There might be a theme running in this week's posts!
Are our youngest children ready to write? Sure they are! Give them the tools and let them try. On the first day of kindergarten read a great story with characters and a plot. Talk about the story and how it might relate to something they have done. Explain that they are going to write a story about something they have done. They will draw pictures and if they want to write words. When they are done they will share their work just like the author who wrote the book they listened to. Give them each a small book that is 2-3 pages of white paper folded and stapled. Show them how it works and set them loose.
If you don't believe me get a book by Katie Wood Ray on the art of teaching writing to our youngest learners. Two favorites are: In Pictures and In Words and About the Authors. About the Authors has a DVD available that is comprised of clips from the classroom where Katie does her research. They are not polished, professional videos but film she took while researching to help with the writing process. As she showed them at talks people wanted them so the publisher put together a DVD. I have gotten to know the children in the DVD as if I was in the class!
If you really want proof that this works and kids are willing to write go to a kindergarten or 1st grade classroom and try it. Read a book like A Pocket for Corduroy and let them talk about how the character is feeling. At the end let the children talk for a moment about a special toy they have and how they'd feel if something happened and it was lost. Then explain that they are going to get a book so they can write a story about something they care about that shows how they feel. It doesn't have to be this prescriptive but it may help if they are new to writing their own stories. Make sure they have pencils, colored pencils, and other tools they may need for writing. Remind them that they will get to share their stories at the end of the writing time. Give them time and circulate to check in during the writing time.
You will find they don't need a prompt or a template for getting their ideas on paper. A kindergarten child with very little experience may just draw a picture of the toy and maybe himself. Allow him to share his story by encouraging him to tell the story from his picture(s). He will realize that there is a story and the details can be relayed. With practice he will begin to increase his stamina and details as he realizes his work is valued and is like what is being read each day to the class.
I've seen this work! I know the children have much more than we give them credit for. With the tools, the time, and the encouragement they will become writers. As you circulate and conference you will be guiding them toward all the necessary parts of writing like: spacing, letters, words that match pictures, etc. Always include time to share their work and keep the work in their reading bins or a special library in the classroom so it is public.
Let them read and let them write and they will grow in both areas. Act as a supporter and guide as they learn the basics of reading and writing.
Thursday, February 18, 2016
Let them Read!
I've been working in education a long time in many roles and lately I've been wondering why don't we let our youngest students read? Sure, we teach reading. We control reading. We supervise reading. What I wonder is during school how much do we let children read?
In one of my jobs we were doing an audit on reading instruction across schools. One of things we asked teachers to do was record how much time during the school day children spent reading. When we met there were lots of questions about what we meant. Was word study reading? Was silent reading counted? People tended to think (with our youngest children) that reading instruction is what we meant. When we clarified by saying how much time do kids in your class have a book in their hands and they are reading. How much of this is uninterrupted or independent of the teacher. Most of the kindergarten and first grade teachers felt the children weren't able to do this type of reading because most of them didn't know how to read yet.
Not every child comes to school with the tools to begin reading. Some developmentally aren't ready, some haven't had any experience with books and text. This shouldn't stand in the way of handing a child a book and saying you can go sit on the rug and read. When he or she responds, "I don't know how to read." you can say, "Just pretend." In most cases the child understands the concept of pretending and will happily sit down with the book and look at pictures. Isn't reading the pictures a form of reading? Sure it is.
Once the child has spent some time with a book have children share what they are reading. This can be in pairs, in a circle, etc. The focus of this is letting others in the community know what is out there and why someone else might enjoy that book. The children will learn to tell about what is in their books by the pictures (and in some cases the words). Great chance for the teacher to see if children are understanding that pictures contain meaning as well as words. If you have a large selection of materials there should be something for every child. Some will gravitate toward nonfiction and some fiction. Some may choose old favorites that they already know. All of these books are for revisiting and sharing. Eventually the child will attempt the words and will have some knowledge of what should be expected by having read the pictures and shared what he/she learned.
This time for reading should be daily and the time expanded as the children mature. The teacher may be stopping by and checking in to show interest and gather data for instruction. The teacher may be running a reading group with a small group. This is definitely a part of a workshop model for reading instruction. No matter what you call your scheduled reading instruction time children should be interacting with books that they are interested in and have chosen. In their same collection of books there may be ones they've used during instruction and are practicing but this time should allow children to choose what they read.
It's important that our youngest children are being given time to read everyday. Don't worry about a book level or whether they can read the words. Give them time to explore with books and pretend. That pretending will lead to reading and the openness to get better because it is something they WANT to do not something they HAVE to do.
In one of my jobs we were doing an audit on reading instruction across schools. One of things we asked teachers to do was record how much time during the school day children spent reading. When we met there were lots of questions about what we meant. Was word study reading? Was silent reading counted? People tended to think (with our youngest children) that reading instruction is what we meant. When we clarified by saying how much time do kids in your class have a book in their hands and they are reading. How much of this is uninterrupted or independent of the teacher. Most of the kindergarten and first grade teachers felt the children weren't able to do this type of reading because most of them didn't know how to read yet.
Not every child comes to school with the tools to begin reading. Some developmentally aren't ready, some haven't had any experience with books and text. This shouldn't stand in the way of handing a child a book and saying you can go sit on the rug and read. When he or she responds, "I don't know how to read." you can say, "Just pretend." In most cases the child understands the concept of pretending and will happily sit down with the book and look at pictures. Isn't reading the pictures a form of reading? Sure it is.
Once the child has spent some time with a book have children share what they are reading. This can be in pairs, in a circle, etc. The focus of this is letting others in the community know what is out there and why someone else might enjoy that book. The children will learn to tell about what is in their books by the pictures (and in some cases the words). Great chance for the teacher to see if children are understanding that pictures contain meaning as well as words. If you have a large selection of materials there should be something for every child. Some will gravitate toward nonfiction and some fiction. Some may choose old favorites that they already know. All of these books are for revisiting and sharing. Eventually the child will attempt the words and will have some knowledge of what should be expected by having read the pictures and shared what he/she learned.
This time for reading should be daily and the time expanded as the children mature. The teacher may be stopping by and checking in to show interest and gather data for instruction. The teacher may be running a reading group with a small group. This is definitely a part of a workshop model for reading instruction. No matter what you call your scheduled reading instruction time children should be interacting with books that they are interested in and have chosen. In their same collection of books there may be ones they've used during instruction and are practicing but this time should allow children to choose what they read.
It's important that our youngest children are being given time to read everyday. Don't worry about a book level or whether they can read the words. Give them time to explore with books and pretend. That pretending will lead to reading and the openness to get better because it is something they WANT to do not something they HAVE to do.
Monday, February 15, 2016
Is This Normal?
I truly believe there is a hidden writer in me and tonight I began to think about this because of what I believe may be a weird habit. I have a tendency to here certain phrases or names and start picturing a story that uses the phrase or names. Sometimes I take the time to write whatever it is in a journal or on a piece of paper. I wish I did every time because when I come across these notes I immediately picture the story that came to me at the time. When I don't write them down they are lost because I didn't rehearse the idea and get the names/phrases more solid in my memory.
Tonight was one of my long days because I am co-teaching a course that begins when the school day ends. We were watching a video of a lesson and the little boy was adorable. He was five years-old, in overalls, and had an old man name (my opinion), Harold. The teacher's name was Amanda. As I watched the video and tried to focus I kept thinking, "these are great names for a children's book." I started jotting ideas in my journal and soon Amanda became Antoinette and the was story emerging. Now it's been a few hours and I'm still haunted by these characters and my story that involves a little boy named Harold and a baby hippo named Antoinette!
Why I chose to write about this tonight is because this happens to me all the time. I have pieces started in several places and the characters visit me off and on when something reminds me of them or the story. There's Bernie and Duffy (therapy dogs), Rhubarb the Prom Queen (a baby born in the rhubarb patch), Roger the Rooster, and many more. I like to think the stories are aging and will be ready to tackle soon. I'm not sure when soon is but I believe it is getting nearer because I have been searching out these pieces of paper and revisiting these stories. Maybe this writing challenge is helping me get more comfortable with continuing some of my ideas and taking one (or more) to final pieces.
We have a school vacation next week and I am always hopeful I will get tons of things accomplished. My to do list is growing but maybe I'll focus a particular time each day to writing of ideas I've had for picture books. Maybe. . .
Stay tuned.
Tonight was one of my long days because I am co-teaching a course that begins when the school day ends. We were watching a video of a lesson and the little boy was adorable. He was five years-old, in overalls, and had an old man name (my opinion), Harold. The teacher's name was Amanda. As I watched the video and tried to focus I kept thinking, "these are great names for a children's book." I started jotting ideas in my journal and soon Amanda became Antoinette and the was story emerging. Now it's been a few hours and I'm still haunted by these characters and my story that involves a little boy named Harold and a baby hippo named Antoinette!
Why I chose to write about this tonight is because this happens to me all the time. I have pieces started in several places and the characters visit me off and on when something reminds me of them or the story. There's Bernie and Duffy (therapy dogs), Rhubarb the Prom Queen (a baby born in the rhubarb patch), Roger the Rooster, and many more. I like to think the stories are aging and will be ready to tackle soon. I'm not sure when soon is but I believe it is getting nearer because I have been searching out these pieces of paper and revisiting these stories. Maybe this writing challenge is helping me get more comfortable with continuing some of my ideas and taking one (or more) to final pieces.
We have a school vacation next week and I am always hopeful I will get tons of things accomplished. My to do list is growing but maybe I'll focus a particular time each day to writing of ideas I've had for picture books. Maybe. . .
Stay tuned.
Sunday, February 14, 2016
Valentine's Day!
Is it really necessary to create a day to show how much you love someone? Shouldn't this be something we do everyday to people who are valued? I was thinking about this today as I worked at our little cooperative store and a few people mentioned they were buying chocolate for their sweeties. One person made a point of explaining that he was buying a different kind of chocolate to make their evening ritual a bit special. Evidently they enjoy a certain type of chocolate each evening but tonight it would be something different. I'm sure his wife knows she's special to him but this was his little way of honoring Valentine's Day.
My plan had been to make a special dinner for Bruce. Something he truly enjoys. As I planned and bought the ingredients I realized this is something I do almost daily. I love to cook and I love to make food that others enjoy. When I told Bruce the menu he said I shouldn't tell the boys since they would want to come home. He knew it was a favorite meal for the family. I explained that I would repeat it when they were home for spring break! It doesn't mean that tonight isn't special but it kept reminding me that perhaps I don't need a calendar to tell me to share my feelings since I do it pretty regularly (often through food!).
This brings me to my next revelation. . . Perhaps food is too big a focus in our life. Most holidays have a special meal related to the day. Birthdays are always times the honored person gets to pick his/her favorite meal. Our summer reunions with my side of the family always have the same main food (and we expect it). Bruce's side hosts a family gathering each spring and it is always the same menu. Food is a big part of our family's way of showing love. Maybe that's not true for others but it is certainly true in my family and my husband's family.
One thing we don't do regularly is say, "I love you." I hear other people end every phone call with, "I love you," but we don't. I'm sure my children and my husband know I love them, so perhaps it's not necessary. No one has every complained. I believe my actions demonstrate my love when I talk to my boys or visit with them. Is it necessary to say, "I love you" regularly for someone to know it is true? I don't think so and I doubt at this late stage I will change. I guarantee that I love all my boys and believe they are secure in that knowledge. For now I'll continue to cook and feed my family as one of the ways I show my love.
P.S. Update on my writing challenge -- Yesterday I wrote a review for a reading organization newsletter. I didn't post it here since it will be published in the newsletter but I considered it meeting my challenge for Saturday. Friday was a bust! I was exhausted from my travel and just relaxed after dinner.
My plan had been to make a special dinner for Bruce. Something he truly enjoys. As I planned and bought the ingredients I realized this is something I do almost daily. I love to cook and I love to make food that others enjoy. When I told Bruce the menu he said I shouldn't tell the boys since they would want to come home. He knew it was a favorite meal for the family. I explained that I would repeat it when they were home for spring break! It doesn't mean that tonight isn't special but it kept reminding me that perhaps I don't need a calendar to tell me to share my feelings since I do it pretty regularly (often through food!).
This brings me to my next revelation. . . Perhaps food is too big a focus in our life. Most holidays have a special meal related to the day. Birthdays are always times the honored person gets to pick his/her favorite meal. Our summer reunions with my side of the family always have the same main food (and we expect it). Bruce's side hosts a family gathering each spring and it is always the same menu. Food is a big part of our family's way of showing love. Maybe that's not true for others but it is certainly true in my family and my husband's family.
One thing we don't do regularly is say, "I love you." I hear other people end every phone call with, "I love you," but we don't. I'm sure my children and my husband know I love them, so perhaps it's not necessary. No one has every complained. I believe my actions demonstrate my love when I talk to my boys or visit with them. Is it necessary to say, "I love you" regularly for someone to know it is true? I don't think so and I doubt at this late stage I will change. I guarantee that I love all my boys and believe they are secure in that knowledge. For now I'll continue to cook and feed my family as one of the ways I show my love.
P.S. Update on my writing challenge -- Yesterday I wrote a review for a reading organization newsletter. I didn't post it here since it will be published in the newsletter but I considered it meeting my challenge for Saturday. Friday was a bust! I was exhausted from my travel and just relaxed after dinner.
Thursday, February 11, 2016
30 Minutes!
Traveling seems to mean delays. I'm on my way back to Vermont after a week of assessment work in North Carolina. It's always interesting to participate in these opportunities but the hassle of flying always makes me question the sanity of travel!
The flight to N.C. was delayed but I didn't miss my connection so it all ended fine. Today I arrived at the Raleigh/Durham airport VERY early because our meeting ended early and I decided it would be just as easy to be at the airport. Thank Goodness. My flight was delayed which meant I'd miss my connection but I was there early enough to get on an earlier flight and be sure of making my flight. Once in NYC I settled in and readied myself for a 3 hour wait (the 4 hour layover was reduced when the flight from NC left late due to crew issues). That 3 hours has turned into 5 1/2 due to high winds. This means I'll arrive (hopefully) in VT at 12:30 a.m. and get home around 1:30 a.m.!
But why did I name this post 30 minutes? Time seems to be the topic as far as travel and now I learn that my free Internet access is only for 30 minutes. I'm typing fast in hopes of getting a blog post done and not getting behind again on my challenge! Seems to be a theme -- time and delays.
I found it interesting when I realized I had only 30 minutes of access I completely froze about what I'd write. I had been thinking about topics while I ate my pizza in preparation for getting this done and yet when I saw -- 30 minutes -- and a timer started I froze. Perhaps that's how most of us feel when put in a situation that is usually relaxed (writing for pleasure) but becomes pressured (writing in a timed situation).
My timer has disappeared so in the interest of not losing this blog post and getting it posted I will close and continue my wait and hope I get out of NYC tonight and I don't have to sleep on this filthy, hard floor! (Sorry if there are typos, no time to edit!)
The flight to N.C. was delayed but I didn't miss my connection so it all ended fine. Today I arrived at the Raleigh/Durham airport VERY early because our meeting ended early and I decided it would be just as easy to be at the airport. Thank Goodness. My flight was delayed which meant I'd miss my connection but I was there early enough to get on an earlier flight and be sure of making my flight. Once in NYC I settled in and readied myself for a 3 hour wait (the 4 hour layover was reduced when the flight from NC left late due to crew issues). That 3 hours has turned into 5 1/2 due to high winds. This means I'll arrive (hopefully) in VT at 12:30 a.m. and get home around 1:30 a.m.!
But why did I name this post 30 minutes? Time seems to be the topic as far as travel and now I learn that my free Internet access is only for 30 minutes. I'm typing fast in hopes of getting a blog post done and not getting behind again on my challenge! Seems to be a theme -- time and delays.
I found it interesting when I realized I had only 30 minutes of access I completely froze about what I'd write. I had been thinking about topics while I ate my pizza in preparation for getting this done and yet when I saw -- 30 minutes -- and a timer started I froze. Perhaps that's how most of us feel when put in a situation that is usually relaxed (writing for pleasure) but becomes pressured (writing in a timed situation).
My timer has disappeared so in the interest of not losing this blog post and getting it posted I will close and continue my wait and hope I get out of NYC tonight and I don't have to sleep on this filthy, hard floor! (Sorry if there are typos, no time to edit!)
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Pets
This post is coming out of the blue! Quite often when I sit to write something I've been thinking about, an observation or something hot in the news that disturbs or interests me, is what enters my head to get the writing started but tonight I'm just reflecting on owning pets. It seems a bit weird for this topic to enter my head as I sit in a hotel room to be thinking about pets but that's what is invading my brain.
I grew up with pets. We always had a dog and it was always small. The dog I grew up with was Beau. He was a miniature poodle that we got when we moved to California. I was in third grade and Beau was my best friend. He lived into my college days as a deaf, mostly blind, smelly old dog. It didn't matter how nasty he got he was a part of the family and I couldn't imagine not having him.
During those years we had an occasional cat, bird, hamster, gerbil, and even rabbits. My parents were pretty agreeable about our pets. Even though others came and went Beau lasted the longest. My dad enjoyed having a dog around but he and Mom had found it much easier to be child and pet free once we all left.
Once I married I wanted pets again. Bruce had not been raised with pets due to his brother's allergies. When we got our first cat, Homer, he broke out in hives and showed every sign of being allergic. With a lot of Benadryl and acclimation he adjusted and lived in harmony with Homer. She lived to the ripe old age of 17! During that time we tried a dog. Not a good match for Bruce. I was convinced he'd come around but instead I changed my feelings. I very much enjoyed my cats but dogs were just too needy. They expected too much and were vocal or acted out when they didn't get what they wanted. Cats on the other hand just expected regular feeding and a cozy lap on their terms.
Over the years I realized that I might not be one of those people who needs something extra to need or rely on me. Dogs are constantly reminding you that they need attention and want to be noticed. Like a toddler they follow you around, get vocal when you turn your back, make demands and get naughty when those demands aren't met. I don't need that!
I've decided if I am going to have a pet it will always be a cat. I used to tell Bruce that if he died I would get a dog. I'm sure that is not the case anymore (hopefully I won't have to face that anytime soon!). We currently have two cats, Cleo (15), and Sadie (10). I realize it won't be long before these two will no longer be with us. As I contemplate this I think about our life as we age. Children are mostly out of the nest and next the cats will be in their next hunting ground which will leave just Bruce and me in the house together. I'm not sure this prospect bothers me nor do I think it will be necessary to have pets.
Once again I am wondering what brought this to the top of my list for thinking about and writing about as I sit in my hotel room in Durham, NC in February! I know I won't get any argument from Bruce when I admit that a pet free house won't be out of the question.
I grew up with pets. We always had a dog and it was always small. The dog I grew up with was Beau. He was a miniature poodle that we got when we moved to California. I was in third grade and Beau was my best friend. He lived into my college days as a deaf, mostly blind, smelly old dog. It didn't matter how nasty he got he was a part of the family and I couldn't imagine not having him.
During those years we had an occasional cat, bird, hamster, gerbil, and even rabbits. My parents were pretty agreeable about our pets. Even though others came and went Beau lasted the longest. My dad enjoyed having a dog around but he and Mom had found it much easier to be child and pet free once we all left.
Once I married I wanted pets again. Bruce had not been raised with pets due to his brother's allergies. When we got our first cat, Homer, he broke out in hives and showed every sign of being allergic. With a lot of Benadryl and acclimation he adjusted and lived in harmony with Homer. She lived to the ripe old age of 17! During that time we tried a dog. Not a good match for Bruce. I was convinced he'd come around but instead I changed my feelings. I very much enjoyed my cats but dogs were just too needy. They expected too much and were vocal or acted out when they didn't get what they wanted. Cats on the other hand just expected regular feeding and a cozy lap on their terms.
Over the years I realized that I might not be one of those people who needs something extra to need or rely on me. Dogs are constantly reminding you that they need attention and want to be noticed. Like a toddler they follow you around, get vocal when you turn your back, make demands and get naughty when those demands aren't met. I don't need that!
I've decided if I am going to have a pet it will always be a cat. I used to tell Bruce that if he died I would get a dog. I'm sure that is not the case anymore (hopefully I won't have to face that anytime soon!). We currently have two cats, Cleo (15), and Sadie (10). I realize it won't be long before these two will no longer be with us. As I contemplate this I think about our life as we age. Children are mostly out of the nest and next the cats will be in their next hunting ground which will leave just Bruce and me in the house together. I'm not sure this prospect bothers me nor do I think it will be necessary to have pets.
Once again I am wondering what brought this to the top of my list for thinking about and writing about as I sit in my hotel room in Durham, NC in February! I know I won't get any argument from Bruce when I admit that a pet free house won't be out of the question.
Tuesday, February 9, 2016
Status Update
I'm behind! It's the story of my life and I'm too old to change. Don't try to tell me that you are never too old because I'm pretty happy with my life just the way it is. This doesn't mean I am planning to give up on my writing challenge, I'm just not going to beat myself up over something I'm not that bothered by.
What I have found since I took on this challenge is that during the day I am thinking about what I want to write about! That is good. What is bad is that I'm not taking the time to write down those thoughts so when I sit down to write at the end of a busy day I have something to reference to remember what I was thinking about! As I age I really need to make lists and keep them where I can find them.
Earlier today I saw a Meme (idea/thought/picture with words that spreads within a culture) with a picture of Temple Grandin and the quote, "We're focusing so much on academics that we've TAKEN OUT things like art, sewing, cooking, woodworking, music, and othe rthings that INTRODUCE kids to careers." I was thrilled since it goes with an earlier blog post on my pet peeve that "content" is the be all and end all. If you can't process all this "content" because you have no reference points because you've never done anything except learn "content" it's a waste of time. Experiences is what the children need in order to make sense of all this "content." Whew!
This is coming the same week that I'm spending my time in Durham, NC working on assessment items for the yearly "how are we doing as educators" test! Don't get me wrong, I don't have a problem with taking the pulse of education through assessment but there has to be more than one measure to prove something is working. There has been too much emphasis for too many years that a once a year test can determine a "good" school and a "bad" school.
As an educator I see a side of society that I'm afraid not everyone sees. I certainly didn't know there was so much dysfunction in the world until I started teaching. Maybe my family protected me or perhaps people tend to flock toward people with similar beliefs and structures and my flock was seemingly functional. I was shocked when I first started teaching (a long time ago) how much neglect there was. It has only gotten worse. Our current political gridlock is a very good indicator of just how low our society has come. I don't generally write about politics but I just learned Trump won the NH primary for the Republican party -- REALLY? I am appalled that a majority of voters believe his hatred and arrogance are what we need to run the country. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised since the fascination with families like the Kardashians should explain it all. What happened to looking up to people who made a difference in the world in a positive, helping humanity type of way?
I'll end with a nice conclusion that returns to the introduction which reminds me not to beat myself up over some things that I may not control or that I may not want to change. I will just try to stay positive and find the good in others so that I don't allow myself to become hateful and a part of the disease. I've read that optimists live longer and are healthier. Good-night, sleep tight, have a wonderful day tomorrow.
What I have found since I took on this challenge is that during the day I am thinking about what I want to write about! That is good. What is bad is that I'm not taking the time to write down those thoughts so when I sit down to write at the end of a busy day I have something to reference to remember what I was thinking about! As I age I really need to make lists and keep them where I can find them.
Earlier today I saw a Meme (idea/thought/picture with words that spreads within a culture) with a picture of Temple Grandin and the quote, "We're focusing so much on academics that we've TAKEN OUT things like art, sewing, cooking, woodworking, music, and othe rthings that INTRODUCE kids to careers." I was thrilled since it goes with an earlier blog post on my pet peeve that "content" is the be all and end all. If you can't process all this "content" because you have no reference points because you've never done anything except learn "content" it's a waste of time. Experiences is what the children need in order to make sense of all this "content." Whew!
This is coming the same week that I'm spending my time in Durham, NC working on assessment items for the yearly "how are we doing as educators" test! Don't get me wrong, I don't have a problem with taking the pulse of education through assessment but there has to be more than one measure to prove something is working. There has been too much emphasis for too many years that a once a year test can determine a "good" school and a "bad" school.
As an educator I see a side of society that I'm afraid not everyone sees. I certainly didn't know there was so much dysfunction in the world until I started teaching. Maybe my family protected me or perhaps people tend to flock toward people with similar beliefs and structures and my flock was seemingly functional. I was shocked when I first started teaching (a long time ago) how much neglect there was. It has only gotten worse. Our current political gridlock is a very good indicator of just how low our society has come. I don't generally write about politics but I just learned Trump won the NH primary for the Republican party -- REALLY? I am appalled that a majority of voters believe his hatred and arrogance are what we need to run the country. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised since the fascination with families like the Kardashians should explain it all. What happened to looking up to people who made a difference in the world in a positive, helping humanity type of way?
I'll end with a nice conclusion that returns to the introduction which reminds me not to beat myself up over some things that I may not control or that I may not want to change. I will just try to stay positive and find the good in others so that I don't allow myself to become hateful and a part of the disease. I've read that optimists live longer and are healthier. Good-night, sleep tight, have a wonderful day tomorrow.
Sunday, February 7, 2016
Rebranding an Old Product
From Wikipedia: Rebranding is a marketing strategy in which a new name, term, symbol, design, or combination thereof is created for an established brand with the intention of developing a new, differentiated identity in the minds of consumers, investors, competitors, and other stakeholders.
On Friday I was heading to the grocery store from school and on the way I passed a trailer park. No fancy name, in fact the road is Mobile Home Park. The home on the end is what I call a "single-wide." I'm sure inside there is a kitchen, living/dining room, a couple of bedrooms and 1 or 2 bathrooms. When double-wides came along they were considered luxurious improvements to the single-wide. The term trailer was replaced with mobile home and then modular (they didn't have trailer hitches!). As I drove I was thinking about a friend who had just visited a city and was so excited about renting a "tiny house" in someone's backyard. She posted pictures of this "new idea."
This leads me to my rebranding thoughts. Aren't tiny houses just what may have been know as "starter homes" or "trailers" or "mobile homes?" Many "tiny houses" are mobile so they avoid some of the zoning and tax regulations but they are still homes that people live in. Their appeal right now is they are generally built with the idea of being environmentally friendly. High efficiency and low impact. They seem to be the answer to the years of "McMansions" when everyone was building or buying houses that were ridiculously over-sized and energy wasters. I guess the 20 teens will be known as the housing market of energy savers and space savers.
I find it fun to watch as these fads come and go and the changes that happen. What is the future of the "tiny house" revolution? I have no idea but I find I can get caught up in the hoopla easily until one of these observations/thoughts hits me. Now I find with each Facebook (another weird fascination) post about a tiny house I'm a little less excited as I think, "how is this different than a redesigned trailer?".
I love the idea of de-cluttering and reducing my footprint but for now I'll just stay put in the house that made an impact a couple of hundred years ago and still stands with lots of work needing to be done. The farmers that build the main part of this house probably never worried about their impact just the ability to stay warm and protected through all the crazy weather Vermont would send their way. I think I'll just be thankful for the shelter it provides and watch the fads in housing continue with "new and improved" ideas passing me by. I'm sure I'll never live in anything that would make Architecture Digest or House Beautiful!
(P.S. if you are monitoring my writing daily in February you will see I missed yesterday! I had this entry started and discussed it but didn't get it posted. I'm not perfect in any way so there will be another today to keep up my challenge.)
On Friday I was heading to the grocery store from school and on the way I passed a trailer park. No fancy name, in fact the road is Mobile Home Park. The home on the end is what I call a "single-wide." I'm sure inside there is a kitchen, living/dining room, a couple of bedrooms and 1 or 2 bathrooms. When double-wides came along they were considered luxurious improvements to the single-wide. The term trailer was replaced with mobile home and then modular (they didn't have trailer hitches!). As I drove I was thinking about a friend who had just visited a city and was so excited about renting a "tiny house" in someone's backyard. She posted pictures of this "new idea."
This leads me to my rebranding thoughts. Aren't tiny houses just what may have been know as "starter homes" or "trailers" or "mobile homes?" Many "tiny houses" are mobile so they avoid some of the zoning and tax regulations but they are still homes that people live in. Their appeal right now is they are generally built with the idea of being environmentally friendly. High efficiency and low impact. They seem to be the answer to the years of "McMansions" when everyone was building or buying houses that were ridiculously over-sized and energy wasters. I guess the 20 teens will be known as the housing market of energy savers and space savers.
I find it fun to watch as these fads come and go and the changes that happen. What is the future of the "tiny house" revolution? I have no idea but I find I can get caught up in the hoopla easily until one of these observations/thoughts hits me. Now I find with each Facebook (another weird fascination) post about a tiny house I'm a little less excited as I think, "how is this different than a redesigned trailer?".
I love the idea of de-cluttering and reducing my footprint but for now I'll just stay put in the house that made an impact a couple of hundred years ago and still stands with lots of work needing to be done. The farmers that build the main part of this house probably never worried about their impact just the ability to stay warm and protected through all the crazy weather Vermont would send their way. I think I'll just be thankful for the shelter it provides and watch the fads in housing continue with "new and improved" ideas passing me by. I'm sure I'll never live in anything that would make Architecture Digest or House Beautiful!
(P.S. if you are monitoring my writing daily in February you will see I missed yesterday! I had this entry started and discussed it but didn't get it posted. I'm not perfect in any way so there will be another today to keep up my challenge.)
Friday, February 5, 2016
Sometimes Life is Difficult
Tonight I learned my son's roommate got a call none of us ever want to receive. His mom called to say his father had died. My son was wondering how to handle this as a friend. Such a tough thing for a 21 year-old to deal with. Hopefully he will be able to provide some comfort as his friend deals with this ordeal. I wish there was some way I could offer comfort to both of them.
Thursday, February 4, 2016
Poetry with Ralph Fletcher
A few years ago I attended a workshop by Ralph Fletcher. If you want to learn how to get kids writing (and adults) read his work. He's a master at motivating boys to read and write and he's especially engaging as a presenter. At this presentation he shared a technique where you use parts of a published poem and then create your own.
The Good Old Times
by Ralph Fletcher
Sometimes I remember
the good old days,
Sitting on the kitchen floor
with my brothers and sister,
each on our own square
of cool linoleum.
I'm fresh from the bath,
wearing baseball pajamas.
Mom gives us a cup of milk,
two cookies, a kiss goodnight,
I still can't imagine
anything better than that.
We read and reread the poem and then wrote something it made us remember from the "good old days." We shared with a partner and then he had us take the bold lines from the beginning and end of his poem and fill in the middle with our own memory. In looking at my journal I can see all the changes, scratch outs, and edits I was making that day and then I revisited it 10 months later and worked on it some more. Here's how his inspiration became my memory!
Sometimes I remember
the good old days,
sitting on the soft rug
leaning against the hard couch.
Mom scratches my back,
knowing just where it itches.
Dad snores in the La-Z-Boy
while Beau snuggles in next to him.
Wonderful World of Disney on the TV,
a fire flickers and crackles in the hearth.
I still can't imagine
anything better than that.
This instantly brings a vision of a quiet Sunday night in the living room of our house in California. I would have been in elementary school (probably 4th grade). Our dog, Beau, was a major part of my life so I find it funny I picture him in the big recliner with Dad since I think he would have been with me. This seems peaceful and serene. I loved that house and my time in California. My favorite childhood memories always return to that area and that time in my life. I don't believe it really was as idyllic as I now picture (I know it wasn't) but this Rockwell image is one I cherish.
Thank you Ralph for helping me return to this spot through your workshop!
The Good Old Times
by Ralph Fletcher
Sometimes I remember
the good old days,
Sitting on the kitchen floor
with my brothers and sister,
each on our own square
of cool linoleum.
I'm fresh from the bath,
wearing baseball pajamas.
Mom gives us a cup of milk,
two cookies, a kiss goodnight,
I still can't imagine
anything better than that.
We read and reread the poem and then wrote something it made us remember from the "good old days." We shared with a partner and then he had us take the bold lines from the beginning and end of his poem and fill in the middle with our own memory. In looking at my journal I can see all the changes, scratch outs, and edits I was making that day and then I revisited it 10 months later and worked on it some more. Here's how his inspiration became my memory!
Sometimes I remember
the good old days,
sitting on the soft rug
leaning against the hard couch.
Mom scratches my back,
knowing just where it itches.
Dad snores in the La-Z-Boy
while Beau snuggles in next to him.
Wonderful World of Disney on the TV,
a fire flickers and crackles in the hearth.
I still can't imagine
anything better than that.
This instantly brings a vision of a quiet Sunday night in the living room of our house in California. I would have been in elementary school (probably 4th grade). Our dog, Beau, was a major part of my life so I find it funny I picture him in the big recliner with Dad since I think he would have been with me. This seems peaceful and serene. I loved that house and my time in California. My favorite childhood memories always return to that area and that time in my life. I don't believe it really was as idyllic as I now picture (I know it wasn't) but this Rockwell image is one I cherish.
Thank you Ralph for helping me return to this spot through your workshop!
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
Yankee/Southerner
No matter how long I live in the north I won't understand some of the oddities I encounter as a child of the south. I Recently attended a conference at a hotel in Vermont and once again I wondered how in the world something so simple is so foreign in this land!
When I first visited Vermont with my then boyfriend we went out to lunch at a fairly nice restaurant. I was always an iced tea drinker so I ordered "tea" with my sandwich. The woman showed up with a little hot pot and tea bag. I looked confused and said, "oh, I meant iced tea!" She made a funny face and said, "this isn't iced tea season." She said this with a very straight face. After she left I looked at Bruce and asked what that meant. He said he'd never thought about it but people in Vermont didn't really drink iced tea. When she returned I asked for a glass of ice so I could make my tea iced. I believe she thought I was from another planet. She brought me a little highball glass and 2 small cubes of ice. This is when I realized I was in a foreign land.
If you are reading this and are from the north you may not understand why this was all so confusing to me. In the south you are never far from glasses filled with ice and topped with the beverage of choice -- coke or iced tea. We like a little beverage with our ice. It is just the opposite in this foreign land I now call home. I sometimes order water and am asked if I'd like ice. Hell yes I want ice! I realize the water comes out of the tap ice cold but you still need ice cubes to make it a beverage.
Back to that conference. At lunch time they put out a beverage service with pitchers of coke, diet coke, lemonade, and "iced tea." There was no ice to be found and the pitcher didn't contain any ice. I returned to my table ranting, "how can it be ICED tea if it doesn't have ice?" My colleagues kind of laughed but didn't see the importance in my whining. I found an employee and asked if it was possible to have a container of ice so we could truly have ICED tea. She smiled and brought out a container of ice. I believe I was the only person in the room to FILL a glass with ice and then cover it with tea. It was good tea (what a relief) and my afternoon could continue.
There have been over 35 years since my first tea experience in the north and the recent one. I have noticed more infiltration of southerners in Vermont and a fascination with the culture which means a bit more understanding of iced tea as an option. McDonald's started serving fresh brewed tea that is served in a tall cup with a full measure of ice. I am guaranteed a great cup of tea if there is a McDonald's in the area. In restaurants I still have to be sure to order ICED tea or I get one of those little pots of hot water and a tea bag. I also have learned to ask if it is brewed or fountain. The stuff that is served from the fountain is pretty nasty and I always have to stick to water at places that believe this is tea.
In most ways I have adjusted to life in the north but that incident last month reminded me that the Mason Dixon Line was drawn for a reason and I believe food and beverages may have been one of the reasons. That boyfriend who brought me to visit Vermont has been my husband for over 35 years and still puts up with my rants when it comes to ICED tea.
I have made one beverage concession in order to fit in more easily and that is I have learned to say "soda" when referring to carbonated drinks. I'm careful when I visit my relatives because a slip of that term will get me labeled "Yankee" faster than ice melts under hot tea! Any good southerner knows that the term "coke" refers to any carbonated beverage, but that's another story!
When I first visited Vermont with my then boyfriend we went out to lunch at a fairly nice restaurant. I was always an iced tea drinker so I ordered "tea" with my sandwich. The woman showed up with a little hot pot and tea bag. I looked confused and said, "oh, I meant iced tea!" She made a funny face and said, "this isn't iced tea season." She said this with a very straight face. After she left I looked at Bruce and asked what that meant. He said he'd never thought about it but people in Vermont didn't really drink iced tea. When she returned I asked for a glass of ice so I could make my tea iced. I believe she thought I was from another planet. She brought me a little highball glass and 2 small cubes of ice. This is when I realized I was in a foreign land.
If you are reading this and are from the north you may not understand why this was all so confusing to me. In the south you are never far from glasses filled with ice and topped with the beverage of choice -- coke or iced tea. We like a little beverage with our ice. It is just the opposite in this foreign land I now call home. I sometimes order water and am asked if I'd like ice. Hell yes I want ice! I realize the water comes out of the tap ice cold but you still need ice cubes to make it a beverage.
Back to that conference. At lunch time they put out a beverage service with pitchers of coke, diet coke, lemonade, and "iced tea." There was no ice to be found and the pitcher didn't contain any ice. I returned to my table ranting, "how can it be ICED tea if it doesn't have ice?" My colleagues kind of laughed but didn't see the importance in my whining. I found an employee and asked if it was possible to have a container of ice so we could truly have ICED tea. She smiled and brought out a container of ice. I believe I was the only person in the room to FILL a glass with ice and then cover it with tea. It was good tea (what a relief) and my afternoon could continue.
There have been over 35 years since my first tea experience in the north and the recent one. I have noticed more infiltration of southerners in Vermont and a fascination with the culture which means a bit more understanding of iced tea as an option. McDonald's started serving fresh brewed tea that is served in a tall cup with a full measure of ice. I am guaranteed a great cup of tea if there is a McDonald's in the area. In restaurants I still have to be sure to order ICED tea or I get one of those little pots of hot water and a tea bag. I also have learned to ask if it is brewed or fountain. The stuff that is served from the fountain is pretty nasty and I always have to stick to water at places that believe this is tea.
In most ways I have adjusted to life in the north but that incident last month reminded me that the Mason Dixon Line was drawn for a reason and I believe food and beverages may have been one of the reasons. That boyfriend who brought me to visit Vermont has been my husband for over 35 years and still puts up with my rants when it comes to ICED tea.
I have made one beverage concession in order to fit in more easily and that is I have learned to say "soda" when referring to carbonated drinks. I'm careful when I visit my relatives because a slip of that term will get me labeled "Yankee" faster than ice melts under hot tea! Any good southerner knows that the term "coke" refers to any carbonated beverage, but that's another story!
Tuesday, February 2, 2016
What College Did You Attend?
This entry is one of those thoughts that occurred to me in the shower! Sometimes I compose a whole essay in my head as I shower in the morning. If I don't write down what the thought was as soon as I'm done it's gone. This particular idea came to me in response to an earlier conversation with a friend who is convinced children need to attend the "right" college.
What is the "right" college? I've posed this when talking to many of the parents in my area since it seems to be a major topic of conversation. Kids are pressured to apply to colleges they aren't even interested in because you need to try to get into the "right" college. Between my two sons there were a total of 5 college applications while most of their classmates applied to a minimum of 10 each! We live in the NE and almost of the appropriate choices are private and very expensive. My children did not see the need to apply to these (in my opinion) over-rated/overpriced colleges/universities. My older son did attend a small private college but the fit was perfect since it was filled with geeky/nerdy students with whom he identified. He's proud to be nerdy, got a very good scholarship, and graduated with aerospace engineering degree. My younger son attends a state university that he decided he liked by their recruiting video! It was the only university he applied to and he had done the research to know he would be accepted and he qualified for one of their merit scholarships which he received. He is on track to graduate next year with a physics engineering degree. I think he'd rather be closer to home but he's making it work.
I grew up in the south and the only options discussed were state universities. There was no talk of a private college so you chose your university by the football team you supported! That may not be totally true but for some families you would be disowned if you attended the "wrong" university. I attended the University of Florida (NOT Florida State) and loved getting out and into a new world. It wasn't the right time for me so I quit after two years (I did receive an Associates Degree so returning was easy). When I returned in my late 20s I was ready to focus and get that degree. Guess what -- I don't believe I've ever been asked what college I attended to validate my worth in my career or life.
What concerns me is the pressure that high school children are being put under when the reputation or name is more important than the personal fit. I'm sure those Ivy League schools have good professors but so do the colleges and universities that aren't as well known. If I want a cut-throat, better-than-you environment it might be a good match but I don't think it would make much difference 10 years down the road. To add to the stress there seems to be only one direction being offered to the high school students -- four year colleges. Our world is changing so fast and the careers are very different from when I graduated. Many of our most famous business moguls dropped out of those "right" universities and pursued their visions to great success. I don't believe there is one right way yet my generation seems stuck on pushing the next generation on the same route of 30 years ago. There has to be a better way to guide our children and ensure their success as adults in this ever changing world.
This is the first "shower rant" I've actually jotted down in a journal and then taken to the page! I think I'll keep a special shower journal in the bathroom just so I can capture these DEEP thoughts that occur while I luxuriate in my very hot, very tiny shower!
What is the "right" college? I've posed this when talking to many of the parents in my area since it seems to be a major topic of conversation. Kids are pressured to apply to colleges they aren't even interested in because you need to try to get into the "right" college. Between my two sons there were a total of 5 college applications while most of their classmates applied to a minimum of 10 each! We live in the NE and almost of the appropriate choices are private and very expensive. My children did not see the need to apply to these (in my opinion) over-rated/overpriced colleges/universities. My older son did attend a small private college but the fit was perfect since it was filled with geeky/nerdy students with whom he identified. He's proud to be nerdy, got a very good scholarship, and graduated with aerospace engineering degree. My younger son attends a state university that he decided he liked by their recruiting video! It was the only university he applied to and he had done the research to know he would be accepted and he qualified for one of their merit scholarships which he received. He is on track to graduate next year with a physics engineering degree. I think he'd rather be closer to home but he's making it work.
I grew up in the south and the only options discussed were state universities. There was no talk of a private college so you chose your university by the football team you supported! That may not be totally true but for some families you would be disowned if you attended the "wrong" university. I attended the University of Florida (NOT Florida State) and loved getting out and into a new world. It wasn't the right time for me so I quit after two years (I did receive an Associates Degree so returning was easy). When I returned in my late 20s I was ready to focus and get that degree. Guess what -- I don't believe I've ever been asked what college I attended to validate my worth in my career or life.
What concerns me is the pressure that high school children are being put under when the reputation or name is more important than the personal fit. I'm sure those Ivy League schools have good professors but so do the colleges and universities that aren't as well known. If I want a cut-throat, better-than-you environment it might be a good match but I don't think it would make much difference 10 years down the road. To add to the stress there seems to be only one direction being offered to the high school students -- four year colleges. Our world is changing so fast and the careers are very different from when I graduated. Many of our most famous business moguls dropped out of those "right" universities and pursued their visions to great success. I don't believe there is one right way yet my generation seems stuck on pushing the next generation on the same route of 30 years ago. There has to be a better way to guide our children and ensure their success as adults in this ever changing world.
This is the first "shower rant" I've actually jotted down in a journal and then taken to the page! I think I'll keep a special shower journal in the bathroom just so I can capture these DEEP thoughts that occur while I luxuriate in my very hot, very tiny shower!
Monday, February 1, 2016
February Challenge
I've tried to write in journals regularly and the result is A LOT of journals with a little bit of writing in each one. When I try to find something I remember writing I have to dig through many journals trying to remember when and where that writing took place. For my February challenge I am going to try to do daily writing on this blog.
A few educators who I admire because of their ability to get me to write and the amazing writing they get from their students are right next to me whispering, "if you want to teach writing you have to write." If I want to inspire children and colleagues I have to experience what I'm asking them to do. A sentence starter or story starter (whatever you want to call it) is not writing. It is filling in a blank or two to get a grade. I want children and adults I work with to write from their hearts, share their words, revisit their work, and be proud! It's important that I trust that our youngest (and oldest) writers can face a blank piece of paper and end up with something they want to revisit, share, hide, cry over, laugh over, and bask in its beauty.
Now it is time for me to embark on a month of writing in one place! As I thumb through my many journals and read some of my writing I am reminded of memories I've written about and taken back to a time that I felt was worth memorializing in words. Some are silly and some are sad. What is most frustrating is remembering something I've written and wanted to revisit it but I can't find it in the many pages of the many journals! I can beat myself up and give up or just accept that this is who I am and move forward. I'll move forward. . .
While thumbing through my journals looking for a piece that I wrote from a memory of my Uncle Mac I found writing related to my mom's death, my dad's stubbornness, my third grade teacher who looked like Katie from "My Three Sons," and many pieces about my grandparents. In most cases family was the common denominator. For my challenge I am going to choose one piece from one of the journals and expand on it or see where it takes me as a launching pad. Stay tuned as I try to stay on course and navigate through a month of writing on this blog (all in one place!).
A few educators who I admire because of their ability to get me to write and the amazing writing they get from their students are right next to me whispering, "if you want to teach writing you have to write." If I want to inspire children and colleagues I have to experience what I'm asking them to do. A sentence starter or story starter (whatever you want to call it) is not writing. It is filling in a blank or two to get a grade. I want children and adults I work with to write from their hearts, share their words, revisit their work, and be proud! It's important that I trust that our youngest (and oldest) writers can face a blank piece of paper and end up with something they want to revisit, share, hide, cry over, laugh over, and bask in its beauty.
Now it is time for me to embark on a month of writing in one place! As I thumb through my many journals and read some of my writing I am reminded of memories I've written about and taken back to a time that I felt was worth memorializing in words. Some are silly and some are sad. What is most frustrating is remembering something I've written and wanted to revisit it but I can't find it in the many pages of the many journals! I can beat myself up and give up or just accept that this is who I am and move forward. I'll move forward. . .
While thumbing through my journals looking for a piece that I wrote from a memory of my Uncle Mac I found writing related to my mom's death, my dad's stubbornness, my third grade teacher who looked like Katie from "My Three Sons," and many pieces about my grandparents. In most cases family was the common denominator. For my challenge I am going to choose one piece from one of the journals and expand on it or see where it takes me as a launching pad. Stay tuned as I try to stay on course and navigate through a month of writing on this blog (all in one place!).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)