The Sunrise Story

Each week on Saturday  bloggers celebrate at  Ruth Ayres Writes .  Won't you join us?  This is going to be short...I feel like I'm sprinting towards the finish line...ten days left with my students! This is a very special group and one I'll miss very much!! I'm trying to hold onto the moments left... I celebrate my adorable new shoes I celebrate a month with Bella I celebrate this painting of Leo I got yesterday I can't wait to have time to write. I MISS blogging and I miss my blogging friends. I'll be back soon...

Each week on Saturday  bloggers celebrate at  Ruth Ayres Writes .  Won't you join us?  Some days it's not easy to write this post...today is not one of those days! I feel full of joy and celebration today.  I celebrate an amazing week with students who are funny, hard working, silly, creative, and wonderful! This week they took two state tests. We continue to prepare for our poetry celebration in June, PoetPalooza, by writing & revising & rehearsing original poetry. I continue to be amazed by the stories that sixth graders have to tell...they are full of joy, wisdom, pain, and hope! I celebrate learning! We begin Literacy Journey, our graduate course, with an introductory meeting in May. This is the fourth year that I'm facilitating. I celebrate the energy and enthusiasm that teachers brought to that meeting...in May, during state testing, after a full day of school! They engaged in thoughtful conversations and I'm so excited t...

Each week on Saturday  bloggers celebrate at  Ruth Ayres Writes .  Won't you join us?  One of my favorite parts of the week is blogging about celebrations and this week is no exception. Here are my celebrations for the week... I celebrate TWITTER! The connections that I've made on twitter have changed me and helped me become a much better teacher. I can't say it enough. This week, I reached a big number on twitter. I have 1,000 followers!!! I consider that an achievement and I'm proud.  I celebrate my student POETS! We continue to write and revise and rehearse our poetry. Everyday I am inspired by my student poets. This week we began our state tests...in Virginia they are called the SOLs. Read this poem by Bryan about testing... Preparing today for the standards of learning test our teacher said you will be pressured. We'd have to read and think during this SOL and learn to spell stupendous, Mississippi,  money, and POWFUNKSHAZ...

Slice of Life Challenge Please join the challenge over at  Two Writing Teachers ! Yesterday, I began a new notebook. I'd been dragging my feet, so I wouldn't finish my previous notebook. Changing notebooks stresses me out! (I never realized that I share this stress with others until I read  Betsy's post  last week!) My notebook goes everywhere with me. When I look to purchase a new purse or bag, one of the considerations is always, "Will my notebook fit?" It becomes part of me...almost like a baby's security blanket. I feel incomplete if I forget it, and when I get home, I immediately need to "spend some time" with my notebook. OK, OK, maybe I sound crazy, but it's true. My notebook is where I am free to be me with no judgment or worries. It's where I figure out ways to solve problems. It's where I let go and I just am...to let go my notebook, when I finish is sad and hard. At the risk of sounding l...

Each week on Saturday  bloggers celebrate at  Ruth Ayres Writes .  Won't you join us?  So much to celebrate this week! Last Saturday I added a new member to my family...my dog, Bella. Today marks a week that we've been together and the adjustment is going well, mostly. (I forgot how hard the beginning part of this can be.) She's settling in and feeling comfortable...this morning, she even jumped up and sat in my lap to cuddle for a bit. Sunday arrived and I got to meet one of my blogging friend IRL...in real life! Catherine was close by and we met for brunch on Sunday. How amazing it was to spend time talking with someone and sharing stories about teaching, books, and life! What a perfect way to spend a Sunday!! Tomorrow is Mother's Day. I have an amazing mother. She is sweet and smart and funny and kind and cute and I love her so much! We talk every morning and it's the perfect way to start my day! Living far away from her can be hard...sometime...

Slice of Life Challenge Please join the challenge over at  Two Writing Teachers ! Lazy Saturdays are my favorites! It was the last weekend of the poetry workshop with Chris Lehman and the amazing TeacherPoets. Being part of that workshop was such an amazing experience and I'm so sad to see it end! After the workshop, I jumped in my car and headed out. My hands shook as I drove and I found myself holding my breath, hoping everything would work out. After an endless eleven mile drive, I turned into the driveway and parked. Saying a silent prayer, I hopped out and sprinted to the door. After a kind greeting, I barked, I'd like to see a dog to adopt.  Down the hall and to the right.  I walked into the kennel where all of the dogs were and she was the first one I saw...relaxed and lounging on a doggie cot. She jumped up and licked my fingers. Her. I want her!  I had picked her out online and my eyes didn't notice any of the other dogs. We visited for a bit...

Each week on Saturday  bloggers celebrate at  Ruth Ayres Writes .  Won't you join us?  I love Saturday celebrations!  This week I celebrate my students and their creativity and enthusiasm. On the one hand, we are in the middle of testing season...but we counter that with our poetry. We are writing poetry and sharing it with each other.  This week we began rehearsing for our PoetPalooza in June! I love watching them work in groups and find ways to entertain each other. The enthusiasm is infectious! Speaking of poetry, I celebrate the final day of TeacherPoets with Chris Lehman. I revised my poem and I'm happy with the final poem. Please check it out here .   Wishing you a great week filled with celebrations!

The opportunity to write and share poetry with amazing teachers and poets has truly inspired me. I wrote a poem and we workshopped it the second week of the workshop. I revised it and the revised poem is below. I'd love feedback. If you'd like to read the first draft of the poem, click here...   I spent some time with the notes and suggestions from other teacher poets and here's my revised poem...what do you think? At ten years old, I begged Please! Mom PLEASE! I want a pair of Dr. Scholl’s… just like everyone else! Gripping my red Dr. Scholl’s I carefully put them on all day….. blister my feet and cause me to trip. I return to my flip-flops, I’m not like everyone else… My brown-bagged lunch sits in front of me in the teacher’s room, reaching in I grab a vitamin water and my peanut butter sandwich. As I peel back the silvery foil I hear An innocent voice in a room, crowded with familiar Did your husband make your lunch? The fo...