Anticipation Celebration

              I celebrate each Saturday with Ruth Ayres at Discover Play Build.  There are many others who celebrate, too. Come join us!          Tweet at #CelebrateLu

With a little humor thrown in:  on my walk today, I imagined
that the rabbit was anticipating that I wouldn't see him at all.
But he did allow the picture!

Poetry Friday-Keri's Farm

            Today, Poetry Friday is hosted today by Keri Lewis, at Keri Recommends on Prairie Blossom Bee Farm. It's lovely to visit the country. Thanks Keri!



Not quite the same, but. . . 

        Each evening I walk to our bank of mailboxes to get the mail. Yesterday, wind was blowing, more than a breeze, and so many wind chimes were ringing, chiming, tinkling that I walked around two blocks so I could hear more. I haven't watched the weather in a few days, but know that this is a signal that the weather will be different soon.  

         evening walk for mail

         wind chimes harmonize -

         weather’s changing

                      Linda Baie ©All Rights Reserved

NF Pic Books-If you love The Little Prince

           Time to share on Wednesdays with Alyson Beecher's Non-Fiction Picture Book Challenge at her blog, Kidlit Frenzy.   

        Thanks Alyson!   Tweet - #NFPB15

           It's a special day today. I get to celebrate nonfiction picture books I love, and a couple of birthdays! 

           Antoine de Saint-Exupéry was born on this day in 1900, the year one set of my grandparents were born. It was fascinating to read these books and to see what my grandparents saw during their lifetimes, as well as what Saint-Exupéry saw and did. 

          And special to share, it is also my granddaughter Imogene’s fourth birthday! What amazing thing will she see in her lifetime?

The biography by Peter Sis was published last year, and the book by Bimba Landmann, in 2013. Both are interesting. I reviewed the Sis book earlier this year, and I just got the other one at my library. Two years ago was the 70^th anniversary of The Little Prince. What a gift we still have from this fascinating man in love with flying and the stars!

A Slice of a Lesson

          Slicing with the Two Writing Teachers community is a pleasure every week.  Thanks to Stacey, Tara, Dana, Betsy, Beth and Anna! 

           As many of you know, I am officially retired, won't be returning for more coaching or teaching, but I will be visiting Ingrid's class. That will be my pleasure at school this year. I hope to travel to visit my grandson this fall, too. He'll be a freshman in high school, hard to believe! I don't imagine he will wish for me to visit his classes, but perhaps I can make it for a music concert? 
           So, as I read about many of you talking about the next year, I wonder how I will feel in September? Will it be okay to tell people I'm retired? The slices will be different, may only be what I used to do? I feel like it's going to be fine. I'm looking forward to venturing into some different kinds of life's slices, and hoping they will be just as sweet.

Monday Reading Recap

           On Mondays, I'm lucky to link up to share books I've read that are for children and teens with Jen at TeachMentorTexts and Kellee and Ricki at UnleashingReaders. Others link to share adult books with Sheila at Book Journeys who started the meme a long time ago. It's great to read about so many good books available, new and old! Come visit, and tweet at #IMWAYR. Thanks to Jen, Kellee, and Ricki for hosting!

        I completed a lot of books this week, and am about a third of the way into Bone Gap by Laura Ruby. I'm not sure what to think yet. The writing is good, but I get shivers more than usual in a book, even one I know that's supposed to be scary. I'm getting a few hints of the unreal, so that actually makes me feel better. If it was real, I think I might stop.

       FUN! In my organization of all my books, trying to fit many that moved home from school with me, I discovered an old book on a shelf titled The Delights of Reading, by an Otto Bettmann, published 1987, filled with quotes, notes, pictures, etc. I've had it a long time, didn't really remember it. Here is one cartoon I thought many of you would relate to. It isn't just us in the 21st century who are avid readers!

       Two books read this week are awesome books totally different from each other, and they've both been talked about so positively. I hope some of you still haven't read them. I joined the twitter chat last Thursday hosted by Kellee and Ricki, and it was fun to see what everyone thought about Circus Mirandus by Cassie Beaseley. On the chat, Allison Beecher shared that there is talk of a sequel: good news to me!

        Here are the books I'd like to share this week. This time, it seems that except for the PD book, a big focus is on animals. I must say that I do love books with lions and bears in them, and there have been many in the past few years. 

Celebrating People In Children's Lives

              I celebrate each Saturday with Ruth Ayres at Discover Play Build.  There are many others who celebrate, too. Come join us!          Tweet at #CelebrateLu

            This week was filled with lots and lots of reading, and a celebration at the end yesterday when I went to Ingrid's play at our Denver Center for Performing Arts after two weeks of drama camp. This is her third year, and it is impressive what the teachers and students do in creating a wonderful ending, on a big stage, for all families who come to see. They group them by grade so there are performances from kindergarten all the way to 5th grade. Imi did one week last week and they too had a small performance but I missed it because of other plans. Both had a great time. The organization of that many children is admirable, and the ending always lovely. 

           All the students gather "down front" in the theater,  each with the teachers, ready for the performance, watching and waiting for their turn. I was impressed and then was reminded of all the adults in children's lives that I appreciate, that I have celebrated in my own children's lives, and celebrate now for my grandchildren. It does indeed take a village!

           I've participated in #CyberPD this year with Cathy Mere, Michelle Nero and Laura Komos, a joyful learning experience. As I read so many posts of reflection, I was in awe of all each one told of what they've been doing, what they've planned to do next year. I celebrate teachers! Here are a few picture reminders of all the adults I appreciate in children's lives.

Scout leaders! Carter finished this week of 
leadership training, then another week of camp, 
will soon be on his way to an outdoor 
adventure in Michigan. 

Watching Little Things

           Poetry Friday is at Margaret Simon's Reflection on The Teche this week.  Come to visit those who share!

         It's not a new thought, yet this poem from some days ago on The Writer's Almanac showed a little bit more what people mean when they say to notice the little things. Joyce Sutphen shows that beautifully.  

Things To Watch While You Drive

                                   by Joyce Sutphen

The trees, slipping
across the fields, changing places with
barns and silos,

the hills, rolling over
on command,

          The remaining lines are here.

Taken one evening, from my car.

           Thanks to Tabatha at The Opposite of Indifference for sharing my poem, Margaret Simon's and Diane Mayr's too, written and sent for the summer swap. It is a special pleasure writing for someone. And as I shared poems I've received in the past two Poetry Fridays, it's also wonderful to receive poems for me. Tabatha's swap idea of giving poetry has spread a lot of joy these past years. 

Wed. N-F Picture Books - Awesome

  Time to share on Wednesdays with Alyson Beecher's Non-Fiction Picture Book Challenge at her blog, Kidlit Frenzy.  Interesting titles this week, again all with a similar thread!

        Thanks Alyson!   Tweet - #NFPB15

                I found and read these books because so many others have shared how wonderful they are, the stories and the illustrations. They are indeed inspiring stories. Find them if you haven't yet read them. 

               This week, all about people, the known and the little known, but making a difference in our world. I appreciate that they did so much.

Special Link: 2015 Amelia Elizabeth Walden Book Award Finalists Have Been Announced: You can see all the award-winners here with Kellee Moye at Unleashing Readers.

Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews wrote this autobiography to inspire other young kids who love music, but who may not be able to play an instrument because they are poor. His family, his neighborhood, his town (New Orleans) all surrounded Troy with music. His brother was in a band, and included Troy as much as he could. At four, Troy got his first trombone, as a young boy he played with Bo Diddley. As his story tells, he played and practiced, then started again. He was a dedicated man. The illustrations are multimedia collage, filled with color and people and photographs, so interesting to see.

#CyberPD - Week Three

   I'm reading Digital Reading: What's Essential in Grades 3-8 by Franki Sibberson and William L Bass II.  Click here to read more about #cyberPD or click here to join the Google+ discussion group! It's a pleasure every summer to participate in this knowledgeable group.  We are hosted by Laura Komos, Michelle Nero, and Cathy Mere.

        As I've said before, this coming year is my first year of retirement. I already see others talking about planning, that the summer is coming to a close, that in just a few weeks, new students will be a reality. I am ready to say goodbye to that thrill of September, but this year I think I'll be remembering every step of the way. Sometimes, I know I will wish I was back, especially after reading these two chapters of Digital Reading!

 Digital Reading - Chapter six - Assessment: Keeping Our Eye on Literacy (p. 87)

       When I took over the class this past year, I had one more chance to do some different things that I hadn't been doing four years previously. Our entire school holds student-led portfolio conferences, and now after reading about digital ones I wish I had taken that step. However, there were some differences this time. Students had computers ready to show something online, like digital presentations, art, or special blog posts. Both students and I wanted to share and show the learning that had been occurring online as well as in print. With older students, the collection of work is always the broader collection, focusing on trimester goals (we worked on a trimester calendar), but also looking back at where they were, and then looking at the examples of growth that were  moving them forward. Even the youngest students can discuss the learning that has occurred, sometimes with guiding questions, and the skills that are new or are improving.

Memories When Unexpected

          Slicing with the Two Writing Teachers community is a pleasure every week.  Thanks to Stacey, Tara, Dana, Betsy, Beth and Anna! 

          I am not a good shopper, mostly do what needs to be done, then go home. Sometimes it is a slice of my life, however. And there are a few places I love to go, usually interesting streets of small independent shops. Much of the time I shop there to look, enjoy, and to discover gifts for friends and family.  Serendipity reigns! I started writing about a shopping trip I made last week, but it's also turned out to be a memory too. Funny how that happens when writing!

           The following photos show a shopping district in the Cherry Creek area of Denver, a wonderful shopping area next to a large enclosed mall, too. I go to the mall occasionally; it has an Apple store and Nordstrom's, after all. This small shopping area is "up" the street from where our store was for thirty years. My husband owned and operated an auto sound store, selling, installing and repairing car stereos and alarms, etc. We were fortunate that we ended up finding a great location, and my husband was a wonderful businessman. After we closed the store, the property was sold and there is a three story bank there now. So many memories linger. Many hours were spent there by my husband and by our children growing up, learning how to clean a shop as well as wait on customers. Owning a small business becomes everyone's job! I did the accounting all those years.

            This introduction shows my link to this area. I spent time on this street many times, took my grandson to Noodles around the corner when he was a little boy, have taken friends and out-of-town visitors shopping and out to breakfast, lunch and dinner on the street. Some stores are still there; many have changed. I admire every person who takes the leap and puts their heart and soul, and a lot of sweat, into a dream, a little business all their own.   

Monday Reading Pleasures

           On Mondays, we are lucky to link up to share books we've read that are for children and teens with Jen at TeachMentorTexts and Kellee and Ricki at UnleashingReaders. Others link to share adult books with Sheila at Book Journeys who started the meme a long time ago. It's great to read about so many good books available, new and old! Come visit, and tweet at #IMWAYR. Thanks to Jen, Kellee, and Ricki for hosting!

See the buttons on the right for Myra Garces-Bacsal's Gathering Books Award Winning Book Challenge and the MustReadIn2015 challenge hosted by Carrie Gelson at There's A Book for That. You can read my "must read" list above. The following book meets the criteria for both these lists.

      It's been a long time since I read nearly all one day. I guess one reason is that I'm on vacation. And the second one is that All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr is a wonder of a book. It also won the Pulitzer Prize and was a finalist for the National Book Award. First of all, I loved the adult complexity of the book, the way that Doerr wove his story back and forth among characters and back and forth in time. The story is set before, during and after World War II, includes several interesting characters, but the main ones are Werner, a gifted young orphan who is German, and who gets the chance to go to a special school for preparing boys for war (unheard of for his background) and a young girl, blind, living with her father who works at the Natural History Museum in Paris. The characters, the details in their lives, and the events surrounding them built with such tension, continually parallel and intertwine. I sometimes had to stop and wonder what I would do in such a time, or I would stop to re-read a passage to be sure I hadn't missed anything or to appreciate the beautiful language. The parts included that touch on light in hundreds of ways are magical. Here are a few examples of sentences I marked. Concerning peaches after an arduous escape from Paris: "Seconds later, she's eating wedges of wet sunlight."  When a soldier enters a room of children in an orphanage: "His handgun is black; it seems to draw all the light in the room toward it." Upon a first experience at the ocean: "At least, out on the beaches, her privation and fear are rinsed away by wind and color and light." When one of the main characters is asking questions of life: "Why bother to make music when the silence and wind are so much larger? Why light lamps when the darkness will inevitably snuff them?" I marked many more. This may not be the book for you, but it certainly pleased me.

Vacation Is Busy Too!

              I celebrate each Saturday with Ruth Ayres at Discover Play Build.  There are many others who celebrate, too. Come join us!          Tweet at #CelebrateLu

Click to enlarge.

• Finding a slumbering moth when I opened my shades one morning. It stayed for a long while as I watched, then fluttered a bit, and flew away. Beautiful!
• Spending two afternoons with Imogene was a delight. We don't often get to be together just us! Imi is the book lover. She'll be four in two weeks, and although she doesn't read yet, she keeps asking, Did you read this part, Grandma? She wants to be sure she's getting the "whole" story.
• Finding a mysterious box which contained a marvelous summer swap poem from my blogger friend, Donna Smith, with a poem created with my watercolor, and a jigsaw puzzle from that! It's not my strong suit, but brought back memories of my husband and I doing so many puzzles together. I wrote about it yesterday, too, but wanted to show my progress.  (Remember, my OLW is "paint"!)
• One wonderful summer morning I shopped in my favorite shopping area at a sidewalk sale, streets of small independent shops. I got an iced chai, my special drink, and found some wonderful gifts at one shop, and took pictures of the art displayed.  The bicycle is one example.
• No picture, but Friday, a dear colleague and I met at another shopping area that has a special used bookstore where we met, then walked the streets browsing other shops, talked and talked, then ate lunch at a sweet little place called Salt & Grinder-yum! 

          It was a great week also full of reading and writing and a little bit of appointments and cleaning! Hope you're having a great weekend!

    I'm taking part in #CyberPD, reading the book Digital Reading by Franki Sibberson and Bill Bass, collecting digital ideas as I go. This collage was created on Fotor, which has many possibilities for response.

Poetry Friday-Summer Swap!

        Kimberley Moran hosts our Poetry Friday today here, on Google +.   Thanks Kimberley!

          In last week's Poetry Friday I shared a beautiful poem from Diane Mayr for our summer poetry swap, started and beautifully managed by Tabatha Yeatts whose blog is The Opposite of Indifference. It is a pleasure to write for someone, to try to learn about them, mostly through their blogs, and write personally for them. A few days after I wrote about Diane's poem, a box came in the mail. I knew I hadn't ordered anything, and it couldn't be one of the swap poems because it was a box. Wow, was I wrong! Here is a picture of the box 'inside' the box:

Click to enlarge

         To explain: my One Little Word this year is "paint", and Donna Smith and I have followed each other's posts since we first began blogging a few years ago. She knows I've been trying to do some different things besides writing and reading. I posted a watercolor a while ago. And, taking that picture of my watercolor, knowing that "paint" was a special word, she wrote a lovely poem AND ordered a puzzle. It was a lovely surprise. 

CyberPD - Week # Two

      I'm reading Digital Reading: What's Essential in Grades 3-8 by Franki Sibberson and William L Bass II.  Click here to read more about #cyberPD or click here to join the Google+ discussion group! It's a pleasure every summer to participate in this knowledgeable group.  We are hosted by Laura Komos, Michelle Nero, and Cathy Mere.

     In all, much for me to learn within these chapters, and there will be much to return to for further notes. 

The page numbers refer to the eBook PDF.

         I suspect that I will repeat much of what others are writing; there is much good to take from these full chapters. One overall reflection is that there are consistent common threads no matter which anchor’s chapter one examines: possibilities abound, time and choice for experiences is key, and assumptions of expertise may often be incorrect. Also, there is more to be taught, but teachers and students can collaborate in the teaching.

Chapter Three - Authenticity p. 25

What I liked: 

     It’s wonderful that Franki took pictures & re-visited them, this time noticing different kinds of learning within the Genius Hour. It does mean more time when one examines the pictures, but at least once in a while, will be very worth it. “Each day they used a new tool because 
it fit their need or purpose at that moment.”

     Referring to the ‘book trailer episode”: I imagine that some, or all, of us have to be intentional about figuring out just what is worthwhile in an authentic digital reading situation.  It’s complex, as was explained on p. 29, when she did explain her ideas of authenticity in reading and response to that reading.

     The questions on p. 30 are helpful.  Diana’s learning shared on p. 31 is so right: “teachers don’t need to know every single thing, but do need to share thinking with students as the need appears.” I teach in a school where each student studies his or her own topic, many curriculum units are in play all the time. While I did do some whole group work, most of the time I was the supporter/mentor/questioner. I knew I could not possibly be an expert in everything. This part of the chapter reminds me of my classroom--many things going on, many experts helping and questioning and working. On the same page, this quote stood out to me: “it’s about choice and ownership”.  The management style is different from everyone in the class doing the same project, and it demands patience and looking for good questions to ask, sharing a lot of what the teacher does, as well as allowing students to share their expertise as well.

      I enjoyed the specific resources shared, but then also this: “Focusing on the learning rather than the tool created a more authentic workshop.” p. 37

Still questioning: those with devices and those without. How is this going to work for future plans, within schools and districts?

Wednesday NF-Picture Books

        Time to share on Wednesdays with Alyson Beecher's Non-Fiction Picture Book Challenge at her blog, Kidlit Frenzy.  Interesting titles this week, all with a similar thread!

        Thanks Alyson!   Tweet - #NFPB15

         The books I share today share the theme of the fight against stereotyping. Whether human or animal, all creatures need to be accepted for individual merits. One needs to look and look again at personal beliefs, to see if you really know "all" of the story.

 

            During a time when our culture thought that women/girls should only be "ladies", Lucille Mulhall set out to prove otherwise. From her beginnings of lassoing anything she could instead of jumping rope, she was soon riding the range, roping cattle, breaking broncos, and when needed, lassoing a wolf! After successfully showing off these skills at a show for Teddy Roosevelt, she began appearing in other shows, and finally created her own Wild West group that traveled the country. It’s fun to learn about another young person who knew what they wanted to do in life, and did it! The book’s illustrations are bright and bold, like Lucille.

Like so many stereotypes, there are those “dirty rats” both real and metaphorically in our lives. The stereotype is tough to break. In this book, Darrin Lunde writes to dispel some of the myths by sharing different kinds of rats in the world that aren’t dirty, and are helpful in the natural world. The detailed illustrations help erase the myths.

Taking An Art Break

          Slicing with the Two Writing Teachers community is a pleasure every week.  Thanks to Stacey, Tara, Dana, Betsy, Beth and Anna! 
            Twyla Tharp: "Art is the only way to run away without leaving home."

          My One Little Word this year is paint. While I originally thought I would take the time to do something every day, I soon realized it was a crazy goal. I just don't have time, and mostly prefer to spend "extra" time with words-reading or writing.  But I've done so much these past weeks with books, and I have enjoyed all the reading, too, but thought it was time to do a little painting again. I really hope I can do more than every once in a while. It is so relaxing to sit and look and try to emulate something. Ask Michelle Hazeltine at One Grateful Teacher about coloring. She's been doing some wonderful work in different designs, and there has been more than one article published recently about the value of coloring/art in both children's and adult's lives. Give it a try! Here's my latest.  

FYI: I'm into week two reading Digital Reading: What's Essential in Grades 3-8 by Franki Sibberson and William L Bass II with some of you who also are slicers.  Click here to read more about #cyberPD or click here to join the Google+ discussion group! It's a pleasure every summer to participate in this knowledgeable group.  We are hosted by Laura Komos, Michelle Nero, and Cathy Mere.

Monday Reading - Great Week

           On Mondays, we are lucky to link up to share books we've read that are for children and teens with Jen at TeachMentorTexts and Kellee and Ricki at UnleashingReaders. Others link to share adult books with Sheila at Book Journeys who started the meme a long time ago. You'll discover so many great books.  Come visit, and tweet at #IMWAYR. Thanks to Jen, Kellee, and Ricki for hosting!

           It's a long post today, so much fun reading this week!

         These first two books are from my MustReadIn2015 list. Hurrah!

 Reading books in the Raven cycle by Maggie Stiefvater feels sometimes like that old "Whack-A-Mole" game. Just when you feel that you can relax because something is solved, or at least all right at that moment, another, sometimes more alarming, thing pops up. In this book, the plot indeed thickens, and the characters show more of themselves in all their goodness and only a bit of evil. It's hard to choose a favorite character. I don't know if you have one, but I find even those who appear who are dead have authenticity. If that isn't enough to pique your interest, you'll need to read the first two books, then suspend all belief in this one, because magic and frightening things from the mind are apparent in every character. Those Raven Boys keep at it with a lot of help from my favorite girl character, Blue, and more than a little help from Mr. Grey. Adam stars in this story, and we see the real goodness come into play from both Ronin and Gansey. It was a pleasure to read Blue Lily, Lily Blue, and I now anticipate number four, due next February. More moles peeked out at the end of Blue Lily, Lily Blue. 

Celebrating Endings

              Celebrating Each Saturday with Ruth Ayres at Discover Play Build.  Finally time today to celebrate this past busy week.                   Tweet at #CelebrateLu

             Celebrating one part of endings: I wasn't able to post yesterday because I was having my book sale! While there weren't many customers, I did manage to sell and/or give away about half the books. Next step, donating the rest. My house is rather back to normal, with three extra shelves added in from school, I was able to still keep many. I imagine I will keep looking for others to give away, but for now I'm tired and want to celebrate and read, not just keep messing with books. I also celebrate that I've purged many school papers, kept some to look at a little more closely, but not too many. Time to 'do' instead of "clean out".  

            Celebrating blogger friends: In her very busy days, Carol Wilcox at Carol's Corner took the time to come to the book sale and take away several boxes of books to share with her colleagues. She lives quite close to me, and I am lucky to have connected with her. 

            Celebrating family and the imagination of children: My daughter, Sarah, & Ingrid came over to help with the sale. Because customers were on the light side, we had a wonderful visit. A family came riding by and one of them happened to be a classmate of Ingrid's. She came to stay and play. They had a great time in my back yard, came to tell us they were pretending it was the forest and there were all sorts of adventures happening! 

Poetry Friday - Gifting

      Poetry Friday is hosted today by Katie at her blog, The Logonauts.

Click to enlarge for easier reading. 

          Summertime Poetry Friday is such a pleasure because I have the opportunity of sharing poems written by PF friends, and for me especially. Thanks to Tabatha Yeatts at The Opposite of Indifference, some of us participate in a summer poem swap. Tabatha pairs us up--secretly--and surprises arrive periodically in the mail. As I wrote, pure pleasure.

Non-Fiction Picture Books-Terrific Always

        Time to share on Wednesdays with Alyson Beecher's Non-Fiction Picture Book Challenge at her blog, Kidlit Frenzy.  There are so many great titles to find and read. Here are a few books with stories and illustrations that I hope you will find and enjoy. 

        Thanks Alyson!   Tweet - #NFPB15

    Four Centuries, Four Families, One Delicious Treat - Emily Jenkins & Sophie Blackall take us on a fine journey seeing the background of this "blackberry fool". With wonderful afterwords from both the author and the illustrator, one learns just how much research occurs in a seemingly simple story. Each part that shows the dessert created and then served shows history, including whipping cream with a created twig whisk, how cooling it happened before electric refrigeration, and the way people dressed and lived. Beautiful, not simple at all!