Thursday, August 7, 2014

The Light Is Changing

          It's the first Poetry Friday of August, and Mary Lee Hahn is gathering the posts today at A Year of Reading. Come visit!

       Yes, I know it's the first week of August (NOT September), and I'm used to being outside, very hot, wondering if the summer heat is ever going to change. But the past few days, the light has changed, and it's cooler. I can see it, and feel it! I found two poems to share. School is starting soon, supplies are in every store. I've been in already, working with a few teachers, organizing more books in my office. The first football games are being played. The light is changing. 
The grasses are high, and the late flowers of the prairie are blooming in a nearby park.

William Wordsworth writes:

          September

Departing summer hath assumed
An aspect tenderly illumed,
The gentlest look of spring;
That calls from yonder leafy shade
Unfaded, yet prepared to fade,
A timely carolling.


and John Updike understands exactly how I feel in this beginning of his poem:

       September

"The breezes taste
Of apple peel.
The air is full
Of smells to feel-
Ripe fruit, old footballs,
Burning brush,
New books, erasers,
Chalk, and such.

        You can find the rest here.

         Poetry Swap this summer has been a delight.  I'll share the poems that I've received soon. They are special!          

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Non-Fiction PB Wed. - Two New!

              Come visit Alyson Beecher at Kid Lit Frenzy for Non-Fiction Picture Book Wednesday!  It's great to see the varied books that others share! 

           Two biographies this time, both inspiring in their life's work! First, I'd like to tell you that I posted yesterday about Non-fiction for older students. Would love to hear ideas for more books if you would like. I've started a list!

A Home for Mr. Emerson - written by Barbara Kerley and illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham


               With both front and back endpapers filled with quotes from Ralph Waldo Emerson, Barbara Kerley begins this story for children of this important man in our literature. I really didn't know anything about his life except that he lived in Concord, and made his living through lectures and his writing. This book shares the man who loved his home and his community, of his wife and children, and a little bit of how his fame grew. Tragedy struck when he found his home on fire, and throngs of townspeople rushed to save his books and papers, the beautiful treasures in his home. There is a moment that is special, telling about his sorrow for the loss, going to Europe to recuperate, but discovering that home was really where he needed to be. 


Monday, August 4, 2014

Slice of My School Life - Non-Fiction for Older Students

           It's Tuesday, time for a slice of life at the Two Writing Teachers blog. Thanks to Stacey, Tara, Dana, Anna, Beth and Betsy, this community thrives. Please come visit for lots of interesting topics!
          Many blog posts and tweets are buzzing with plans for the school year. My mind is swirling, I have piles of work all over my dining table, trying to create a way to organize what I hope to do this year. Maybe I’ll never be done, but I’m beginning!
         There are numerous professional books that help with ideas about getting started in the school year, and blogs are lately filling up with ideas for starting reading workshop, writing workshop, writers’ notebooks (see Two Writing Teachers’ blog series this week! The first one is by Tara Smith, workshop routines).        
              I just enjoyed a NEW twitter chat with Ruth Ayres (@ruth_ayres) and Christy Levine (@rushlevine) on Sunday evening that will happen every first Sunday of the month at 8 eastern time, hashtag #TandCWriters. This time Katherine Sokolowski (@Katsok) was the host and questions were asked about the use of writers’ notebooks. How does one start them, etc.?

Sunday, August 3, 2014

Monday Reading - a good week!

Ricki and Kellee at Unleashing Readers and Jen at Teach Mentor Texts host this meme that encourages bloggers to share what books they're reading. It's a terrific place to find new titles to enjoy, to use with students.

I've read 13 of 26 books now on my #MustReadIn2014 list, and added to Gathering Books CORL challenge. (See above and the button on the right)



       It’s been a good week with time to read and catch up on writing, cleaning, just being home. I had a wonderful week of vacation at the beach with family before last week, and then spent time at school helping interview for a new staff member. I’ll be in and out planning for the beginning of the school year from now on. We start officially on the 20th-16 more days!
chapter books - both YA
The Dream Thieves – written by Maggie Stiefvater
          I don’t know why I wait so long to read a book that I’ve had since it came out, but finally I took the time! And now I have to wait for what’s next. This time, book two, holds more mystery, new characters, and consistent tension that kept me reading quickly. I love Stiefvater’s writing. The fantastical creations woven in with real characters is exciting stuff, and I imagine older students love the complexity of the story. Here are those same characters, Gansey, Ronan and Adam, along with Blue and her family playing a larger role, plus a new sinister character, the Gray Man. The deepening of the characters enriched the story, and made me the reader care about the outcome even more. I hope Maggie Stiefvater writes the next one quickly!

Saturday, August 2, 2014

Celebrating - Small & Big Things

      Time again to celebrate with Ruth Ayres for Celebration Saturday! Visit here for all the posts. Like always, thanks Ruth for starting this community!


     Still sharing a little more of our trip to Captiva Island. It was a wonderful week, and I celebrate that my children and their families are able to join me each summer.
Most evenings we found a special restaurant for dinner.
This is everyone but me, after eating, full and happy!