Literacy Learning Zone

PEACE More than two-thirds through this year (thank God!) ... And as I was walking the other day, I started reflecting on my one little word for the year:  PEACE. We were vacationing in the beautiful state of New Hampshire as the new year began. I was enjoying some precious alone time riding up to the top of the green run at Crotched Mountain. (All the others were aiming for higher elevations.) Through the repeated quiet rides up, enjoying the crisp winter beauty, PEACE called to me. I wanted PEACE this year. I needed, required, desperately craved PEACE -- to slow my pace of life and enjoy some quiet, down time. And then take time to treasure these moments. Image Credit: @PositivelyPresent Well. Did God ever provide me with the biggest opportunity of PEACE , or what?!? Yes, there were many moments of chaos and stress, but I still held tightly to PEACE in my heart and in my home. The gift that we were given to be together for over two months as a family of four. To focus on PEAC...

    It's the 8th Annual  #cyberPD Summer Event! Join in our  #cyberPD Google+ Community  to participate! We want YOU to join in the conversations! This July we are reading and learning together around the new title from Sara Ahmed  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * My Thoughts and Reflections "... we will give ourselves permission to create learning conditions where kids can ask the question they want to ask, muddle through how to say the things they are thinking, and have tough conversations. We will be proactive in this pursuit. Truthfully, we will not have all the answers. No one does ."  (Ahmed, p.xxii) An Introduction to  Social Comprehension and Strategies to Prepare You for the Work Ahead :  Takeaways:  This introduction was packed...

Slice of Life is  hosted  at the  Two Writing Teachers Join in and share a slice of your life.  _____________________________________________________ Every night for years, my almost (in ONE week) eight year old daughters and I snuggle up in our big bed before bedtime and read. Some days, it's picture books from our library. Or new books from a Scholastic book order. Or even books the girls checked out from their school library. Or an old favorite we have read and read and read again.  The book selections and options are endless and always growing. Bedtime reading is one of my favorite moments of my day. Over the last year, ...

__________________________________________________ The March Slice of Life Story Challenge hosted  at the  Two Writing Teachers . Join us for a month of writing! __________________________________________________ I open my laptop. And I sigh. It's the last day of March and I think about what to write. There are no stories worthy of the "last slice," but today I share some thoughts at the end of this journey ... This year the challenge was different. It was easier for me to write my slices of life -- about my every day, ordinary, small moments of life.  I wrote mostly about my girls. I wrote to capture memories that I knew I would soon forget. I wrote to share those stories with them. In the past, I thought I never wrote for the comments. I thought I wrote for myself and the comments just came. I thought this was...

__________________________________________________ The March Slice of Life Story Challenge hosted  at the  Two Writing Teachers . Join us for a month of writing! __________________________________________________ Be the light the one who comforts encourages shows kindness When we feel that little nudge -- to send a text make that call When we hear the whispers -- to say a prayer buy a little gift Do so without embarrassment fear, worry judgement For it can give the greatest gift of hope, strength and love Little nudges can make a BIG impact -- and you may never know the depths But sometimes you may learn about the power of your generosity I believe those nudges, those whispers are God's way of connecting us And, in time, the gift of hope, stren...

Slice of Life is  hosted  at the  Two Writing Teachers Join in and share a slice of your life.  _____________________________________________________ I've become comfortable with this pattern of writing the last couple years. My slice of life writing slows and eventually stops as the school year is in full swing and the holidays arrive. Then January rolls around and I feel that I'm missing out. I'm not recording my stories and I'm missing your stories. But I have enjoyed this time away. For the last two weeks, it's been all about family. Family time. Making memories. Busy living. And not living busy. Just being in the moment....

Slice of Life is  hosted  at the  Two Writing Teachers Join in and share a slice of your life.  _____________________________________________________ Last night as I sat watching my girls tumble at gymnastics, I picked up my pen and notebook. I started with these words: What to write? And this is what spilled on the page ... straight from my heart. What to write ... I wonder, think, ponder. My words are hard to find today. There are many celebrations and joys to share, but the darkness of frustration and loneliness hide them temporarily. What to write? I question, grumble, sigh. My words are bubbling to the surface...

We have teamed up with yet another fabulous author  and PD book for #cyberPD!  This July we are reading and learning together around  Vicki Vinton's newest title:  Dynamic Teaching for Deeper Reading: Shifting to a Problem-Based Approach .  Join in the conversation in our   #cyberPD Google Community ! *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * My Thoughts and Reflections I'm finally here and ready to join in the conversations around  Dynamic Teaching for Deeper Reading: Shifting to a Problem-Based Approach ! Family time, vacation, and several district workshops took precedence at the beginning of July. I read the chapters prior to vacation, but never had the time to bring all my thoughts together in one place. I'll finally be able to read other responses too and learn alongside all of you! I...