ELA 101

In class we recently read The Egypt Game by Zilpha Keatley Snyder as part of our unit on mysteries.  Students took a close look at the use of figurative language (similes, metaphors and personification) used by the author, as well as possible themes explored in the book.  As a creative reflection to wrap up the book, students will be writing an acrostic poem reflecting on their opinion and understanding of the book.  This poem will be published on their individual blogs, and linked to this post in the comments.

Below is my acrostic reflection.

The character I most enjoyed was April because the relationship between
Her, her mother and grandmother (not to mention Melanie, Marshall, and
Elizabeth) seems like something

Everyone could relate to.  Despite the fact that she calls her
Grandmother “Caroline” and thinks
You can solve any
Problem by being
Tough, April ultimately learns that taking

Great risks – by finally
Allowing herself to get close to people -
Means that she finally
Experiences great rewards – love and friendship.

Written without following the Acrostic Poem format, it looks like a traditional answer to an essay question.  Who know that poetry could help me answer essay questions?!

The character I most enjoyed was April because the relationship between her, her mother and grandmother (not to mention Melanie, Marshall, and Elizabeth) seems like something everyone could relate to.  Despite the fact that she calls her grandmother “Caroline” and thinks you can solve any problem by being tough, April ultimately learns that taking great risks – by finally allowing herself to get close to people – means that she finally experiences great rewards – love and friendship.

The purpose of this post is to demonstrate how students can use their blogs as their “notebooks” on which they write their assignment and their teacher’s blog as the “basket” where they will turn that assignment in.  More specifically, the comment section of a specific post is where they will submit their work.

I commonly refer to this practice as “linking up” during our Tech Tuesdays.  While it’s a multi-step process, it’s actually quite simple once you get the hang of it!

1. Write your post assigned by your teacher.
2. As part of the blogging guidelines, be sure to re-read and run spell-check before publishing.  Please follow the rules for conventional grammar when it comes to capital letters, sentences and so forth.  These posts should not be written like text messages.
3. Publish your post, and then view it from the “public” side of your blog.
4. Copy the permalink (specific url)
5. Return to your teacher’s blog and specified post to leave a comment.
6. In your comment, offer a specific response to the post and then paste your permalink.
7. Click to submit your comment.

HowtoLinkUp

It’s been far too long since I’ve written. I wonder if other writers – students or teachers – feel this same overwhelming desire to write, and yet find the,selves scrambling to eek out the time.

I have countless ideas to share, and little nuggets of life that I long to record for my students, my family and myself. And just as I tell my students, even if it’s been too long, even if it’s not perfect, just write.

So today, I’m returning. I’m writing and looking forward to what’s in store for the year ahead and the final months with this great group of students.

As I sit to write this, I have a handful of possible excuses ready and waiting to explain the sudden absence around here.

• Traveling to Chicago to attend the National Writing Project annual meeting where I was able to meet up with Stacey and Ruth from Two Writing Teachers, and connect with other slicers!
• Starting a 21-day health and fitness challenge (before Thanksgiving?! I know, right?)
• Attending a high school production of Les Miserables, and it more than surpassed any expectations!
• Writing my Christmas letter!
• Singing with my church worship band and orchestrating a dine-and-dash progressive dinner event for our youth group.
• Returning to a middle school classroom after for the only day last week which happened to follow 2 straight days with a guest teacher.
• Conferring with nearly 35 of my 70 students’ parents during 2 evenings and 1 afternoon last week.
• Traveling to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula for Thanksgiving festivities with my in-laws.
• Reading drafts of mystery stories.
• Editing pictures for photography clients.
• Recreating an apple dip recipe I learned from dine-and-dash!
• Producing a masterpiece – bacon jam!
• Jamming to Christmas music and oldies on the drive home!
• Beginning my holiday decorating, which involves deep cleaning!
• Seeing Breaking Dawn Part One with one of my favorite people!
• Planning out the next few weeks of class.
• Taking my daughter to see The Nutcracker for the very first time!
• Counting my many blessings!

There certainly isn’t a lack of thankfulness around here – more just a lack of time to share all that which I am thankful for!

Today I’m looking forward to reconnecting with so many of my NWP friends from across the nation!  By the time this posts, I’ll be en route to the Windy City to participate in some thought-provoking conversations that always challenge me to improve my practices as a teacher.  Despite the funding difficulties of the National Writing Project, there is little that can be done to stop the network from doing what it does best – connect!

There are a thousand unfinished tasks on my to-do list – Prepare my classroom for my 2-day absence and pack for NWP/NCTE just to name two.  In spite of all those things looming overhead, today I’m sitting here with 23 kids after school watching a movie.  Maybe the fact that I brought munchies served as an incentive, but honestly, I think they would have come anyway.  To see on screen the story we’ve spent the past several weeks reading aloud in class.

This…these kids, the loud ones who have a comment about every scene and the quiet ones who say not a word, and the ones who wish they could’ve come or those who should’ve come…they’re the reason I love what I do.

The effortlessness
of our
friendship, the
simple
exchange of
blessings
is a gift
I often
take for
granted.

For your
silent strength
in all
things -
faith,
home,
school -
                thank you.

For your
simple encouragement
in all
ways -
tears,
cards,
smiles -
               thank you.

For your
selfless example
in this
world of
me,
me,
me -
               thank you.

“He punched me,” she sobbed as big choking breaths shook her little body.

“What?  Buddy, what happened?” I asked turning to face my sheepish son.  As I sat listening to both sides of the story about wanting the same silly toy I found myself both frustrated and fearful about this first brush with true trouble.  Sure, the kids bicker and fight at home, but somehow it never really seemed as real as having someone else’s child in tears because of mine.  As she spoke, I was him.  He knew he’d made a poor choice.  He was sorry too.  I could read that in his posture and feel it in his hesitation.

I’d reminded him several times that he needed to apologize.  Whispering reminders about eye contact and speaking clearly along with the words he should say.  “Look in her eyes, and tell her ‘I’m sorry Chelsea for hitting you in the face,” I offered.

With as many of the facts as I could gather, I let a visibly contented little lady return to playing with the understanding that when he was ready to offer up true words of apology, we’d like to have her come back.

Then we sat…waiting.

He climbed onto the couch next to me, his tears having subsided now as well.  I prompted him again.

“I’m not ready yet,” he said tersely.

We waited a bit longer.  I asked a few more times, but he never took me up on it.

Then, he finally said he was ready.  As I watched him follow all the cues I’d given despite his lack of acknowledgement, I found my feelings of frustration and fear give way.  Seeing his splotchy cheeks and quivering lips which made his lisp more pronounced as he apologized, I realized that this moment would be one I’d never forget.

Tonight, I’m thankful for this moment.  This moment that proves when it comes down to it, I can keep my calm, and he is an amazing little man!

As my weekend comes to a close, I can’t help but feel both exhausted and exhilarated. Filled with a combination of more than it seemed I could handle and not quite enough, I find myself looking very forward to a great night’s rest!

Here’s hoping tomorrow I’ll be able to catch up from the past few days! For now – sleep calls!

While I’ve grown a bit more disciplined in making time for and recognizing the importance of rest, I still find myself frustrated in its seeming lack of productivity.  Even still -  eyes heavy, mind full, I’m thankful today for the welcome it will offer when, soon, I will whisper hello to my pillow.