Reflections…
I often struggle to enjoy the month of April, despite its cheery
reputation. Sure, it’s springtime; the flowers are blooming, things are getting
green again, I can start wearing fewer clothes (which equals less laundry).
Being a teacher in April is different, though. It is the loooooong month
between the glory of Spring Break and the we’ve-almost-made-it-to-the-end rush
of May. And, it is the testing month. Enough said.
However, something great happens in April, and it is something that
continues to keep it in the running as one of my favorite months. April is
poetry month!
Now, poetry did not always thrill me; I used to hate it. That was when I
was lead to believe that you needed some sort of special skill to really
understand it, not to mention write it. This is not true, though, which leaves
me to my first of several editions of What
I Love About Poetry.
Poetry is for EVERYONE
No matter your age or experience, you can find a poem for you.
Sometimes it might take a little hunting, but you will know the poem when you
find it. You may not even understand it, but it will speak to you. Then, you
can spend time reading it, over and over again. Most poems aren’t long, which
gives you the benefit of experiencing what each reading brings to the words. Poems
are written for our youngest, tiniest people. Feeling silly? Find a baby and
play this-little-piggie on her fat little toes. Poetry. Feeling gloomy? Natasha
Trethaway brings the beauty to even the saddest of moments. I typically read
poetry when I’m feeling a little tired and thoughtful. Here is the first stanza
from one of my favorites.
fromFidelity by Tom Clark
Fidelity, after
long practice, to
The things that
have crossed one’s path in life,
Moves one to find
“history” in a morning,
A moonlit night, a
transitory patch
Of sun upon grass,
the turning of a cat’s
Sleek head over
its shoulder to look back
Into one’s eyes, a
lifelong lover’s touch,
The memory of the
shy sweet sidelong
Smile of a friend
one may not see again
In “this
life”—these things define home
To one now that
one lives largely in one’s mind—
As though there
had ever been any other
Place—once born,
once having existed—
In which to
somehow locate a world
(Published in The Best American Poetry 2010)
Upcoming
professional development opportunities and district meetings…
Energize Your Earth Science Curriculum
Grades 4-5
GT Approved
May 11, June 14, July 12, or August 2
Click HERE for more information
Creating All STAAR Readers and Writers with Barry Lane & Alana
Morris
June 17 & 18
TCEA (Texas Computer Education Association) provides free webinars.
Check out their calendar:
Some
stuff I’ve been reading/studying…
Battling the Test-Prep Blues
Making Thinking Visible, by
Ron Ritchhart, Mark Church, & Karin Morrison
I’m not far, but this is a great read so far. It is separated into
three parts: Part 1-Some thinking about thinking; Part 2-Using thinking
routines to make thinking visible; Part 3-Bringing the power of visible
thinking to life. Very interesting!
TED-Education: Creative Problem Solving course in iTunes U
This is on iTunes U, which means it is FREE!!!! The course includes
seven videos, the longest of which is 27 minutes. Most of them are under 20
minutes in length.
Some
sites/apps worth exploring…
April is National Poetry Month!
Helpful sites for resources:
Common Sense Media's ON for Learning Award is given to
the very best in kids' digital media.
You can explore this year’s highest rated for learning potential apps,
games, and websites at this site. There
is also a link for a downloadable list.
This site provides helpful resources for helping kids
think about their digital footprints, or how what they do online contributes to
their identities. http://thetechnoliterate.wordpress.com/2013/03/05/digital-footprint/
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