Nerdlution

I've been watching a phenomenon called Nerdlution that is going on some blogs that I frequent (you can read some here and here and here).

It started out with some people in November. I half-heartedly joined in. I was sincere in the beginning, but December was a tough month and I really didn't follow up on all my goals. I think perhaps a secret for me is setting just one goal. The year I set a goal to wear lipstick and to do a load of laundry every day was revolutionary for me. I didn't do well on the lipstick goal, but my laundry life changed - thank goodness!

I'm a little late, but I'm ready to jump in now. Nerdlution is a 50 day cycle. I'm going to set a 30 day goal and a 50 day goal...starting today!

My 30 day goal will be to do something to get ahead on report cards every day. 15 minutes a day is my commitment. I'm going to start with writing comments. That always takes me the longest! They'll be due at the end of February, so it's time to get going!

My 50 day goal is to do 15 minutes of housework every day...FlyLady style.

That's it. No financial stuff. No fitness stuff. Not that I won't worry about that stuff - but I'm just going to focus on improving in two small areas. Maybe that will be enough.

So here goes!!

Spreading Sunshine

The Sunshine Award or the Sunshine Elevens or one of several other versions of inspiration and encouragement for bloggers has been rapidly circulating the blogosphere. Thank you to the great Pam Hunnisett for tweeting this assignment to me. I have come to know Pam through our school library commons committee and know that if we worked in the same building I would seek her out daily and great discussions about books and literacy would be never ending.
Here’s how this chain letter of inspiration works:

1. Acknowledge the nominating blogger.
2. Share 11 random facts about yourself.
3. Answer the 11 questions the nominating blogger has created for you.
4. List 11 bloggers.
5. Post 11 questions for the bloggers you nominate to answer, and let all the bloggers know they have been nominated. Don’t nominate a blogger who has nominated you.

 Eleven Random Facts About Me

1. I am a born and raised Calgarian.  Well, I took a couple hiatuses here and there to live in Kelowna and California, but I always come back to Calgary.
2. I play the piano and am learning to play the organ. Those pedals might kill me.
3. I am a little obsessive about reading. Ok, a lot obsessive.
4. I am a swimming parent - which means all my money goes to swimming (...and I thought you buy a swim suit and a towel and you're done. Cheap sport? Ha!) It also means a lot of waiting around pools - which translates into great reading time.
5. I think I have always worked. Well, actually I have just worked since I was 12. The jobs I have had are great and varied: chambermaid, hotel laundry, hotel front desk clerk, travel agent, airline agent, secretary, receptionist, assistant to the assistant to the head of the public relations department at a utility company, mystery shopping scheduler, software instructor, photocopier, insurance lisencing instructor, concession worker, garbage sweeper, and now, a teacher. I have a secret ambition to be a writer one day (there...the secret is out)
6. I was a missionary for my church in California for 18 months. It was one of the great pivotal experiences of my life. 
7. I chose to become a teacher because I loved children and was pretty sure I would never marry and have children of my own. I did, however, marry and have children. I stopped teaching when our oldest was born. I have two children now. I went back to teaching after having a stillborn baby girl and a couple of miscarriages. The experiences touched my heart and brought me back to spend more time with children.
8. I love to watch sports, but don't do a lot of it these days. I love hockey, basketball, football, swimming, lacrosse. I even watch UFC with my husband (but that is mostly to reflect on society as a whole and give a running commentary to my husband about how crazy that sport is). I love the Olympics. I really don't like wrestling or soccer though. Blech. I see no redeeming qualities in those two sports. 
9. I enjoy cooking and caking and am quite good at it, if I do say so myself! I especially enjoy breaks from school where I have more time to cook and bake. 
10. I really enjoy people, but am also an introvert who needs time alone to reflect, refuel and breathe. I am an incessant list maker and as a result think I can handle more than I actually can sometimes. I have a great variety on interests and tend to get involved in too many things.
11. I am generally a happy and positive person and love to be around people who are also happy and positive. I feel richly blessed to be surrounded by these types of people as well in my work, with my husbands work friends, and many other friends. 

Pam's Questions:

1.  What do you do for escape or for relaxation? Usually it is reading. The public library is one of my favourite places. I have a screen saver on my computer with pictures of beautiful libraries. Just looking at those kinds of places fills me. Oh to have a place like that of my own!
2. What film or play has captured your heart? I am not much of a movie person. I do love to attend the theatre though. I particularly love what Storybook Theatre has been doing lately. Their recent production of New Canadian Kid gave me a new perspective on trying to fit in and understand Canadian culture. It reminded me of times where I have had difficulties fitting in or struggled with relationships and made me want to be more sensitive to people struggling with those same things.
3. What books would you recommend? That is tricky. There are so many great books that have touched and changed me. But if I must answer:   Adult fiction: Unbroken, The Book of Negroes, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. Children's fiction: Wonder, The One and Only Ivan, and anything by Kate DiCamillo
4. What has been the best vacation you have ever had – specify where, when, and why? I love any vacation where my family and I get to go together. I love the enthusiasm my kids have for new places. Last summer, we went to Las Vegas and had a great time together. We drove and everything about it was wonderful!
5. What’s one of your guilty pleasures? Steamed milk with a shit of hazelnut syrup from Starbucks 
6. If you could travel to any ONE place in the world, where would you go? Paris, France I would love to take a family vacation there.
7. What is your life mantra, or quote, or credo? KAIZEN (small improvements every day in every way, never ceasing, never ending)
8. What is your favourite season? Why? Summer. I love to easiness of it, the time for walks, books, talks with friends good meals and easy living. Fall is a close second with all the excitement of a new beginning and all the beautiful colours. 
9. What is your favourite musician/band or artist (or all)? That is hard. ABBA? Brian Adams? The Piano Guys? The guy on the organ at the Flames games? I love them all!
10. Who or what inspires your writing? Every author I read leaves an impact. I am so glad to have discovered author's blogs where I can read about their thoughts and struggles with writing. 
11. What metaphor/simile describes your writing process? I am a little like a pot of water....I simmer and bubble for quite a while.....then the feverish boiling/writing begins. 

• Eleven Questions for Bloggers

1. Are you doing what you always thought you would do one day that you haven't yet done?

2. What is the best thing about your job?

3. What new thing have you learned lately?

4. What do most people not realize about you?

5. What is the last book you read?

6. What was your favourite thing about this past Christmas?

7. Tell me about your family.

8. Summer or Winter Olympics? Which is your favourite?

9. What famous person would you like to have lunch with?

10. What was the worst job you ever had?

11. What do you do to boost your battery?

11 bloggers: 

1. Erin Petley
2. Patti Nielson
3. Sue Anne
4. Kim Hawryluk
5. Becky Ackroyd
6. Travis Jonker
7. Donalyn Miller
8. Colby Sharp
9. Mr. Schu
10. Paige Brimacombe
11. Kirby Larson

Happy blogging in 2014! Thank you for your inspirational words and efforts.

Writing Magic

Something magical happened in my classroom today. Earlier this week one of my students brought a story to class that he has been working on for a few months. He proudly announced that it was finally finished and he wanted to share it with the class. How could I turn that down?

Yesterday he shared his story with the class. After he read, he asked for questions and comments. The kids asked great questions: why he wrote about a snowgirl, why he included his grandma in the story, and also asked how he got the idea...all things that people ask authors all the time! And the author had great answers.

When he was finished one of the kids asked me if they could all have a book like his to write stories in. Sounded good to me!

Today after DEAR I handed out the books and said we could have a few minutes before science.

They started in on feverish writing.

Serious. Feverish. I don't usually see writing like this out of these kids.

Then our AP dropped by and happened to notice what was going on. They were thrilled to tell her about their stories.

 

The most interesting part of it all was to see how they naturally collaborated. One was stuck for ideas, so she sat by someone else and read the story and received some ideas. One doesn't know how to draw dirt bikes, so he employed the skills of another student. Collaborating was something they clearly wanted to do, and didn't even think to ask if it was okay. It was just a natural part of the writing process.

 

I can't wait to see what else happens with all of this.

 

 

Things I Loved About Last Week

Last week was a great week.

1. I got in another tech PD day. Honestly, I am overflowing with new tech knowledge. I have learned so many new apps, it is almost crazy. Really, I have just been introduced to them and now I need to figure out how to use them well in the classroom. All this hand holding has made me more brave about searching out good apps and learning on my own too. When I think about how I felt about and used the ipad a year ago to how I do today, I am quite amazed.

2. They say if you get kids to blog their writing is better because they have a real  audience. I decided to video my kids doing their structure presentations this week. We are going to attach a QR code to the videos and parents can watch them at learning conferences. What a difference this has made. My kids have not only done an amazing job of reading their reports, but they have been an amazing audience! No one wants to get caught on video fooling around during someone's presentation. QR codes: a great classroom discipline tool! Who knew?!

3. The Alberta Opera came to our school and performed Alladin. It was really amazing. I am always amazed at how absorbed kids get in a good performance like that. There is no need to go tap a kid on the shoulder or pull them out for misbehaviour. Everyone is too enthralled with the story to bother misbehaving.

4. My gr. 3 teacher pal got more good news on her husband's work visa  with an interview with some immigration dude getting set up. Things continue to progress!

5. I marked structure reports the day I got them! Marking can be the biggest challenge for me. I was particularly happy with myself for doing those right away because there were a couple kids who had some more work to do. If I had let them sit for a few days it wouldn't have been good.

6. 13 of my math students did their homework on Edmodo! The more kids who do homework on Edmodo! the less I have to mark. Yea!! (Strategic marking avoidance, some call it! I wonder how that fits on the SAMR ladder) 

Little Souls

This little video came along at just the right time for me. In my class we have been working on a project. I explained the instructions. Most of the kids jumped right to it and did the job. There are just a couple who didn't. There are a variety of reasons, which generally just start (and end) with "I don't get it". So I re-explain. They start, but stumble. And so it continues.

 I was starting to feel a little frustrated with a couple of students when I read an article that had a little video attached. You can watch it here. Good timing. It helped those frustrations evaporate and reminded me again that these are all children he with unique and amazing abilities. They don't always fit into the holes I create, and pounding certainly doesn't help. I am reminded that the most important thing I can do is love them and respect them. That is when real learning happens anyway.

Alberta Opera: Alladin

When I first heard Alberta Opera was coming to our school I wasn't excited. I like all sorts of music. Opera is one type of music I have ever liked at all, so I was a little leery. However, year after year, our music teacher keeps bringing them in, and I continue to be impressed with their shows.

Today's show was Alladin.

My kids are surprised that the story was not very much like the movie at all - which really built on previous discussions we have had about this. I love seeing different versions of stories, and if think they are seeing the value in it too.

The actors were amazing. Three of them did the entire show.

I loved how this student was able to draw the head covering that Alladin's mother wore. Well done!

This show had a great lesson. The children learned a song in music class. It had a marvellous message:

Desire is a very complicated thing. You need to be careful about what you wish for. The play talked about how what you need is often very different from what you want, and that perhaps sometimes we need to re-think the things we think we want.

All in all, a marvellous afternoon!! We ended up re-scheduling everything else we had in the afternoon to talk about the play, laugh about the funny parts, and record all we could in our journals. It was time well spent!

Best Things About This Week

Time to reflect on great things about this past week? Thank you Ruth Ayres Writes for the idea!

Tech PD 

Our PD day was amazing. I got a little extra on Tuesday morning because I'm part of the tech committee. Then on our Early Dismissal day on Friday we did some more tech PD. It was all very enlightening and helpful. 

Here are some other great things about this week:

Fresh Fruit Friday

We have an amazing parent group at our school. They do a lot. Once a month they buy some kind of fruit or veggie for kids to try. This week it was pomelo. It was a big hit!

Short Sickness

At the end of the break I was starting to feel a tickle in my throat. Monday afternoon, at our PD day! it got me! and it got me good!! I powered with Cold medicine and continued on. This was a nasty one though. I've rarely felt so miserable. The miracle is that by Friday it was gone! I can't even say rest did it. I had a busy week with something every night to keep me out later than I should have been out. I was so surprised Wednesday night when the sniffling stopped, and then Friday it was pretty much gone. Weird. I usually find a cold grabs me for 7-10 days once it has hit. Glad this one didn't. Who has time for that?!

Handwriting

We started handwriting this week. This is a greatly anticipated event in grade 3. And just as the previous years, these kids were totally into it. We started on Friday, the day we also have Free Friday (15 minuts to do whatever you want). We were running out of time Friday and I suggested we cut handwriting short so we couldn't miss Free Friday and I was met with a resounding, "No!" You know they love it when they don't want to stop to play!

Purple notes on my door

I have a sneaking suspicion it was a certain Grade 4 class who went around on Friday giving out unsigned notes with compliments and thank yous. Four of them appeared in my door. It warmed my heart!

Great news

One of my colleagues got some long awaited great news. I was so happy to hear things are coming together for her and her husband. It is wonderful to celebrate together!

Book Club

One of my favorite things about my job is Grade 3 book club. I used to think that it would be nice if every day was book club - but the truth is, I love all the stuff in-between book club meetings as much as I love book club. It reminds me of a story I heard about Wayne Gretzky once. He said he loved everything aobut hockey. He loved practice. He loved packing up his hockey bag. He loved going on the bus to an away game. He loved it all.

I love sharing books with kids. I'm slowly mastering the art of giving them enough to get them interested, and then handing them the book to quench their thirst.

The other day I read a bit from the book this month to my class. I just wanted to make sure, after the break, that everyone remembered about book club. I wanted to get some kids excited about reading this book who might have forgotten about it. And I hadn't prepared another book talk to share for our library time (First day back! What can I say?!)

It was a bit from early on in the story. I talked about what happened in the beginning. It was delightful to have some of the kids correct me and add to what I had to say. Then I read the bit about Edward getting tossed of the ship and sinking into the ocean...down, down, down. I read it dramatically and quietly. I could tell I really had them. I love those moments. They wanted more. I told them we were out of time, but if they were interested they could sign the book out. Sure enough someone did.

"I used to think I wouldn't like to read that book but I now I think I will read it." he said. Music to my ears!

Sharing the book during library time reminded me that I really do love every part of book club.

I love going to pick up books and passing them out. It makes me feel like Santa Claus! Or maybe Oprah: You get a book! And you get a book! And you get a book!

I love having kids yell to me in the hall as they come in to let me know what chapter they're on, or ask me what chapter I'm on.

I love creating quizzes for kids to do on Edmodo and seeing the notifications roll in as they do the quiz.

I love reading favorite parts of the book to my class and having someone who wasn't reading it say, "I think I want to read that book too."

I love having kids ask me how many more days there are until our book club meeting.

I love having kids tell me at recess that they really love the book.

I love it when kids tell me how many chapters they have left, or how many they're going to read each day to finish on time.

I love it when kids come to me the day before book club and tell me they've really been trying, but they're not finished the book, and they're wondering if they could come to book club meeting anyway (My response is always: If you've been really trying, and if you promise to finish it, sure, you can come!)

I love it when kids tell me they really don't like the book. We talk about why and I ask them if they will please still come to book club because we want to have discussions with people who don't like it as much as people who do like it.

I love perusing the shelves at United Library Services to see what they have lots of copies of, reading blogs and scouring the public library website to pick the next book.

I love coming up with ideas with the other teachers for the activity for our book club meeting.

I love book club!

Time Management

One thing that is tricky about being a teacher is time management. I discovered early on that I could spend hours in my classroom thinking I was preparing, without actually accomplishing anything. I am working hard to stay focused on what matters most, to leverage my time by making good use of volunteers who so graciously come into my classroom each week, and by keeping good lists. If I spend a few minutes each morning planning my day, making lists and writing down my goals, I get so much more done!

"It has been my observation that most people get ahead during the time that others waste."

- Henry Ford

Quality of Life

Today, in Social Studies, we talked about things that make our quality of life better. I loved  the ideas that everyone came up with.

We did a placemat consensus. The items in the circle are the ones everyone agreed on. Individual items are on the sides.

You can kind of tell this one has Mrs. Ackroyd from student #2. Interesting that I didn't make it into the circle! LOL

Twitter in the Classroom

About two months ago, I decided to sign up on Twitter. I kept reading about twitter chats on blogs that I follow and wanted to be a part of those chats. I've discovered a whole new world through Twitter!

I'm really keen to use it in my classroom, but first I'm focusing on learning how to use it well as a professional learning network.

If you have any great blog posts or articles to share for a new Twitter user, feel free to comment!

Rock Star Status

Have you ever wondered what it's like to be a rock star? I think being a teacher is pretty close. It's always fun for my own children to see responses from kids from my school when we run into them outside of school. They're always surprised, often a little giddy, and always quite exuberant. How can a teacher not love it?!

Today was our first day back after the break. I had to miss the morning though for some extended PD. When I returned at lunch time I was surrounded by kids from my class who all had stories to share and questions to ask:

Mrs. Ackroyd, you're back! Where were you this morning?

Mrs. Ackroyd, do you like my hair cut?
Guess what Mrs. Ackroyd, I got two guinea pigs!

Mrs. Ackroyd, today for gym we had to have gym in our classroom because the gym had an emergency.

Mrs. Ackroyd I cleaned up the library corner.

Mrs. Ackroyd I finished my rough copy early, did you read it?
Mrs. Ackroyd, where were you this morning?
Mrs. Ackroyd, want to know what I got for Christmas?
Mrs. Ackroyd, do you know what books I took out of the library?
Mrs. Ackroyd, where were you this morning?

Mrs. Ackroyd, I finished the book club book!

Mrs. Ackroyd, I forgot the book club book at school.

Mrs. Ackroyd, I don't celebrate Christmas so I didn't get any presents.

Mrs. Ackroyd, where were you this morning?

Pretty soon I answered all the questions and listened to all the stories, and everyone settled into quiet reading time. I sat down in my desk and just had to smile about how much I like these kids. They've worked their way into my heart, that's for sure!

Ed Tech PD Day

Today was a wild ride. It wasn't easy being back to work. As I made my way to our high school for our PD Day I thought having a day like this on the first day back is crazy. Then I got listening to the Key Note speaker, George Couros, and I got excited. He was a fabulous speaker! He had some great stories, some fabulous examples of effectively using technology in education, and was very entertaining. Lovely day!

During the second session I went to an iPad session and learned about a  couple more apps. It was very energizing as well. It's amazing how little by little I've become better at the iPad! Today I learned about Tellagami and Perfect Video. I made a video for my students for tomorrow while I have a sub for some additional PD with George Couros.





During the last hour I presented. By this time, man was I tired. It is rough being back to work! (I know....whine whine)

My topic was reading and technology. My slides are here.

My goals from the PD Day are to start a blog for writing with my students (and I didn't even attend a blogging workshop....although George did talk about that a bit). I think it'll provide an authentic audience for my students, and hopefully, help them be motivated to be even better writers.

I also plan to blog more myself, and continue to implement tech tools into my classroom routines. My next thing to learn is how to use QR codes to share our science projects.

Game Face

As I slowly move from vacation mode back to game time, I had to chuckle at this quote from The Boy in the Box:

There is a moment, just before curtain, when a transformation takes place, when players leave behind their ordinary beings and become their larger, dramatic selves. It happens whether the stage is large or small, the audience a handful or in the thousands. It happens whether the actors are famous or unknown. And although he could not have described it in words, Sullivan felt it happen. He even saw it in Master Melville's face just before going on - he became eager, smiling and confident.

Isn't that how teaching is? Just before the morning bell, a transformation takes place and teachers leave behind their ordinary beings and become their larger, kinder, wiser, insightful, dramatic selves. Okay...maybe not every day - but it happens sometimes! I also love how he describes everything when the show is over:

When the last bottle was sold and the last audience member had wandered off, the performers had to clean up, for the crowd had left behind food wrappers and plastic bottles and paper cups on the grass. The slow had already begun to face, leaving behind simple fatigue. And there was something else that Sullivan sensed, almost a feeling of loss, or emptiness.

Yup. I'm looking forward to getting back!