We had some fun sharing our poetry today. Not all students chose to share and not all chose to submit these latest pieces to a children's publication our librarian had told us about. Still the opportunity was there and I loved being in the back of the room watching and listening to these readings proceed.
Haiku was the type of poetry the national journal suggested students send in, so we listened to many short pieces. They were wonderful. Also wonderful was the classroom audience reaction. They can be so supportive of someone in front of the class, baring their writing attempts. I had forgotten to turn off the projector so they were actually in a sort of spotlight, which may have increased nervousness.
Following each presentation, around the room hands were quickly raised in earnest asking, "Choose me, choose me!" and faces looked at me eagerly. They seemed to sort of hop and skip out of their seats to the front of the room to read to fellow writers. Attention was on the poet's reciting and polite clapping followed signaling enjoyment of the words. But I think it also signaled recognition. Recognition of what it takes for a writer to share in front of a group. I beamed with pride.
Friday, March 8, 2013
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
The Travel Wall
I drove across the state to spend what I thought was one night with my mother, but when I came down with the flu I was there three days recovering. One is never too old to not appreciate the attentions of your mother when you are feeling ill.
As I lay on her couch recuperating, I had the perfect view of The Travel Wall. It is a collection of twenty-five items chronicling her and my father's many travels to all seven continents. World travelers, you could call them.
Some pieces reflect artisan crafts, like the blue and brown African batik depicting giraffes eating leaves off tall trees. Five certificates hang announcing completed adventures like crossing the equator in a hot-air balloon or rounding Cape Horn. There are artifacts like a Swedish copper ladle and Bavarian cow bell and trinkets of a small leprechaun and a koala bear.
But what I enjoyed looking at the most on that wall, these past few days, were the pictures of my parents, standing side by side, around the world. Close together near a fountain with the Eiffel Tower in the background. Beaming smiles in the sun as the Great Wall continued on behind them. They loved traveling together and experiencing each country.
The photos change through Dad's declining health. He is stooped and leaning in on Mom before the Caribbean Island cruise, looks tired despite sitting next to a Kris Kringle figure near the Arctic Circle. Then there are a few items Mom collected when she traveled alone.
Still The Travel Wall reflects much. A history of adventures taken together. A marriage sharing something they both so enjoyed. Their love.
As I lay on her couch recuperating, I had the perfect view of The Travel Wall. It is a collection of twenty-five items chronicling her and my father's many travels to all seven continents. World travelers, you could call them.
Some pieces reflect artisan crafts, like the blue and brown African batik depicting giraffes eating leaves off tall trees. Five certificates hang announcing completed adventures like crossing the equator in a hot-air balloon or rounding Cape Horn. There are artifacts like a Swedish copper ladle and Bavarian cow bell and trinkets of a small leprechaun and a koala bear.
But what I enjoyed looking at the most on that wall, these past few days, were the pictures of my parents, standing side by side, around the world. Close together near a fountain with the Eiffel Tower in the background. Beaming smiles in the sun as the Great Wall continued on behind them. They loved traveling together and experiencing each country.
The photos change through Dad's declining health. He is stooped and leaning in on Mom before the Caribbean Island cruise, looks tired despite sitting next to a Kris Kringle figure near the Arctic Circle. Then there are a few items Mom collected when she traveled alone.
Still The Travel Wall reflects much. A history of adventures taken together. A marriage sharing something they both so enjoyed. Their love.
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Friday, March 1, 2013
Choice Words
Today has been a day of choice words in several ways.
My morning was spent in family conferences. Parent, student and me-the teacher, gathered around a table in our classroom. It was all about choice words.
Me describing a child's progress and behaviors, sometimes in a delicate manner. Broaching sensitive topics that had to be addressed, then crafting a plan with everyone's input. At other times, I expressed all the words and affirmations a parent desires to hear. Teachers typically speak this praise with just the right amount of acknowledgement. Enough that the positive message is heard but not so much as to be gushing about what is a classroom expectation.
My afternoon of errands and appointments each had it's own words of the setting. Health vocabulary when I met with my physician, bankers terms when moving an insurance payout to the form of a check, discussing the work done on my car at the body shop.
My evening is an anticipated joy as I type choice words and join in on another year of Two Writing Teachers March Writing Challenge. I began by leaving behind my old blog and opening this new one, choosing title words and a post. I type, delete, and type again. I frequently travel over to Dictionary.com to seek words and their synonyms.
I'm looking forward to the coming month of choice words.
My morning was spent in family conferences. Parent, student and me-the teacher, gathered around a table in our classroom. It was all about choice words.
Me describing a child's progress and behaviors, sometimes in a delicate manner. Broaching sensitive topics that had to be addressed, then crafting a plan with everyone's input. At other times, I expressed all the words and affirmations a parent desires to hear. Teachers typically speak this praise with just the right amount of acknowledgement. Enough that the positive message is heard but not so much as to be gushing about what is a classroom expectation.
My afternoon of errands and appointments each had it's own words of the setting. Health vocabulary when I met with my physician, bankers terms when moving an insurance payout to the form of a check, discussing the work done on my car at the body shop.
My evening is an anticipated joy as I type choice words and join in on another year of Two Writing Teachers March Writing Challenge. I began by leaving behind my old blog and opening this new one, choosing title words and a post. I type, delete, and type again. I frequently travel over to Dictionary.com to seek words and their synonyms.
I'm looking forward to the coming month of choice words.
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