It's time for Slice of Life Tuesday, hosted by Ruth and Stacey at Two Writing Teachers.#slice2013
It's May, the days are longer, and it is warmer, thank goodness! I am getting ready for several adventures, one even before school ends!
This year, through unusual circumstances, I've been asked to take over a class of upper intermediate students (mostly 5th-6th grade students). Their core teacher is taking a new job out of school education and must leave us this early. He is a wonderful teacher and we will miss him very much. I am starting to be in his classroom this week for two days, and to do my real job the other three days. In fact, when I taught the older students, he was the overnight, experiential trip teacher that helped me plan my fall and spring trips. The very first week I'll be full time with the class is on their overnight, and it is a trip I took several years ago with this teacher and my earlier class. Circles in life! And it happens that his assistant was mine before I retired from the classroom. Circles!
It's rather like a last time to have a classroom and I am excited. It's much harder work being a teacher full-time in a classroom than being a literacy coach (although that has its challenges). I am happy to have this opportunity, but do not want it full-time! We will be camping for a week in the mountains in Carbondale, Colorado (near Aspen), staying and working at a farm that grows its own everything. It's know as Sustainable Settings, and the students will get to plant for spring, gather eggs, help with the llamas, etc. They've been studying energy-related topics all year, and doing further work in that topic is the goal. When we return, I'll have one and a half weeks for all those endings, portfolios, parent open house, last day goodbyes, you know how it goes. Busy, but oh so exciting, too.
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| This is like the place where we'll be! |
And the first adventure this summer is that I'm attending the All-Write Conference, and will get to see Ruth Ayres, Lester Laminak, Penny Kittle, and Amy Ludwig Vanderwater, among many others, like some of you slicers for the first time, at least in person! I am thrilled to go, and so look forward to it. If you can come, early registration stops on May 13th. Please let me know in the comments if you are going to be there!
There are a number of other exciting plans for this summer, to be revealed another day! I hope you're planning some adventures this year, too!
photo credit: Al_HikesAZ via photopin cc
These things you'll be doing are very exciting Linda! I remember camping in 6th grade with the school kids for 3 days...it was great fun!
ReplyDeleteGoing to All Write sounds like the best-I won't be there but hope to learn from you and other slicers who are able to attend!
Thank you Amy. I'm sure I'll have much to share after the All-Write, and even during my time with this class, a very sweet one!
DeleteWhile I am sure the trip will be challenging in many ways, you clearly choose to focus on the wonder and potential fun of it all. It's clear when you link supervising a week of camping with a week of what some would say is "great teacher fun"! Both will have their challenges at times but both will have great moments of wonder and fun too!
ReplyDeleteI love being out of doors, so it will be exciting, Anita, just hope the weather will cooperate! Thank you!
DeleteOh that looks and sounds heavenly to me, Linda. Many, many years ago I spent a season working as a wrangler at Lost Trail ranch near Creede http://lost-trail.com The beauty of your mountains still inspires-- the work defined me for a time as important moments do and it was hard to leave Colorado. I thought first of your canin in the photo and the recent joys remembered. Enjoy your season back in the classroom and camping in what looks to be an incredible spot.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful time you must have had, Lee Ann! I rode for numerous years, and still wish I had the time to keep a horse. So glad you told me about this adventure! Thank you!
DeleteLucky you, lucky kids for that awesome trip. I'm getting to wrap up the year testing kinders like every other year. I'm very excited for your adventures. It is amazing that you will see Penny, Ruth and Lester! You deserve the fabulous trip to the flatlands. Maybe next year for me, I hope. xo
ReplyDeleteThanks Nancy. As I said, I am thrilled to have these opportunities!
DeleteWhat a challenge to take over a class at the end of the year! Camping is not my thing, but I know the kids will learn so much from this experience.
ReplyDeleteSee you at the All-Write! I can't wait!
So happy that you are coming, too, Elsie. I wasn't sure! All of this makes for quite a happy end of the year and anticipating the All-Write!
DeleteI plan to meet Ruth there with our other writing buddies in the late afternoon on one of those days. Can't believe we'll actually meet one another. All I can say, Linda, is that you live life to the fullest!
DeleteHi Tam-I'm thrilled to finally meet everyone! Thanks for telling me!
DeleteWHAT?? You are going to All Write??? That means we can finally meet! I'm so excited! And the classroom trip sounds simply amazing - one where lots of memories will be made for sure.
ReplyDeleteKatherine, you, too! Wow-it's going to be such a good time to meet you finally! I am excited about all of it!
DeleteWow, Sustainable Settings sounds amazing!. What a great experience this must be.
ReplyDeleteLooks like I won't be able to make it to AllWrite. With the flip conference the same week, I just can't make it work. So sorry I'm going to miss you all.
I'm sorry too, but it should be a great time at your conference. I'd like to hear you write more about the flipped classroom, Deb. And yes, the student trip will be much fun!
DeleteWhat an exciting way to end a school year. When we lived in TX, our family vacationed at Snow Mountain Ranch. We have many happy memories of vacationing in the mountains. I'm going to the All-Write conference too! I can't wait to meet many of my fellow bloggers and learn from the incredible writers who'll be joining us.
ReplyDeleteSnow Mountain Ranch is a favorite destination for some of the classes too, Ramona. Gorgeous place! How wonderful you'll be at All-Write too. So many of us are going! Can't wait to meet you!
DeleteLinda, it sounds like you have some adventures coming! I'll be at the All Write conference in June...I'd love to meet you!
ReplyDeleteTerrific, Robin. I'd love to meet you, too! I think we'll have an awesome group!
DeleteWonderful adventures, indeed! Funny how life moves in circles, so that teachers you have mentored become teachers you replace! You will have a glorious time of it, I'm sure - and your kids will be so enriched. Lucky you to ba able to attend the All-Write...it falls at the end of our school days - so I can't attend. Sigh. But I can imagine all the wonderful learning that will be taking place, and I hope to be reading all about it, too!
ReplyDeleteWish you could be there, too, Tara! In spirit, for sure! This class is a special one, so I know I will enjoy the time very much! Thank you!
DeleteLinda, what I appreciate about you is your zest for life and trying new things. What an adventure! Thank you for this wonderful post. And Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!
ReplyDeleteYes, time to appreciate "us" especially this time of year, a very busy time saying goodbye! Thanks Deborah!
DeleteCircles, indeed! Happy adventuring, Linda... I look forward to the poems you write after these experiences. xo
ReplyDeleteThanks Irene. I'm sure I will. Have to get back into the rhythm of poetry month. I miss it!
DeleteOh my gosh...your trip with the 5th and 6th graders sounds absolutely wonderful!! I've always wanted to go to the All Write Conference. It's not that far from me. I hope you enjoy both of them. I am going to be getting ready to go to Turkey to visit my daughter, who has been an exchange student there this year and bring her home. It sounds like it's going to be a great summer for all.
ReplyDeleteJulie, I've forgotten about your daughter. What a wonderful trip you will have! I know my trip(s) will be good too-wish I could see you at the All-Write. I'm hoping for NCTE this year-perhaps there?
DeleteOne of these days I'm going to make it to All Write. I can't go this year because I'm teaching a class for the writing project that week. Let's plan on NCTE. I never miss that one. :)
DeleteSounds great! Now I'll really look forward to it!
DeleteHey lady,
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to hang out with you in person :)
You'll be there! So great, Bonnie. I've counted 10 of us so far! Woo Hoo!
DeleteIt must be quite a challenge to take over a class this late in the year! I'm sure you will do an outstanding job. The camping trip sounds like a wonderful experience for the students! I'm jealous that people will get to meet you at All-Write, but this is not the year for me to go. (However, I did just find out that I was accepted to my local Writing Project, so I'm super excited for that opportunity!!!)
ReplyDeleteSo sorry you won't be there, Jennifer, but what a wonderful opportunity for you in the writing project. I've been in & out of this classroom this year, so I know the class a little bit. They are great & so far have been very welcoming. (I'm in there on Mondays & Friday afternoons this week & next.) Happy Birthday one more time!
DeleteYikes! 34 comments!!! I would love to go to the conference but am doubtful that I can pull that off. Linda, those students are SO lucky to have you stepping in! Enjoy your camping--sounds like a wonderful experience.
ReplyDeleteWish you could be there, Melanie! I am thinking it will be quite a wonderful time! I'll certainly share about it, too! Thanks for your wishes! I do like doing the trips!
DeleteWhat a great adventure. Well, two adventures. How lucky to get to do the clamping with students.
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm excited to go-at least this one more time! And to the All Write!
DeleteWhat a way to jump into full-time teaching - on an away trip! Sounds exciting and very busy, What a wonderful programme. We don't have anything like that here.
ReplyDeleteHope you have a wonderful time. The writing conference sounds exciting as well! Great way to start the summer.
Thank you Beverley. Yes, I was a bit surprised that the first week was the trip, but I'll be spending some few days here & there with the class before we go, so it won't be too much of a new relationship. As you see from my replies above, I am excited about the conference, too! I also really am looking forward to some sketching on the trip. We always keep field journals, so this is a good time to do some art!
DeleteWow! That camping/farming experience sounds AMAZING! Lucky you!
ReplyDeleteBut as for All Write...ARGHHHHHHhhhhh!!! You'll be there and I'll be in COLORADO!!! Oh, the injustice of fate!!
Oh, Mary Lee, so sorry to miss you again! Someday?
DeleteSounds like you have some incredible adventures coming up. Can't wait to read about them!
ReplyDeleteCatherine
Thank you Catherine-much fun awaits!
DeleteWonderful adventures await you, Linda! Enjoy the time!
ReplyDeleteThanks Stacey. I regret you won't be there as well!
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