Literacy Learning Zone

  Slice of Life is  hosted  at the  Two Writing Teachers Join in and share a slice of your life.  _____________________________________________________ The very afternoon my girls were out of school, they were already making plans. They disappeared into the playroom ... and an hour later they emerged. "Momma! Come and see what we did!" They called out. The girls transformed their playroom into a new space: a classroom for summer.  Using items "gifted" from their teachers and other handmade essentials, the girls created a learning space, including a daily schedule made of popsicle sticks and a magnetic pointer on a pipe clea...

Get ready for the 8th Annual  #cyberPD Summer Event! Check out our  #cyberPD Google+ Community  to learn more! We can't wait for YOU to join in the conversations! ________________________________________________________________ Every year in May, we ask to see your stack of PD books you can't wait to dive into over the summer, looking for just the right book to read together. This year, once again, we were blown away by your response and stacks of books! We agreed, we all need more time to read ... The book selection is important, but what makes this PD event truly successful are the amazing teachers and educators across the globe that support each other through the learning process. YOU make #cyberPD a success! Thank YOU for joining us ... whether this is your very first year, or your 8th year, or somewhere in between, we are thrilled YOU are joining in!!  The beauty of this summertime PD is you make it what you want and you do what you can ...

It's the 8th Annual #cyberPD Summer Event! Check out our #cyberPD Google+ Community to learn more! We can't wait for YOU to join in the conversations! ________________________________________________________________ I am always excited about new PD books that arrive into the world.  I usually pre-order like crazy because I want have to hold them in my hands. But time is limited during the school year between home and school. I immediately get excited when a book arrives and start reading any moment I can squeeze in some reading, but then sadly the book lies in a stack waiting. And those beautiful new books stack up with a bookmark holding the few pages that I was able to devour. And then summer arrives, where I have a little more time to read and catch up with those old friends. (I still never read as much as I want ...) But every summer I love spending time with the #cyberPD community where we read, reflect, and share our thoughts around a shared book. This ...

  Slice of Life is  hosted  at the  Two Writing Teachers Join in and share a slice of your life.  _____________________________________________________ Who can resist picking  the round  ball of perfection? Waiting and willing anyone or anything to -- * b *           * l *                          * o *     * w * Amazing how it is so beautiful and delicate, yet carries the power of unwantedness Once the beauty i s carefully plucked and a quick, forceful  * b *           * l *             ...

  Slice of Life is  hosted  at the  Two Writing Teachers Join in and share a slice of your life.  _____________________________________________________ I knew I always wanted to be a mom.  Jon and I were married almost seven years before we were blessed with our twin daughters. I remember the day vividly when I found out I was officially pregnant with twins. It was a shock at first. I remember asking, "How does that happen?" The nurse just laughed. And, in what seems like a blink, the girls are eight. Eight. Eight!  I can't even believe it. They are growing up to be amazing little people. They are sweet and caring a...

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, ...

Slice of Life is  hosted  at the  Two Writing Teachers Join in and share a slice of your life.  _____________________________________________________ Why is she hiding?  Last week she showed her glorious face  on a day of sunshine and 70s.  Then as quickly as she came,  she was gone.  And the tears of rain came  pouring down, leaving hints of  tiny, fresh buds on trees,  sprouts emerging from the wet, brown dirt  and a glimpse of renewal  of new life, of hope.  But then she turned her back those tears turned cold ice, freezing rain, sleet and...