Now I'm Published

Moments

2008-09-09T17:34:00.003-04:00

Anyone who has talked to me lately probably knows that this school year has been a rough start. I have some different behaviors that I have not had to deal with for a couple years and it is making me stretch myself as a teacher. Really stretch. I've pretty much had to rethink the way I do everything. But by May I'm sure I'll look back and appreciate how I had to grow as a teacher.

Or I'll be happy it's summer. The fact that I'm already talking about May is not a good sign.

However, amidst the chaos and tribulations that is my classroom, there are still moments that make me smile. Like a few days ago when I was teaching them how to read a timeline. The example we were looking at traced the history of modern communication. I was trying to explain the telegraph and Morse code - a difficult concept for 8-year-olds who can't fathom the world pre-iPod. We tapped out S.O.S (the only code I know), I showed them a picture, and I was trying to explain why they would need it, when one student raised his hand with that spark of enlightenment in his eye.

He even waited for me to call on him. "So...," he began slowly, "they were texting?"

Close enough.

Have I done this before?

2008-08-27T17:01:00.002-04:00

After a week with the kiddos, I'm pretty tired. Was it always this hard? Have I lost my touch? A good friend reminded me that I say this every year. Every year I wonder how I will make it. I wonder how I will get everything done. But it feels new. I don't remember the aches and pains of the first few weeks of teaching. I remember being able to whip out lesson plans and having everything in the classroom set. I remember the kids responding to what I say and knowing the procedures. How do I get us there?

Here are a few things that I've heard over the past 6 days:

"I'm so glad I got you for my teacher!"

"I want a different class. I need a new third grade."

"Chinese people talk funny." (Then I enlighten them to the fact that I am Chinese.) "Oh, but I wasn't making fun. I was just talking like them."

"Can I take my Writer's Notebook home?" Sure. "To lunch?" Anywhere you want. "Yesss!"

"It's not my fault if he made me do it."

Phone call to parent: "Is it okay if I give you a Target card to get whatever you need? And I want to sponsor your class ($100 donation), too. Do you need anything?"

Phone call to another parent: "I'm sorry. The number that you are trying to reach is no longer in service."

"We put mini-diapers on my dog last night cause she started her period." "What's a period?" "It's what you get to know your pregnant." I sat, praying the conversation would just end.

"He's looking at ME! STOP! I'm gonna..." "Whatchyou say, punk?" "You better get out of my face!" Great day, people, it's the second day of school.

"Can I have extra homework?"

I have 18 students. 18 different days each day. Different needs. Different strengths. Different meltdowns. I hope I can do this again.

False Start

2008-08-18T19:23:00.002-04:00

So, after scrambling around for the last week... faculty meetings, team meetings, trainings on how to be a teacher, trainings on how not to be a teacher, planning, thinking, imagining all the new faces, nightmares about having field trips on the first day, laminating, cutting, labeling, rearranging, stapling bulletin boards, wondering why I thought it necessary to store a lidless water jug all summer, endless searching for my missing homemade math games, rehearsing lessons over and over, not quite sure how I did it before, knowing we will get through it again... it is finally the day before school starts.

Well, the day before the day before. The first day of school has been cancelled due to Tropical Storm Fay. So, my sharpened pencils and new boxes of crayons will have to wait. And I think it is a good idea. I know most teachers left with a smile. One more day to rest and recover before the rollercoaster officially begins.

My plans for the storm: make first day nametags (I forgot the past week), re-do my first week plans to now fit into 3 days, make more lesson plans, and relax. Maybe read. Maybe write. Hopefully, we won't actually have to deal with any weather.

One fish, two fish...

2008-08-07T16:11:00.005-04:00

Last weekend, I had the chance to go to the Florida Aquarium with my family, including my 6-year-old niece. We sat next to West African penguins (quite a surprise to my niece who thought penguins were only in Antarctica). We felt the slippery wing tips of sting-rays. We pet a snake. We even saw a Goliath Grouper about the size of a table.

There was a room full of sea dragons. From the typical sea horse to a leafy sea dragon that looked exactly like a pile of floating, yellow seaweed. We learned about fish and sharks and even heard how some tanks were full of "real good eatin'."

When we got to my sister's house later that evening, my niece got out a stack of paper and her colored pencils - ready to make a book all about animals at the aquarium. She was thinking about facts she knew, illustration placement, and color choice. She debated whether to write it including narrative details or to write it as a strictly nonfiction, informational book.

Now, yes, my niece is brilliant, talented, and super cute. But what struck my teacher sensibilities was how this experience prompted writing. Writing was the natural response to a unique activity. I think it can be a natural, fun response to all kinds of things: fun, sad, happy, scary, etc.

In third grade, my students primarily write personal narratives. I try to validate their experiences and get them to write about whatever happens in their lives. But I think they can write with more detail and passion if they have more experiences. Have you ever read a poor novel in which the author clearly didn't research their topic or setting enough? And then how engaging are the stories where everything rings true and you feel like you're there?

So, my goal for this school year is to take my students on at least 3 field trips, whether it kills me or not.

The Nervous Magician

2008-07-30T17:20:00.005-04:00

So, I have not been writing routinely, as I set out to do in my previous post. But, hey, it's summer. I guess it's okay just to do whatever. I've spent my time doing things for a class I am taking through UF and I still have courses to finish for Pinellas County's ITEC program. I've been cooking a lot while at home. I also have exercised a little (although that routine definitely has to get going when school starts). I even bought a new printer.

The past 4 days, though, were magical. Literally. I was visiting my family and we were talking about some card tricks that we did as kids. Well, soon I was off to learn some more. My success rate doing tricks with adults is around 60%, but I am sure I can trick kids 99% of the time. I think my "Wow" factor during Friday Fun just increased 100%. However, I need to work on my delivery. I've been practicing, but I still get so nervous. My hands shake and I forget the next step. I also have a hard time not staring down a card when I am just trying to inconspicuously peek at it. My family was very patient.

I have always liked magic. When I was growing up I had a crush on David Copperfield. I still remember when my parents took me to see his show. He made a picture of an audience member's "randomly selected" card appear on a blank notepad . I don't know how he did it. And I don't want to know. It's fun to know a few tricks, but, in general, I want to be mystified. I admire the innocence and gullibility of children. I want my world to be filled with that kind of wonder. I allow myself to be easily fooled so that I, too, can believe in the magic.

Watch this video, but don't try to figure it out. Just enjoy and be a kid again.

Borderline OCD

2008-07-17T18:01:00.005-04:00

My friends and I often joke that I am at least borderline OCD. I do have some compulsions, but most of them have legitimate reasons. For instance, of course I wash my hands so much because I work with (and eat) food all the time and nobody wants Salmonella. Plus I work with kids and we know the germs that they pass along. And don't we all want to wash hands after touching newspaper? or money? or metal objects?

So, those are sound justifications.

My need for routine, on the other hand, is a little less clear. I love the summer and the ideals of a summer vacation, but man, do I miss my school routine. I thrive when I know exactly when I will wake, eat, drive, speak, and pee. Yes, I get tired during the school year, but at least I know what's coming.

This summer I had the benefit of starting with three weeks of Writers Camp. It was a nice built- in routine, a transition into full nights of sleep and freedom to go to the bathroom whenever I wanted. Writers Camp also got me into the routine of writing nearly every day. It was wonderful. I felt alive. I was finally expressing my thoughts - my own personal therapy through stories.

Then that was all ripped away and I was thrown into a two-week vacation of traveling through Florida and Georgia. I was busy baking, swimming, talking, reading, and shopping. I loved it, but now I am back at home, adjusting to days without a routine. Sure I have things that I need to do, but I find myself wandering from the kitchen to my room to the couch. I jump from website to website, watching hours blur by. And I have not written a thing in almost 3 weeks. It feels like a challenge again, a scary task. I want to write, but what if I pick up my notebook and nothing comes out? Do I really have a story to tell? What if it is all garbage? Suppose I have no voice? What if I can't do it?

I know that those are not legitimate reasons not to write. So my goal for the rest of the summer is to get into the routine of writing. To put my OCD tendencies to good use. Once I get started, it will become a habit, and I can keep going. I'll start with just 10 minutes a day. Ten minutes can't be that scary, right? Which makes me think of my students that are all swimming and gaming and lazing around right now, and in one short month I will expect them to be excited about our Writing Workshop. Perhaps I will have a little more compassion on those reluctant, scared writers.

Deb 2.0

2008-07-08T11:53:00.003-04:00

I am a changed woman. A new version. Fully upgraded.

Although I consider myself fairly young, I seem to have fallen behind in technology. My peers and those younger speak technology as a first language. It seems natural and intuitive for them to have the latest gadgets and to know how to use them. Without much effort, they accomplish whatever they want on the computer and internet. I don't even have a cell phone.

But for the last eight weeks, I have been taking an online course through UF called Internet in the K-12 Classrooom. The class finished on Sunday and I am a changed woman. The only thing I had ever heard of before the class was a blog, and that was because I read my sister's. Now the whole world of Web 2.0 is open to me. And if you are like I was, you probably have not heard of Web 2.0. Basically, Web 2.0 refers to all the applications on the internet that allow anyone to write, create, edit, and publish material to the web. We are no longer a people that can only search and read, but we may share our own thoughts and knowledge, too.

So here are some of the Web 2.0 applications that I learned. Some of them are very useful to me, and others I don't really care for. I will tweak what I use and how I use it as I go along. In future posts, I also plan on discussing how some of the applications can be used to enhance the teaching of writing.

Here are the features of Deb 2.0:

1. My blog. I hope you are enjoying it. I also have become a reader of many blogs (although my sister's is still my favorite).

2. My RSS aggregator. This is a tool to automatically collect updates of all your favorite blogs and news feeds or whatever else. If you check a lot of different sites for updates, an RSS aggregator can save you a ton of time. Instead of going to each individual site, you can just go to one site (I use Bloglines) and all the updates will be right there. So when my sister is on vacation and not blogging, I don't waste my time checking her page every day - instead, when she updates, it will show up on my bloglines account. You can see all the feeds I subscribe to here.

3. My social bookmarking account. You know how your Favorites or Bookmarks on your browser has become quite unruly in the past few years? You probably have so many sites saved that you can hardly find what you're looking for. Or perhaps you have given up on adding them to your favorites... but then later stand at the computer with your friend saying, "Oh it was so cool! What was that site? I can't find it... You would really like it." Well, no longer. Now you can save any website to an online account that you can access from any computer. Plus, you organize them by tags or keywords so you can find anything you want with ease. You can see sites that I find useful here, although I need to clean up my tags a little.

4. My online photosharing account. I uploaded a few pictures to Flickr, but I am not thrilled with this application yet. Maybe someone else who enjoys sharing pictures with the world can explain the benefits.

5. My podcast. This is online amateur radio about any topic you can think of. I used podomatic, but there are many other sites to publish your voice. If you are new to podcasts, just search for some on iTunes about a topic you like. I want to use my account for my student's to do digital storytelling, but my first podcast is a story that I wrote. Feel free to listen, but know that I cringe at the sound of my recorded voice. I did it because I think that if I expect my students to do it, I should do it, too.

6. My classroom website. Pretty standard. I won't really update it until the school year starts.

7. My wiki. A wiki is a website where anyone can edit and add information - like wikipedia. I started a wiki for Pinellas County writing teachers to share ideas and collaborate. It is also a place for us to share our writing - again, I believe that if I ask my students to be brave and share their writing, then I should, too. The wiki is just in its beginning stages, but hopefully it can be helpful to us when the school year begins.

8. My social networks. Now, I am not a MySpace or Facebook fan, but for the UF class I had to join some professional networks. I joined The Innovative Educator, EduBloggerWorld, and Primary Education. I like the first one the best, but I still don't like the idea of sharing info with people I don't know. I was taught Stranger Danger all too well.

So that's the new me. If you are also trying to upgrade yourself to Web 2.0, I suggest taking it one application at a time. The best news is, all of these things were FREE. Nice.

However, I still don't have a cell phone.

Feeling Blue

2008-07-02T23:31:00.005-04:00

When Ben Montgomery of the St. Pete Times spoke to us at Writers Camp, he taught us about the "brand of beer and breed of dog" principle. In a story, try to use specific, concrete details when possible. Name things exactly. Give your readers a true picture. If it's a Budweiser, say Budweiser. If it was a Doberman, say Doberman. If you devoured a whole bag of chips, say you ate all those Cheetos so we can picture you with orange crumbs sticking to your fingers and mashed into your nails.

So let me try Mr. Montgomery's principle out with a little story about my vacation. I could write...

"I've been visiting with friends for three days in Florida. We've had so much dessert I could bust!"

Now, there's many things you could be picturing as you read this: one of my rich, chocolatey homemade concoctions; a Publix (and only Publix) cake; bowls of ice cream; your favorite dessert. So much ambiguity! Let me try it this way...

"For three days I've been vacationing with friends in Shell Point along the northern coast of Florida. Yesterday, they went blueberry picking at a local farm. I stayed at home and prepared for the feast. After two hours in the sun, they returned with three gallons of the freshest and plumpest blueberries I had ever seen. My baking sensibilities went into overdrive. We made blueberry crisp, lemon blueberry yogurt cake, two blueberry cobblers, and enough blueberry jam to last a year. I think I gained five pounds. And there's still more vacation to go!"

Yes, this is true. I highly recommend any of the recipes. And I recommend fresh blueberries. And if you have any desserts to share, please be specific. I love a teacher's summer.

Lessons Learned

2008-06-30T21:19:00.003-04:00

Writers Camp ended last Friday. It was an incredible 3 weeks. I can't believe how quickly it went and how much was accomplished. I met some amazing kids and teachers that have changed the way I will approach the teaching of writing.

I also worked on my bravery: I shared a story with my colleagues, I read a story in front of about 100 people, and I even sang a parody song about Indian Jones during the final celebration! I wrote more for fun than I ever have. I plan on continuing to keep a writing notebook and, hopefully, sharing.

In addition, here are 5 lessons that I learned from Writers Camp:

1. Receive and celebrate someone's story before offering any advice.
2. It feels better to share than to be afraid and keep silent.
3. St. Pete Times writers make great guest speakers (See Ben Montgomery and Jeff Klinkenberg).
4. Field Trips are important experiences to fuel personal narratives - thank you Cox Radio and Working Cow ice cream factory.
5. Writing and sharing can build self-esteem and confidence.

If you are a Pinellas County teacher, go to Writers Camp!

Summer Homework

2008-06-23T18:15:00.002-04:00

June 25
Originally uploaded by Carlo.

After my first year of teaching, I loaded up my rolly-teacher cart and a few bags and brought home things to accomplish during the summer. I had Teacher's Editions, books, old college folders - all kinds of things to plan and make the next year better. Well, that stuff sat on my bedroom floor until I loaded it back in my car in August.

Since then I have learned that I like to use vacations to vacation. My goal is to leave the school building empty-handed - or pretty close to it. I unpacked my one bag that I took from my class this year: unopened pack of party plates that I will return to Publix, a handmade card from a student, a bottle of lotion, and some kids books that I want to read.

So my summer homework is reduced to reading and, of course, writing. Any suggestions for books that would be good Read Alouds for 3rd graders? I wanted to try Missing May, but I forgot it at school.

I am also going to read Roy Peter Clark's Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer. It was a gift at Writers Camp and is a must-read for anyone who loves writing.

Lolly, lolly, lolly...

2008-06-19T19:17:00.002-04:00

get your adverbs here.

Or not. During Writers Camp, several teachers and I had the privilege of discussing the use and misuse of the adverb with Dr. Roy Peter Clark. It turns out that after years of running quickly, saying softly, and destroying completely, my stories would have been better served with a simple, strong verb: dashed, whispered, or just destroyed.

The overuse of the adverb might be a hard concept to teach to young writers who either want to make their writing sound flowery or descriptive with these extra words. Or they may not have the vocabulary to say what they mean with just one word. This could provide teachable moments for vocabulary instruction.

Dr. Clark suggests that the best use for an adverb is when it changes the meaning of the verb. My 5 (almost 6)-year old niece taught me a lesson in adverbs this past weekend while I was babysitting. In her "Alvin and the Chipmunks go to the library story", she wrote:

The boys jumped back and whispered, "What should we do?"

Senaca walked in and smiled anxiously.

Well, she spelled it anchosly, but her use of the adverb is a perfect illustration. And she has a brilliant voice as a young writer. And she is super cute.

So, I will quickly scan and thoroughly search my notebook to completely rid my stories of unnecessary adverbs. But if you have a special place in your heart for the -ly words, or at least School House Rock, watch this video for a little reminiscing.

Finding a voice

2008-06-15T14:42:00.002-04:00

I think one of the hardest things to do in the teaching of writing is helping students find their voice. As I try to teach students strategies for writing and rules of language, their pieces often become formulaic. This is probably just a stepping stone along the way to becoming a proficient writer. I remember that I, too, once ended every story with the "and then the alarm clock went off and I realized it was all just a dream" ending.

But some students are born with a voice. I know I certainly didn't teach it to them - but I will encourage it.

The following is a story written by one of my favorite 3rd grade writers. Yes, there are things that could be corrected, but I just love her voice. I think she will be published one day.

shareaphobia

2008-06-11T18:14:00.002-04:00

At Writer's Camp, I have had to come to terms with the fact that I love writing, but am irrationally scared of sharing my work. That is part of the reason that I am there: to overcome my fears. But I have also discovered that I am not alone. Today as I was working with my 5th and 6th graders, I noticed that while I hovered over their shoulders to get some ideas about their work, some boldly forged ahead, sitting tall and scribbling madly. Others, not so much.

"Peter" is like me. As I neared, his back moved, almost imperceptibly. So subtle that it could have been mistaken for a common chair-shift for long-sitters. But then I tried to glance at his piece, and Peter did the unmistakable wrap-your-free-arm-around-your-writing-and-crouch-your-head-over-the-paper move. I felt for Peter. I know the horrors of sharing.

But it was my job to read and teach. So I asked Peter if he would share his writing with me. He obliged, but still my eyes were not granted the privilege. I tried to sit next to him and he shifted again. I tried craning my head; he lifted his paper and read with it 6 inches from his face. Clearly, I am not yet safe enough. And that's okay. I praised and complimented his writing. Maybe by the end of camp he will trust me enough to let me see his words.

And hopefully I will get braver, too. I am thinking about trying to write something for the Six Sentences blog. Like the name says, it is a blog of 6-sentence stories that are very entertaining submitted by anyone who wants to try. It is a great exercise in choosing words and meaning. And a great way for me to work on overcoming my fear - whether my story is published or not.

Back to Work!

2008-06-09T15:50:00.001-04:00

My short summer vacation (i.e. long weekend) is over and I went back to work today. But it's not normal work, so I don't know if you can really consider it work. I will be a teacher at Writer's Camp for the next three weeks. It is a great program for grades 4-8. Students and teachers have to apply to get in, which makes for a very positive environment, full of people who want to be there and want to write. It was very refreshing to sit in "class" today with about 45 students and no behavior problems.

In the mornings, I will be working with a small group of five students. Then in the afternoon, the teachers will become more like campers. We will work on our own development as writers and teachers of writing. I am very excited about being in an environment where I will be "forced" to write and share my words. I hope to be a much braver person by the end of June.

It's over!

2008-06-05T18:13:00.001-04:00

My last day with my kids was Tuesday, but today I am officially done. I don't know why every year it seems so hard to believe that another year is over. I wonder what it's like to have a job that is not so cyclical? Do other people feel like they start anew, race through a year, and then have to find closure again and again?

Here are some of my thoughts at this time of closure:

One of my most challenging students, let's call him "Jim," came up to me as the final bell rang. I poured every thing I had into this kid. He needed more help than I could give: reading, writing, math, social skills, motor skills, emotional help, etc. He liked to try to distract others. He liked to distract me. But sometimes he wanted friends. Sometimes he gave up. At times I felt like I would give up. And as that last bell rang, he stood in front of me, infringing again on my personal space, and said, "I'm going to miss you." There was a clarity in his vision and in his voice that I had never heard. I think it was the first time he spoke with insight. I'm going to miss Jim, too.

Something I will not miss is tattling and fighting. I had a fighter this year, let's call him Rocky. Nothing was ever Rocky's fault. He was entitled to do or say whatever he wanted, and was outraged when I asked him to take responsibility for his actions. Rocky was also quick to tattle on any little thing - good, bad, who cares? Rocky gave me nightmares. Instead of contemplating all summer, like I have all year, why I could not reach this child, I am going to let it go. I found this short video by John Pearson that lets me know we all have Rocky's and I can get over it.

I will get over it. I will remember the good and learn from my mistakes. And I better do it quickly because I only have a one-day summer break before I start teaching Writers Camp on Monday.

A love-hate relationship

2008-06-01T22:57:00.001-04:00

I've had a love-hate relationship with writing my whole life. I love to write. I hate that I don't do it. I always imagined that I would write a novel, or at least a decent short story. Well, that hasn't happened yet, but at least now I'm published!

I hope to use this blog to reflect on my experiences in teaching third graders, especially in our writing curriculum. I also want to use this to help expand my knowledge of technology in the classroom and how it impacts a writer's thinking.