Read 15 in 15 Progress

Posted on February 2, 2015 by Amy's Reflections

Have you scrolled through the #Read15in15 twitter hashtag? You can find a wide selection of book recommendations from educators across the globe. Because I tend to lose track of the books I read, I decided to capture my reads in blog updates for myself along the year. Reading on Oyster has been so much fun this year. So far in 2015 I have read:

  1. Outviews by Brandt Legg – Fun YA book if you like fantasy, dystopian society, style stories with many complicated details.
  2. Stuck in Downward Dog by Chantel Guertin – Simple, light-hearted, easy to read chic lit!
  3. Panic by Sharon Draper – From one of my all time favorite YA authors, this was a surprise. The story is meant for older teenagers, and no one younger. There are so adult-content details and scary-because-they-could-happen plots that had me cringing, but grateful someone was willing to tackle.
  4. Word After Word After Word by Patricia MacLachlan – I wrote about my love of this book as a mentor text already.

I have a million books on my “to be read” pile (whether real books or virtual!). Who knows what I will finish next.

Bookshelf

What are you reading? Any great recommendations?

 

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Mindfulness Update #1

Posted on January 30, 2015 by Amy's Reflections

My word (focus word, one little word, etc.) of 2015 is mindfulness, as I discussed here. Throughout this year I hope to reflect on my word, and my work to be more mindful in my professional and personal life.

heart tree

In January I took time to practice mindfulness in a variety of ways.

  • Mindfulness research– I have been gathering and saving a variety of resources on mindfulness, which I took time to explore this month, expanding my knowledge and understanding of this concept.
  • Mindfulness app– I have a few apps that provide guided meditations and suggestions for being more mindful, in the moment. I made a conscious effort this month to focus on my [very novice] meditation practice and to be more in the moment, especially first thing in the morning.
  • Food journaling– For my personal health, I journal all of the food that I eat. I used mindfulness to help me make the healthiest choices before eating, during eating, and after eating. I made an effort to really stop and assess whether I was hungry before eating something, as well as researching the nutritional value before shoving something in my mouth!
  • Be present in the moment– This is one of the biggest aspects of mindfulness, and something I want to work on both for personal and professional reasons. It’s amazing how much I have enjoyed sunsets as a result of forcing myself to slow down and be in the moment. I have also worked hard to stop multi-tasking during different times of day, such as when people drop by my office to chat.
  • Early evening walks– My schedule has been flexible enough lately that I have been able to get out of the office before it gets dark to meet friends for a sunset walk on a number of occasions. This is a subset of being present in the moment. It was so relaxing and enjoyable to spend quality time with a friend (different friends on different days!), admiring nature and our beautiful city, while catching up. Not only did I get in lots of steps on these days, but I felt so much more relaxed by the time I got home.

sunset lake murrayThis coaster, at a hotel conference room, was a nice mindfulness reminder as well!

think relax

 

  • What is your focus, your one little word, for 2015?
  • How did your word manifest itself in January?
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[Mentor Text Monday] Word After Word After Word

Posted on January 26, 2015 by Amy's Reflections

For the last few months I have watched teachers and leaders truly see the value in mentor texts. Until you are exposed to the purpose and value of mentor texts, the phrase has no meaning. Once you have that a-ha moment, everything changes.

This year, I found the hashtag #Read15in15, where educators are committed to reading 15 books in 2015 and sharing their recommendations with others. I also stumbled upon (somewhere else, though I can’t remember where!) the book Word After Word After Word by Patricia MacLachlan. When I read about the book, it was recommended as a great book to start Writing Workshop in a classroom, with upper elementary students. What I found was so much more.

word after word after word

It wasn’t until I finished this beautiful story that I read about why MacLachlan wrote this book. She explains that after being asked to write about her writing process, rather than tell the same old stories, she turned her school presentations into a narrative for students.

Some of the language used was so poetic and engaging for me as a reader (and a writer!). Here are a few of my favorite lines:

“You have a story in there, Lucy,” she said, touching my head.  “Or a character, a place, a poem, a moment in time. When you find it, you will write it. Word after word after word,” she whispered.

“Some words may make you happy, some may make you sad.  Maybe some will make you angry. What I hope… is that something will whisper in your ear.”

In addition to celebrating the figurative language used throughout the story, there were a few pivotal moments that called out to me for use as a mentor text in a writer’s workshop with young writers.

Too many verys

There is a scene in Chapter 5 where a character is upset about her parents adopting a new baby. She says, “My very, very, very dumb mother is going to adopt a very, very dumb baby.” Her friend says,”Too many verys”, to which she replies, “There can never be too many verys about this”. This immediately made me want to ask students to write a scene that was so great, so bad, so important,  or so meaningful to them, that there could never be too many verys.

I also thought about how in some ways this sounds very childish, but I could quickly come up with my situation where there could never be too many verys. What would yours be?

I miss my mother very, very, very much. No matter how much time passes, or how there is more happiness than sadness in the memories, I will always miss my best friend very, very much.

 Words Are

The teacher in this story shares the power of words throughout the book, while inspiring her students to see themselves as writers. Near the end of the story each student is asked to write a piece about words. Words are…  Such a simple prompt but requires so much thoughtful attention by the writer. I would use this individual scene, with the students’ sample poems, as mentor texts for my students to try on their own. Here is my attempt.

Words Are…

Strong and soft

Hardy and fleeting

Floating in the air between us

Filling up the space around the noises

Comforting and disarming

Truth and lies

Real and unreal

Permanent yet forgivable.

 

  • Have you read the beautiful Word After Word After Word?
  • How would you use it as a mentor text?
  • What other mentor texts have floated into your writer’s workshop lately?
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What I’m Reading (Volume 6)

Posted on January 21, 2015 by Amy's Reflections

Every so often I do a round-up of what I’m reading. Volume 4 was all about twitter and pinterest! Volume 5 brought back some real book reading and this volume I’m digging back into some books for some purposeful rereading.

  • The Principal: Three Keys to Maximizing Impact by Michael Fullan– I was hooked into this book from the first sentence of the preface, which used the word monograph. I just learned what a monograph was last month when listening to Dr. Norman Webb speak. This book is a great resource for any one who supports principals, anyone who is a principal or who aspires to be a principal and instructional leader. I wrote about it in my last update and since I’m still reading it, I’m including it again! Here is what you need to know:

The heart of this book is to reposition the role of the principal as overall instructional leader so that it maximize the learning of all teachers and in turn of all students (p. 6).

  •  Comprehension & Collaboration: Inquiry Circles in Action by Stephanie Harvey & Harvey Daniels–  We have been using this as a resource with our Studio Classroom teachers in my district. With the support of Stephanie Harvey and one of her fabulous consultants, Courtney, these teachers facilitated an inquiry process with their students (1st-6th graders). It was such an incredible experience we are replicating it this semester with even more teachers. My favorite quote from a teacher during the process:

I didn’t know my students could do/ say/write so much.  This is amazing!

One of my favorite lines from the book:

This book is about empowering students to find out: to get answers to important questions about school subject matter, and to questions kids have posed for themselves.

  •  Outview by Brandt Legg – This YA novel/ series was a recommendation, and the first book I read using my Oyster subscription. This definitely falls in the dystopian society sub-genre. I enjoyed the narrative and the story told from the young boy’s point of view. I also enjoyed that the author is active on Twitter and interacted with me, curious if I enjoyed the book (which I did!). A fun quote that, if you read the book, makes a lot of sense, is:

But my mind was churning with the conspiracy that had taken over my entire existence.

 

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Abundance Mentality

Posted on January 20, 2015 by Amy's Reflections

What is an abundance mentality? I first read about it in Leading Every Day: 124 Actions for Effective Leadership by Joyce Kaser, Susan Mundry, Katherine E. Stiles, and Susan Loucks-Horsley.

“To engage in synergistic partnership requires that both parties value sharing their resources toward the greater good.” (P. 60)

I like the concept of an abundance mentality and the belief that “there is more than enough to go around”. I think many people feel there isn’t enough to go around, which creates competition instead of collaboration.

CCC licensed imagine by flickr user

CCC licensed imagine by flickr user

If students and teachers were coached to consider learning through the lens of an abundance mentality, there would be so many more natural opportunities to share, to collaborate, to integrate ideas together. If we harness the power of this belief system and link it to that of a growth mindset (work by Carol Dweck), imagine the potential!

How can you coach and lead your students and/or teachers to view learning from an abundance mentality?

 

 

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Engaging the Unconnected

Posted on January 15, 2015 by Amy's Reflections

Over the last two years, I have read many blog posts, articles, and even some rants about unconnected educators. Why won’t they use social media? Don’t they know the benefits of being a connected learner?

I’ve seen Twitter debates about whether being connected can or should be equated with being better (more skilled, more of a learner, more of a growth mindset) than other educators. I have disagreed with some of this, but I have also participated in Connected Educator’s month and supported the movement to get more educators collaborating through social media. I support this effort because I have found a true, authentic purpose for my own professional learning through Twitter.

connected educators pic

I have found that the best way to connect the unconnected is to engage them in social media purposefully. I am proud to say that I have helped a number of colleagues connect through Twitter, both at work and through my work at San Diego State University, with administrative credential candidates. What was successful was:

  • Set up a safe space
  • Model the use and purpose of the tool (in my case, Twitter)
  • Provide support and 1:1 coaching as individuals try out the tool
  • Offer encouragement (including responding to all tweets, publicly praising people, acknowledging the efforts)
  • Create smaller communities to ease them in to a larger PLN (district hashtags and/or lists)
  • Foster a growth mindset, as this is a learning journey for us all!
  • Follow up – I tweet in front of work colleagues to continue to model the use of Twitter. I build in time for Twitter chats during collaboratives. I use more formal measures of accountability through university class assignments. I offer open lab sessions for Twitter tutorials. I share resources I’ve found on Twitter through other means with colleagues. I tweet directly to colleagues when I find relevant resources to share.
  • Expand the world view of others through the use of social media. People need to find their own purpose, but they sometimes need to know what is possible.
  • Use social media to celebrate successes, share resources, and challenge others to step outside of their comfort zone.
  • Have fun!

I believe that people (whether young students or adult learners) will live up to your expectations. When you raise expectations, people rise to the challenge, and then will often surprise you by going even farther above and beyond. I am proud of my colleagues and my students who have stepped out of their comfort zone and have tried Twitter.

How are you or will you engage an unconnected educator in social media?

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The Reader in Me

Posted on January 13, 2015 by Amy's Reflections

I was recently inspired by Franki Sibberson to write 100 Things about Me as a Reader. This was an idea she shared in Scholastic’s book Open a World of Possible, which I wrote about in my last Things I’m Loving Friday post. Like Franki, I don’t know that I will reach 100, but I’m going to get my list started…

CCC licensed work by flickr user CollegeDegree360

CCC licensed work by flickr user CollegeDegree360

  1. I have been an avid reader since I was a young child.
  2. As a child I read all of The Babysitter’s Club books and was awe-struck when I got to meet the author, Ann M. Martin.
  3. I met Ann M. Martin because my father worked for Scholastic and I got to go to work with him!
  4. Because my father worked for Scholastic I was never without my share of books as a child or as a teacher.
  5. As a child I also read Nancy Drew books, because my mother had loved them when she was a young reader.
  6. I prefer to read fiction.
  7. My favorite genres to read for fun are mystery and romance.
  8. The longer I am in education, the more I have grown to enjoy reading professional books about education.
  9. In my doctoral program, I did not love reading research.
  10. Anne of Green Gables was one of my favorite books as a child.
  11. Just a Summer Romance, by my favorite author Ann M. Martin (see #3 & 4!), was another favorite, that I’ve easily read over 10 times!
  12. The more I read, the more I want to be a writer, especially of Young Adolescent novels.
  13. As a teacher, I found a love for reading YA. Not only can you get through them quickly, but it’s so much fun to discuss books with your students!
  14. I have read all of the Harry Potter books multiple times.
  15. There are a few books that I will read over and over again. I often reread Skipping Christmas by John Grisham every holiday season. The book is SO much better than the movie (as most are!). I could read Love That Dog every week. 2013-08-15 11.58.27
  16. I enjoy series books (Harry Potter, Hunger Games, Boxcar Children, Little House, Jack Reacher, etc.) and understand why that is a great way to get young readers started and hooked!
  17. In high school, I HATED reading. I “fake read”, read Cliffs’ Notes versions, or merely skimmed most of my required reading.
  18. I read very fast. Like I talk.
  19. I have participated in a variety of Book Clubs, both in person and online.
  20. I like to read on my ipad.
  21. I also like to read real books in my hands!
  22. I discovered a love for picture books as a teacher- for reading and writing instruction.
  23. I wrote a draft of a book that I was hoping would turn into a picture book.
  24. When authors spend too much time describing things, especially furniture and other indoor setting elements, I skip it!
  25. I used to hate listening to books on tape.
  26. Now I enjoy listening to YA books or books written and read by celebrities while I drive to work.
  27. I do not enjoy seeing most of the books I’ve read turned into movies (see #15!).
  28. I need to either really love or really hate a character to get into a book and love it.
  29. I love reading a book recommended by a good friend.
  30. I hate telling said friend if I didn’t enjoy the book the way he/she did.Exhaustion
  31. I love everything written by Sharon Creech (see #15!).
  32. And Sharon Draper.
  33. I used A Sudden Silence by Eve Bunting to hook my middle school students into enjoying reading at the beginning of every new school year.
  34. I give books as baby shower gifts, because every child deserves their own books.
  35. I donate to Project Night Night every year because not only do they help homeless children, but they provide a book in each care package.
  36. The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg is one of my favorite picture books.
  37. I love to read blog posts.
  38. I do not love to read emails.
  39. I sometimes love to read tweets.
  40. I love discovering a new author and then devouring all of his/her work, in chronological order.
  41. This year, for Christmas, I gave everyone on my staff a picture book I picked out specifically for them.
  42. In middle and high school I was obsessed with Stephen King (and Danielle Steele!).
  43. I have a pile of books I’d like to read in my house, in my office, and on my e-reader.
  44. I exchange gift cards to buy books with many friends and family members- I love being surrounded by readers!
  45. Once I became a reading teacher, I found value in writing thoughts in my books as I read and now do it all the time. I love marginalia!
  46. One of my favorite reading memories centers around the week I spent in NYC attending the Teachers’ College Reading Workshop with my partner teacher and good friend.
  47. I hate to throw away magazines and professional journals, even after I’ve read them. I save them thinking I will remember to try the great ideas inside (which rarely happens!).
  48. My father, brother, and I have had a tradition of reading The Polar Express every Christmas Eve since that beautiful book was first published.

I will continue to brainstorm for this list.  It was such fun to get this much captured!

Please play along in the comments with some facts about you as a reader!

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Things I’m Loving Friday, Volume 11

Posted on January 9, 2015 by Amy's Reflections

This week I want to highlight some fun with reading!

  •  Oyster– Have you heard of this? I read about this from another blogger I follow and ended up really enjoying the concept. Oyster is an online e-book service. You pay a monthly fee and get unlimited access to the e-books available. I signed myself up for a free trial, ended up buying subscriptions for Christmas and birthday presents for friends and family, and have kept my own account. I quickly filled up my “library” with books I wanted to read and knew that one month wouldn’t be enough. If you are an avid reader (like I once was and will be again once I finish my dissertation!), this is a great app and well worth the monthly fee!Oyster pic
  • Open a World of Possibilities: Real Stories about the Joy and Power of Reading– This book is edited by Lois Bridges and published by Scholastic. I was given a copy of this book by one of the many amazing contributors, Stephanie Harvey. She said in her note to me, “The book is not available for sale, but is part of a larger initiative on the importance of independent reading in and out of school.” You can read more about it here on Scholastic’s site. What I love about this is that it opens up the discussion about reading- the joy of reading, instilling a love of reading in students. I could talk about books forever! I would love to see more books in the hands of our students, each and every day, both in school and at home. There are some great resources available on the site. I encourage you to visit to learn more.

 

What are you reading these days?

What are you excited about in this new year?

 

 

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Word Cloud Fun

Posted on January 6, 2015 by Amy's Reflections

Way back last year, I read this blog post by Tia Henriksen, where she created a word cloud from her blog posts. I made a note in my “future blog ideas” file to borrow her idea for myself. Then I went about my life for a few more months. Today I read this blog review by Jessica Johnson, where she mentioned Tia’s blog and created her own word cloud, and I was reminded of this great idea! So without further ado, here is a word cloud based on my blog posts:

Blog word cloud 2014

 

As I look at this, I LOVE that reflections, learning, questions, and students stand out to me, as the larger the word, the more often I used it in my blog posts. I also see Twitter, leadership and leaders. I feel proud that the focus of my blog is evident in this summary- I use this blog to reflect on leading and learning. I hope to continue this work in the new year.

What would your word cloud look like?

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Wrapping up 2014

Posted on December 31, 2014 by Amy's Reflections

As I mentioned in my December reflections post, I participated in a photo reflection challenge created by Susannah Conway. Throughout this photo challenge, Susannah has become my reflection hero! She shared a mini journal, Unravelling the Year Ahead 2015, as a reflection tool on her blog. I met a friend at a local coffee shop for a relaxing Saturday afternoon of chatting, reflecting, and journaling, all to wrap up 2014 and prepare to unwrap 2015.

Part of the journal helps you select a word of the year. I’ve never selected a focus word before, so following Conway’s journal prompts was very helpful. Not only do you explore the successes and challenges of 2014, but you honor those who supported you (my supportive friends, family and work friends know who they are!) and those from whom you don’t get the support you need.

Some of my favorite prompts:

  • What did you discover about yourself in 2014?
  • When did fear hold you back?
  • When did you practice bravery?
  • List 3 challenges you had this year.
  • If you lived and breathed your new word every day in 2015, what would be different for you?

After much writing and reflection, I selected mindfulness as my word for 2015.

mindfulnessI’m looking forward to 2015 and a renewed focus on my mental and physical health. I wish you all a happy and healthy new year!

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