tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21867893305274712222024-03-13T00:07:00.782-04:00Learning on the EdgeSarah Parker reflects about learning, reading and writing.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18127634147011277462noreply@blogger.comBlogger170125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186789330527471222.post-82978296525507971942015-06-23T18:31:00.000-04:002015-06-23T18:31:04.842-04:00Moving to Wordpress, Sorry BlogspotI am moving my writing to Wordpress. The new site will be <a href="http://wonderingontheedge.wordpress.com/">wonderingontheedge.wordpress.com</a>. I look forward to sharing my writing with you there!Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18127634147011277462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186789330527471222.post-88723993105123218032015-04-15T19:01:00.001-04:002015-04-23T20:01:12.691-04:00The K-2 Presentation Template: Transforming the Classroom with
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: large;"> As teachers, we are encouraged to engage in “best practice” on a daily basis with our students. Our professional development often includes rationale to support new initiatives with “best practice” for students in mind. But, what about employing “best practice” approaches to learning with teachers in professional development? Integrating technology into education is not as simple as implementing a new program or learning strategy. It changes the game entirely. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Teachers often see results of technology integration and are expected to replicate these fabulous learning experiences without enough support for their own learning. Teachers love to know the details of how things work. They are the curators of learning management. In order to do this teachers, like students need a certain amount of context to understand the value of technology integration. Time is of the essence in all classrooms. However, the K-2 classroom presents even more dynamics of urgency for teachers. Large amounts of planning is being spent preparing the environment, and helping students manage behaviors, than in other age groups grades 3-12. When K-2 teachers are asked to implement and integrate technology into their classroom learning lives, they need to see it. Teachers appreciate the real classroom examples where the kids are being kids. Teachers also appreciate the candor of others who share their struggles across the journey. It is my hope to make my learning journey more transparent for K-2 teachers so that they will be able to adjust their teaching and learning environments in small ways with big results for engagement, student centered learning. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Greeting Slides for the Low Tech Crowd</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Fifteen years ago I would have had strong opinions against using a slides presentation with five and six year olds. It sounds cold. When I am sharing a favorite read with my students, I like to be close to them. They are gathered on the carpet wrapped around me. It is intimate and personal. As soon as teachers see a screen in front of the classroom, it starts to lose the warm elementary feel. The screen often separates the teacher more from the students. It’s important as curators of learning we fight to maintain that gentle and close relationship with our little ones. But, as teachers we have the privilege to enter their digital filled lives and adjust some of their thinking about how to create a conversation including technological tools in learning. Get out your tools and lower that screen so students can see it from the carpet without craning their necks. I started by making a slide to greet my students at the beginning of the day. First it replaced the list of things to do on the board. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> <span style="font-size: large;"> Then, I started changing it to fit some calendar objectives.</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">So, in the beginning, yes, it was a thousand dollar pencil.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">But, you do what you know.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Teachers need to be reminded there’s nothing wrong with that.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">The Morning Message encouraged by the people over at the <a href="https://www.responsiveclassroom.org/blog/weekly-plan-morning-messages">Responsive Classroom</a> continues to be a meaningful way to start the day with early readers.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Color coding high frequency words and using a “Dear Students” format is how I started the year on chart paper.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Moderate technology Teacher Learners</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Expanding the slides throughout the day may sound as simple as using an interactive schedule. We all know how much teachers love checklists. Each slide can have an objective for the lesson or “I can statement.” If your district requires certain learning objectives posted. This is an easy way to do that. Multiple slides might look like this:</span><br>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Teacher with Advanced Technology Wisdom</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">For my math lesson last week, I linked a screencast in my math slide to help my students hear a lesson I had previously taught by a different teacher. I saw they struggled with the work and needed reteaching. </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">I’m not suggesting these screencasts be the primary </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">delivery method for lessons.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Using Educreations, or Quicktime and posting through Vimeo could be another way to make screencasts to link into the daily template.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span>Photos of students engaged in the objective can be added. Students can then talk from these images to the group, explaining their thinking during the task. Linking photos of student examples with other mentor examples, video, text, audio, can be powerful. </span><br>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">The Key to Student Engagement is Representing the Student's Ideas and Thinking </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here is slide with students' questions after an open ended research session. Students had problems. We talked about how problems are a very common part of the research process. I recorded their problems so we could come back to them the next day. Not only did I have plans for the next day, they were directly connected to what the students wanted to learn about. The plans were made specifically to answer the questions and problems pertaining to their own learning. There were also kids teaching other kids.</span><br>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Together, the students and the teacher create the most relevant learning community. Through technology, the learning can transform content and process in a more organic way. The content and process can then be shared with a wider audience. Parents and other students in the school can celebrate the learning. </span></div>
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Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18127634147011277462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186789330527471222.post-49835118867474689742014-08-05T11:12:00.001-04:002014-08-08T21:43:55.673-04:00New (School) Year Resolutions: August is a teacher's January<div><br></div><div><br></div><div><b>Setting Goals with Intention: Students First</b><br><div>Before Labor Day weekend, I get to see their faces. Those smiles, still in sundresses and flip flops. They are the little people who will fill my world with wonder for the next two years. Putting students first continues to be the most important priority for teachers. All our intentions and motivations at the beginning of the school year need to be about developing a relationship with each child. Getting photos of each child with their favorite book is a task I hope to complete at Open House.</div></div><div> </div><div><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Eating an Elephant One Bite at a Time: Mapping Out the Year </b></div><div>There are so many decisions to make. So many teachers online are sharing back to school routines. These are critical for promoting independence and collaboration in the classroom. But, I feel an urgency to get the long term planning and goal setting out of my head and onto some kind of document. Otherwise, my head is going to <i>EXPLODE! </i>Hopefully, I can sit down with several of my colleagues so we can pool our thoughts to focus on the essentials across the year. Since I am trying to use Evernote this year, I am wondering if I could take a screen shot of a calendar, import it into Skitch, add notes as needed throughout the year. There are so many ideas and visions swimming around in my head. I need to remember to build in a gradual release model in my planning for everything.</div><div><br></div><div><b>Integration of Content: the Old and the New</b></div><div>Its always helpful to look over the curriculum with fresh eyes. Of course routines are going to take first priority. There are artful ways to do this well. What have I done in the past, and how can my students explore the content and processes in new and exciting ways? I'm excited about creating an email "turn in bin." Creating an email for my class to use to send all digital assignments is a practice Kristin Ziemke introduced to me at a Reading Workshop. This and many other tips can be found in the book she coauthored with Stephanie Harvey, Anne Goudvis, and Katie Muhtaris, <i>Connecting Comprehension and Technology </i><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><i>http://www.heinemann.com/products/E04703.aspx </i></span></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>New Year's Resolutions: August is a teacher's January</b></div><div>Each summer I spend my August longing for a magic recipe to mix the lovely pace of summer with the insanity of a productive school year. Keeping up on posts on my blog goes well for September. But, all of a sudden its March and I am madly blogging with the Two Writing Teachers for the Daily Slice of Life Challenge.<font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><b> </b>Instead of blogging for myself this year, I'm going to try blogging with my students. Hopefully, first graders can see the power of writing for an audience starting with their parents. Next, we will try and communicate with authors and illustrators. Or, maybe we can even try and correspond through questions to experts. It's another school year. I'm fresh and ready to learn right along side my first grade kiddos. </font></div><div><br></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18127634147011277462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186789330527471222.post-71166660266927918362014-07-25T15:59:00.001-04:002014-07-25T15:59:35.684-04:00Engaging in the Digital Learning Community: Playing Full OutOver the last few days, I have been inspired to go deeper into the on line educational professional community! How? Engaging in conversation using Twitter, reflecting about the conversation through blogging, and curating my learning with my own personal digital tools. This is a pretty big commitment. But, I feel like the two classes I took this summer have me primed for the challenge. <br />
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There were a few connections with people to push me into this challenge. First, I have to thank Meenoo Rami, teacher, educational coach and ringleader extraordinaire. I am only now, through your work on <i>Thrive,</i> getting to know you and the power of one.<br />
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Chris Lehman's announcement to coordinate a learning community on line: <a href="https://theeducatorcollaborative.com/">The Educator Collaborative. </a> I am thrilled to be able to meet him next week at Hope College. My final inspiration for all this action is my excitement about the learning I will get from <a href="http://www.kristinziemke.com/">Kristen Ziemke</a>. After blogging for eight years, I finally feel like I know where I'm going next. Where I'll end up? Who knows?Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18127634147011277462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186789330527471222.post-1793224047092826982014-07-12T11:24:00.003-04:002014-07-12T11:29:46.670-04:00The Complex Forest of Reading and Writing: What have you found on your journey?<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saugatuck, Michigan</td></tr>
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This summer is yet another journey into deeper learning. My insane teaching friends and I try to stay away from "shop talk" aka "teaching talk." But, to no avail, our passions rise to the surface. We are caught in our free time reading and talking and reflecting about teaching. After many summers of trying to fight it, take a break, create some distance, I have finally accepted that the passion for teaching and learning is a deep part of who I am and not just what I do. My deeper learning this summer is around reading and writing. If you are not in education, this may sound too broad a subject to undertake. But, as a life long goal, teachers are not only caught in the day to day objectives and test questions associated with reading and writing. It is <i>so much</i> more than that. The image I have chosen, taken in the deep woods of Michigan serves as a metaphor for the study and reflection about reading and writing. The depth of language explored in message between author and reader continues to surprise me, scare me, excite me. Making a connection between the beginnings of language development with my little people ages 5-8 (first and second graders) with my own language journey through my adulthood truly connects to the image of the seed growing into a plant maturing into a young tree and finally changing as an adult plant. That is one way to see the image of the forest. We are a community of writers and readers, interacting with each other as a growing body, each of us trees. <br />
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So what am I learning? First, the act of reflection never loses its power. No matter where you are in any career, you are a human being, created with the power and will to create and make meaning! So, upon entering my 20th year of teaching and learning, I am going deeper into the woods of writing. This is a dense, complex forest. Sometimes its hard to see and you have to feel your way through, making your own path. Part of my path as a writer has been continuing to blog about my learning. What can you teach me? If you write, please share your struggle and lonely journey. In our age of technology, it does not need to be a path of solitude. We have enough teaching solitude in our classrooms (not that I don't adore spending my days with the little people.) Please jump into the conversation! Even if you are not so sure of your online presence, take a risk. If you have the courage to engage on Facebook, Twitter, email, Instagram, heck, texting, then take a leap to share your learning in these contexts. This is real reading and writing people. We have this opportunity to share all we do for 180 days in our mini communities. Don't be afraid to celebrate your amazing journey through the woods.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18127634147011277462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186789330527471222.post-54620726337117375912014-06-18T22:52:00.002-04:002014-06-18T22:52:53.965-04:00School's Out: So How Come I Can't Stop Learning?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I must be mad. There was a week of moving my classroom. Yet, here I am taking a class, blogging, reading articles, reading books. I can't stop myself. There are so many people I don't have time to follow during the school year. Now, is the time. I know it won't last forever. It never does. But, I have really missed writing about my learning. There has been other writing getting done, just <i>different</i> writing. Over the last two years challenging myself to develop a deeper relationship with God has steered me in the direction of writing as reflection and prayer. This is a new kind of writing for me, a new genre, if you will. It's powerful and personal and transformational. But, like everything else we learn to do, we need to dig in hard with all we have, then pull back and look for balance. Maybe everyone else doesn't do it this way. Maybe this is just the way I do it.<br />
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As I continue to grow wiser (not older, right - who needs that?) my hope is to continue to find balance in my writing as in everything I do. I guess its wise to notice that life doesn't work that way - in perfect balance. Life is an ever changing unpredictable journey. We just have to trust we are doing the best we can with what we know now and what we have in front of us. Otherwise we are doomed to live in the world of what ifs. But, that's not really living, is it? <span id="goog_1472089801"></span><span id="goog_1472089802"></span>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18127634147011277462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186789330527471222.post-54173775737409990632014-04-18T18:39:00.002-04:002014-04-18T18:39:24.245-04:00Play, for the sake of it!I am so serious when I teach. I really need to loosen up. One way I try to laugh more is reading funny books. Right now I'm reading <i>The Trouble with Chickens </i>by Doreen Cronin. There is a ton of sarcasm which requires a lot of inferring. So, it's a great interactive read aloud. <br />
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Lately, I feel like all the joy in learning is being sucked up by data analysis and close reading. Don't get me wrong, these teaching tools have a place. But, like anything else in education, once a shift has been made we educators, and our community, tend to beat a dead horse with the <i>latest educational practice</i>. In protest, and just to play it up on a Friday, I decided to turn on a song that reminded me of the characters and tone in this book. The song "Ain't Nobody Here But us Chickens" is a jaunty tune that requires one to shake a tail feather just a little while listening. Some students just sat there or hid under a table, because they were literally floored by my behavior. Others relished the opportunity to dance and celebrate a little. If you need a happy little tune to lighten your mood, try listening to this forgotten gem. If you are teaching second grade or higher, I recommend this book for some clever writing and mysterious twists. The characters are simply hilarious. </div>
<br />Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18127634147011277462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186789330527471222.post-69259565854501198702014-04-15T21:25:00.001-04:002014-04-15T21:30:52.169-04:00Secret to Success: Keeping students motivated at the end of the yearMy lesson plans were complete. But, I just couldn't predict how productive my second grade kiddos were going to be on the first day back from break. After attempting to write the schedule on the board twice then erasing it, I came up with an ingenious plan. <i>"What if I told them all we had to get accomplished today, but let them talk out the schedule?" </i>I was completely honest with them. I told them I wasn't sure what their stamina for learning was going to be like, so I decided to ask them what they felt like they could do in each subject. Their eyebrows went up. Some of them even sat up on their knees, they were so engaged. Truly, I saw a physical change in the group. I even asked about the amount of time they thought was a good amount of time. Since these second graders are just starting to grasp the concept of time and how long something takes, it was perfect and relevant learning!<br />
<br />
Then today when the math lesson didn't allow for enough time to spend on two step story problems I tried the schedule strategy again. <i>"How many of you feel like you need more time with these two step story problems before the review?</i> Lots of hands went up in the air.<i> "So, looking at our afternoon schedule, what can we take out or move to another day?"</i> Kids just started talking. Lily said, "We should get rid of word study. <i>"Why?"</i> I asked. Most kids chorused, "We don't like it?" But, I explained their opinions needed to have reasons more convincing. So, Lily tried again, "We could skip word study for today because we have it for homework." That one made sense. But, here is the most crazy part. As soon as I said yes, I would prepare some math two-step story problems instead of word study, they actually cheered! I glanced slyly over at the Hope College student who practically had her mouth hanging on the floor in total disbelief. That's how it's done, baby!Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18127634147011277462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186789330527471222.post-38913273017713128652014-04-13T10:26:00.001-04:002014-04-13T10:26:35.021-04:00You can do it, teachers!This is my cheerleader post! We know its going to be busy. We know it's like starting all over at the beginning of the year. Kids get excited, with longer days, more time outside to play. Thank goodness. With the winter we had, should there be any complaints? I think not! What if we were as thrilled to welcome the spring and the warm weather as our students? So. . . let's take on this time of the year with joy! Let those little minds fill us with the energy we need to make it fun! Relish the creativity and the wonder. Learn along side them. Pull up a chair and ask questions, "What made you think that?" Guide their wonder. Use all the energy we saved up during this long winter to let our learning communities explode with enthusiasm. We are the experts. Don't let the masses discourage you by picking apart the joy in learning to diagnose every little test question. Yes, reflection is important. Yes, we need to look at data. Let's make sure we focus our energy on the right data, the data that will give us the biggest bang for our buck! There is still so much yet to discover. Instead of going out with a fizzle, go out with a <i><b>bang!</b></i>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18127634147011277462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186789330527471222.post-9889969584925801082014-03-27T08:15:00.002-04:002014-04-03T18:03:10.099-04:00From the mouths of babesSometimes teachers have those magical moments we witness in the classroom. Words of wisdom spill out of the mouths of our students articulating an idea in a golden way. Yesterday was one of those video-worthy moments. I even had a college student present in the room. After modeling some thinking during an interactive read aloud, I invited the kids into the idea that we might come back to the text the next day and get more meaning, read more closely. "But we already read the book!" Then, Alena, with all her 8 year old wisdom said, "Like getting the juice out of it?" in reference to the text. "Yes, Alena!" I encouraged her further. "Say more about that." She explained how thinking was the juice you get out of a text while reading it." Next, I gave more shape to her idea to make it more accessible to the other students, "You're suggesting that a book can be like an orange. We can read and squeeze out the thinking, like juice. When you come back to the book another time, there can still be more juice there to squeeze out if you think more deeply, squeeze harder." The lightbulbs went off over many of the kids' heads. A collective, "Ooohhh!" escaped their lips. Smiles spread across faces as the understanding sunk in. These are the moments we treasure.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18127634147011277462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186789330527471222.post-31422327098828242952014-03-22T21:03:00.002-04:002014-03-22T21:03:18.189-04:00TwistedThe Lion,<br />
drags His paws,<br />
across the sand,<br />
making tracks.<br />
<br />
The mouse,<br />
looks behind her<br />
for the snake<br />
But does not see<br />
the Lion<br />
<br />
Then<br />
Horizontal and vertical paths<br />
cross<br />
He<br />
feels<br />
the<br />
brush<br />
of<br />
her<br />
feet<br />
like<br />
the<br />
wind.<br />
<br />
Once she has noticed the paw,<br />
Panic ensues!<br />
<br />
She is frozen!<br />
He is still.<br />
<br />
She hears the snake approach!<br />
<br />
He sees, too.<br />
He knows.<br />
<br />
Toiling, she hesitates,<br />
Before she can choose<br />
The lion gently laps her into his mouth<br />
Tightly protected<br />
She is safe<br />
from the snake.<br />
<br />
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18127634147011277462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186789330527471222.post-24870042956477256532014-03-20T22:17:00.000-04:002014-03-20T22:17:14.773-04:00Time: A Plea Layer upon layer<br />
you circle back<br />
on yourself,<br />
Moving away,<br />
Out of my grasp.<br />
<br />
Help me let go<br />
of the reins<br />
I claim to hold<br />
on you<br />
<br />
Pull me in<br />
To the beauty<br />
Of your accidental present<br />
Your surprising future<br />
<br />
Release me<br />
from your ticking line of history<br />
Drawn by so many<br />
Accepted by few<br />
<br />
Ease my ride<br />
through this<br />
(oh so short)<br />
slide through<br />
time.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18127634147011277462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186789330527471222.post-21811843652087447552014-03-18T19:22:00.001-04:002014-03-18T19:23:16.506-04:00In it<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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You know when you are in it - l<i>iving life fully during whatever it is you are experiencing</i>? Well today, I was in it. <i>It</i> wasn't very good. <i>It</i> wasn't fun. <i>It</i> was sad and heartbreaking and real. But I let myself be in it. I didn't wish it away. There was a lot of grief and darkness there. Accepting the pain felt different though. Safety was part of the dark place, oddly enough. Later, when circumstances changed, as they often do in lives with teenagers, there was freedom from the darkness and light. The lift was palpable. There was even some happy dancing. You bet. . . I let myself be in it.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18127634147011277462noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186789330527471222.post-70828824363473848962014-03-17T21:35:00.001-04:002014-03-17T21:35:05.370-04:00Carry MeCarry me<br />
Into the fields of the lilies<br />
Across the wide oceans<br />
Full of toil<br />
I trust You<br />
<br />
Sing to me<br />
Over the whisper of winds<br />
Through howls and birdsong<br />
Crying out<br />
I trust You<br />
<br />
Hold me<br />
Tightly in your grasp<br />
I'll hide underneath your fingertips<br />
So gentle,<br />
So loving,<br />
I trust You.<br />
<br />
<br />Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18127634147011277462noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186789330527471222.post-72037711848117591172014-03-16T10:11:00.000-04:002014-03-16T10:11:25.920-04:00Anticipation in HopeI need to breathe today,<br />
to be creative<br />
to live with peace<br />
to live with joy.<br />
<br />
To live into today,<br />
Let it evolve,<br />
Let it surprise me.<br />
Welcome it.<br />
<br />
Empty myself of worries<br />
Open myself<br />
to possibilities<br />
to wonder<br />
to learn.<br />
<br />
<br />Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18127634147011277462noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186789330527471222.post-72943103922122093132014-03-15T21:37:00.002-04:002014-03-15T21:37:51.930-04:00My Thinking is All Muddy. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
Muddy Thoughts<br />
<br />
God<br />
Family<br />
School<br />
<br />
God<br />
School<br />
Family<br />
<br />
God<br />
School<br />
School<br />
<br />
God<br />
School<br />
School, Family, School<br />
<br />
Lost<br />
Confused<br />
Unfocused<br />
Spinning in circles<br />
In place<br />
on myself<br />
Going nowhereSarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18127634147011277462noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186789330527471222.post-35406387356868540632014-03-14T22:01:00.001-04:002014-03-14T22:07:36.593-04:00Writing Heaven!Tonight I was in reading/writing heaven. So rarely, am I able to gather with a group of others to treasure and discuss the beauty of language. My hands are hungry to write, my eyes, to read. I was invited to have dinner with the author, Kathleen Norris at Western Theological Seminary next to Hope College. We ate on the sixth floor of the library. The sun set during our main course. Rays of orange cut by the spire of Dimnent Chapel divided the view of my city in half. The group enjoyed casual conversation, then formed a circle to listen to Kathleen speak. She was so generous to share her story with us. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-0v6OIQmK8ls/UyO15QKPMBI/AAAAAAAAAyM/KayXl4xEwcs/s640/blogger-image--192980620.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-0v6OIQmK8ls/UyO15QKPMBI/AAAAAAAAAyM/KayXl4xEwcs/s640/blogger-image--192980620.jpg"></a></div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18127634147011277462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186789330527471222.post-39028172310201543132014-03-13T17:07:00.002-04:002014-03-13T17:07:54.023-04:00The Tuesday/Thursday Club!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It has started. How could anything be worse than mall walking? School walking! Yes, right after I came in from tucking the kiddos into their cars, I tied on my Brooks and power walked one mile! There were four of us looking like Sex in the City, apparently. One of the teachers working in his classroom was singing the opening song as we launched through the halls. The janitor, Bob even joined us for part of a lap. Finding time to exercise has been near impossible lately. When I thought about the idea of walking at school from 3:50-4:30 every day, it was as though a light bulb had gone off over my head! Perfect. Now, I'm full of energy, writing, having a cup of coffee. Who knew? <br />
<br />
The challenge will be keeping it up. Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18127634147011277462noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186789330527471222.post-74166874265304414262014-03-12T19:08:00.001-04:002014-03-12T19:15:42.757-04:00Sun and Songs<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>I am so thankful for the grace I am given to be relieved from stress. Today, the magic recipe was the band Young the Giant and the sun raking in through my window! My evening started with some comfort food. Homemade mac and cheese always hits the spot about mid week. Even though my husband and one of my daughters were at meetings, my other two daughters and I had a lovely evening, singing at the top of our lungs to Young The Giant as we washed the dishes and cleaned up after the meal. With light hearts we twirled around the kitchen crooning along - vocalizing and harmonizing with the lead singer. (He wasn't so bad to look at for two hours last Friday, by the way) It never ceases to amaze me how I can rediscover so many passions over and over in my life. Music, art, writing, reading, and God of course, seem to feel just under my skin and so close they are permeating my life. Then, there is distance, and despair. All over again, I am able to rediscover the beauty and wonder of them all. What a gift! Here is a photo from us at the concert in Detroit last Saturday night.<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-uoKU2kZyHSw/UyDqnKoQAwI/AAAAAAAAAxs/RDUMVEr-tqU/s640/blogger-image--656047240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-uoKU2kZyHSw/UyDqnKoQAwI/AAAAAAAAAxs/RDUMVEr-tqU/s640/blogger-image--656047240.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-DU01PpvjD6I/UyDqlzIqptI/AAAAAAAAAxk/N1uBkmYWUC0/s640/blogger-image-212942722.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-DU01PpvjD6I/UyDqlzIqptI/AAAAAAAAAxk/N1uBkmYWUC0/s640/blogger-image-212942722.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18127634147011277462noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186789330527471222.post-25642411506224677252014-03-11T21:14:00.004-04:002014-03-11T21:14:41.318-04:00Circles<br />
The circles moved in and out<br />
as if they were breathing<br />
in the puddles<br />
at the bottom of my driveway.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);">It was rain.</span><br />
For the first time<br />
in a long time<br />
drips fell down<br />
in streaks<br />
sideways lines<br />
erasing the day away.<br />
<br />
<br />Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18127634147011277462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186789330527471222.post-21961264515328125692014-03-10T20:18:00.001-04:002014-03-10T20:18:53.167-04:00So tiredSo many yawns today. My poor cuties were just exhausted by day's end. I, too, am out of juice for today. I'm thankful for sunshine. But I must get a few more hours than I have been getting. My eyelids burn with tired. Tomorrow I hope to post more than a few sentences.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18127634147011277462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186789330527471222.post-46863930308063288752014-03-09T21:58:00.002-04:002014-03-09T21:58:43.041-04:00Hanging on<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There are days we can scarcely believe how lucky we are. Others we can barely hold on. There are so many positives and negatives happening simultaneously right now, I can give myself over to neither. They have each cancelled each other out. I'm left with my faith and trust. Which is all I truly need. Yet, I continue to ask for more, claim I need more, selfishly want more. Right now, I feel as though I want a sedative. Most of us grab a glass of wine to deaden the pain. Part of me knows it is critical to push through it. So, I choose to stay awake, metaphorically awake. I hope and hope and hope for hope.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18127634147011277462noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186789330527471222.post-8145366303446108282014-03-07T18:01:00.002-05:002014-03-07T18:01:44.115-05:00A Shiny, Happy Feeling<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The fever today was palpable. The sun shone just over the tops of the snow drifts still covering the bottom half of the windows in my classroom. I even kept the overhead florescents off so natural lighting would dominate the space. While pink, red, and purple hearts still hang from the sill, the green is peeking through. Just the clear blue sky with the dray pavement is enough to make me giddy. I'm so thankful for the time I had to see the world through a shiny, happy lens: the promise of spring.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18127634147011277462noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186789330527471222.post-50332630201737046472014-03-06T21:39:00.002-05:002014-03-06T21:39:39.976-05:00What could be worse than giving students a standardized reading test?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So, my second graders have to take the Discovery test in reading and math by Discovery Education. Then at the end of the year I get to be evaluated based in part on how they do on this test. This is the first year we have given it to our students, so I am still learning the ropes of the complex system that goes with it. I'm so passionate about teaching reading, I hate to see how a standardized test can drill and kill the joy and wonder we can get from the reading process. Yeah, yeah. I know. It's a means to an end. The kids need the experience, yadda, yadda, yadda. You can only guess how much this reading test grates my nerves. But what could be worse than giving the standardized test to gauge student success in reading? How about assigning the wrong test and then finding out later!!! That's right. I gave them the wrong test. I subjected my kiddos to the stress and (<i>practice</i>) of an hours worth of reading passages and answering questions, and it was the WRONG ONE! So now I have to go and do it all over again. <br />
<br />
I just hope they don't blow it off just to spite me.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18127634147011277462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2186789330527471222.post-44084995950103914262014-03-05T21:31:00.001-05:002014-03-05T21:31:37.586-05:00How Can I Keep From Singing?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Tonight I had the pleasure of singing at the Ash Wednesday service at my church. Even though it was a somber time in anticipation of the 40 days of lent, I still felt so full at the end. I'm sure it was because of my singing. I love to sing! I sang in high school. I sang in college. I sang in a gospel choir. I sang in my church choir. I sing in my classroom if I'm teaching first grade. How come I don't sing at home around the house? I should sing more. I have changed from a soprano to an alto. Now, in church, I'm that annoying woman that sings harmony to everything, so those church hymns take on an Indigo Girls flavor. Sometimes, at the end of the school day, when the buses have all gone home, you can hear me singing Patsy Cline in the hallway. Well, the janitor hears it anyway. If Lent is to be full of gratitude, I'll make it full of singing.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18127634147011277462noreply@blogger.com0