. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Since last year, I've moved out of the classroom and into the role of literacy coach. The shift from focusing on <i>children</i> as my learners to <i>teachers</i> as my learners hasn't diminished my firm belief that picture books move our understanding and thinking. Because of that, I've always included them as read alouds in professional development session for a variety of purposes. Today I'm sharing ten titles with ideas and themes that support discussions about the teaching practices and classroom environments we strive to create. If you've never used a picture book with teachers to get conversations started, I hope today's list will spark some ideas. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ-LdUDQmj-tRIOkh1rMAUm0yNQvjOpprczk9fQL-TJ-sC37ABYHa1MBy6K533F24ANuGN9Vzk9NAFVfB8O5ft9ObKXTs3I5Gqjk3mX3TDxbooGRK6jvEhUUAyrhczDUog5WIfKuk5GrPR/s1600/Unknown-7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ-LdUDQmj-tRIOkh1rMAUm0yNQvjOpprczk9fQL-TJ-sC37ABYHa1MBy6K533F24ANuGN9Vzk9NAFVfB8O5ft9ObKXTs3I5Gqjk3mX3TDxbooGRK6jvEhUUAyrhczDUog5WIfKuk5GrPR/s200/Unknown-7.jpeg" width="157" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780762447213">If You Hold a Seed</a> by <a href="http://www.ellymackay.com/">Elly MacKay</a> captures the magic that happens when dream seeds are planted and tended. Each year we are entrusted with a new packet of seeds. This beautifully illustrated book reminds us that will patience, skill, and perseverance, extraordinary gifts can blossom within our classroom communities. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2VfomJHUilc-B_X2ePTp6Srd-5JRxeVLuT7iRRTM22xQBmAJpyk91UAqght3DPeFVOJoMaq2_22yNxn5HgtSd_1e86aug5ayKKVhdvE5pxO0-nBFLs85ZE3EUsWpZDvYRcgFjgHQZv8Fm/s1600/Unknown-6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2VfomJHUilc-B_X2ePTp6Srd-5JRxeVLuT7iRRTM22xQBmAJpyk91UAqght3DPeFVOJoMaq2_22yNxn5HgtSd_1e86aug5ayKKVhdvE5pxO0-nBFLs85ZE3EUsWpZDvYRcgFjgHQZv8Fm/s200/Unknown-6.jpeg" width="196" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780618238552">Courage</a> isn't just found in the BIG things life throws our way. This book by <a href="http://www.hmhco.com/bookstore/authors/Bernard-Waber/2223639">Bernard Waber </a>offers the opportunity to have teachers think about the things that take courage in their teaching practice. Staying true to what you know is best practice, listening to another point of view, writing <i>with</i> your students, trying a new instructional strategy. It's the small acts of courage that make the most impact! </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2QGRcNf0nDnZyKU6nnMOh5BXZ-yi3_YY6RKgyVNthWhMbepO-HHv-yMVr63PcvSfp11AjJgfJ8OqrOwMA4iPqNiSSUzsHeXwF_CrZXZS8Ue7fSNkbhsmQ6MPdO9UQn-q5to5IuIOPlRsj/s1600/Unknown-5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2QGRcNf0nDnZyKU6nnMOh5BXZ-yi3_YY6RKgyVNthWhMbepO-HHv-yMVr63PcvSfp11AjJgfJ8OqrOwMA4iPqNiSSUzsHeXwF_CrZXZS8Ue7fSNkbhsmQ6MPdO9UQn-q5to5IuIOPlRsj/s200/Unknown-5.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781442481770">Flight School </a>by <a href="http://www.litajudge.net/">Lita Judge</a> demonstrates the important reminder that success often comes out of perseverance and team work. Moving teachers from working in isolation to working as a team is important work and this is a beautiful picture of what team work can bring about. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEuGygR1yqXJZAXpQpl0X4ANenbcXmlg8ThiAmNYIZ9G8ZMrduTkb4AgylisYE10n24kTscurtU_3nDQj0w_yCYWgF40a0VNx2aPxcHI78q5DR90hro-r5CaqzIPqNAUDtoNWc2JOJtF_G/s1600/Unknown-10.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEuGygR1yqXJZAXpQpl0X4ANenbcXmlg8ThiAmNYIZ9G8ZMrduTkb4AgylisYE10n24kTscurtU_3nDQj0w_yCYWgF40a0VNx2aPxcHI78q5DR90hro-r5CaqzIPqNAUDtoNWc2JOJtF_G/s1600/Unknown-10.jpeg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The fact that one little bird's determination is responsible for saving a forest is one that shouldn't be lost on teachers. There is no problem too big when we are willing to face our fears, put aside misconceptions, and work to make a difference. Teachers do this every single day, in lots of small ways. <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781553655336">The Little Hummingbird </a>by Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas is an invitation for teachers to talk about the little ways they face challenges everyday.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixG3ZQl4OIFu4EUsZddHqvbLiZ44xktsJUo9xvCS30_Sp_hNS2a4a47-Xge1fl9OMBY5HdsCfA9Nefuck_bSjl3fvYSFUV8BuJPjW6ro0ylsXTlNL5JB3J_iGCdkrHMIzzuM_D-3TGXM4F/s1600/Unknown-11.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixG3ZQl4OIFu4EUsZddHqvbLiZ44xktsJUo9xvCS30_Sp_hNS2a4a47-Xge1fl9OMBY5HdsCfA9Nefuck_bSjl3fvYSFUV8BuJPjW6ro0ylsXTlNL5JB3J_iGCdkrHMIzzuM_D-3TGXM4F/s1600/Unknown-11.jpeg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I knew on page 2 of this book that I must own it and add it to the picture books I use with teachers this coming year. <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781423103714">My Pen</a> by <a href="http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/contributor/christopher-myers">Christopher Myers</a> is perfect for launching writing work with teachers but it can also be used to remind teachers to look beyond the page to truly see their students as individuals, getting to know their interests, fears, and dreams. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4xDwj45eS2w4I8YjNWlKZRyTyrO2nLchOPNbN6EkyhMdVsHJuy2-jQDwYaigYePj-cK3q3jA2CYeYVCrtk0C0S8vtr9NLaryaKwQHmtB3G6DZjlAeSG0gPyBPXPZNmqOe80wmG15fDLUS/s1600/Unknown-9.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4xDwj45eS2w4I8YjNWlKZRyTyrO2nLchOPNbN6EkyhMdVsHJuy2-jQDwYaigYePj-cK3q3jA2CYeYVCrtk0C0S8vtr9NLaryaKwQHmtB3G6DZjlAeSG0gPyBPXPZNmqOe80wmG15fDLUS/s1600/Unknown-9.jpeg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Bringing this book out in the middle of the year offers the opportunity to remind teachers that learning something new...a new strategy, conferring, using a workshop model...takes time and practice. <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780152055738">Walk On! A Guide for Babies of All Ages </a> by <a href="http://marlafrazee.com/">Marla Frazee </a>is a good reminder that missteps, bobbles, and failed attempts are all part of the learning! Embrace it! </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrXD6FD3EYnOUQZPX0tOvsYvFZaCZ6z_pFImF5kYModZ3lXf0iEglxUXAlFnFb1i1i31PYWX1n1b806-5uMJphxBqTdwmS0Uy7vjYK7HHbqnnNGOgdUEOkMAZYl8zfDaZlsceL_2FwQEo1/s1600/Unknown-13.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrXD6FD3EYnOUQZPX0tOvsYvFZaCZ6z_pFImF5kYModZ3lXf0iEglxUXAlFnFb1i1i31PYWX1n1b806-5uMJphxBqTdwmS0Uy7vjYK7HHbqnnNGOgdUEOkMAZYl8zfDaZlsceL_2FwQEo1/s1600/Unknown-13.jpeg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780811868655">Duck! Rabbit!</a> by <a href="http://www.whoisamy.com/">Amy Krouse Rosenthal</a> is an important book to share with teachers when thinking about teaching & learning. As members of a learning community, we need to be open to a variety of perspectives, taking time to listen to views that are different from ours. We all bring experiences with us that impact our perspectives..and allowing time to share them might just help us all look at a situation or student differently. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVsEKMfiU-ErKNM-RFBSeBLYNiXPbm3U959GjBwg4tj3DuQiXVodn8enZ6cdEDuaIUXtCPuZrJ-BcXxoaqCSBM-WvIqfrWrbaPbHS4iH6ASoBSIWoKCs4ykray1UgFbBy_2Ly1T_Ley45/s1600/Unknown-8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVsEKMfiU-ErKNM-RFBSeBLYNiXPbm3U959GjBwg4tj3DuQiXVodn8enZ6cdEDuaIUXtCPuZrJ-BcXxoaqCSBM-WvIqfrWrbaPbHS4iH6ASoBSIWoKCs4ykray1UgFbBy_2Ly1T_Ley45/s1600/Unknown-8.jpeg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
We often start our school year with the big picture in mind. We know exactly the kind of learning environment we want to create. We just what we need to do to make it. And then we hit a roadblock. The plan doesn't go as we envisioned. <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781554537044">The Most Magnificent Thing</a> by <a href="http://www.ashleyspires.com/">Ashley Spire</a> reminds that sometimes it okay to step away, to refocus, and then try again. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDN9wklt6a1hjbnos-iFiurHuZrNRTccJ-CRBr7ECxaKtxhMU7ThyphenhyphenDxDtcCxR60GPdZSLWlYLdR5TqyRvqMXnP8YeSnq2YWEN2HL-ucDqetDLxQEOpAd80pgsiU8TVLvH2nLLo89IFwrvX/s1600/Unknown-12.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDN9wklt6a1hjbnos-iFiurHuZrNRTccJ-CRBr7ECxaKtxhMU7ThyphenhyphenDxDtcCxR60GPdZSLWlYLdR5TqyRvqMXnP8YeSnq2YWEN2HL-ucDqetDLxQEOpAd80pgsiU8TVLvH2nLLo89IFwrvX/s1600/Unknown-12.jpeg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Going-Places-Paul-Reynolds/dp/1442466081/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1439219933&sr=1-1&keywords=going+places">Going Places</a> by <a href="http://www.fablevisionlearning.com/">Paul Reynolds</a> reminds teachers that it's okay to think outside of the box, embrace our creative side, and try doing things in a different way when it comes to implementing curriculum, school routines, and community. You never know what amazingness might emerge from the ordinary. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Auj4ERv7g483ZP1cx5EBCHTrn7gdLB5LMkxGdTi4CsTJ4Vo2dK4NV4Z1xejgwHA0uZEkccmC7xAWS4JTPHhfORYre7mBpOjruho5kNB7ty1PqdIfmyJEleVeJJbhPpezmTEzE36b2e1P/s1600/images-4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Auj4ERv7g483ZP1cx5EBCHTrn7gdLB5LMkxGdTi4CsTJ4Vo2dK4NV4Z1xejgwHA0uZEkccmC7xAWS4JTPHhfORYre7mBpOjruho5kNB7ty1PqdIfmyJEleVeJJbhPpezmTEzE36b2e1P/s200/images-4.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I know many teachers used this picture book at the end of this school year but I think it's also a perfect one to share with teachers at the beginning of the year.<a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781452126999"> I Wish You More</a> by <a href="http://www.whoisamy.com/">Amy Krouse Rosenthal </a>& <a href="http://www.tomlichtenheld.com/">Tom Lichtenheld </a>is a great reminder to stop and wonder along the way during the school year. Embrace the natural curiosity of the children you will teach...and don't forget to stop and wonder about yourself and your teaching too. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I'm looking forward to seeing what books others have included in their lists this year! A huge thank you goes out to <a href="https://twitter.com/CathyMere">Cathy Mere</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/mandyrobek">Mandy Robek</a> for continuing to host the amazing celebration of picture books. I'm off to check out the <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities/109747361653807401083">#pb10for10 Google Community</a> and hope you will too.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
You can see my past lists here:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://thebookmavenshaven.blogspot.com/2010/08/august-10-for-10-picture-book-event.html">Top 10 Picture Books for Kindergarten Readers</a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://thebookmavenshaven.blogspot.com/2010/08/august-10-for-10-picture-book-event_10.html">Top 10 Picture Books for Intermediate Readers</a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://thebookmavenshaven.blogspot.com/2011/08/august-10-for-10-building-character.html">Top 10 Picture Books for Building Character & Community</a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://thebookmavenshaven.blogspot.com/2012/08/august-10-for-10-celebrating-maine.html">Celebrating Maine Authors & Illustrators</a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://www.smore.com/txut-2013-pb10for10">Top 10 Book Trailers</a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://thebookmavenshaven.blogspot.com/2014/08/2014-picture-book-10-for-10.html">Top 10 Picture Book About Books & Reading</a></div>
LiteracyDocenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746444238586627666noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403531406777956827.post-36923938667045705852015-08-04T20:42:00.000-04:002015-08-04T21:40:40.611-04:00The New Kid~Slice of Life August 4, 2015<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3v8ADaT7S4P03Xy5kYx1M0wT9kygLiXu-LWKi6s401jgWYrm0OeWsSpVRBTiXVod81lVtC8RnQP-dxWk0ZhW58zWndzNzA42EzK2Ux2DgYU575NCMl3dMJmONIrG8q0zlDW0iLF-KPFcJ/s1600/sol.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3v8ADaT7S4P03Xy5kYx1M0wT9kygLiXu-LWKi6s401jgWYrm0OeWsSpVRBTiXVod81lVtC8RnQP-dxWk0ZhW58zWndzNzA42EzK2Ux2DgYU575NCMl3dMJmONIrG8q0zlDW0iLF-KPFcJ/s1600/sol.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Being the "new kid" never gets easy, no matter how old you get. You think it would, but it just doesn't. Last summer at just about this time, I took a new position as a Literacy Strategist in a new district. For the previous 19 years I had taught in the same district. My hometown district. The district from which I graduated. I knew the ins and outs, not just of the school system, but of the community too. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
When you''re the new kid, it can be a big scary world in the new neighborhood. Yes, even when you're a grown up. Driving to work that first "official" day, I was a jumbled mess of excitement and nerves. The realization that I was walking into a completely brand new school environment was a lot to process, and brought to my mind all those "new kids" that had crossed my path over 19 years in my former district. </div>
<br />
Yesterday I was thinking about that experience. I started ticking off things in my mind that the veterans of the neighborhood might take for granted, not intentionally, of course. But things that would help the new kid feel at home more quickly. These go beyond the housekeeping things like curriculum, schedules, bussing and lunch procedures. Hopefully the building and/or school district has a mentoring program in place that covers those things. If not, then add those to the list.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The necessities. Don't skip these. Trust me.</span></b><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div>
<i></i><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><i>Say hello. Introduce yourself and your role in the building. Especially if you see them standing or </i></i><i>sitting alone. </i></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Introduce them to "key" players in the building...the secretary, the custodians, the cafeteria staff. </i></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><i>While you're in the cafeteria, fill them in on how to order/pay for "teacher" lunch. Or where to </i></i><i>put their lunch if they bring it from home. Or the best (code for "fastest") place to pick up </i><i>lunch if they have time to run out for lunch. I know..who has time for that...but still....</i></div>
<br />
<i></i><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><i>The supply closet...you know every school has a "stash" room. Show them where it is. </i></i></div>
<i>
</i><br />
<br />
<i></i><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><i>Technology 411 such as where computers print to...or which printer is the better one to print to.</i></i></div>
<i>
</i><br />
<br />
<i></i><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><i>The chocolate drawer..or shelf...or closet. This could save a life! True story!</i></i></div>
<i>
</i><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The extras. To the new kid, any (or all) of these would be icing on the cake.</span></b><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Invite them to eat with you in the Teacher's Room one day each week for the first month. </i></div>
<br />
<i></i><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><i>When you're talking about how things are done, remember the new kid doesn't have the "history". </i><i>Try to fill in the "code" talk for them.</i></i></div>
<i>
</i><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Give them the 411 on special school events or days (this is code for "we all dress up here") well in </i></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>advance (again code for "not the day before") so that they can participate at the right </i><i>level. </i></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Provide them with a map of the school, labeled with teachers first and last names. Include support</i></div>
<i style="text-align: justify;">staff.</i><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Start up conversations that aren't about school and work. Ask them about their families, interests, </i><i>hobbies.</i></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Invite them to events outside of the school day, </i><i>like the standing invitation to Friday Happy Hour </i><i>that they might not know about.</i><i> </i></div>
<br />
Maybe you have a new kid in your neighborhood this year. Remember, the new kid could be a new specialist or support person in your building. They are especially susceptible to feeling alone as they don't come with the ready made neighborhood of a classroom. It doesn't have to all fall on your shoulders. Enlist your teaching team. The point is to look out for those new kids this year. Someday the new kid may be you.<br />
<br />
A special thanks to my teaching friends who shared ideas about welcoming new staff this afternoon! I hope the conversation got you thinking.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEB0aChGRkhNY0_M1I500SEXMvte2ZNooD-Ao8yyNWpQqwLg_3z7KBodufbdLf2arVSw38nK79yOh-jYrQT5dO0wu89-Wr660-DIiTZwcteJWavy2smbzm7hAR4ul-lEr7U1WOAtf6qd1q/s1600/020221_1329_0039_lsls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEB0aChGRkhNY0_M1I500SEXMvte2ZNooD-Ao8yyNWpQqwLg_3z7KBodufbdLf2arVSw38nK79yOh-jYrQT5dO0wu89-Wr660-DIiTZwcteJWavy2smbzm7hAR4ul-lEr7U1WOAtf6qd1q/s320/020221_1329_0039_lsls.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
You can find more Slice of Life post at <a href="https://twowritingteachers.wordpress.com/2015/08/04/augustsolno1/">Two Writing Teachers</a>.</div>
<br />LiteracyDocenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746444238586627666noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403531406777956827.post-40081479887847649842015-07-28T09:54:00.000-04:002015-07-28T10:32:26.259-04:00Ripples~Slice of Life July 27, 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3v8ADaT7S4P03Xy5kYx1M0wT9kygLiXu-LWKi6s401jgWYrm0OeWsSpVRBTiXVod81lVtC8RnQP-dxWk0ZhW58zWndzNzA42EzK2Ux2DgYU575NCMl3dMJmONIrG8q0zlDW0iLF-KPFcJ/s1600/sol.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3v8ADaT7S4P03Xy5kYx1M0wT9kygLiXu-LWKi6s401jgWYrm0OeWsSpVRBTiXVod81lVtC8RnQP-dxWk0ZhW58zWndzNzA42EzK2Ux2DgYU575NCMl3dMJmONIrG8q0zlDW0iLF-KPFcJ/s1600/sol.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Ripples...an idea that's been stirring in my head since I had the opportunity to spend a few days on Cape Cod last week. As myself and some dear friends were being "toasted" by our generous host at dinner Monday night, she talked about the "ripples' we send out and it stuck with me. It's not an earth shattering epiphany...but honestly as I looked around the dinner table on that hot, humid Monday evening, the idea of how <i>'ripples' </i>had brought this group of people together really resonated with me.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
....a random "retweet" that connected not just me, but my students at the time, with an genuine, kindhearted author through a Skype visit. That Skype visit led to a class visit...which led to a dinner...which led to threads of conversations that revealed our hearts, tying us together in friendship.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
.....a unplanned face to face meeting at the Scholastic Warehouse after following each other on Twitter for several months. A meeting that led to continued conversations via Twitter and Facebook around our shared loved of books and teaching. Conversations that led to an invitation to dinner...which led to an invitation to a Maine Reading Association meeting and threads of conversations as we commuted to meetings together, revealing literacy centered passions that tied us together in friendship.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
.....happening upon a literacy coach in a hotel lobby at NCTE Boston, trying to problem solve a technology glitch for a presentation the next day. A mutual friend calling me over to see if I could help. Over laughter and many attempts to help...threads of friendship beginning to be sewn...technology glitch fixed. Drinks later in the weekend...where conversations began to reveal our common interests...binding us together in friendship.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
.....while waiting in line to check bags, the person behind me being brave enough to say she followed me on Twitter (I'm way too shy to do something like that), and through conversation discovering that she was coming to Maine that coming January. Staying connected through Twitter, and then offering a welcoming hug to her when I saw her at our first Nerd Camp Northern New England...which she came to alone. I want to be brave like her. Threads that began to tie us together in friendship.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
..... a brief conversation after a presentation with an attendee, that revealed he was alone...not just at the conference, but in his teaching situation. Making a note to continue to reach out to him through Twitter. Running into him again several times during the conference. Then sharing ideas at random times via Twitter as the threads of friendship began to weave their way across cyber space, stitching our lives together.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
.....a message left in a Voxer group, where I could hear discouragement in a voice. Sending a separate message to encourage a colleague to keep doing what she was doing. Keeping her "why"...her students as her main focus. Which led to daily morning commute Voxer conversations sharing ideas, thinking, and daily life events with each other. Threads of friendship, intertwining our lives through conversations. </div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Ripples. Turned into threads because of actions and reactions of those caught in the current</div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
of the crest. Now bound in genuine friendships. </div>
</div>
<br />
Ripples...a beautiful ebb and flow.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWFr_MrlHwp-8N55YVA2lwyjPXB3dj3HpxxT9EQHDhg7l5C79XydZMFbAAM-1ppl_eydCVWpc7Yj51vTDkrVE0GCn7zSgP6CJzOQ9cCkgoPVE9JWyu0uoMe4uCKYt679qYnmN_4_0JWhXh/s1600/5485824630_904e904a43_q.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWFr_MrlHwp-8N55YVA2lwyjPXB3dj3HpxxT9EQHDhg7l5C79XydZMFbAAM-1ppl_eydCVWpc7Yj51vTDkrVE0GCn7zSgP6CJzOQ9cCkgoPVE9JWyu0uoMe4uCKYt679qYnmN_4_0JWhXh/s320/5485824630_904e904a43_q.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/garryknight/5485824630/</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
You can find more Slices of Life at <a href="https://twowritingteachers.wordpress.com/2015/07/28/its-tuesday-write-your-slice-twtblog/">Two Writing Teachers</a>.</div>
</div>
LiteracyDocenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746444238586627666noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403531406777956827.post-13483682156551600172015-07-14T06:31:00.000-04:002015-07-14T06:31:14.997-04:00Dee Dinner Date Night-Slice of Life July 14, 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3v8ADaT7S4P03Xy5kYx1M0wT9kygLiXu-LWKi6s401jgWYrm0OeWsSpVRBTiXVod81lVtC8RnQP-dxWk0ZhW58zWndzNzA42EzK2Ux2DgYU575NCMl3dMJmONIrG8q0zlDW0iLF-KPFcJ/s1600/sol.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3v8ADaT7S4P03Xy5kYx1M0wT9kygLiXu-LWKi6s401jgWYrm0OeWsSpVRBTiXVod81lVtC8RnQP-dxWk0ZhW58zWndzNzA42EzK2Ux2DgYU575NCMl3dMJmONIrG8q0zlDW0iLF-KPFcJ/s1600/sol.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It started as a small gesture in navigating a "new normal". I'm a doer. I see a need and I want to do something to help. So I offered to make dinner for my father-in-law, having my husband and I join him on the first night he would be at home...alone...for the first time in almost sixty-six years. I had no idea what this one small gesture would become for me.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
My mother-in-law passed away in April. April 25th. 5 days before her 84th birthday and 5 months before her 66th wedding anniversary. After her faith in God, her family was most important to her. She was always most happy surrounded by her children and their families. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
That first Tuesday I made homemade chicken pot pie. The three of us had dinner together. Tuesday arrived again. I called my father-in-law and invited him to come over to our house for dinner. The three of us had dinner together. Lasagna was on the menu. Tuesday arrived again. And...well... it's just become what we do. Dee Dinner Date Night. Every Tuesday. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Friends and family members say things like, "That's so thoughtful of you." or "What a nice thing to do for your father-in-law." But as I was prepping dinner last Tuesday, I started thinking about how it's become so much more than that. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It's reignited my love of cooking. I'm enjoying coming up with a new menu each Tuesday. I scour cookbooks and websites, looking for new recipes to try each week. I try to make everything from scratch. I make sure to cook more than we can eat, sending home enough leftovers for another dinner for my father-in-law later in the week. It's like new self imposed challenge each week.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It's my way of showing my husband, my father-in-law, (and even the immediate family) that I hurt with them in their loss. I feel the void, not in the exact way they do. Their history with her is much longer than mine. But I feel the void. And I loved her, just as they loved her. Our dinner conversations always include stories about her...and just by sharing these memories together, we heal a little bit.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
And in this small gesture...making dinner...I remember and honor my mother-in-law. I find myself thinking about her as I'm prepping meals each week. I remember how much she loved sitting at the table, with family all around, sharing home cooked meals together. I can hear the pride in her voice when she talked about her children, her grandchildren, and her great-grandchildren. I remember her style of cooking...no measuring...but a little of this and a little of that, tasting as she would go...and I smile. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Dee Dinner Date Night connects me to her. And as I prepare the meal, set the dinner table, and prepare to welcome them both to the table each Tuesday evening, I'm saying to her</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>"I know how much you loved them, your husband and your youngest son. And I'll continue showing them love...just as you did...in the doing."</i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipf2Nt1oYHWMoqTWnxW3DucmD5vlfkYDI5jj6LNMAe-YhSBV7QNm6aypbgxGXWItw3A7YNsGxcnUekuygFWz6ggBetQEUWhuVPwqo1cG6YcquKDHlGWx8mrcEmdqJwCkGM5f4VFHTLYnFE/s1600/images-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipf2Nt1oYHWMoqTWnxW3DucmD5vlfkYDI5jj6LNMAe-YhSBV7QNm6aypbgxGXWItw3A7YNsGxcnUekuygFWz6ggBetQEUWhuVPwqo1cG6YcquKDHlGWx8mrcEmdqJwCkGM5f4VFHTLYnFE/s1600/images-1.jpeg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
You can find more Slice of Life Posts by visiting <a href="https://twowritingteachers.wordpress.com/">The Two Writing Teachers.</a></div>
LiteracyDocenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746444238586627666noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403531406777956827.post-27143556925038995222015-07-07T12:12:00.001-04:002015-07-07T12:14:30.889-04:00Living Among the Books~A Slice of Life July 7, 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPzTI883Xmb4OX3udB_q8Ix6rtZ0MCo8CSOz6FPaPMcv_gXfCrcGA3_GDIkk5yyzuS3-Qmeob7ezRMtlD8RWjQTlKm7z92CSmHyNgOnNow_Ea3kJwhpHLyWSXoc4mVUMBe2JhJvLjnPpp6/s1600/sol.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPzTI883Xmb4OX3udB_q8Ix6rtZ0MCo8CSOz6FPaPMcv_gXfCrcGA3_GDIkk5yyzuS3-Qmeob7ezRMtlD8RWjQTlKm7z92CSmHyNgOnNow_Ea3kJwhpHLyWSXoc4mVUMBe2JhJvLjnPpp6/s1600/sol.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm joining the Slice of Life Challenge today for the first time, as I try to add more writing into my daily life. You can find more Slice of Life posts at <a href="https://twowritingteachers.wordpress.com/2015/07/07/tuesday-slice-of-life-story-challenge-5/">The Two Writing Teachers</a>. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background: #FFF; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: -webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width: 99.375%; width: calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background-image: url(data:image/png; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; height: 44px; margin: 0px auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-top: 8px; padding: 0px 4px;">
<a href="https://instagram.com/p/4pmOz1OwUw/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_top">University classrooms transformed! Ready to welcome readers on Monday! #nerdybookclub #EDU639 #usmreadingclinic #summerlibrarian</a></div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0px 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
A photo posted by literacydocent (@literacydocent) on <time datetime="2015-07-02T22:08:01+00:00">Jul 2, 2015 at 3:08pm PDT</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I always look forward to July with great anticipation. It's the month of the year that I get to <i>live among the books</i>. Spending my Mondays through Thursdays spreading the love of books, reading, and writing with the young and not so young, brings so much joy into my summer. Yesterday was our first day with children and I couldn't wait to see familiar faces and meet new reader/writers! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The anticipation of the first day always brings out so many thoughts and feelings. The unpacking of a complete lending library can feel so overwhelming. I wonder if I've purchased "the" book that will capture that resistant reader, finally giving them entrance into the "literacy club". I spend what sometimes feels like way too much time on which basket certain titles should be housed. I worry that I haven't expanded the series section enough to give those late initial and early transitional readers enough titles to choose from. And of course there are the graduate students, for whom this program is the main focus. Will they like me? Will they find my ideas, organization, and book choices inviting enough to support the work they will do over the coming month?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So yesterday arrived...and all my worries and doubts began to dissipate as the graduate students started to visit the Library with their young learners for the first time. There were lots of hugs from returning reader/writers. Books quickly began finding their homes in the hands of readers. Conversations were buzzing around the library that revolved around interests, favorite authors, and themes...always with choice as the guiding light in selections. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Snippets of conversations began to stick within my reading heart...</div>
<div>
<div style="color: #141823; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> <i> from a returning 10 yo reader..."Remember that book that kid had lost and then found on the last day last summer? You know..about the donut? I really wanted to read that one!" (I knew it...and had it...and had to create a Wait List)</i></span></div>
<div style="color: #141823; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="color: #141823; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> <i> from a new 10 yo reader..."Wow! Usually I'm always the last one still trying to find a book when my class visits the library but I already have three books I want to read! That's NEVER happened to me before!" (<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">Ah...all the unpacking and exact placement of books already paid off 30 minutes into day one!)</span></i></span></div>
<div style="color: #141823; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
<div class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">
<div style="color: #141823; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> <i> from a new 6 yo reader..."Just so you know, I want books that will challenge me 'cause I already know a LOT about books!" (Duly noted sweetheart!)</i></span></div>
<div style="color: #141823; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
Thirty minutes to wipe away the doubts and worries. The time spent reading books, pouring over new titles, creating an order of new books that would cover a wide range of reading abilities and interests, moving furniture, unpacking and organizing books, and creating a welcoming environment will be well worth it! Books will find their readers...and readers will find their reading lives. And I have the honor of witnessing the connections as I <i>live among the books</i> for four short weeks.</div>
LiteracyDocenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746444238586627666noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403531406777956827.post-36090628586012742192015-07-06T21:34:00.000-04:002015-07-07T10:49:46.624-04:00Another Layer to Professional Development<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsBxwfwdkICycYI6EvmyfAhLDkVX2uJ31oo1mZWv1zL2xaGGuQgknZcbSd3X9JDe4jwI-8nfZp90-4J-NoWHDHndDXSGSKMkKGWRXJnZ67CjXbyYDBB4tq416lHLfyp1hp6baQxOiqJ4N7/s1600/IMG_5888.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsBxwfwdkICycYI6EvmyfAhLDkVX2uJ31oo1mZWv1zL2xaGGuQgknZcbSd3X9JDe4jwI-8nfZp90-4J-NoWHDHndDXSGSKMkKGWRXJnZ67CjXbyYDBB4tq416lHLfyp1hp6baQxOiqJ4N7/s320/IMG_5888.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
My professional reading has become a bit more intentional since taking on a new role as Literacy Strategist last summer. I mean, I have always read with intention before now, but there is something different about reading professional literature when you know the audience for sharing your new learning and understanding will be teachers. Before, I read with my students in mind, thinking about how I would refine and improve my teaching in the classroom. I wasn't necessarily going to have to <i>explain </i>the thinking behind my instructional decisions and moves to them, but rather I would be doing the new learning. <br />
<br />
Now I read with the teacher in mind, thinking about how I will facilitate conversations around instructional strategies and ideas from the professional texts I'm reading, in order to help teachers have a better understanding of the <i>"why" </i>and <i>"how"</i> of the instructional moves they make in their own classrooms. This has changed how I annotate and keep track of my own thinking as I'm reading. I started last fall by keeping notes using Google Drive, where I could link handouts I create and web links within my notes so it was all in one place. I found this made it easier for me to share with teachers this year, as I could create "synopsis" notes that could be shared with them during coaching cycles or professional learning sessions.<br />
<br />
This summer I'm taking this a step further, using "virtual" avenues that I've expanded through my PLN (Professional Learning Network). The <a href="http://www.ncte.org/">National Council for Teachers of English</a> just published a qualitative narrative <a href="http://www.ncte.org/library/NCTEFiles/Resources/Journals/EE/0474-jul2015/EE0474English.pdf">study</a> on teacher participation in online professional development. As I tweeted out today, I'm a big believer and participant in this kind of learning!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihDpd6ysJ7HhtFXBzuu4PIYOu9JoQ3KEpRgwFD9AauhV_tSr-Em3-f8n2aX8NIiBuUgAiP-b_o6SWu8w2EVCiTjXrBZSiYhPPItRZxBtFIj0a_BDkyblxwVHf5LkghDQh8RP2DhZ153J85/s1600/Screenshot+2015-07-06+20.15.16.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihDpd6ysJ7HhtFXBzuu4PIYOu9JoQ3KEpRgwFD9AauhV_tSr-Em3-f8n2aX8NIiBuUgAiP-b_o6SWu8w2EVCiTjXrBZSiYhPPItRZxBtFIj0a_BDkyblxwVHf5LkghDQh8RP2DhZ153J85/s320/Screenshot+2015-07-06+20.15.16.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This summer I've added another layer to my professional learning! I'm using Google Drive and <a href="http://www.voxer.com/">Voxer</a> to participate in several professional book studies. This idea started back in May when people were sharing their <a href="https://plus.google.com/communities/107711243109928665922/stream/ec4da541-701f-42a8-8d51-9ae4c1385dce">#cyberpd </a>book stacks via Twitter, Facebook, and Google Communities. Several people in a larger Voxer group I'm a part of noticed that we had similar titles. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKu0Ye7B_k3eCJPePPi35qdlwURapv7CKWq3tkYqB540k9_6zhF5F3yITmW80TBOsJ18UUQbMmd3eN8KixI9JO7xlqCfwtIZjYb6C-eWy0sOySEHVEo5uIxJZN6cMTWIu_UE-gh4-pMFCL/s1600/Screenshot+2015-07-06+20.45.28.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="101" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKu0Ye7B_k3eCJPePPi35qdlwURapv7CKWq3tkYqB540k9_6zhF5F3yITmW80TBOsJ18UUQbMmd3eN8KixI9JO7xlqCfwtIZjYb6C-eWy0sOySEHVEo5uIxJZN6cMTWIu_UE-gh4-pMFCL/s320/Screenshot+2015-07-06+20.45.28.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And so a smaller group of us decided to read three books we had in common during June, July, and August. Michele (<a href="https://twitter.com/knott_michele">@knott_michele</a>) set up a Voxer group and reading schedule for the first book, <a href="http://www.heinemann.com/products/E00578.aspx">Writing About Reading: From Book Talk to Literary Essays </a>by <a href="http://www.heinemann.com/authors/1745.aspx">Janet Angelillo</a>. I set up a google doc where we could keep notes and add comments as we read. It's been a great way to share ideas and thinking, while still enjoying summer time trips and activities. As a literacy strategist, I've really appreciated the comments and questions the teachers & teacher librarians have added to the conversations, both through Voxer and the google document. We've worked together to create handouts and charts that capture key ideas that we can easily reference once we're back in the busyness of a school schedule. We're just getting started on our next book, <a href="http://www.stenhouse.com/html/conferring.htm">Conferring~The Keystone to Reader's Workshop</a> by <a href="http://www.stenhouse.com/html/authorbios_262.htm">Patrick Allen</a>, using the same format. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Voxer has benefited me in many ways, since someone first tweeted about last summer. Working in separate buildings, my coaching partner, Jamie (<a href="https://twitter.com/fivenomar">@fivenomar</a>) and I found it very helpful this past school year to stay connected during the week and in planning professional development. My new coaching partner, Matt (<a href="https://twitter.com/Matt_Halpern">@Matt_Halpern</a>) and I are already using it for thinking about & planning for the upcoming school year. My colleague, Natalee Stotz (<a href="https://twitter.com/nataleestotz">@nataleestotz</a>) set up a #nErDcampNNE Group for our planning committee to use the weekend of <a href="http://nerdcampnorthernnewengland.blogspot.com/">Nerd Camp Northern New England</a>, which helped us all stay in touch in various parts of a large school building. I'm a part of a <i>'Coaching Connections</i>' Voxer Group that includes a small group of literacy coaches who support each other in work specific to coaching and working with adult learners. We started by meeting monthly via Google Hangout and added Voxer as a way of sending quick messages of encouragement or questions during the work day. An <i>'All Things Literacy' </i>Voxer group was created when I tweeted out a question looking for input from 3rd grade teachers about how they use & organize Readers Notebooks and our conversation needed more than 140 characters. Honestly, the more I use Voxer, the more I see the powerful layer it adds to an already vibrate, engaging professional learning community! I'm so thankful for those in my PLN who have been willing to try this idea out with me! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
How are you leveraging the various online professional development opportunities and platforms? I'd love to hear more about the ways your using it to expand professional conversations and learning! As for the professional books I'm reading this summer, I'll share big take aways from my reading in upcoming blog posts...so stay tuned. </div>
<br />LiteracyDocenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746444238586627666noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403531406777956827.post-5394088723211063212015-02-23T06:43:00.000-05:002015-03-02T08:58:57.230-05:00It's Monday! What Are YOU Reading? February 23, 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGeekKHNvbTvP_IVM7uHpFzFEPCP9HEW3UvkY8SxWBMhSbpkSsRhf2D0oK_w7KG57-rrGBJhWDfA2H9Rr9YzJ-ZpVtjUco3d_SEZ4mka26U8QdPzLTebQgxLGkjuF2yqF2NOXRCqxSHBgB/s1600/Unknown-3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGeekKHNvbTvP_IVM7uHpFzFEPCP9HEW3UvkY8SxWBMhSbpkSsRhf2D0oK_w7KG57-rrGBJhWDfA2H9Rr9YzJ-ZpVtjUco3d_SEZ4mka26U8QdPzLTebQgxLGkjuF2yqF2NOXRCqxSHBgB/s1600/Unknown-3.jpeg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><i><span style="color: purple;">It's Monday! What Are You Reading?</span></i> is hosted by Shelia over at </span><a href="http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Book Journey</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Be sure to also visit Jen at <span id="goog_364588642"></span></span><span style="color: #a90087; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="http://teach.mentor.text/">Teach.Mentor.Text</a></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="http://www.teachmentortexts.com/#axzz3QaHjGT7l"><span id="goog_364588637"></span><span id="goog_364588638"></span> </a> and Kellee at <a href="http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=5444">Unleashing Readers</a> for links to all of the blogs participating in the Picture Book to YA addition of <span style="color: purple;"><i>It's Monday! What Are You Reading!</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">February Vacation afforded me time with family, staying up late, sleeping in, and of course time for reading. One of the highlights of my week was traveling to <a href="http://www.bluebunnybooks.com/">Blue Bunny Books & Toys</a> in Dedham, MA for my friend, <a href="http://lyndamullalyhunt.com/">Lynda Mullaly Hunt</a>'s Fish in a Tree Book Signing. This was my first visit to this fabulous independent book store, owned by twin brothers Peter & Paul Reynolds. Yes, THE <a href="http://www.peterhreynolds.com/">Peter</a> and <a href="http://www.fablevision.com/">Paul</a> Reynolds! Book friends, if you are ever in the Boston area, you really must make an effort to visit their store. I felt like I had "come home"! And the place was PACKED with readers eager to meet Lynda and hear more about her newest middle grade novel; which will be featured in a upcoming post here with a giveaway, so stay tuned! I've heard her speak about writing multiple times, and yet every.single.time. she brings me to tears. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Lynda is such a champion for children and for teachers. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background: #FFF; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: -webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width: 99.375%; width: calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;">
<a href="https://instagram.com/p/zYrGAoOwcn/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_top">My first visit to @bluebunnybookstoys today for @lyndamullalyhunt's Book Signing definitely won't be my last. Felt like coming "home"! Added bonus that I got to meet @peterhreynolds & @fablepaul too! #indiebookstoresrock</a></div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
A photo posted by literacydocent (@literacydocent) on <time datetime="2015-02-22T01:46:27+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Feb 21, 2015 at 5:46pm PST</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Some great reads this week from picture books to another adult title!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background: #FFF; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: -webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width: 99.375%; width: calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;">
<a href="https://instagram.com/p/zLdjpIuwbU/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_top">Day 47: Two books that couldn't be more dissimilar...laugh out loud MG humor on the left; gut wrenching YA emotion on the right. Both include friendships found in unlikely places. #nerdybookclub #bookaday #readingtime #photoaday</a></div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
A photo posted by literacydocent (@literacydocent) on <time datetime="2015-02-16T22:38:02+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Feb 16, 2015 at 2:38pm PST</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background: #FFF; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: -webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width: 99.375%; width: calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;">
<a href="https://instagram.com/p/zOa_qROwS5/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_top">Day 48: Books like these introduce readers to important people & pieces of history they might otherwise never read. #nerdybookclub #bookaday #readingtime #photoaday</a></div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
A photo posted by literacydocent (@literacydocent) on <time datetime="2015-02-18T02:13:22+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Feb 17, 2015 at 6:13pm PST</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background: #FFF; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: -webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width: 99.375%; width: calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;">
<a href="https://instagram.com/p/zQ23thOwUq/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_top">Day 49: Read a "grown up" book. For fun. It was good. I will do "this" again. 😉 #nerdybookclub #bookaday #readingtime #photoaday</a></div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
A photo posted by literacydocent (@literacydocent) on <time datetime="2015-02-19T00:55:26+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Feb 18, 2015 at 4:55pm PST</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background: #FFF; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: -webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width: 99.375%; width: calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;">
<a href="https://instagram.com/p/zTj0F1uway/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_top">Day 50: This is NOT my cup if tea. #nerdybookclub #bookaday #readingtime #photoaday</a></div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
A photo posted by literacydocent (@literacydocent) on <time datetime="2015-02-20T02:06:38+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Feb 19, 2015 at 6:06pm PST</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background: #FFF; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: -webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width: 99.375%; width: calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;">
<a href="https://instagram.com/p/zWFXirOwTx/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_top">Day 51: Did some series "hunting" work for USM Summer Reading/Writing Clinic. #nerdybookclub #bookaday #usmreadingclinic #photoaday</a></div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
A photo posted by literacydocent (@literacydocent) on <time datetime="2015-02-21T01:38:19+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Feb 20, 2015 at 5:38pm PST</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background: #FFF; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: -webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width: 99.375%; width: calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;">
<a href="https://instagram.com/p/zYpelGuwZm/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_top">Day 52: REALLY love how this new series is focusing on creative "thinkering" & curiosity through ALL art forms! #nerdybookclub #bookaday #wonder #photoaday</a></div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
A photo posted by literacydocent (@literacydocent) on <time datetime="2015-02-22T01:32:20+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Feb 21, 2015 at 5:32pm PST</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background: #FFF; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: -webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width: 99.375%; width: calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;">
<a href="https://instagram.com/p/zbEb5aOwQF/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_top">Day 53: I'm excited to add both of these to my mentor text collection! #nerdybookclub #bookaday #photoaday</a></div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
A photo posted by literacydocent (@literacydocent) on <time datetime="2015-02-23T00:06:23+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Feb 22, 2015 at 4:06pm PST</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">So there you have it....another week of reading is in the books!</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Have a great week among the pages!</span></i> </div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script></div>
</div>
LiteracyDocenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746444238586627666noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403531406777956827.post-6358700263710572572015-02-16T05:46:00.000-05:002015-02-16T05:46:50.823-05:00It's Monday! What are YOU Reading? February 16, 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGeekKHNvbTvP_IVM7uHpFzFEPCP9HEW3UvkY8SxWBMhSbpkSsRhf2D0oK_w7KG57-rrGBJhWDfA2H9Rr9YzJ-ZpVtjUco3d_SEZ4mka26U8QdPzLTebQgxLGkjuF2yqF2NOXRCqxSHBgB/s1600/Unknown-3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGeekKHNvbTvP_IVM7uHpFzFEPCP9HEW3UvkY8SxWBMhSbpkSsRhf2D0oK_w7KG57-rrGBJhWDfA2H9Rr9YzJ-ZpVtjUco3d_SEZ4mka26U8QdPzLTebQgxLGkjuF2yqF2NOXRCqxSHBgB/s1600/Unknown-3.jpeg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><i><span style="color: purple;">It's Monday! What Are You Reading?</span></i> is hosted by Shelia over at </span><a href="http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Book Journey</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Be sure to also visit Jen at <span id="goog_364588642"></span></span><span style="color: #a90087; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="http://teach.mentor.text/">Teach.Mentor.Text</a></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="http://www.teachmentortexts.com/#axzz3QaHjGT7l"><span id="goog_364588637"></span><span id="goog_364588638"></span> </a> and Kellee at <a href="http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=5444">Unleashing Readers</a> for links to all of the blogs participating in the Picture Book to YA addition of <span style="color: purple;"><i>It's Monday! What Are You Reading!</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: purple;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Two weeks ago I got to enjoy (not so much) the nasty flu that's been going around. I was so sick I couldn't even read for three days that week! Now book friends, that is SICK! So in today's post I'm catching up on the three books I read that week and what I got through this past week. I enjoyed both a (clearly) YA novel and adult novel on audio as well as getting caught up on a few of the Youth Media Award Winners and Honors I missed last year. We have Winter Break here in Maine this week so I'm really looking forward to some extra reading time over the next few days!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background: #FFF; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: -webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width: 99.375%; width: calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;">
<a href="https://instagram.com/p/ynL4WluwQF/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_top">Day 33:Look forward to more in this super fun new series for the early chapter book crowd! #nerdybookclub #bookaday #readingtime #photoaday</a></div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
A photo posted by literacydocent (@literacydocent) on <time datetime="2015-02-02T20:30:55+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Feb 2, 2015 at 12:30pm PST</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background: #FFF; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: -webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width: 99.375%; width: calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;">
<a href="https://instagram.com/p/yqKkOPOwSo/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_top">Day 34: Time travel & high school romance...what could possibly go wrong? Liked this dystopian YA novel. #nerdybookclub #readwithmyears #photoaday</a></div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
A photo posted by literacydocent (@literacydocent) on <time datetime="2015-02-04T00:17:09+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Feb 3, 2015 at 4:17pm PST</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background: #FFF; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: -webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width: 99.375%; width: calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;">
<a href="https://instagram.com/p/y0EJekuwSV/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_top">Day 38: Jordan Romero's story is a fantastic reminder that you're never to young to set goals & go after them! #nerdybookclub #bookaday #memoir #middlegradecrowd</a></div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
A photo posted by literacydocent (@literacydocent) on <time datetime="2015-02-07T20:33:29+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Feb 7, 2015 at 12:33pm PST</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background: #FFF; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: -webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width: 99.375%; width: calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;">
<a href="https://instagram.com/p/y24jMrOwZJ/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_top">Day 39: This "new to me" series mixes time travel with historical fiction to create a fast paced read for middle grade readers. #nerdybookclub #bookaday #middlegradecrowd #photoaday</a></div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
A photo posted by literacydocent (@literacydocent) on <time datetime="2015-02-08T22:49:51+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Feb 8, 2015 at 2:49pm PST</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background: #FFF; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: -webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width: 99.375%; width: calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;">
<a href="https://instagram.com/p/y8OrQ9uwfl/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_top">Day 40: This "new to me" Steve Jenkins title would pair nicely w/ Day 38 & also PEAK. #nerdybookclub #bookaday #latergram #bookagram</a></div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
A photo posted by literacydocent (@literacydocent) on <time datetime="2015-02-11T00:39:24+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Feb 10, 2015 at 4:39pm PST</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background: #FFF; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: -webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width: 99.375%; width: calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;">
<a href="https://instagram.com/p/y8RIZmuwS5/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_top">Day 41: Love picture book biographies that introduce readers to ordinary people fulfilling extraordinary dreams! #nerdybookclub #bookaday #cskhonor #bookagram</a></div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
A photo posted by literacydocent (@literacydocent) on <time datetime="2015-02-11T01:00:51+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Feb 10, 2015 at 5:00pm PST</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background: #FFF; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: -webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width: 99.375%; width: calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;">
<a href="https://instagram.com/p/y-yd3ouwe6/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_top">Day 42: Love this book's message that w/ hard work & dedication achieving dreams is possible. #nerdybookclub #bookaday #bookagram #photoaday</a></div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
A photo posted by literacydocent (@literacydocent) on <time datetime="2015-02-12T00:30:37+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Feb 11, 2015 at 4:30pm PST</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background: #FFF; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: -webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width: 99.375%; width: calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;">
<a href="https://instagram.com/p/zBVuR5OwQr/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_top">Day 43: Working my way through the medal winners I missed. #nerdybookclub #bookaday #bookagram #photoaday</a></div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
A photo posted by literacydocent (@literacydocent) on <time datetime="2015-02-13T00:17:11+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Feb 12, 2015 at 4:17pm PST</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background: #FFF; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: -webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width: 99.375%; width: calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;">
<a href="https://instagram.com/p/zEF9nmuwbN/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_top">Day 44: So glad I made a goal of reading more adult books...and started with this one! #nerdybookclub #readwithmyears #photoaday</a></div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
A photo posted by literacydocent (@literacydocent) on <time datetime="2015-02-14T01:57:11+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Feb 13, 2015 at 5:57pm PST</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background: #FFF; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: -webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width: 99.375%; width: calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;">
<a href="https://instagram.com/p/zGgE-1uwXN/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_top">Day 45: Crossed another award winner off my TBR List and a slim survival title that I hadn't heard of. #nerdybookclub #bookaday #readingtime #photoaday</a></div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
A photo posted by literacydocent (@literacydocent) on <time datetime="2015-02-15T00:23:52+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Feb 14, 2015 at 4:23pm PST</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background: #FFF; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: -webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width: 99.375%; width: calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;">
<a href="https://instagram.com/p/zI-LJXuwW_/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_top">Day 46: I "absolutely truly" loved everything about this little slice of New England! #nerdybookclub #bookaday #readingtime #middlegradecrowd #photoaday</a></div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
A photo posted by literacydocent (@literacydocent) on <time datetime="2015-02-15T23:25:20+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Feb 15, 2015 at 3:25pm PST</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">So there you have it....another two weeks of reading are in the books!</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Have a great week among the pages!</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
LiteracyDocenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746444238586627666noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403531406777956827.post-68693251700572052232015-02-02T05:58:00.000-05:002015-02-02T08:49:46.815-05:00It's Monday! What are YOU Reading? February 2, 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGeekKHNvbTvP_IVM7uHpFzFEPCP9HEW3UvkY8SxWBMhSbpkSsRhf2D0oK_w7KG57-rrGBJhWDfA2H9Rr9YzJ-ZpVtjUco3d_SEZ4mka26U8QdPzLTebQgxLGkjuF2yqF2NOXRCqxSHBgB/s1600/Unknown-3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGeekKHNvbTvP_IVM7uHpFzFEPCP9HEW3UvkY8SxWBMhSbpkSsRhf2D0oK_w7KG57-rrGBJhWDfA2H9Rr9YzJ-ZpVtjUco3d_SEZ4mka26U8QdPzLTebQgxLGkjuF2yqF2NOXRCqxSHBgB/s1600/Unknown-3.jpeg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><i><span style="color: purple;">It's Monday! What Are You Reading?</span></i> is hosted by Shelia over at </span><a href="http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Book Journey</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Be sure to also visit Jen at <span id="goog_364588642"></span></span><span style="color: #a90087; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="http://teach.mentor.text/">Teach.Mentor.Text</a></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="http://www.teachmentortexts.com/#axzz3QaHjGT7l"><span id="goog_364588637"></span><span id="goog_364588638"></span> </a> and Kellee at <a href="http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=5444">Unleashing Readers</a> for links to all of the blogs participating in the Picture Book to YA addition of <span style="color: purple;"><i>It's Monday! What Are You Reading!</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: purple;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Winter weather was slow to arrive here in southern Maine, but is certainly making up for lost time! With a blizzard dropping 26" of snow last Tuesday, we added another 6" on Friday and are now bracing for another 10-15" today! What's keeping me sane through all of this is knowing that each day brings me closer to this....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3X0hxEkMY7IP7NQl9mPfLXvHgJuEGV09P8BKRmolj4PU_c_fi6HHYgYhy_vnDE_tmMh5jhv7uC07CiF_OiSD7-1Y35lowOcBbdC_0tx53zfSruSSA26L8qw-zmryz187J29JKf3TNyWr_/s1600/10639540_10204747910518038_2566567411293935453_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3X0hxEkMY7IP7NQl9mPfLXvHgJuEGV09P8BKRmolj4PU_c_fi6HHYgYhy_vnDE_tmMh5jhv7uC07CiF_OiSD7-1Y35lowOcBbdC_0tx53zfSruSSA26L8qw-zmryz187J29JKf3TNyWr_/s1600/10639540_10204747910518038_2566567411293935453_n.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">While I much prefer surfside/poolside reading to fireside reading, I did read some fantastic books in the past week. Here's a look at what I enjoyed. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background: #FFF; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: -webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width: 99.375%; width: calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;">
<a href="https://instagram.com/p/yVlcCmuwdr/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_top">Day 26: @deborahwiles1 you are MASTER of the documentary novel! Blown away! #readwithmyears #nerdybookclub #readingtime #booklove</a></div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
A photo posted by literacydocent (@literacydocent) on <time datetime="2015-01-27T00:27:55+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jan 26, 2015 at 4:27pm PST</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background: #FFF; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: -webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width: 99.375%; width: calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;">
<a href="https://instagram.com/p/yXNpE7OwV8/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_top">Day 27: Written from 11 yo Maggie's POV, this RF middle grade is a poignant reminder of the importance of love, laughter, & family. #nerdybookclub #bookaday #readingtime #photoaday</a></div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
A photo posted by literacydocent (@literacydocent) on <time datetime="2015-01-27T15:38:28+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jan 27, 2015 at 7:38am PST</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background: #FFF; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: -webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width: 99.375%; width: calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;">
<a href="https://instagram.com/p/yZmm0yuwR0/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_top">Day 28: This MG high fantasy novel will be a big hit w/ the 5th-7th grade crowd. #nerdybookclub #bookaday #readingtime #photoaday</a></div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
A photo posted by literacydocent (@literacydocent) on <time datetime="2015-01-28T13:55:05+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jan 28, 2015 at 5:55am PST</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background: #FFF; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: -webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width: 99.375%; width: calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;">
<a href="https://instagram.com/p/ydYoo0OwRf/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_top">Day 29: Adventure that will appeal to the MG reader while providing them a window into life in another part of the world. #nerdybookclub #bookaday #readingtime #photoaday #bookagram</a></div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
A photo posted by literacydocent (@literacydocent) on <time datetime="2015-01-30T01:09:58+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jan 29, 2015 at 5:09pm PST</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background: #FFF; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: -webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width: 99.375%; width: calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;">
<a href="https://instagram.com/p/yfm7qbOwfv/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_top">Day 30: Gripping story of overcoming loss & anger, finding forgiveness, acceptance, & friendship in unlikely places. #nerdybookclub #bookaday #readingtime #bookagram #photoaday</a></div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
A photo posted by literacydocent (@literacydocent) on <time datetime="2015-01-30T21:53:23+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jan 30, 2015 at 1:53pm PST</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background: #FFF; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: -webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width: 99.375%; width: calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;">
<a href="https://instagram.com/p/yhd5lpOwUU/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_top">Day 31: 585 pages of pure HF magic! Could NOT put it down! #nerdybookclub #booklove #writingmagic #photoaday</a></div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
A photo posted by literacydocent (@literacydocent) on <time datetime="2015-01-31T15:12:56+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jan 31, 2015 at 7:12am PST</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background: #FFF; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: -webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width: 99.375%; width: calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;">
<a href="https://instagram.com/p/yj6NHiOwb5/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_top">Day 32: Can always count on @candlewickpress for awesome #readingtime! Loved all four of these! #nerdybookclub #bookaday #photoaday #bookagram</a></div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
A photo posted by literacydocent (@literacydocent) on <time datetime="2015-02-01T13:58:45+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Feb 1, 2015 at 5:58am PST</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So, I'll be snuggled on the couch today, watching the Youth Media Awards and reading, thankful that I'm not the now who has to be outside doing this...</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMgl40V42N4luD2Ga10BYzoQoNCg36PdRwBF58lNXj2sXSH-vPbbxuVbUFgvOENjKXb1WzxXO19VIjP22ghyphenhyphenIVIhmg5BxGzLFN_4M2Ic3WVDBuBpaUkQMaFbl0YKywepPWZzAvsaQzKTiy/s1600/10940565_10205988344648116_887975347500664130_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMgl40V42N4luD2Ga10BYzoQoNCg36PdRwBF58lNXj2sXSH-vPbbxuVbUFgvOENjKXb1WzxXO19VIjP22ghyphenhyphenIVIhmg5BxGzLFN_4M2Ic3WVDBuBpaUkQMaFbl0YKywepPWZzAvsaQzKTiy/s1600/10940565_10205988344648116_887975347500664130_n.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
What can I say...we don't mess around with snow removal at my house. ;-) </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>So there you have it...another week of reading is in the books!</i></span></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>Have a fantastic week among the pages!</i></span></b></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
LiteracyDocenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746444238586627666noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403531406777956827.post-70221012324072093492015-01-26T12:05:00.000-05:002015-01-26T12:05:42.495-05:00It's Monday! What Are YOU Reading? January 26, 2015<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBhHaoEaRaW0-o06Jh5ysKnbtOMfNmisaWjV933vmIPuqjp1-aH8caziJGGxf5sQd0-CbdDthgUQ8bpvcJVAlDspWEaA3l6hIlt-YdgbITAdDW0bvqOngD9zKYkUNYCpILM72cAayD0Eq4/s1600/Unknown-3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBhHaoEaRaW0-o06Jh5ysKnbtOMfNmisaWjV933vmIPuqjp1-aH8caziJGGxf5sQd0-CbdDthgUQ8bpvcJVAlDspWEaA3l6hIlt-YdgbITAdDW0bvqOngD9zKYkUNYCpILM72cAayD0Eq4/s1600/Unknown-3.jpeg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><i><span style="color: purple;"><br /></span></i></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><i><span style="color: purple;"><br /></span></i></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><i><span style="color: purple;">It's Monday! What Are You Reading?</span></i> is hosted by Shelia over at </span><a href="http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Book Journey</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Be sure to also visit Jen at <span id="goog_364588642"></span></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_364588641"><span style="color: #a90087; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Teach.Mentor.Text</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span id="goog_364588637"></span><span id="goog_364588638"></span> and Kellee at <a href="http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=5444">Unleashing Readers</a> for links to all of the blogs participating in the Picture Book to YA addition of <span style="color: purple;"><i>It's Monday! What Are You Reading!</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: purple;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm so happy to be dusting off the blog and getting back to joining this fantastic meme. I'm thankful for those who have reached out to me (you know who you are), encouraging me to return to sharing my passion for literacy here! While my day job has changed, my love of reading and connecting readers of all ages with fantastic books has remained at the heart of who I am and what I do! For those who don't know, I left the classroom (and the district I taught in for 19 years) to accept a Literacy Strategist role in a district about 35 miles north of where I live. The story of how it all came about is one for another day (and is AMAZING), but I'll just say that this new chapter was one I've been dreaming of for a long time, divinely appointed for this time in my career. I'm LOVING it!</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In 2015 I'm attempting to read and post </span></span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: left;"><b>at least one</b></i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: left;"> book for each day of the calendar year. So here you will find my posts from the previous week of #bookaday #photoaday postings. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background: #FFF; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: -webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width: 99.375%; width: calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<a href="https://instagram.com/p/yA--FDuweU/" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_top">Day 18: "New to me" picture book. Young girl from a migrant family dreams of owning her own hard cover book. #nerdybookclub #bookaday #photoaday</a><div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
A photo posted by literacydocent (@literacydocent) on <time datetime="2015-01-19T00:26:58+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jan 18, 2015 at 4:26pm PST</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: purple;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background: #FFF; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: -webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width: 99.375%; width: calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;">
<a href="https://instagram.com/p/yDitjeuwUV/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_top">Day 19: Another #heartprint book from Maine's treasured Cynthia Lord. Preorder it #nerdybookclub friends! You'll want it in your hands ASAP! #bookaday #booklove #readingtime #photoaday</a></div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
A photo posted by literacydocent (@literacydocent) on <time datetime="2015-01-20T00:17:46+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jan 19, 2015 at 4:17pm PST</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background: #FFF; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: -webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width: 99.375%; width: calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;">
<a href="https://instagram.com/p/yI0VgIOwce/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_top">Day 20: Forgot to post yesterday. Will try this one as a read aloud for the 2/3 crowd. #bookaday #readingtime #photoaday #latergram</a></div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
A photo posted by literacydocent (@literacydocent) on <time datetime="2015-01-22T01:27:58+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jan 21, 2015 at 5:27pm PST</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background: #FFF; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: -webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width: 99.375%; width: calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;">
<a href="https://instagram.com/p/yI1WYzuweQ/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_top">Day 21: Read the author's note first on this one. #nerdybookclub #bookaday #readingtime #photoaday</a></div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
A photo posted by literacydocent (@literacydocent) on <time datetime="2015-01-22T01:36:50+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jan 21, 2015 at 5:36pm PST</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background: #FFF; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: -webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width: 99.375%; width: calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;">
<a href="https://instagram.com/p/yLYBh4OwW-/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_top">Day 22: The ideas for using this "new to me" book are swirling! #nerdybookclub #bookaday #readingtime #photoaday</a></div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
A photo posted by literacydocent (@literacydocent) on <time datetime="2015-01-23T01:18:18+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jan 22, 2015 at 5:18pm PST</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background: #FFF; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: -webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width: 99.375%; width: calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;">
<a href="https://instagram.com/p/yNcXTQuwWF/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_top">Day 23: It's NF. It's about a dog. I ❤ed it. That should be all the recommendation you need. #nerdybookclub #bookaday #photoaday</a></div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
A photo posted by literacydocent (@literacydocent) on <time datetime="2015-01-23T20:34:42+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jan 23, 2015 at 12:34pm PST</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background: #FFF; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: -webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width: 99.375%; width: calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;">
<a href="https://instagram.com/p/yQSW-DuwUi/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_top">Day 24: My favorite part of this debut novel was how the author revealed the special relationship between Theo & Jack. #middleschool #mystery #historymixedin #nerdybookclub #bookaday #photoaday</a></div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
A photo posted by literacydocent (@literacydocent) on <time datetime="2015-01-24T23:05:00+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jan 24, 2015 at 3:05pm PST</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background: #FFF; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: -webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width: 99.375%; width: calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;">
<a href="https://instagram.com/p/ySyRnVOwdG/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_top">Day 25: This deceptive cover wraps around a "pull at your heartstrings" RF story of perseverance, friendship, & family. #nerdybookclub #bookaday #readingtime #photoaday</a></div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
A photo posted by literacydocent (@literacydocent) on <time datetime="2015-01-25T22:22:22+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jan 25, 2015 at 2:22pm PST</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>So there you have it...another week of reading is in the books!</i></span></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>Have a fantastic week among the pages!</i></span></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
LiteracyDocenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746444238586627666noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1403531406777956827.post-82384485236097419882014-08-22T18:16:00.000-04:002015-08-05T15:12:53.590-04:00Build a Library Book Shower<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4LsRbOtZXYHUj5yhMFpdD3Rs-wlt2Zo9c8zkKeeo9bb5ZYNtkOtUhN7-Dg_K4kfxJmypuGcj5nv6ck3Nv0yTEKRJUsaqD_JM4xkvyK4MhPeK9p1L1Q4J1is1n5CWYPKV7YzYsoNORivW0/s1600/IMG_20140821_195036(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4LsRbOtZXYHUj5yhMFpdD3Rs-wlt2Zo9c8zkKeeo9bb5ZYNtkOtUhN7-Dg_K4kfxJmypuGcj5nv6ck3Nv0yTEKRJUsaqD_JM4xkvyK4MhPeK9p1L1Q4J1is1n5CWYPKV7YzYsoNORivW0/s1600/IMG_20140821_195036(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
We've all be<span id="goog_541403493"></span><span id="goog_541403494"></span>en there. We get our first teaching job. Our first classroom. We can hardly contain our excitement about the upcoming year...and then we walk into that new classroom for the first time and reality hits us square in the face! If we're lucky, we are replacing a teacher and so we find furniture, teaching manuals, math manipulatives, textbooks, maybe even school supplies ordered by the previous teacher. For some of us, our position and classroom may be a new addition to the building to address an increase in enrollment. In that case, we *might* find furniture and that's about it. In either situation, one thing we are less likely to find is a well stocked classroom library. More often than not, the bulk of a classroom library is purchased with our own funds, maybe some Scholastic bonus points and various donations. But the bulk of the collection goes with us as we move on to another teaching assignment.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The latter was the exact situation my friend, Katie, found herself in this summer. She has landed her first classroom and I'm so excited for her and the students who will be blessed to be in her classroom. I saw her one evening back in late June, right after she had made her first visit to see her new teaching space. Excitement was overshadowed by panic as she shared with me that she only found student desks, chairs, and a teacher desk in her new space. I remember the look on her face as she asked me, "What am I going to do about a classroom library? There are no books!" The look on her face and those words kept replaying through my mind as I drove home that night. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The library has always been the heartbeat of my own classroom. It is essential to every single aspect of the learning environment. It is also always the MOST expensive part of the classroom to build. Right away I started brainstorming ways I might be able to help Katie build a library for her 3rd grade classroom. I knew I had some multiple copies of books that I could certainly donate, which got me thinking. Maybe other friends and family would like to help with some donations also. I'd seen a few pictures of "book" themed baby showers and an idea of a Build a Library Book Shower started forming in my mind. I called a mutual friend, Sarah, who is also a teacher, to ask if she would like to co-plan and host the event with me. The key was that we wanted it to be a surprise for Katie. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The planning was SO much fun! I have to say, if I wasn't working in education, I think I would LOVE being a party planner. We planned a menu where each food item was tied to a picture book appropriate for 3rd grade. I created book banners for decorating and Sarah made adorable Book Worm goodie bags for the guests. In the invitation, we made suggestions for 3rd grade appropriate series, author studies, and read alouds to assist guests with ideas. We suggested that books could be new or gently used, and also welcomed gift cards to a local independent book store or Amazon. All the picture books we used on the Food Table were also given to her at the end of the evening. We pulled off the surprise and Katie left with over three boxes of great books and several gift cards to grow her classroom library! </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv-HXwtbMy00t9drZwYaweA7D1kbRHy1AjKK5OoOnfxhzOcNirTA5GwFFGMYvYNHmCxp5WL1QbLutcafnk4ahU75UPlSu8cQF691UFpX1yqFs5X5qYznguzCTaOK4Rvm0vo26b4zHBSM71/s1600/20140821_174545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv-HXwtbMy00t9drZwYaweA7D1kbRHy1AjKK5OoOnfxhzOcNirTA5GwFFGMYvYNHmCxp5WL1QbLutcafnk4ahU75UPlSu8cQF691UFpX1yqFs5X5qYznguzCTaOK4Rvm0vo26b4zHBSM71/s1600/20140821_174545.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: small;">Coconut Curry Chicken Skewers</span></span> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv0mfxhPWZx_A-apbaCQNr9WY6S_0q-_lM-ZRf_IcC-3IevTXwu_BsuUr1y_iU4T4BWpgm2jFlHXWoqR8bIvMQuST4u2LaFE_ky0DxFYSYUTjYy_20reYDd2a3oFYevDW2bf-Nhisc6hlS/s1600/20140821_174606.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv0mfxhPWZx_A-apbaCQNr9WY6S_0q-_lM-ZRf_IcC-3IevTXwu_BsuUr1y_iU4T4BWpgm2jFlHXWoqR8bIvMQuST4u2LaFE_ky0DxFYSYUTjYy_20reYDd2a3oFYevDW2bf-Nhisc6hlS/s1600/20140821_174606.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: small;">Pasta Salad</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfxuH-uW4gkUhmdTdb-suqHSE2w6aM1kAHO2fHeL_39H_Ca67eAi6VFcXSD1t3Vbx23cnGboXJnmZmYsdR4FmPp5q_cyHq0wTRHvOIISsyRpo-me0RuQAKzrtgw1HOkWYj38xH4sIEyYc-/s1600/20140821_175306.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfxuH-uW4gkUhmdTdb-suqHSE2w6aM1kAHO2fHeL_39H_Ca67eAi6VFcXSD1t3Vbx23cnGboXJnmZmYsdR4FmPp5q_cyHq0wTRHvOIISsyRpo-me0RuQAKzrtgw1HOkWYj38xH4sIEyYc-/s1600/20140821_175306.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: small;">BBQ Meatballs</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH6Ge5uoghvONMrJRaXLAOtLy1Abd-vEFQClpqVuiA5rmeHUF2AL8LEgi3_8-DRMY1raTGX7YJ_-CLarMUbK7fsrIxTxdYqjrVZLT5vckjvUg10wueQvqaCE05AV2AR-1eMIlNYStpSZxq/s1600/20140821_174654.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH6Ge5uoghvONMrJRaXLAOtLy1Abd-vEFQClpqVuiA5rmeHUF2AL8LEgi3_8-DRMY1raTGX7YJ_-CLarMUbK7fsrIxTxdYqjrVZLT5vckjvUg10wueQvqaCE05AV2AR-1eMIlNYStpSZxq/s1600/20140821_174654.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: small;">Garden Veggies and Dip</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfwpolHI1Pfk-N4fED-HrPtZGV_8kB0m0BFr-hyoT_rEvw4HCyrdF7jGUeir397vwBuWLEzlCihdiSdTsXZ6qu5p4OgG1pu1pLIAKEwcCkUyfEJga5aI_zxB19QJAtc1ZyK1GIcA7fabuI/s1600/20140821_174621.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfwpolHI1Pfk-N4fED-HrPtZGV_8kB0m0BFr-hyoT_rEvw4HCyrdF7jGUeir397vwBuWLEzlCihdiSdTsXZ6qu5p4OgG1pu1pLIAKEwcCkUyfEJga5aI_zxB19QJAtc1ZyK1GIcA7fabuI/s1600/20140821_174621.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cheese and Crackers</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Z9CXtNuC7667NEjuEJ7Bdt9i3VC4LNeOgMgw0KBOIRRYu7DUS_eHBgYWa8XuAlf3IbL40TaDjpscuFzIsdVcABHC9I5aMlE9j4s5-tI84fi-q34yOnT6esZlbpyiA2dy_3Emd8IJXL00/s1600/20140821_174835.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Z9CXtNuC7667NEjuEJ7Bdt9i3VC4LNeOgMgw0KBOIRRYu7DUS_eHBgYWa8XuAlf3IbL40TaDjpscuFzIsdVcABHC9I5aMlE9j4s5-tI84fi-q34yOnT6esZlbpyiA2dy_3Emd8IJXL00/s1600/20140821_174835.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mini No-Bake Blueberry Cheesecakes</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUL7HQcLZDfmw4gCgsbxJ4_WasVxkbzywHPWSHs7MT1SN-7dXw3Dsdl2yUoATjWyaZ4oXo9fKRZ8Uz10J1eaOmTC1v0IlApeFcNkQIU-x0QQXxxRhHJtMXFSRej4xv34KhCFI_3oLvr7k_/s1600/20140821_175034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUL7HQcLZDfmw4gCgsbxJ4_WasVxkbzywHPWSHs7MT1SN-7dXw3Dsdl2yUoATjWyaZ4oXo9fKRZ8Uz10J1eaOmTC1v0IlApeFcNkQIU-x0QQXxxRhHJtMXFSRej4xv34KhCFI_3oLvr7k_/s1600/20140821_175034.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: purple;">Southern Sweet Tea</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh7d2_5OAVmXziARx7hSzo039Hf6BVIXlKEXN3HPl4DAkt_4oabOga0MTmfifxMZS78SFqCREL4Y9qtsaLCZlYL3PtSCZqb2R5saLmi-ODpvzRwyPgnZ9CL6GNgJNNk4iHnVGecmjL8bls/s1600/20140821_175054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh7d2_5OAVmXziARx7hSzo039Hf6BVIXlKEXN3HPl4DAkt_4oabOga0MTmfifxMZS78SFqCREL4Y9qtsaLCZlYL3PtSCZqb2R5saLmi-ODpvzRwyPgnZ9CL6GNgJNNk4iHnVGecmjL8bls/s1600/20140821_175054.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: small;">Pink Lemonade</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJeurgTxZ4C6E-K3GBiKLJKcTQMVatil4KqnWrS27lj39C4xyd1EG7oHB7IZIJQjYwknYwYP6YDaZXu7giVUIPrUweHCxlffxvgf_d551UUabXN94_46evwkBh6oeFx9eF0tuUiYgYj_V/s1600/20140821_184914.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJeurgTxZ4C6E-K3GBiKLJKcTQMVatil4KqnWrS27lj39C4xyd1EG7oHB7IZIJQjYwknYwYP6YDaZXu7giVUIPrUweHCxlffxvgf_d551UUabXN94_46evwkBh6oeFx9eF0tuUiYgYj_V/s1600/20140821_184914.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: purple;">Super cute Book Worm Goodie Bags</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjUjkucXc41qfRxEuPP8_MZZww5M2072KUvObMeL-ZIo8QZRpOMMI0FJ_IftjgW0MJN-ZRwwhxTefYgFIpRA7YQ0KSJ4o0HgM8WcqhkLq7Vwilnf6bW11f3yAcN9sjavnk5KRHjRGE3lwI/s1600/20140821_192551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjUjkucXc41qfRxEuPP8_MZZww5M2072KUvObMeL-ZIo8QZRpOMMI0FJ_IftjgW0MJN-ZRwwhxTefYgFIpRA7YQ0KSJ4o0HgM8WcqhkLq7Vwilnf6bW11f3yAcN9sjavnk5KRHjRGE3lwI/s1600/20140821_192551.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: small;">Watching Katie go through the boxes was SO much fun! Of course I had to keep stopping her with book talks and gasps of "Oh I love that book (or series) SO much!"</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmybedg_OVuJDQroYXTtTKz10BtLt8mkgGX_OdhpzVFi6JMOUM928LjF4LEDwOu9IdLl3oxVyGO5Hm8k073wFe-foBVSovyQqxE6CmJB4cPHzRu5SfMm-RSLRcoRU4MzCg5v1NfR0t6d-k/s1600/20140821_204714.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmybedg_OVuJDQroYXTtTKz10BtLt8mkgGX_OdhpzVFi6JMOUM928LjF4LEDwOu9IdLl3oxVyGO5Hm8k073wFe-foBVSovyQqxE6CmJB4cPHzRu5SfMm-RSLRcoRU4MzCg5v1NfR0t6d-k/s1600/20140821_204714.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: small;">The guest of h</span></span>o<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: purple;">nor with the party hosts! Love these two girls so much! Students in their classrooms are so, so blessed!</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Wouldn't this be a lovely way to welcome a new staff member to your building? You can change up the menu based on the grade level the new staff member will be teaching. Add fun bookmarks or book plates as party favors. Another idea would be to have staff members had their favorite read alouds, favorite quotes, or words for wisdom in a nice journal. The teacher could use the journal to write daily reflections from their first year of teaching, or their first year in a new grade level, building, or district. The possibilities are endless...and the rewards are far reaching as we encourage our new staff members and support well stocked classroom libraries! </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
LiteracyDocenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746444238586627666noreply@blogger.com5