How My Car Reveals Who I Am

This exercise in writing came from the book:Write This Way by Kelly Gallagher.

I knew when I got a job where I'd be required to spend much time in my car, that I would have to have a special car.  It would be a car that showed my personality.  It would be a car that would make me happy just to look at it.  I wanted something that just shouted: "ME!".  It had to be a car that stood out in a parking lot.  One that I could spot from the top of the Anthis entrance steps.  It needed to be a car everyone would know was mine.  A car that when sitting in the parking lot of a school, everyone driving by would say, "Oh, Kathy must be at that school today."  It would be a car that when someone found out it was mine, they would say: "It just looks like you." 

Well, I have that car and have had the same type and color for seven years.  My little, bright yellow VW beetle certainly reveals who I am!

MINILESSONS...HOW DOES THAT WORK?

Today my major work was to put together a presentation on the component of writer's workshop known as the minilesson.  This is the part of workshop that most teachers feel the most comfortable doing.  That's because it is the most like traditional teaching.  However, many times the minilesson becomes the maxilesson.  That's what I hoped to change give these teachers a clear picture of what to do with minilessons.

I will start with an overview looking at Ralph and JoAnn's book: Writing Workshop: The Essential Guide.  Going over the structure of a minilesson is necessary before anything else can take place.  I will compare this structure to our district's instructional framework.

I then plan to use a kindergarten piece of writing to have the participants look for what the student is doing well.  They will then turn and talk to their partners and decide what they might teach from this piece...what lesson could come from it.  I then will do the same thing with a piece by a third grader.

Since these teachers were instructed to bring sample student work with them, they will again work with their partners and find the strengths from the sample writing.  From there they will look for what they might teach the whole class using this piece as a sample of what they might see from an entire class. 

The last part of this professional development is writing a lesson.  I again will model how I would take one teaching point from the original sample pieces and turn it into a lesson plan.  I then will ask them to do the same with their partners.

My goal is for them to leave with a plan of action in their hands.  That's the short term goal.  My long range goal is for them to have the tools to look at the writing of their own students and understand where minilessons are born.

Write Like This

I have been reading the best book on writing.  It is written by Kelly Gallagher and I purchased it last year.  I have heard Kelly speak at one of the Summer Institutes put on by All Write!!!  I knew he was an awesome speaker and a great writer, but this book is one I'd put on my HAVE TO HAVE list!

The title is: Write Like This, Teaching Real-World Writing Through Modeling & Mentor Texts.  Right now I am only on chapter 3 because I am reading it deeply (close reading).  The thing I love the most is all the practical ideas.  It is like having a writing mentor right beside me.  The exercises are something a teacher could introduce to his/her class or a writing coach could use in a presentation.

One of my favorites from Chapter 2 was: Moving Students into Expressive and Reflective Writing.  To begin this project he begins with the six-word memoir (see http://www.smithmag.net)  Students are asked to write their memoirs in exactly six words. 

Here are a couple from the online magazine:

• All things considered, I am doing well.
• The past is forgiven, not forgotten.
• So the water's deep. Man up.

Here's one by Kelly:

• Teach, grade, travel, speak, write: tired

Here's my try at it:

• Feed Dave. Walk Dave. Great dog!
• Counting the days until I retire!

How about it, want to try?  Go for it.  Thanks, Kelly!!!

Lessons From Little Authors

Last week I had the invitation from a kindergarten teacher to stop by her room when I visited that school and see what her students had been doing with the current Unit of Study: Authors as Mentors.  I was able to work that visit in on Monday morning.

I viewed the papers in the hall.  There were stories written with punctuation using Ezra Jack Keats as their "writing teacher" for the study.  The books they had read were posted along with everything they had learned from that book.  It was amazing.  I couldn't wait to meet the little authors.

I squeezed in behind the teacher as she greeted her students that morning.  As they hung up their coats, grabbed their journals and made their way to their tables, I could see they had purpose in the routine.  When they got the journal opened, it was time for me to make my move.  I would sit beside someone getting ready to write and ask, "What are you going to write about today?"  They always knew. 

Then I met Anthony.  He already had a snowman on the top of the page with a big red scarf colored brightly.  When I asked  him about the snowman he said, "This is a perfect snowman.  Oh, wait!  I forgot the stick arms."  He quickly added the arms with his brown crayon.  Now it was time for the words.  He wasn't as sure about that part.

Anthony decided he wanted to say: "The snowman is perfect."  We worked together to form the letters and sounds using the Word Wall and the alphabet sheet.  We did a lot of thinking and approximating.  I love watching these small kiddos as the thinking process takes place.  I could sit and watch that for a long time!  And sometimes, I do!

He had all the words on the paper.  I then said, "What comes at the end?"  Anthony thought for a moment, then in his thoughtful voice said, "Either a period or exclamation mark."  He wasn't asking me which, he was thinking about it....making a decision.  He picked up his pencil and drew a line at the end of the sentence that went from that line to about three lines down.  I asked him if that was how authors made exclamation points.  He said, "She lets us do that."  

"Okay, but let's look and see what authors do."  I picked up a book he had been reading and we found a one line exclamation point.   "See."  I said.  He replied: "But she lets us do that."   I simply looked at him and he looked back at me.  I said, "Okay, it is your book."
He made the LONG exclamation point and left it....closing his book with a satisfying look.

Before I left the room, I stopped to chat with the teacher and thank her for allowing me to share her students.  I told her the story of Anthony.  She laughed and said, "Oh, yes, they are having a lot of fun with those marks.  We saw Ezra Jack Keats do that in one of his books.  They knew it was because he wanted his readers to know how important it was.  Now they want to do that, too."

Once again I went away amazed at how much children teach me about writing!!!!

RETIRE, BUT NOW WHAT?

When the time comes, you will know it.  That is what I have been told for years.  Well, I am sure it was great advice because I know it!  This will be my last year in this job.  I plan to retire in June along with my coaching buddies.  We are all leaving together.  We couldn't stay without the others. 

After 43 years, I am ready to see what else is out there.  Not sure what I will do yet, but it will be something exciting.  I will use my passion for working with great teachers, terrific kids and of course, writing!  I know God has something for me.  I just need to wait to see what it is.  As for now, I am enjoying my last few days as a district coach with the greatest school district in Indiana!

I'M BACK!!!

 It has been quite awhile since I have added to this blog.  I really have been blogging but on a different site.  If you have lost me, check out Voice of a Grandma at www.dougka01.blogspot.com  

Thought I would catch you up just a little.  First of all, our family has grown by leaps and bounds.  We now have eleven grandchildren with one more on the way this year.  Above you can see the picture of all of us at Christmas.  That is, all except Andy, who is still in Arizona.  We got to see him right before Thanksgiving, but he wasn't able to make it for our Christmas celebration.  We are going to visit him again over Spring Break.

My other news is that I finally decided that 43 years of teaching was enough.  I signed my paper of intent to retire last week.  This June will be my last.  If you know me at all, you know that I will still be busy.  Right now, I have no idea what I that future holds.  I do know that with my love for writing, my interest in curriculum and having (soon) a dozen grandchildren, I will find something to keep me busy!  Knowing my future is in God's hands is enough for me!

Below you see us with all eleven grandchildren.  God has certainly blessed us!

MERON TURNS TWO

Yesterday was Meron's second birthday. She looked adorable in her pink and white summer dress. She was excited to see all the presents coming into her house and knowing they were all for her! When it came time to blow out the candles she was ready. Her mom had made a Sesame Street cake with all her favorite characters on it. When the candles were lit, her dad asked her how old she was. She continued to examine the cake and with a small unconcerned voice she replied, "Thirteen." Her dad said, "No, not thirteen. How old are you?" Continuing to check out the characters on the cake, she answered in a disgusted voice, "TWO!" What fun!!!