Special Note: Cathy Mere of Reflect and Refine: Building a Learning Communityand Mandy Robek of Enjoy and Embrace Learning are getting ready for SUNDAY, August 10th (TOMORROW), their annual sharing of #PB10for10, 10 "must have" picture books for the classroom. See all about it here!
Terrific big and little celebrations every day. It was a lovely week. (Getting busier, however.)
- Sunday: Loved the NEW twitter chat plan with Ruth Ayres (@ruth_ayres) and Christy Levine (@rushlevine) on Sunday evenings. They 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.? Terrific! I can't find the archive, but you can view all the tweets by searching the hashtag.
- Monday: Dentist-replacing a crown, no big deal. My dentist is the best!
- Tuesday: Spent the day doing a few errands, then home to enjoy the day "at home"! Writing, reading, still organizing work papers! A little card from Ruth hangs in my office: "Write Anyway". It helps!
- Wednesday: In the am, met with one of the teachers with whom I work. We talked about the room design and went through his unwieldy class library, pulling books that don't belong, to share with others. In the afternoon, my writers group met at a local coffee house. Here's one pic, missing the person who took it. It was lovely to be together again, lots of good talk about writing, and digressing into all kinds of topics. Fun, fun!
- Thursday: met a former colleague for brunch who lives on the Western slope now. I loved teaching with her, now see her "news" via Facebook, but haven't really sat to talk in years. It was lovely. And, from afar, helped my son celebrate his birthday. He spent early in the am with his wife and son, Carter, then took off for Paris, then Germany. It's for his work, but what a nice birthday gift!
- Friday: a few tears, my granddaughter's first performance. She's been in drama camp for these past two weeks, and loved it. Each group, from the kindergarteners to fifth grade (worked separately) presented an original skit, with songs! It was special, and all were well done. I wish I had a picture, but the lights were so bright on the actors that the pic was washed out. Ingrid was a kangaroo, BTW. And, ate dinner with my daughter and the girls. In my area, there are a lot of restaurants and one large courtyard with a fountain, so the girls at least got a little wet! I used to take my students there to write. It's never too crowded and has such a good community feel.
It's beginning to be the final days to NOT hop right out of bed, so I'm enjoying every bit, still mowing with my little green mower, reading and writing a lot.
Cheers to everyone for a good week of things to celebrate!
Starting the week: This Monday, the Two Writing Teachers blog hold a twitter chat. Check their website for time!
Oh I love the courtyard and fountain!! I have a fountain near me...I'm going to bring my notebook there today and get some writing done. Love all of your celebrations today! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Michelle. It is an inspiring place, for all kinds of reasons! Happy you have one to sit by too!
DeleteI have been MIA for most of the summer, and I am so glad to be back and reading your blog. I have missed your poems, books, slices and celebrations! You had so many wonderful celebrations this week. From family to writing to chatting! Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteI think I've been MIA too, Leigh Anne-out of town & missing hearing from everyone. Thanks for coming by! Hope your weekend is a good one too!
DeleteI am so jealous of the picture of you with colleagues talking and writing together. I wrote a few emails to colleagues this week and haven't heard back from anyone. There is such a negative vibe at my school to change and enjoying what they do (they have all forgotten) that it can be frustrating :( I need to move to CO :)
ReplyDeleteOh, I wish you could join us, Michele. Maybe you could start an online group? I know that some have done that. We've had some ebb & flow, but our basic five have stuck together. Thanks-see you at PB10for10!
DeleteMeeting with friends enjoying the last days of freedom! I have started school but took a few days to celebrate my anniversary. Need to go write about it, though. It's hard getting back in the swing of things. My summer was too good to me. I love hearing about your darling granddaughters. Love the fountain and your garden pics.
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to gather as many good things as possible, Margaret. Too soon I'll be writing mostly about school. I hope your first days back were good, & was happy that you still celebrated your anniversary with style!
DeleteHello Linda! I love how you celebrate both the small and big moments equally. Who would ever think going to the dentist would be something to celebrate?? I made a connection to watching your granddaughter's drama performance. My 14 yr. old has been attending drama classes since he could barely walk and is now attending a fine arts high school. Drama has been such an important part of his life so I hope your granddaughter continues to act! (He is also a hockey goalie - not sure if she would like to pursue that too???)
ReplyDeleteThis is her second year at the performing arts drama camp, & she'll have more opportunities at my school where she's going this year, Adrienne. Love the story of your son. We have a wonderful performing arts school here too. Many of my students have thrived there! As for the dentist, they really are so great. I never mind going & hearing all their news. And hockey, maybe not, but she's already a swimmer, so perhaps that will be her sport? Thanks, Adrienne!
DeleteEnjoyed reading your day-by-day celebrations! So many reasons to smile!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Loralee. You're so right-smiling now!
DeleteLove all of your photos this week, Linda--and love how you found a celebration for each day of the week. Might try that structure myself next week. I prefer to celebrate the small things and I think of them during the week--but then forget by Saturday if I don't write them down. Those blue bottles at the coffee shop are gorgeous! I have been thinking that I would like to take my students out of the classroom to write. How wonderful that you were able to do that with your group! I need to find a good spot on campus where we can write and be inspired!
ReplyDeleteI love those bottles, too, Elisabeth. I hope you find a special place to take your class. We often went outside, and other places off the school grounds.
DeleteI love all the joy in this post. And I must say a sense of balance. We have a fountain like that near me where young ones get wet. I love it in the summer. Thank you for all the updates and reminders of the blog-o-sphere and twitterverse. How do you stay on top of this? Keep enjoying the end of the summer lazy days.
ReplyDeleteI'm not doing much tweeting, but these particular ones seem important, Julieanne. The fountains are in many places I think, but still a joy for kids, or even just to hear the water sounds.
DeleteSplashing in the fountain is such fun! We have a fountain like that where our local farmers' market is held. I love to go there to sit and write. It sounds like you are enjoying your last days of summer too! Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteJennifer
Mrs. Laffin's Laughings
Thanks Jennifer-the fountains seem to be new ways to invite people to gather, don't they? Hope your week is good, too!
DeleteYour little green mower - made me smile! I love hearing about your wonderful grandchildren! And the photos - please, keep them coming. So pleased for you that you are meeting and talking with staff. It is one thing I am really going to miss this year - sharing that excitement with other teachers as we prepare our rooms and our heads for the new year. Fingers crossed for a contract.
ReplyDeleteThinking of you & your colleagues every day, Carrie-so hopeful! Glad you enjoy the pics. Hard to go without sharing at least one!
DeleteLoved reading your post filled with good things. I enjoy visiting my dentist's office too. The staff always make me feel so comfortable. I bet Ingrid was adorable as a kangaroo. Missed the first #T&CWriters, but I'll search the hashtag. I want to join in again for #PB10for10, but it's so hard to pick just 10. Still in search of a theme among the 31 books I've pulled off the shelves...and my faves from school are still in a box somewhere in the garage!
ReplyDeleteArgh-31! I agree, it's very hard. I've chosen by the use of each book, so sharing in that way. I actually also have a book on the list that I'm looking forward to-coming soon. It's such a fun thing to read what everyone shares & how they approach it. Thanks, Ramona!
DeleteI am glad that you are enjoying being carefree for another week, Linda. Thank you for noting the various talks that are coming up this week.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Carol. Yes, another busy week coming, online and elsewhere!
DeleteI found out three different pieces of information that I have missed out on due to getting ready to move. I need to get the Twitter chats on my calendar and I will have to be content with reading Cathy and Mandy's 10 for 10. Your week sounds absolutely lovely. I am in a writing group that is just beginning and I am excited Bout the possibilities. Thank you, also, for sharing your story about how you found your house on my blog. I have thought of you so much through this move. I started reading your blog just as you were getting ready for your own move. I hope you have a wonderful week.
ReplyDeleteThank you Julie, and this week I've thought of you. Glad you're posting some of the things happening on FB. What a time you've had, & I know what you're feeling as you say goodbye to your home.
DeleteWhat a nice sounding week! This is why I enjoy reading the Celebrate posts. They soothe me!
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