I have moved!  Please stop by and visit and spend some time with me at my new site…still Treasure Chest of Thoughts.

See you there!

This past year, I agreed to chair the Publications Committee for the Arkansas Reading Association.  While a learn

ing process, creating this document was interesting, as I met new people, both face-to-face and via email, both in-state and out-of-state.

As I began the process, feeling like I was begging (!), I emailed three scheduled spe
akers for this year’s fall conference and was so pleased when all three agreed to either write something for The Reader or to grant permission for something already published.

May I introduce these authors to you?

• Ruth Culham:  Such a cute website and loads of resources.  Culham, author The Writing Thief and known for her work with the writing traits, blogs here.
• Maria Walther:  A teacher of first graders, an author of several publications, a National Board Certified Teacher, one who has earned her doctorate, she “does it all” because the previous list makes her who she is.
• Stephanie Shaw:  A contributor to several publications, author Stephanie Shaw has penned several children’s book, with her latest being released in April.

For the most part, probably 95% of the publication’s process was completed online…emailing authors and committee and publication company.  Don’t you just love technology?

During a time when so much negativity abounds within our world (ISSIS, debt, shootings…), focusing on the positive might take a leap of faith.  Would you join me for some “leaps“…

• This past week or so, two of our teachers experienced losses within their families.  When I asked who might want to donate so we could take meals to these families, the money poured in…in two days, nearly $500 flooded the envelopes for each.  This speaks to two topics: 1) how well-respected these ladies are and 2) the huge hearts of our work family.  Just a feel-good moment, isn’t it?
• Began a Word-of-the Week since we returned from Christmas Break, focusing much more now on actually mastering a new word.  So far, we have learned harbinger and prodigious.  I chose these words based on what I am reading during each week.  As I come across a word that I have noted before, that one says, “Choose me for this week’s word.”   As of now, our word for week three is vicarious…still have a few hours of reading ahead me, so that might change!
• We hosted our first Socratic Circle of the year.  A huge success!  As one young man stated, “Why don’t we do these every day?”  Indeed.  Upon reflecting, I pushed them to produce too much evidence from the two assigned articles.  I had told them that comments must be based on evidence to receive credit, so they worked hard to fulfill that goal, to the point, though, that much of the “discussion” was simply reading quotes.  I will now go back to Matt Copeland’s book Socratic Circles:  Fostering Critical and Creative Thinking and review some for myself, for I, too, am still mastering this method. An excellent resource, this book is.
• Our thematic topic on gender roles kicked off to a tremendous start.  Yes, they each have input on this one!  Note to self:  I do need to move this unit to the second nine-week grading term, for during the third nine-weeks  we have fewer interruptions, as long as the weather cooperates (supposed to be near 60 today…wow!), for reading Macbeth.
• On the topic of gender, I found this article to use as we pay tribute to MLK within our classes on Monday/Tuesday.  An interesting read, one in which I found our next Word-of-the Week.
• Our senior high school girls’ basketball team, for whom my niece plays, is 3:0 in conference.  I know…that has little to do with my classes, but considering their record since I began teaching in this district, quite a leap has occurred…and I have family member playing a team, a first for me!  Go, Pioneers!

I hope 2015 produces many “leaps” for you!  Please share one…or two!

We are still having fun in English 12.  This week was Red Ribbon Week, so I offered the prize money to a class if they would help decorate my door for the annual Door Decorating Contest.  Good news!  We won second.  No prize money, though…but I did share my bag of candy goodies with them.  “Owl” always remember them fondly!

For three Friday’s now, one class has written similes for that night’s football game, and so far, they have all come to pass.  You know how it is….once you do something, then you can’t stop, for it might cause them to lose!

1. Running like the wind, the Pioneers will win against Wynne.
2. Beating like Spartans’ hearts with their war drums, the Pioneers will beat Blytheville at Friday’s game.
3. Souring like an eagle and then stalking its prey, the Pioneers will devour GCT.

Secretly, hidden within this challenge?  The mastery of participial phrases and the creation of similes.  Sneaky, right?  AND maybe, just maybe?  Those similes are just very powerful!

Now, the true fun begins….hooking them onto the plotline of Macbeth and retaining that interest throughout our reading this drama.  Began that process, as we watched the first two witches’ scenes in honor of the Halloween weekend.  Perfect timing.

Now to grade their latest essays and to, hopefully, share back with them some “fun” grades!