Literacy Learning Zone

____________________________________________________ After reading Kathleen's post entitled Should Educators Be Writers? multiple times, I knew that I had to share it with my colleagues full well knowing that it may make many teachers ... well, uncomfortable.   It is scary to put yourself out there. To put your words to the page. To hit the orange publish button. Without regret.  Or fear.  Actually living that writing life.  I know.  I have been there.  I'm still living it now. I composed the following email today to share in the joy of being a teacher-writer and walking the walk that we expect our students to walk.  We want our students to be brave and grow as writers -- and we need to do the same right beside them. Don't get me wrong ... I was nervous pressing that send button.  I read over the email once.  Del...

When Twitter is a-buzzing and I'm browsing, some days there are just too many blogs, articles, websites, etc. to check out and read thoroughly in one sitting.  So, I always have an open virtual "sticky note" on my desktop, where I drag and drop the web address to read at another time. I had about ten sticky notes each full with at least 10, 15, or even 20 items to revisit.  Now that summer is here and I'm on vacation at my parent's house (where in the evenings there is only time for me because I'm not home thinking about everything on my to-do list), I have a little time to go back, read, reread and share. I stumbled upon this poem from Kate Messner that I wanted to capture and remember. Enjoy this excerpt of a found poem reminding us why we need to write and why I am so thankful for all who write books, illustrate books, and take part in any of the process of making books!  Oh, and thank you Kate Messner for this treasure! What Happened to Your Boo...

As if I have time for one more thing . . .  Oh, wait.   Kate, what did you say?   I have to MAKE time? I'm jumping in fingers-to-the-keyboard first. Tap tap tap. Click click click. Delete. Sure I write a little here and a little there.  I write on Tuesdays -- actually, it's Monday -- but I post my Tuesday Slice of Life at the Two Writing Teachers .  I write my four little lines about my day in my 10 year journal . But do I write ?  I mean really write . Like Ka te Messner write ? Or Gae Polisner write ? I'm going to try.   Maybe there is more to say deep inside those fast typing fingers.   I'm joining literally hundreds of teachers and librarians in an online writing camp to experience the life of a writer.  The ups and the downs. The fast and furious clicking and the silence.  All in hopes to turn around and understand our beginning writers that we encourage to write every day.   My first assignment: ...