Poetry in Motion

Poetry...moving...an experience...images and imagery...themes of survival, encouragement, power in words, humor, making the common uncommon, choosing words thoughtfully, interpreting, freedom of interpretation...I chose A Psalm of Life by Longfellow.  I've always enjoyed the comfort found in reading Psalms, the poetry, and upliftedness.  Life is short, don't give up...

An Inquiry on Inquiry

So my inquiry is leading me into further inquiries (is this action?).  My demo brought up lots of thought provoking questions - thanks SIers for your critical thinking and participation!! I'm beginning to look at everything with a critical eye.  Reflecting on my practice and asking questions:  How can I make this better, more authentic, more engaging, more meaningful?  How can action be more student led, all inclusive, focused on common issues in which everyone can participate, without continuing to create a separation between classes?  What is the balance between too much and not enough?  If anyone has some answers, please let me know.

Technology Fears are Waning

I am appreciative of the time spent in SI for so many reasons.  In the beginning, I didn't quite understand all the talk about digital worlds and spaces.  Why are we discussing this and why aren't we just writing in our daybooks?  But now, I'm getting it.  My eyes are opening and the lightbulb is on - everything is connected.  This is writing, I am writing, right now as I write this new post on my newly created blog, I am reflecting on my experiences and I am composing my thoughts - this is writing.  Had I not been in this class, at this time, during my summer break, I would not be learning how to use twitter or WeVideo or Screencast-O-Matic or other technologies on my own.  Honestly, I wouldn't, but I'm learning by doing which I think is the very best way. 

Foucault and a Pencil by Lydia Davis

I have had many moments similar to the author's description in this text.  Read, re-read, get distracted, answer the phone, get some water, try to read again, mind wanders, look out the window...Pen is out of ink, can't take notes. Why are all my pencils broken?  Am I the only person out there who doesn't understand what the author is saying?  Too difficult, need a dictionary, don't like the struggle of complex text, not today anyway, staying on the same sentence over and over repeatedly, not making headway, can't finish reading assignment.  Maybe I should take a nap, wake up refreshed and try again.  Maybe I should use a creative reading idea from Ron Padgett, yes, that'll work, I'll just read the right side of the pages.

Update on Inquiry

I've been inquiring into writing and action and how they are related and how to provide authentic opportunities for student action that uses writing as the vehicle.  Its like the chicken and the egg, what came first, action or inquiry, can these be separated, can you have one without the other, or should you...My inquiry into inquiry (based instruction and teaching through inquiry in the classroom) is related to student action and the action cycle of choose, act, and reflect.  I want to demo these ideas and engage SI participants in an analysis of actions through inquiry as it connects to writing.  I've set up a presentation on google docs which is exciting and hope to use online comments for feedback.  Today I searched on twitter for #studentaction and only found 2 sources so now I'm following them on twitter.  I also found a PhD student with a related blog on my inquiry and so now I'm following him too.  This has been fun, energizing, with a lot of buzz in the room, except when tech issues slow me down, then I'll go back to plogging...

Do Lines Matter?

Thinking about lined paper and the harm or help it does for children.  Or do children ignore the lines on the paper like I do and like authors do as their words move across illustrated pages.  I'd like to ask some youngsters at school if lines matter to them.  If  you look at some of these 1st grade examples, what do you think?  They use lined paper, as well as, index cards, unlined construction paper, and blank computer paper.

Inquiry into Childhood Memories

After mapping my childhood home yesterday, I was left with many questions about the "missing" parts.  How did I feel about moving from NY to FL?  Why did I cry at school and how long did that last?  How were my working parents able to come to school during the day?  Things I never thought about much before this activity.  So, I called my mom, as I do each day, and started our conversation with, "I have some questions." She replied, "OK."  I asked about the move and what happened and explained to her how I just didn't remember all of the details.  She seemed surprised that I couldn't recall these things and remembered it quite well.  She told me that I cried at school for maybe a week.  Since my dad was a chef and worked nights, they were able to come to school and have lunch with me.  But that only happened one or two times since my Kindergarten teacher told my parents they were doing more harm by being there and I needed to get used to my new school setting.  I adjusted after awhile.  Good thing I didn't hold a grudge against the school house since I spend most of my waking hours in one now.

Writing for Action - A primer in civic passion and making a difference

This is the idea floating around in my head for my demonstration lesson and inquiry during SI.  This idea interests me on many levels - the connections to inquiry teaching, taking action and making writing purposeful for students relating to the IB PYP.  It will involve reflection on the writing process, as well as, planning for student initiated actions and using writing as a vehicle for action and/or service.

Connections

When I selected this book for my reading, "Subjects Matter,"  I had no idea how great it would be and how many connections I would make to the way I teach and the International Baccalaureate Programme.  Daniels and Zemelman talk about inquiry and student engagement in the content areas to build conceptual understanding.  How with an extended project, students are going to remember doing that much more than if they read about it in a chapter of their science textbook.   How you can take a risk and assign a novel or textbook into parts and jigsaw the information - not every student has to read every page - some people might disagree - but this affords you time for discussion and allows students to become the experts.  These connections apply to the Common Core, having just finished math training last week, the same connections were made between this book and the Common Core - teach fewer concepts, add depth, and increase understanding.

Strategies

I love this book!  The gray tipped pages are the practical, learn it today, use it tomorrow, strategies to use before, during, and after reading of any kind of reading material, including a textbook.  Most of the strategies are familiar like concept mapping, K-W-Ls, and other oldies but goodies.  Some new strategies that I'll definitely try out this year include:
It says/I say/And so... - students summarize text, make connections to text, and draw conclusions that supports an answer
Probable Passage - teacher selects key words and provides to students to group prior to reading a text
Written Conversation - students "talk" during reading by writing and exchanging notes
The common thread with all of these strategies is the teacher's role in modeling how to use them, using think alouds to share how good readers think, and practicing with students until they internalize the strategies and can use them independently.

Textbooks - What are they good for?

I am learning so much great information from my book selection.  An entire chapter is devoted to textbooks and their overuse and misuse in the middle and high school content area classrooms.  Textbooks are references and should be located next to dictionaries and encyclopedias.  Not meant to be read page by page with required reading each night.  Students aren't retaining all of the content heavy information and vocabulary and although might remember for a test, once that is over, all is soon forgotten.  So what should students read?  Think about what adults read.  On a daily basis I might read the online news, a magazine article, some statistical research data, technical instructions, emails, text messages, junk mail, letters, and that might happen in the first hour of my day too.  So students should also have a balanced reading diet of articles from magazines and newspapers, online research, primary source documents, photos, charts and graphs, and things of that nature.  The textbook is not and should not drive the curriculum.

Summer Reading

I'm reading the book, Subjects Matter: Every Teacher's Guide to Content-Area Reading.  So far this book is very enlightening since it discusses upper grade teachers and their specific content of expertise.  I've always worked at the elementary level in which you are a generalist having to teach all content areas to all students all day.  Especially with our IB programme, we use a transdisciplinary approach, connecting all subjects at once.  The opening narrative discusses a student project on the food industry related to a book study on Fast Food Nation.  The students took ACTION (my workshop topic) by handing out information at a local McDonalds.  Although the manager escorted them out of the restaurant when they became rowdy shouting, "ecoli sandwich" and other remarks, the students felt proud of their attempt to inform customers.  Reading stirred up the passion in these students.

Summer's bounty

So summer is here and my little garden is thriving.  Earlier today I clipped chives, rosemary and fresh oregano sprigs to add to my poaching liquid along with lemon slices and peppercorns.  Although my zucchini has not sprouted yet, my recent produce purchase inspired these flavorful fritters, hence the name of my blog.  My mother is famous for making something out of virtually nothing.  She can take 3 squash blossoms, add flour, garlic, cayenne, a little salt and fry enough polpetinni to feed a family of four.  I adapted her recipe for shredded zucchini and added a touch of grated nutmeg.  Delightful!