The One With a Farewell to 2014 #slice2014

Every Tuesday, I participate in the Slice of Life challenge at Two Writing Teachers. If you want to participate, you can link up at their Slice of Life Story Post on Tuesdays or you can just head on over there to check out other people's stories. For more information on what a Slice of Life post is about, you can go here. 

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Another year has come and gone. Time flies when you're having fun, right? 

In 2013, my one little word was "simplify". Then this year, in 2014, my one little word was "patience". It was long into 2014 that I wondered if by choosing the word "patience", the universe threw all sorts of experiences and situations at me that encouraged me to learn to practice patience. Maybe that's the case or maybe I was just more aware of needing to be patient. Either way, this year was a jam-packed, fun-filled, non-stop type of year. Looking back at this year, I feel like I've learned so much about myself, about others, about life. Just so much. I don't know where to even start to reflect and I'm actually feeling like it might be better off to look ahead instead of delving too much into reliving the ups and downs of 2014. Yup, I think looking ahead is a great idea.

So I've been thinking about my one little word for 2015 for a couple of weeks now. I honestly thought my 2015 word might be "risk" because there are a few things in my little brain that I'd like to dive into this year BUT more recently the word "grace" has resonated with me. 

The word "grace" first of all makes me think of being gracious and grateful and appreciative. That's the meaning that stands out to me most. I would like to make 2015 a year of truly appreciating everyone and everything I have in my life. More than being thankful though, it reminds me to be humble and accept things with grace. Keeping this at the forefront of my thoughts and actions is super important to me. Otherwise, "grace" makes me think of being graceful in two different ways. One is to take time to make thoughtful and meaningful decisions - which I'm not always very good at. The other is to be graceful like a dancer and I'm not sure how that will fit into my life in 2015...but I'm always up for some good dancing!

The One With Cardboard Creativity #slice2014

Every Tuesday, I participate in the Slice of Life challenge at Two Writing Teachers. If you want to participate, you can link up at their Slice of Life Story Post on Tuesdays or you can just head on over there to check out other people's stories. For more information on what a Slice of Life post is about, you can go here. 

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Back in October, I visited a school that invited me to see (and play!) cardboard arcade games students created as part of the Global Cardboard Challenge. It was inspired by a boy named Caine and the arcade he created out of leftover cardboard boxes. You can visit the Caine's Ardcade website for more information and to watch the video I'm sharing here below. 

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and I know we're going to have lots of cardboard rolling around. I'm going to save as much cardboard as I can and am asking my brother to do the same so that when his family comes to visit, my sons and my nephews can create their own cardboard arcade.

Seeing how Caine comes up with his own version of classic arcade games makes me think of the books Have Fun, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell and Louise Loves Art by Kelly Light. Both are examples of characters creating their own fun and art instead of waiting for it to find them. 

I'm hoping to pair up a kiddo in our family with an adult and then to set the timer and see what we can come up with in a short period of time. It'll be an epic challenge and then we'll show off and play the games we come up with. I have no idea if this will work or if my family will be up to it...but I thought I would share in case you might want to save up some of your own holiday cardboard and have some good old-fashioned do-it-yourself type fun this holiday season. Maybe we'll have to also create some original artwork and have a gallery showcase a la Louise Loves Art. I know we're always looking for cost-thrifty ideas to keep the kids busy and to try and avoid the b-word....boredom. 

Have any arcade game suggestions for me to try and recreate? 

I'm leaning towards air hockey or foosball but am open to ideas!

If you do try this at home, I would love to hear how it goes! 

The One With An A-W-E-S-O-M-E NCTE In DC #slice2014

Every Tuesday, I participate in the Slice of Life challenge at Two Writing Teachers. If you want to participate, you can link up at their Slice of Life Story Post on Tuesdays or you can just head on over there to check out other people's stories. For more information on what a Slice of Life post is about, you can go here. 

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Last year, I came home from NCTE in Boston with hope in my heart. I believed so strongly in myself and my writing life. With that motivation, I invested a lot of time into writing - making the time to write, carving out minutes and moments, seeking out other writers, joining SCBWI, believing each word was a baby step. Today I started another round of Write Daily 30 with Linda Urban and an amazing group of writers. I'm already so in love with writing all over again. I'm happy to be back at work on a draft I started in June. I added almost 500 words in 20 minutes of free writing. Not too shabby. 

I love NCTE as a sort of barometer for where I am in my life in terms of being an educator, a blogger, a reader, and a writer. Two years ago, when NCTE was in Vegas, I was looking for ideas to support new teachers and their mentors. This was my second year zoning in on digital literacy but also thinking about what nourishes my soul as an educator who believes we need to remember that literacy is more than reading and that reading and writing go hand in hand. I look at my writing life now and I see how much I have grown thanks to Teachers Write and blogging and Write Daily 30. I'm a different writer today than I was last year. I've reflected on habits that work for me and surrounded myself with others who motivate me. Some of those people, I have pictures of to celebrate here today but I didn't get nearly enough pictures and there are so many people I cherish and loved catching up with who I missed out on taking pictures with. I did try...but I'll always want to do better next year.

The focus of the conference this year was storytelling and I was invited to share how what happens outside of the classroom influences what happens in the classroom. The idea that literacy is everyone's job really resonates with me. We all have to be invested in making reading, writing, listening, speaking and viewing something fun and engaging for students. The pictures below show all sorts of different people who share a love of literacy - teachers, librarians, authors, illustrators - and what it all boils down to is inevitably, our passion for literacy shines through in everything we do and spreads to students. Each of these people here have influenced me professionally and personally and I'm happy to celebrate them here as I share a bit of my story at NCTE this year.

CeCe Bell - author of El Deafo who I had to tell my whole career path story to...and she listened!

I had to take a picture with George at the Candlewick booth. Little Bean has been enamored with all of Chris Haughton's books lately thanks to the Hat Monkey app!

The One and Only Gae Polisner of Teachers Write Friday Feedback fame!

Franki is always so busy at NCTE that I worry I won't see her...but I did!

Seymour Simon - I loved telling him about Peanut, my forever, non-fiction fan.

Mr. Maquizga himself, all shiny and newly married, Brian Wyzlic!

Margaret Simon! Meeting Teachers Write friends in real life is always amazing!

JoEllen McCarthy is such fun and always full of energy and knowledge!

I snuck into Sunday morning breakfast to sit in the back and her Jon Klassen talk about his books. I can never get enough of hearing about all the thought that goes into his books. Ever fascinating.

This was one of the huge highlights of the exhibit hall...seeing the Kate Messner's 59 Reasons to Write will be out soon from Stenhouse! I can hardly wait!

I've had such a blast with Amy Blaine on Twitter talking books and writing and it was great to finally meet her in person. She's a blast.

All the way to DC to hang out with Ms. Michele Knott who literally lives in the town next door. 

I get a little emotional about people who have had such an impact on my life...and when I saw Katie Dicesare I struggled not to cry. NCTE is like a family reunion for me. I'm so glad to have know such great people.

The sparkly, fairy-in-disguise, Laurel Snyder. I loved getting to meet her in Atlanta over the summer and it was a treat to see her again.

It just wasn't quite the same without Colby Sharp there but I loved that Donalyn paid tribute to him in her Nerdy Book Club panel introduction. 

Jason Lewis is a new Nerdy friend but a Nerdy friend just the same.

I was so happy to find Kellee Moye and to visit with her. I even got to meet Ann M. Martin with her. Yes, Ann M. Martin. Babysitter's Club fan for life!

Getting out of the hotel/convention center was great. It was a short walk to little downtown-type area. Bonus, I got to visit with Melissa Thomson and gab about writing. Check out her jazzy shades!

Here I am with my side-pony and Jenny Han. How awesome is she? I love her writing.

And finally, it's me and Stephanie Perkins! She was super sweet and totally great.

I missed pictures with people like my roommate, Alyson Beecher, Cynthia Alaniz, Lisa Morris Wilkey, Candace Fleming, Donalyn Miller, Katherine Sokolowski, Jenni and Matt Holm, John Shu, Raina Telgemeier, Dave Roman, Jennifer Nielsen, Jen Bryant, Melissa Sweet, Melissa Stewart, Sarah Albee, Kate Messner, Linda Urban, Gigi McAllister, Susan Dee, Deb Frazier, Karen Terlecky, Jilian Heise, Sarah Anderson, Jeff Anderson, Terry Thompson, Heidi Stemple, Jane Yolen, Jon Klassen, Gareth Hinds, and so many others I'm sure I'm forgetting. Hugs to everyone and remind me to get a picture next time!

Looking back at these pictures makes me so happy. I'm always glad to visit with friends, learn new things, and discover some new books along the way. I'm so thankful for the opportunity to attend NCTE and I look forward to it every year because it does give me so much to take back to classrooms in my district. If you haven't been yet, I encourage you to think about adding it to your to-do list for November 2015. Maybe I'll see you there?

The One With Sweet Serendipity #slice 2014

Every Tuesday, I participate in the Slice of Life challenge at Two Writing Teachers. If you want to participate, you can link up at their Slice of Life Story Post on Tuesdays or you can just head on over there to check out other people's stories. For more information on what a Slice of Life post is about, you can go here. 

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I'm a little behind because I didn't post a Slice or Celebrate post last week...but a little over a week ago, I met two champions of my writing life and I can't not celebrate them here. I was ecstatic to drive down to The Book Cellar in Chicago to meet and celebrate Trisha Leaver and Lindsay Currie who co-wrote their recently released book, Creed. 

Lindsay, me and Trisha at their book launch party at The Book Cellar in Chicago

Trisha and Lindsay were my mentors for Brenda Drake's Pitch Wars. It was a thrill to be chosen as a mentee and then to work with these super talented and down-to-business mentors. My manuscript is so much stronger thanks to their questions and asking for more and pushing me to think about what truly is the core of my story. It was a lot of work (I'm still kind of recovering...) but so completely worth it. I recommend Pitch Wars to anyone who is thinking they'll be ready next fall. I think I would recommend other contests as well, I'm just not familiar with others and can't speak to them. 

Sometimes I think about my life and how fortunate I am to be who I am and where I am and to have everything that I have. There is so much to be truly thankful for but while revising my novel, I thought a lot about luck. For a long time I believed in coincidences and fate. I'm not sure what I think now. I'm still undecided, I think. I want to experience more of life before I officially decide but it seems like life is about weighing out the options, making choices that seem best at the time based on given information and dealing with consequences. 

And then dealing with consequences is all about perspective. Being optimistic is part of my nature. Sometimes I live in a happy bubble and remind myself that not everyone has a bubble of happy they can burrow into all the time. Recently, a colleague said I was idealistic, always thinking about the best-case scenario and planning or working towards that. I understand what she was saying, but I can't see the sense in working towards anything less than the ideal situation. Maybe we don't get there, or maybe we have to take super, teeny, tiny steps to get there. But any progress can be a celebration and you adjust as you go. 

Was it destiny that I finished up revisions just as submissions for Pitch Wars opened? Was it fate that I was chosen for Pitch Wars? Was it coincidence that the Creed launch party was in Chicago just as Pitch Wars was ending? Maybe. Maybe a divine power? Or maybe we fill in the blanks and weave a serendipity story when it seems like things have fallen into place just for us. Personally, I love the idea that I get to write my own story, that life is a glorious choose-your-own-adventure book and I get to turn the pages. In the end, I'll look back on it from my happy bubble and bask in its fairy-tale awesomeness. Why not, right? How about you? What do you think?

And just for fun...because it can be kind of fun to be romantic and fantasize about the starts aligning every once in a while, here's Sweet Serendipity sung by Lee Dewyze.

The One With the Tell-Tale Heart of a Reader #slice2014

Every Tuesday, I participate in the Slice of Life challenge at Two Writing Teachers. If you want to participate, you can link up at their Slice of Life Story Post on Tuesdays or you can just head on over there to check out other people's stories. For more information on what a Slice of Life post is about, you can go here. 

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Last week, I was sitting in my office when I realized it was the end of October and time to switch my curtains into fall/winter mode. I was thinking about what I might write about for my slice of life and I started looking around me for inspiration. After I got my curtains all situated, I spotted these stacks of books in the corner of my office.

I share my office this year. When my colleauge first came to work with me, I explained the set up of my office and how my department went through a training that outlined how offices should be meeting spaces. Offices aren't meant to be places where we get swallowed up by all the things we need to do. Offices aren't meant to be places where we want to hole up and hide with our work. Offices are meant to be pristine places where you can get to work, free from distractions but when it's time to be out and about, you actually get out and about. In education, it's important to be out in classrooms, visiting with teachers and students and knowing how decisions you make in your office impact them. 

After I explained this whole philosophy, I detailed how I transformed my office. I don't have much in my office. Technically, according to the presenter, I'm not supposed to have any books. Once I've read them, there's a slim chance I'll reread them...which is kind of, sort of true. There are a lot of texts that I read and glean information from and never go back to. There are also texts I love to revisit and quote often. I'm trying to pass my books on but I don't want to just send them away, I want to find others who will read them and enjoy them and learn from them. It might look like these books have been moved to the floor, haphazardly balanced atop one another. But that's not it. They're there because I love them too much to let them go. 

All these thoughts were swirling around my head last week Guess what? Those stacks of books are still in my office. I'm thinking maybe I can find a place for them, out of sight but there for me if I need them. I can't help it, I'm a reader.

Shelves of books, piles of books, bags of books 

Shelved nicely, piled precariously, bagged to the brim

Isn't this the tell-tale heart of a reader?

The One With a Some Presto Chango!

Every Tuesday, I participate in the Slice of Life challenge at Two Writing Teachers. If you want to participate, you can link up at their Slice of Life Story Post on Tuesdays or you can just head on over there to check out other people's stories. For more information on what a Slice of Life post is about, you can go here. 

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Despite the fact that it was super warm here yesterday, I'm celebrating fall and that it's almost November. As I sat in my office trying to think up what I would write about today, I realized it was time to switch my valance around. Remember back in April when I sewed a valance for my office window? If not, you can click here.

My office looked way different then! Since April, I moved all my furniture out of my office and basically have just one table in the middle where I can meet with others and work. Everyday, I walk into an empty table. It's kind of like setting up shop at Starbucks when I go there to work...minus the amazing coffee smell, and the friendly baristas, and the lovely music, and the  jazzy music. It does have a little bit of ambiance to it thanks to my valance and it makes me happy to have that little slice of me in my office.

Here's what it looked like yesterday when I was working on this blog post:

But I intentionally made the valance reversible so that I could switch to a non-flowery pattern when the fall and winter months rolled around. And here we are! I switch to this funky black and white geometric pattern. 

It was a bit of a presto chango and it made me feel re-energized a bit. I have some books stacked in the corner that I'm going to talk about next week. Just a little slice of my everyday life at work. 

What do you love about where you work? What do you do to make it your own?

The One With a Love of Mentor Texts #slice2014

Every Tuesday, I participate in the Slice of Life challenge at Two Writing Teachers. If you want to participate, you can link up at their Slice of Life Story Post on Tuesdays or you can just head on over there to check out other people's stories. For more information on what a Slice of Life post is about, you can go here. 

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When I started this blog in 2010, I thought a lot about what I believed about literacy. I had recently worked on my National Board certification in Early and Middle Childhood Literacy and my philosophy on reading and writing with students had evolved drastically from when I was doing my undergrad. Looking back, I'm so glad that my focus for this blog was on mentor texts. I continue to wholeheartedly believe in the power of authentic texts to support students - and teachers - and everyone - as readers and writers. 

In September, I shared my thoughts on Ruth Culham's recent book The Writing Thief: Using Mentor Texts to Teach the Craft of Writing and I'm now excited to share information about an upcoming Google Hangout on Air with authors Ruth Culham, Varian Johnson, Kate Messner, Lisa Yee, and David Harrison. This event will be hosted by the International Reading Association (IRA) and Scholastic and will focus on making the most of mentor texts. Doesn't that sound amazing?

This event will be streamed live on Tuesday, October 28^th at 8 – 9 pm ET on IRA’s YouTube channel which you can find here: www.reading.org/youtube . No registration is required. One super exciting thing to look forward to is that audience members will have the chance to win a virtual visit with one of the five author participants. I've been told that details will be provided during the event...so plan to be there! Be sure to follow @IRAToday on Twitter for more information and follow and tweet along with the Twitter hashtag #mentortexts.

I'm already thinking of questions I might like to ask of the guest authors! I find that the more I write and the more I read, the more I see connections between the two. Ever since participating in NaNoWriMo and Teachers Write, I pay significantly more attention to what I notice authors do in their writing as I read books. I'm so much more aware of decisions the authors made, I have a completely different understanding of the intention and dedication that goes into writing books I adore, and a heightened consciousness of the true craft of writing. I could go on and on about mentor texts but I'll wait until next week's virtual visit!

The One With Bookworms in Sheboygan #slice2014

Every Tuesday, I participate in the Slice of Life challenge at Two Writing Teachers. If you want to participate, you can link up at their Slice of Life Story Post on Tuesdays or you can just head on over there to check out other people's stories. For more information on what a Slice of Life post is about, you can go here. 

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This weekend we had a great time up in Sheboygan, Wisconsin at their Children's Book Festival. After Peanut's soccer game on Saturday, we drove up just in time to make it to Dave Roman's session. It was fun to see a room full of kids drawing their own super heroes or villains and coming up with stories. The boys got to work right away. Little Bean drew Frankendile and Peanut drew Clawboy. They were pretty proud of their creations!

Afterwards, Little Bean got his face painted like a tiger and practiced his roar knowing he was going to meet Peter Brown on Sunday. He's a natural.

 On Sunday, we were up early for breakfast and a swim before heading off to Bookworm Gardens to ramble and use our imaginations with Terri Murphy. I'll share more pictures of Bookworm Gardens in another post because it's worth its own post...but here are a few pictures of our adventures in imagining and drawing what we discovered there.

We even ran into Curious George!

 

After some fun at Bookworm Gardens, we headed back to hear Peter Brown talk about his books. The kids loved hearing him read Mr. Tiger Goes Wild and Creepy Carrots. They each wanted their own copy of Creepy Carrots to take home and Peanut was excited to buy My Teacher is a Monster! (No, I Am Not.) for his kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade teachers...which I hope they enjoy.

 Love these faces!

 I'm so glad the weather cooperated and we had such a perfect weekend at the Sheboygan Children's Book Festival. We're already talking about going again next year. Do you have a favorite book festival to share?