Thinking about Grit

I've been sitting here reflecting on the past school year and thinking about the books and videos that  inspired me.  I revisited Angela Duckworth's TED video about Grit.  There are two lines that I absolutely love...  "Failure is not a permanent condition..."  and "Start over again with lessons learned..." How powerful will our teaching be if we can convince students to consider these two things as an option.  I am going to challenge myself to be more gritty!   If you haven't seen this,  check it out!

Best wishes!

Laura Ingalls Wilder course through Missouri State University

Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri, will be offering an online class studying Laura Ingalls Wilder beginning September 22nd.  This class is free!  The class will be taught by Pamela Smith Hill author of Pioneer Girl.

Check out the link...

http://news.missouristate.edu/2014/07/22/expand-your-1870s-knowledge-through-new-free-online-class/

10 Thing Classroom Teachers Need to Know about Modern School Librarians

I love this article!  It sums up most of what I think a modern library should be. I like to think of our school library as more of a collaborative classroom. I have to say that in regards to number 10,  I feel very supported by my administration and board of education.  We can always use more money, however our school does a great job of supporting students access to information.

http://libraryallegra.wordpress.com/2014/07/18/10-things-classroom-teachers-need-to-know-about-modern-school-librarians/

Stephen King's Advice to Writers

Many times authors will publish information about strategies that they use to write.  Insight into this fascinating occupation or hobby or obsession, if you will, can be inspirational.  Stephen King gives practical advice that is not impossible to follow.  For example,  if you want to be a better writer, READ!  Sounds like great advice!

Stephen King's Advice to Writers

Story Ideas

Today's Teacher's Write assignment was to map out ideas for future writing.  A list of projects I would like to finish and begin include the following:

a book of poetry

a young adult novel, historical fiction romance, based on grandparents primarily set in the 40’s and 50’s

a novel, historical fiction based on loss and coping using my grandmother as inspiration

a children’s book series featuring girls in agricultural occupations

The assignment also asked for us to write about some of these and the ideas that we have.

I have several works in progress.  I have several poems that I am working on.  The theme that keeps recurring is that of the 30’s and 40’s and my grandparents.  I have a few pages of a book started. The main character in this is also a character based loosely on my maternal grandmother.  I tend to always use one or more of my grandparents as inspiration.  I don’t know a lot about their lives as young adults and I think I just like to try to recreate what I think their life would have been like. When I am picturing characters in my brain, their faces are the ones that pop up. 

It also asked us to comment on what writing challenge we would like to tackle.

I would like to begin work on is a children’s book series featuring things in agriculture as a setting.  

These were my thoughts for today....

Happy Monday!

Transitioning

Yesterday and Wednesday, my husband and I attended college orientation for our middle child.  Each meeting we sat through, no matter what the topic of discussion the buzzword was "transition". Our son is getting ready to attend college in the fall and this orientation was part of the process of "transitioning" both ourselves and him to move away from home and make decisions, be independent, etc., etc., etc.

This is not our first child who has moved out into the big wide world.  Our daughter will graduate on August 1st with her Bachelor's degree.  We are so excited for our oldest two children.  One will be "transitioning" into the job work force.  And, the other will be "transitioning" into the college work force.

For our daughter, she will truly be independent, hopefully.  She will get some type of job somewhere and she will contemplate returning to grad school.  She is getting married.  She is at the beginning of the rest of her life.  Maybe she will still need us just a little bit.

Our son will be independent also.  But it is a different kind of independent.  We hope he comes home on the weekend and needs laundry done.  And, we hope he needs a little bit of advice on homework.  But, honestly, he probably won't need us much either.

At least we still have child number three, here in our small town, under our wing.  Oh, who am I kidding, he is more independent than the other two put together!  He is the most self-sufficient 8th grader I have ever known.

Our lives are getting ready to "transition" into a new chapter, again.  Different challenges, different emotions, same book.

Happy Friday!

Teachers Write

Throughout the summer I have been reading.  However, this week I began a new learning adventure.  I began participating in "Teachers Write."  This is summertime writing place for teachers to improve the craft of writing.  Each day has a topic and the writer can choose whether or not to share.  So far, I've been sharing.

The author's blogs that I have learned about include Kate Messner's and Nora Baskin's.  Both of these authors write for elementary and middle school audiences.  Kate Messner also has a book about helping students edit.  I have ordered that and am anxiously awaiting it's arrival.

It's July 8th and there is only one month left until I'm officially back in the library.  Although, I know I'll be there before then.  Around the first of August I'll be getting anxious.