Happy New Year

    For some strange reason when I think of goodbyes, especially to the old year, I think of The Sound of Music, when the family says goodbye in that song that sticks in our minds, sometimes not even welcome.  

     Yet it is poignant, that song, full of the grief of leaving something loved, that will not be re-visited.  In part, it says "So long, farewell/Auf Wiedersehen, goodnight/I hate to go and leave this pretty sight,” and later "I leave and heave/A sigh and say goodbye".

Goodbye 2011; it's been a year of surprises, wonderful things, and those not so much.  I will remember.  

        And then, I love Rainer Maria Rilke's thoughts:

       "And now let us welcome the New Year full of things that have never been."  

         Happy New Year Everyone!

A Guest Post At Two Writing Teachers

       Maria Robinson said nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.  I believe teachers think about change all the time, and they make positive changes, often through much sacrifice of their time and their money.  Here's a picture of a classroom of long ago.  Consider what has happened since that teacher stood at the front and wrote on the blackboard.  

      You are invited to read my post today at the Two Writing Teachers blog.  The previous time I wrote a post for Ruth and Stacey, the topic was starting students as writers from the very first day of school.  This time, also at a time for fresh beginnings, I’m honored to write about meeting the needs of each student one teaches, especially the nice ones, and so grateful to Stacey and Ruth for giving me the chance.   
       I hope you enjoy it, and take away some ideas for this start to the new year, 2012.   Best wishes and  Happy New Year! 

     

      I will be excited to hear your ideas and opinions too!

         

Be Kind To Yourself In The New Year

Slice of Life Tuesday is enjoyed at Stacey and Ruth's Two Writing Teachers blog

       One recent reading experience began my thinking again about my theory that writing is deepening my reading.  I read Journey, by Patricia MacLachlan a while ago.  I love her work, both in picture books and chapter books, and I am excited to see her speak in February when I attend the Colorado Council of the International Reading Association annual conference.  In this book, a young child relies on much of his grandfather’s support, and the grandfather’s words are wise.  At an earlier time, I might have read the  scene below, enjoyed it, and moved on to another part of the book, but this time two things happened.  First, I paid particular attention to the lesson, thinking about its application to teachers who work so hard to do their very best; and, second, I noticed that MacLachlan was very good at sneaking life lessons for the reader into her book, but doing it so subtly within dialogue that it seemed just another talk between grandparent and grandchild in order to move the plot along. 

       While speaking of the grandparent’s comment about a photograph, we first hear Journey, the main character. 

“Well, I said, embarrassed and pleased.  “Well, it’s not perfect.”

”Perfect!”  Grandfather almost spit out the word.  His face softened.  “What is perfect?  Journey, a thing doesn’t have to be perfect to be fine.  That goes for a picture.  That goes for life.”  He paused.  “Things can be good enough.” 

What I'm Reading This Week

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journeys. You can recap what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and plan out your reading and reviews for the coming week. It's also a great chance to see what others are reading right now, to find more ideas for reading

Our Kid Lit to YA version is hosted by Teach Mentor Texts.

Sometimes the primary teachers at our school talk about the value of helping their students learn how to play, because some young children’s lives are quite structured and they do not have the time for imagination to hold sway in their backyards and in vacant lots down the street.  This particular story tells how one of these teachers uses a book to help her students expand their horizons beyond dance lessons and soccer teams.

           Right before the winter break I had an extraordinarily wonderful experience.  Four young primary students made an appointment to interview me.  Their quest, to discover my early memories of favorite places I used to play.  They brought their journals so they could record my answers.  In the journals they had questions ready, and took turns asking and recording.  All this came about from a book their teacher had read to them.  It was published in 1991 by Alice McLerran and illustrated by Barbara Cooney, winner of two Caldecott medals for Chanticleer and the Fox and The Ox-Cart Man.  She is also known for the books Miss Rumphius and Island Boy. 

The book’s title is Roxaboxen, a picture book telling of the playing place of a few children long ago.  The story is based on a story told to the author about her mother’s adventures as a child with friends in a place near their homes, a place they named Roxaboxen. 

This Poet Gives Another Look At That Special Night

Poetry Friday is celebrated today with Dori at Dori Reads

I have a friend who sends favorite poems at Christmas time in her cards.  It is a thoughtful gift and something I look forward to each Christmas time.   A few years ago, she sent the poem BC:AD by UA Fanthorpe.  I did not know this poet, or the poem, but it made me want to know more.  Fanthorpe has an amazing gift of word knowledge, paring down to what must be said, and then no more, what all poets attempt with varied success.  I love the different paths she takes by looking at known topics as new ones. You can find this poem with two others that Fanthorpe wrote about Christmas here.   In 2002, the poet’s Christmas poems that she wrote and sent to friends for many years were collected into one volume, Christmas Poems.      Several people have set this poem to music too, easily found by a Google search. 

Happy Holidays everyone!

This is the beginning:

BC:AD

by UA Fanthorpe:

This was the moment when Before

Turned into After, and the future's

Uninvented timekeepers presented arms.