#TreatTuesday : Choice Words & Blueberry Cobbler with Ice Cream

 

Thank you to my Twitter pal, Niki Ohs Barnes, for the #TreatTuesday meme inspiration. Yum!

For more #TreatTuesday inspiration check out Shannon Houghton.

 

Yes, more blueberries...we've had quite a harvest this year.

I actually started Choice Words by Peter H. Johnston several weeks ago but set it aside for a little bit of a brain break while I read some amazing kidlit. With August here, I need to finish the book so I can share it with beginning teachers and colleagues. 

 

This truly is a book that makes me think about the ways I talk to students, my own child, and those I mentor...not just in terms of kind, supportive language but also ways I elicit deeper thinking with the types of questions I ask. My take-away right now is that our words with students are about the ways we coach them, not the way we spoon feed them information. It's pretty powerful.  

What are you reading and eating?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 8/5/13

Inspired by my Twitter Pal, Jen, this post is about what I read this past week and what I plan on reading in the week ahead. Like Jen and others, on Mondays my post will be in the form of meme. Jump over to Jen's blog, Teach Mentor Texts, to learn more about It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 

It's been a couple weeks since I've posted about It's Monday! What Are You Reading? due to vacation travel, family time, & intermittent internet access. This doesn't mean I haven't been reading. I have been...maybe not as much as I had wanted to, but I still packed my suitcases & carry-ons with books for Maddie and me. I'm only going to post what was read this past week and not for the three weeks that I haven't posted (that might be a bit overwhelming). Without further ado...

Here's what Maddie and I read last week:

Here's what I finished this past week.

(Yes, I found & checked out three Babymouse books at the public library.)

 These books were in preparation for #sharpschu book club with authors Lisa Yee and Dan Santat. Fun discussion!

If you've love A Year Down Yonder & A Long Way from Chicago then you will love this book. Two words: Grandma Dowdel.

 

This was audiobook for me that I loved!!!

 

Two books I'm nearly finished with:

 Amazing audio book!

 

Doll Bones was the featured book for #virtualbookclub.

 

Books that I am committed to finishing this week:

 

 

Plus, I continue with: 

 

 

 

So, what are you reading and writing this week?

Kristin's Mentor Text: Where is Grandpa? by T.A.Barron

I frequently look for and perk up when I hear conversations around mentor texts. In my own classroom, I have witnessed students taking chances and improving the sophistication of their writing by having text examples to draw from based on what they are reading and from what I share with them as part of a mini-lesson within the writing workshop. It never occurred to me to consider mentor text for my own writing.

 

Several weeks ago, Jen Vincent, as part of the Teachers Write Sunday Check-In, reminded us that "we learn from the text all around us". At the end of the blog post, two questions that Jen asked us to reflect on and respond to were: "What are your mentor texts?" and "What do you look for in a mentor text for yourself?"

Boom! It hit me. I have not been looking for my own mentor texts.

Since I want to write a book for Madeline about Papa, my dad, Jen's Teachers Write post inspired me to begin the quest for Kristin's Mentor Texts. Each week, the Newport Public Library is my haven where I search for my mentor texts in the kids' department. My criteria for Kristin's Mentor Text are simple right now:

1. Needs to be a picture book
2. Tells the story of a family member 
3. What format does the author use? Whose voice is telling the story?

Here's my mentor text for the week:

Title: Where is Grandpa?
Author: T. A. Barron
Illustrator: Chris K. Soentpiet
Publisher: Philomel Books
Publication Date: January 2000
Genre: Picture Book
Goodreads Summary: Where is Grandpa? This question haunts a young boy on the day his grandpa dies. Grandpa has been so richly present in so many places--at the tree house, at the waterfall, at the door ready to carve pumpkins. But where is he now? As the boy searches for an answer, he makes a surprising discovery: perhaps Grandpa is closer to home than anyone ever realized.
Kristin's Mentor Text: In the book, each family member shares a Grandpa story and a Grandpa "catch phrase". It reminded me of how my family and I did this with each other shortly after my dad died. Since the intent of my writing is for Maddie to know the Papa she is growing up without, I realized that each of us (my mom, my sister, my brother, my husband, my "faux" sister & her daughter) had something to contribute-each with a unique, special memory that can only enhance the story of Papa for Madeline. 

I now have an idea of a potential way to write about Papa. Takano family, be ready to share. 

What are YOUR mentor texts?

Wordless Wednesday

 

I've seen Wordless Wednesday appear on Twitter so I thought I'd give it a try. Click here on Wordless Wednesday to see what others are posting. 

*****     *****     *****     *****     *****

Just to give the picture some context (I know it's supposed to be wordless, but...), this Coast Guard helicopter landed on the Life Flight helo-pad at the hospital as part of a drill. I was at the pediatrician's office with my daughter with a front row seat (out the office window) of the drill. Pretty amazing to be so close...

 

*****     *****     *****     *****     *****

As a Nerdy Book Club member, I cannot help but include a wordless book as part of my Wordless Wednesday post. 

Where's Walrus? by Stephen Savage visually tells the story of a walrus who escapes from the zoo and manages to disguise himself from the zookeeper by wearing a variety of hats throughout the city. I wondered, though, was the walrus really able to hide or was the zookeeper just following along on the walrus adventure? Either way, this is a fun book with simple illustrations that are quite appealing.  

BE with family - Slice of Life 2013

 

A Slice of Life is a weekly blog hosted by Two Writing Teachers, Ruth Ayers and Stacey Shubitz. Click on Two Writing Teachers to be taken to their website to learn more about this week's Slice of Life.

*****     *****     *****     *****     *****

I'm back home after time down in Southern California with part of my biological family. In a previous blog post I shared that I am adopted and that I have relationships with both of my biological parents. I am particularly close to my biological father and his family who are the family in SoCal. I refer to my biological father as "Tatay" (Tagalog for father). I consider Tatay's  wife, my "step" mum, to be a close personal friend, and his three children are, without question, my younger brothers and sisters. Their children are my nieces and nephews. We may not have been raised together but we claim each other as family. I could not be more proud of my younger sibs-Mark, Natalie, and Matt. They are amazing people!

The Gomez grandkids

I was in preschool when my adoption took place. I briefly reunited with both biological parents when I was in high school and then didn't have relationships with either parent until in my 30s. I'm closer to Tatay because the relationship has been developing for longer - in some ways it helped that he had children because I wanted to get to know my youngest sister and my younger brothers (I was adopted with my biological sister, Suzanne, and I have a younger brother, Steven, also adopted, from different biological parents).
I'll be honest. It was awkward having my mom and dad and then these other people in my life who were parents and siblings. I didn't know how to balance everyone's feelings. For many years, I wondered "how do I reassure my dad and mom that I am not trying to replace them?" and "how do I develop meaningful relationships with my siblings without making them feel like I am trying to move in on their dad?" and "how do balance the biological parent and friendship relationship?" It has taken a lot of openness and trust on all of our parts to make the relationships work. I often wonder if the awkwardness of everything was all me. I just didn't want to hurt or offend anyone. I will be eternally grateful to Denise, my "step" mum, who has answered every question I have ever had about the circumstances of our adoption. She is a kind and generous woman who I am proud to call my friend.

Where is this all leading? My favorite part of our trip to California centers around the weekend that we spent in Carlsbad. My daughter, Maddie, was able to spend quality time with her cousins; in particular, she had time with her "girls", Cali and Ava. The girls begged for Maddie to have a sleep over and even argued who got to sleep with Maddie. In the end, Maddie spent two nights away from me, which is a first for both of us. (I didn't know what to do with myself without her around so I finished Rump by Liesl Shurtliff, and read Sidekick by Dan Santat and Bobby vs. Girls (Accidently) by Lisa Yee. Yep! Living large!) Maddie ran in circles with her "boys", Tyler & Ryder (both Maddie's age) and Mason (the youngest of the crew). The kids swam together, played together, shared iPads, and cuddled together. My heart could not have been happier.

Maddie, Cali, Ryder, Tyler, Mason, & Ava

I don't know what the life of adoption is like for others. For me, it's difficult to imagine my life without my biological family as part of my family. I love each one of them and appreciate how they've added to who I am. My daughter is surrounded by even more people that adore and love her. My life is richer because of each one of them. 

I suppose the older I get the more sentimental I become. At this point in my life, I have learned to take advantage of time with family. It may not always be convenient to get together but when opportunity presents itself it is so important to take the time to be with the ones you love. I am very appreciative of my Gomez family. Thank you for the memories this past week.

BE Childlike - Slice of Life

 

A Slice of Life is a weekly blog hosted by Two Writing Teachers, Ruth Ayers and Stacey Shubitz. Click on Two Writing Teachers to be taken to their website to learn more.

*****     *****     *****     *****     *****

This week my husband, Mark, brought home a digital camera that he was given as a 'thank you for your service' for 25 years at Georgia Pacific - Toledo. Maddie took the camera around and provided us with a photo journal of her journey around the house.

Maddie, the photographer, before she got her hands on the camera

 

 Maddie's favorite people, Daddy & Mommy

 The flora ...

 and the fauna.

Not sure of the inspiration behind the front door photo.

The Maddie-sized vehicle...

 compared to the Daddy-sized vehicle.

 

The amazing thing about Maddie's photographs is that they are all her. No one showed her how to use the camera nor did anyone point out what she should photograph. For a three year old, these are GREAT!

 

As I thought about her little photo journey, perspective came to mind. In her mind, there's no fear of pushing buttons or worry that she might break it. She just goes for it. What to take a picture of is not a question. She just walks around and photographs whatever tickles her fancy. The parallel for me is the number of times I've limited myself because of fear. Fear of rejection. Fear of not being any good. A lot of opportunity; a lot of growth; a lot of deep relationship building has likely escaped based on fear. I intend on being more like Maddie. More childlike. More uninhibited and just going for it.

#TreatTuesday - Blueberry Waffle & Rump

 

Thank you to my Twitter pal, Niki Ohs Barnes, for the #TreatTuesday meme inspiration. Yum!

For more #TreatTuesday inspiration check out Shannon Houghton.

Blueberries picked from bushes in our yard!

How exciting to have a day where I can partake in two of my favorite pastimes-treats & books! My treat today may look like a simple waffle, but when you are a person that doesn't eat a lot of wheat (we are transitioning to a Paleo/Primal way of living) then a waffle is a real treat. Add to that, the delicious blueberries that we have in our own yard and dollop of whipped cream and, well, let's just say it was a home run. Even better is when your food manages to be color coordinated with your book cover (Yep! I'm reading Rump by Liesl Shurtliff)...sorry folks, I'm not normally like that with being all matchy matchy.

Speaking of Rump, it's been on my TBR (To Be Read) list but quickly moved to the top when my Twitter pal, Niki, was tweeting about a #virtualbookclub that would talk about the book. I am realizing as I read this book that I am going to have some serious #booklove for "The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin".