Literacy Learning Zone

The Slice of Life is hosted  at the  Two Writing Teachers Join in and share a slice of your life.  _____________________________________________________ I have not had the time or space to fully reflect upon my learning experiences at ILA in St. Louis. Except that it was invigorating to be constantly surrounded by and connecting with ... Passionate educators who care so deeply about students, reading, and thinking  Teacher leaders in literacy education that I listened to very carefully to breathe in every word and the opportunity to meet some of them, even if to briefly chat Amazing authors trying to reach children and adults of all ages with the power of story throu

This summer a  really BIG! group of educators   are reading and learning together online.  I am participating and co-hosting this year's #cyberPD event about digital reading and creating digital readers in our classrooms  with  Cathy Mere  and  Laura Komos .  Don't forget! Next Tuesday, July 28th @ 7 pm CST, we will be participating in a #cyberPD Twitter chat with authors   Franki Sibberson   and   Bill Bass . Digital Reading: What's Essential in Grades 3-8  by William L. Bass II and Franki Sibberson Paperback or ebook can be purchased from NCTE *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * My Thoughts and Reflections Chapter 6: Assessment: Keeping Our Eye on the Literacy "Assessment needs to be the vehicle that moves us beyond defining our readers as a number.  Assessment should not be about defining a reader but about piecing together information to help us design classroom expe

This summer a  really BIG! group of educators   are reading and learning together online.  I am participating and co-hosting this year's #cyberPD event about digital reading and creating digital readers in our classrooms  with  Cathy Mere  and  Laura Komos .  Please join us as we read and discuss online: Digital Reading: What's Essential in Grades 3-8  by William L. Bass II and Franki Sibberson Paperback or ebook can be purchased from NCTE *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * My Thoughts and Reflections Image created with Canva The middle three chapters are the heart of this book, focusing on what really matters:   Authenticity, Intentionality, and Connectedness There is so much I could write about for each chapter.  My book is full of notes, highlights, questions, connections, and many a-ha's.  After reading the variety of reflections from last week, I decided to try to narrow my focu

The Slice of Life is hosted  at the  Two Writing Teachers Join in and share a slice of your life.  _____________________________________________________ As a teacher, of course, I enjoy my summers.  It's not the three months that most people think it is. (But you already know that.)  It is still plenty of time to be missing the kids like crazy, but I'm currently not missing the busy schedule and daily stresses of wanting to do more and be better in the classroom and also at home.  Summer is a time when I can breathe (my one little word ) and do so much more -- always thinking about getting ready for a fresh new year of possibility.    I'm enjoying my long days with my five year old daughters.  I'm able to squeeze in a lit

The Slice of Life is hosted  at the  Two Writing Teachers Join in and share a slice of your life.  _____________________________________________________ Sometimes I envision my summer of working only one full time job as freeing.   I envision my summer full of long days of reading, basking in the sunshine with a book, gifted with uninterrupted time in another world, sneaking in reading during breakfast and lunch and in between, finishing a book a day, reading and reading and reading only to read some more ... Instead my true summer quickly reminds me that being a full time mom is full time. My true summer includes making multiple meals a day, doing the dishes multiple times a day, starting another load of laundry, picking up toys,

This summer a really BIG! group of educators are reading and learning together online.  I am participating and co-hosting this year's #cyberPD event about digital reading and creating digital readers in our classrooms  with  Cathy Mere  and  Laura Komos .  Please join us as we read and discuss online: Digital Reading: What's Essential in Grades 3-8  by William L. Bass II and Franki Sibberson Paperback or ebook can be purchased from NCTE *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * My Thoughts and Reflections/ Implications in My Classroom I always think about my reading with three different visions:  What does this mean for my developing readers receiving small group interventions?  What does this mean for all students in my school? What does this mean for my own daughters who will be starting kindergarten this fall?  So much to think about, but always worth stretching my thinking to do what is