MckLinky Blog Hop

Welcome Blog Hoppers!

This week's theme is encouragement

My encouragement comes in the form of a quote. I love this quote because it was one that my husband said to me when we were in college, before we were even dating. (He had a crush on me but was still trying to seal the deal and ask me out). To top it off, it was said by Dr. Seuss and what elementary school teacher doesn't love Dr. Seuss??

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."

I Am From Poem

Another type of poem I had to try out for my writing class was called the "I Am From" poem. Here is the description from the book: (Learn More! Write More! By M. Carrol Tama & Anita B. McClain)

"In this global world of ours students come from many places. Even if they don't come from faraway places like Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, China, Russia, but from Main Street USA, they have much to share. This type of poem is non-threatening particularly to students who perceive themselves as non-writers. Students can always come up with descriptors about place, family and origins. Success is ensured. Through the "I Am From strategy," students see each other differently. They regard more sensitively, students who have come from distant places. Through these poems, American students hear about the trials of immigrants struggling to reach the United States as well as the hardships and fears that traveled with them, and those that remain a part of their lives in this sought after "Land of Golden Opportunity." All students gain insights into the lives of their peers who may have lived in cultures and situations completely foreign to their own. In addition, they view their own neighborhoods and families as rich sources of their personal story."

My "I Am From" poem

I am from Green Knolls Lane, playing with Barbies on a green shag carpet. Family parties with grandmas and grandpas, cousins, and friends.

I am from Ridge Line Road in a house that was build by my father where I spent most of my childhood. Playing with neighbors in the culdesac and returning home when it grew dark.

I am from the mahogany bed with pineapple posts that belonged to my great uncle. The bed I sit in as I write right now.

I am from strawberry cake with strawberry frosting, my signature birthday cake. Birthdays that were always during summer vacation. No work, just enjoyment, a tradition I still have to this day.

I am from family dinners every night at 6:00. Setting the table and filling glasses with water. Mom always cooking something good.

I am from Christmas traditions, a new dated Hallmark ornament for every year of my life. Christmas stockings that my grandma Sue knit by hand with the names of everyone in our family. Blank ones carefully put away for the children I will have some day.

I am from trips to the library for books to read before bed. Snuggling with mom on the couch as she read. Loving the special time with her and favorite books, Benny Bakes a Cake, Surprise Party, and Time to Go to Bed.

I am from Judd Road, another house built by my father, only this time I helped. A long driveway surrounded by woods leading the way to a dream imagined by my parents.

I am from Easton, a town with character, but without a single restaurant and only 1 store. Quaint, comfortable, and filled with family.

I am from Barbette's Dance Academy where I proudly danced for 16 years wearing brightly colored costumes covered in feathers, sequins, and lace. Sparkling on stage just like Miss Barbara taught me.

I am from Samuel Staples, Helen Keller, and Joel Barlow where some of my teachers had taught my mom and dad. Mrs. Fowler taught both my parents, by brother, my aunt, and my cousin. She was the greatest.

I am from Villanova University where I met two people who I love dearly. Where I thought I learned how to be a teacher and where I learned to do laundry. Leaving CT, and my first love, to begin a life that I never thought I wanted.

I am from Portland, Oregon. A home that my husband and I own and altered to fit us just right. From granite counter tops, stainless appliances, and expensive taste that I developed from having a builder as a father. Not my first home, yet it is. Special memories for a new family starting with the two of us.

I am from Tualatin Elementary where I truly learned how to be a teacher. Meeting special kids I will never forget..Maria, Karla, Hugo...

I am from careful and cautious in new situations, but rushing and hurrying through daily life.

I am from shy and quiet sometimes, but talkative and bubbly at others.

I am from...

Some of the poems written by others in my class were absolutely amazing and truly poetic. Their words choices were fantastic and their poems truly were works of art. Mine lacks that creative touch, yet I am sure you learned something about me in reading it so it works whether it is fancy or not!

Interesting Thought

Readers and Writers with a Difference: A Holistic Approach to Teaching Struggling Readers and Writers.

By Lynn K Rhodes & Curt Dudley-Marling

"We wish to emphasize that our goals for literacy instruction apply to all children, regardless of ability or economic, social, linguistic, or cultural background. Special literacy programs for poor and minority students (students often described as "at risk") that emphasize basic skills instruction and limit the purposes and audiences for students' reading can have the effect of reinforcing a status quo in which many people are disadvantaged because of their race, gender, class, ethnicity, or language."

When I read this quote, I felt very badly about how we configured our reading groups this past year. We skill grouped the children, which meant separating out all the students who were struggling and putting them in a group together and separating out all the students who were "beyond grade level" to be together in another group. I taught the "approaching" group and did spend most of our time working on basic skills such as phonemic awareness as opposed to having the students engage in meaningful reading of connected text for a large percentage of our time together. I feel like I taught them according to district expectations, using the adopted curriculum as I was told, but now I am seriously questioning the methods that we used.

I always love to read books in which teachers describe their "holistic" methods and I am always astounded by what young students are capable of doing. I am so anxious to see reading instruction at my new international school because I am just dying to see first hand how this more holistic approach really works!

Do you feel like whole language and direct instruction are two mutually exclusive camps that cannot be combined? (I always thought you were either a teacher who did one or the other!)

Do you think that there can exist a marriage of the two that results in more successful students?

What have you found useful in your classroom?

Bye to Miss Meghann

I met Meghann in one of the first classes I ever took at PSU for my special education certification program. I don't think we ever talked to each other during that class, but after we became friends we both admitted to each other that we had wanted to be friends when we first saw each other. I think she told me she saw me drinking Diet Coke and just knew we were going to be friends!

I can't really remember exactly how we transitioned from strangers in class to hanging out with each other outside of class, but she has become a great friend. We hung out tonight (the last time we will see each other before I move) and we were reflecting on our "first friend date." We went to dinner at Applebees and saw Step Up. It is so hard to say goodbye to good friends! :0(

Meghann is one of the nicest, most compassionate, sincere people I know. She is a special education teacher in the same district I worked for and it is her true calling in life. She has such a passion for teaching children with special needs and I admire her so much. Even though she is relatively new to the teaching profession like I am, she is GOOD at what she does! The photo of us is from the Buddy Walk where we met the actor Chris Burke and we were both star struck. We were like giggling idiots waiting in line for him to sign out CD's. (Did you know Chris Burke from Life Goes on is in a band???..LOVE it!)

Anyway, I know Meghann reads this blog and I want her to know what a special friend she is to me. She has graciously said I can come live with her when I come back to Portland during the summer to take classes and that is exactly why she is so wonderful...she is always thinking about what she can do for others. Much love to Miss Meghann who is beautiful on the outside and the inside.

This I believe....

For one of my class assignments we had to write a statement about our teaching entitled, "This I believe..." Tonight, at our last class, each person had to read what he or she had written out loud to everyone else. I thought I would share mine because when I read it, I felt good about it. For all of my teacher readers who are getting ready to go back to school, I hope you find some inspiration in this!

This I believe…

I believe in the rights of all students to be included and appreciated. Whether a child has a special need, lives in poverty, speaks 4 languages, or does not speak English, I will always see a child first before a trait defined by a label. I am driven to understand the needs of diverse learners and meet those needs while affirming to all children that I care about them and they are important. I know that all students excel in certain areas and struggle in others. It is important to find and acknowledge what each student can do well in order to help him or her gain confidence and the desire to work hard for things that don’t come easily. Effort is what I hold in high regard. Success is important, however the process of getting to that moment of success and being able to recognize what lead to the success is more valuable. I want my students to be thinkers, askers, and active learners; finding pleasure and meaning in discovery, making connections, and gaining a better understanding of their place in the world.

I believe in the importance of understanding where students and their families are coming from. I want to know their perspective and to try my best to understand it. Sometimes that will entail feeling uncomfortable, conflicted, and perhaps frustrated, but I recognize that part of my journey, as an educator, is to continuously evaluate my practices to ensure that my instruction is meaningful to my students and pertinent to their lives.

I believe that my role as a student does not end when I assume the role of the teacher. I am committed to collaborating with colleagues in order to gain new perspectives, being persistent in my professional development, and broadening, reflecting on, and making adjustments to my pedagogy. I want to continuously update my practices based on new information and new personal understanding of learning from my own experiences and those of others.

I believe that the profession of teaching is honorable and I want to live up to a high standard each and every day.

Present. Committed. Inspired.

6 + 1 Traits of Writing

Check out this 6 + 1 Traits of Writing website. My teacher asked us to take a look at it and I am so happy that she did! There are lesson plans that address each of the traits at each grade level from 1st through 12th. There is also a Beginning Writer's Continuum (BWC) that looks like a fantastic tool for evaluating the writing of younger students according to the 7 different writing traits. You can also find writing pieces that have already been scored and you can practice scoring pieces as well.

Not familiar with 6+1 Traits of Writing? I wasn't either until last summer. I felt like everyone else knew about this secret and I didn't.

Ideas- the heart of the message

Organization- the internal structure of the piece

Voice- the personal tone and flavor of the author's message

Word Choice- the vocabulary an author chooses to convey meaning

Sentence Fluency-the rhythm and flow of the language

Conventions-the mechanical correctness

Presentation- how the piece looks

I have the 6 + 1 Traits book for primary students but the website has many additional tools to use!