BE OK With Not Enforcing The Rules - 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.

 

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A couple of weeks ago I finished listening to the audiobook Rules by Cynthia Lord. It is easily a book that I can say left a heartprint. Not only was it this amazing story of friendship and empathy but I could completely relate with Catherine. I understand the frustration of having of brother who doesn't quite understand the ins and outs of social behavior. I understand his disability and that it comes with some quirks; I am not always certain that others understand.

My brother, Steven, is five years younger than me. Like my sister, Suzanne, and me, he was adopted by my parents. I am not biologically related to Steven, but, he is the only brother I grew up with and therefore, he is mine. Unlike Catherine's brother who is autistic, my brother is developmentally delayed due to fetal alcohol effect but quite frankly, some of his behaviors seem to mimic behaviors on the autism spectrum. 

When we were younger, he was just my cute little brother. Small for his age, he really was very cute. It was easy to "hide" his behaviors then because people that didn't know him thought he was much younger than his true age. As Steven has gotten older, his facial features (FAE) and his behavior are far more noticeable that something is not "normal". 

As I listened to Rules and paid attention to the friendship that grew between Catherine and Jason, it occurred to me that I've been like Catherine, even as an adult. I realized that I am far more understanding with the students that I've taught with various disabilities than I have been with my own brother. I am flexible and supportive of their growth and needs far more than I have been with my own brother. If anything, I realize that I can be short-tempered and unreasonable with my own rules with Steven. I felt ashamed as I realized that I have been far more nurturing with other people's children than my own family. 

I've made rules for Steven in an effort for him not to stick out. It's uncomfortable when people stare or when people ask, "what's wrong with him?" in a tone that is less than polite or even curious. I tell myself that I am just protecting Steven when deep down I know that I am just protecting myself. 

I believe that Rules is a perfect read for 5th and 6th grades - it sheds light on autism and it sheds light on how our actions can influence others. I have heard teachers use the book as a way to talk about empathy and to talk about being supportive of our differences. As an older sister, Rules opened my eyes to loving my brother more than the students I teach. It mean supporting my brother's needs in the same way or better than the students I teach. In the end, it means not worrying about making so many rules for my brother and then trying to enforce them. It means to just accept him for who he is and really celebrate him. He is an amazing person.

Suzanne, Steven, & Me - November 2009

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 09/23/13

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is an opportunity for everyone to share their book journeys: where we've been for the week and where we plan to go next. To learn more about It's Monday! What Are You Reading? with a kidlit focus, jump over to Jen Vincent's blog, Teach Mentor Texts, and Kellee Moye's blog, Unleashing Readers.

 

We had a much better reading week at the Becker's; however, I didn't do a very good job tracking on Goodreads or posting bookpics. Maddie fought a cold the better half of the week (still fighting it) but here's where I can prove we journeyed this week.

I was supposed to write a review for Yoo-Hoo, Ladybug! by Mem Fox but somehow the week got away from me. Will make it a two-for-one on Thursday of this week when I write a review for Clark the Shark by Bruce Hale. Yoo-Hoo, Ladybug! and Clark the Shark are both books that I grabbed from my district's monthly bookclub - I need to get busy with my reviews.

 This is a busy week for Twitter book clubs!!!

#virtualbookclub on Monday 9/23 at 6:00 pm PST

Excited for #sharpschu bookclub on Wednesday 9/25 @ 5:00 pm PST 

 Thrilled for Erin Dealey's Skype author visit on Thursday 9/26

In audiobooks, I'm nearly finished listening to Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan. I've already got a copy of Hoot by Carl Hiaasen to listen to next. 

My book journey this week will be focused on banned or challenged books in honor of Banned Books Week. Normally, I'd be making my way through the grades 3-5 Oregon Battle of the Books selection, but this week it's all about banned books. 

It's hard for me to fathom banning or censoring books. When I was growing up, my parents, with their strong religious convictions, had books that they did not approve of us reading, but they NEVER said don't read the books (they just made it abundantly clear they didn't approve) and it certainly wasn't in their nature to impose their beliefs on others. I thank my parents for recognizing that books are precious and that they empowered my sister and me to choose for ourselves what we would read.

I began another class for my continuing administrator license(it's a licensing requirement even though I'm currently NOT in an administrator position) so I'm cutting myself some slack with writing - I'm committed to Slice of Life 2013 but am going to set Poetry Friday aside for now.

What are you reading and writing this week?

BE Vocal...About Your Life As A Reader - 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.

 

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My life on Twitter is just under a year old so it feels sometimes like I spend a lot of time talking about how the social media has positively impacted my professional life and my reading life. Twitter interactions motivated me to blog; introduced me to Goodreads; allows me to interact with people that I wouldn't otherwise know; and inspires me every day in some way.

 

I pick up on little things, little ideas, from Twitter that I think are manageable for me. I constantly look for ways to get it out there what I am most passionate about - books & kids. One such idea that I grabbed from a Twitter feed was the idea of including my Twitter handle, the link to my blog, and a sentence starter for what I am reading, in the signature part of my work email. There's a certain amount of insecurity that goes with making that visible in EVERY email. What if the people I work closest with view all of what I am doing as "silly"? I have a bad habit of measuring my worth by comparing myself to others - it's something that I battle constantly. One would think that as a 43 year old that I'd be over that, but it's in my core and I suppose is one of those things that drives me to constantly achieve. Honestly, the notion of "I'm not as good as..." is not as prevalent as it has been in the past, but there's always a hint of it in what I do.

 

My motivation for including my Twitter handle, the link to my blog, and a sentence starter for what I am reading stems from the fact that I want to positively influence others that I am closest to. I have learned and grown through these medias and I just want to spread the wealth a bit. If what I am learning and doing inspires even just one teacher, I feel satisfaction from that. The email signature is subtle - I never know if people even look at that part of their email. So, I just wait...

 

Validation that the email signature has impact came this week. :o)

 

One of the beginning teachers that I mentor needed some time to finish up some district required fluency assessments. She really wanted to finish the assessments herself so she asked if I could cover her class for her. She was in the process of teaching to "good fit books" and thought that I could come in and share how I pick books. Her email stated, "since you're so passionate about books...". I do look for those moments where I can talk about books, almost like a teachable moment. This particular teacher is not someone I mentored last year so I've only supported her for three weeks. She is not someone who I've known long enough to know how much I really talk about books. How did she know? She sees the email signature regularly. She checked my blog.

 

Little does the beginning teacher know what a gift it was for me to spend just 15 minutes sharing with her students about books. I went in armed with a bag of books-books I read, books I've listened to, books I plan to read. I shared why I am reading books and where I get ideas from. Nothing is better than the murmur of children as they connect with a title, an author, a genre. Before long, students were asking me if I had read book number four in the Amulet series. I was being asked if they could borrow my copy of Sidekicks. We began to have this very natural exchange of have you read-you should read.

 

I spend quite a bit of time observing teachers and providing feedback. One of the things that I've missed while on special assignment is the daily interacting with my own students - especially when it comes to books. So, while I was supporting a beginning teacher's need to finish some quick assessments, she was filling a need of mine to interact with kids about books. It was a GREAT Tuesday!

 

That settles it. The Twitter handle, blog link, and sentence starter for what I am reading remain in my email signature. For good. 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 9/16/13

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is an opportunity for everyone to share their book journeys: where we've been for the week and where we plan to go next. To learn more about It's Monday! What Are You Reading? with a kidlit focus, jump over to Jen Vincent's blog, Teach Mentor Texts, and Kellee Moye's blog, Unleashing Readers.

 

I wish I could say it was a good reading week at the Beckers...not so. I struggled to get in the reading I wanted to and when we left town this past weekend I managed to leave the house without the sacred book bag. Sigh...I think we need to get a library card at Grandma's house so even if mommy forgets the book bag we still have books to read. 

Here's where Maddie & I did journey this week: 

Periodically, Maddie's daddy is around for books at bedtime.

 Here's where I traveled this week:

Finished as part of Oregon Battle of the Books for grades 3-5. Liked it so much that I added Marty McGuire Digs Worms to my TBR. I dig a girl who likes to be in the dirt.

LOVED this as an #audiobook. The narrator was AH-MAZING! It's on the Oregon Battle of the Books list for grades 3-5 so I'll be reading it as well, but in the meantime just know that I fell in love with a small mouse with large ears.

  Started the journey, but need to finish:

Part of Oregon Battle of the Books for grades 3-5

 

I will actually be taking a short break from OBOB to read this in time for #virtualbookclub on 9/23/13.

This is my #audiobook for the week.

 

 

 

 

I attended my school district's "First Thursdays" book club (held on the 2nd Tuesday since school started for us two weeks ago). The group has been meeting for years but somehow I missed the memo...literally. I'm happy to be part of the group now and will review at least one book per week for the group. Here's what I'm reviewing this week:

Sadly, I didn't make my writing goals this past week but I have high hopes for this week gaining perspective from a blog post on Two Writing Teachers about carving out time to write.

 

What are you reading and writing this week?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 9/9/13

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is an opportunity for everyone to share their book journeys: where we've been for the week and where we plan to go next. To learn more about It's Monday! What Are You Reading? with a kidlit focus, jump over to Jen Vincent's blog, Teach Mentor Texts, and Kellee Moye's blog, Unleashing Readers.

Here's where Maddie and I journeyed:

I started an Oregon Battle of the Books (OBOB) journey...I'm working my way through grades 3-5 division books right now. 

I am mere pages from being finished...will likely finish it before sleeping tonight. :o)

Here's what I am reading next from the OBOB list.

 I have become a HUGE fan of audiobooks. Even when I'm not getting in as much time as I want buried in the pages of a book, my reader's soul is still being fed. Here's what I finished listening to:

LOVED this book...left a #heartprint. I'll be writing about it on my Slice of Life tomorrow.

 

I'm not usually a fan of talking animals but this audiobook sucked me in BIG time. It's also an grades 3-5 OBOB book. 

 Right now I'm listening to:

Another "animals that talk" book, but again, sucked in. Bonus: It's an OBOB pick & a Newbery medal book. Cha-ching!

I intend to get back in the swing of things with two activities that feed my writer's soul:

Looking forward to a group of teachers, media assistants, and media specialists from throughout my school district who get together one Thursday per month to talk books. Yippee! This Thursday is the first for the school year.

 

What are you reading and writing this week?

BE Patient - If You Write It, They Will Read It - 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.

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This past summer was the first time that I breathed actual life into my blog. The Buzz from Becker was a blog that I created when I was the principal at Yaquina View Elementary but never launched-life got in the way. When I committed to participating in Teachers Write 2013, I used the blog as a way to share some of my Quick Write responses. Other than my own personal writing, one of my Teachers Write goals was to publish weekly on my blog. Inspired by educators that I respect and only know via Twitter, I began to participate in weekly posts such as It's Monday! What Are You Reading?, Slice of Life 2013, and Poetry Friday.  

Initially, I told myself that I was blogging for myself; however, I did drum up the courage to begin posting my link on my Twitter. Sharing on Twitter was easy for me because it was safe. Despite the fact that my Twitter network is made up of people that I have never met face to face, this was the group the seemed to understand me best. The people in my Twitter learning network were the ones that spoke my language (#kidlit for starters) and they were supportive and nurturing. The very people that I look up to were the first ones to retweet or favorite my Tweets with my link. Some were even leaving replies on my blog. It was a time of extreme confidence building.

The leap of faith with my blog was when I began posting the link on my Facebook. My Facebook is where I remain connected to family, colleagues, people I grew up with or went to college with. Even though, my blog was supposed to be for me, I found myself looking to see if people were commenting and I looked to see how many people followed my blog (by the way, the number is 3). Some people would "like" the Facebook post, but it was/is a small number. I made the assumption that people were not interested what I was writing.

At the start of August, one friend and colleague made a comment to me about how much she enjoyed reading my blog. She went on to share that she had selected Wonder by RJ Palacio as her all grade level read. Over coffee, another friend shared how she had read John Green's The Fault in Our Stars. A friend of mine talked to me about her sons' summer reading and happily accepted my copy of Dan Santat's Sidekicks. Each day brought on more and more comments and conversations about the kidlit that was going on in everyone's lives. Now, I'm not taking credit for the fact that people are reading the same books that I am. Maybe I have had an influence. Maybe not. What I am recognizing is that my blog that was supposed to be "for me" has actually been a conversation starter with others. This week alone, I've been honored to recommend books to veteran and beginning teachers. And, veteran and beginning teachers alike have invited me into their classrooms so I can see their classroom libraries and reading displays. I am thrilled beyond belief that people that I see regularly or work closely with are as excited about kidlit as I am. People around me speak my kidlit language. It is rejuvenating.

I have said it before and I will continue to repeat it...my Twitter PLN saved me. These are virtual relationships that are important to me. My PLN is the group that has inspired me to read more, write more, and communicate more about what I'm reading and writing. My PLN is the reason I have a blog. 

My blog is important writing and reflection time for me. I'm honored and appreciative when people initiate a conversation with me about something I've blogged about or a book that's popped up on my Goodreads (another Twitter inspired network for me). I'll never again question whether my blog is important or whether it has an impact. It does...it's just that there isn't always a "foot print" as evidence that someone has been there.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 8/26/13

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is an opportunity for everyone to share their book journeys: where we've been for the week and where we plan to go next. To learn more about It's Monday! What Are You Reading? with a kidlit focus, jump over to Jen Vincent's blog, Teach Mentor Texts, and Kellee Moye's blog, Unleashing Readers.

 

Egads! It's been 20 days since my last #IMWAYR post. Doesn't mean I haven't been reading. It's just been a busier than expected August. I am figuring out the blogger app on my iPhone so that I can post from anywhere but still need to play with it some to figure out how to resize photos, etc. But, enough of that. Let's get to the real reason why we are here. 

Here's where Madeline and I have journeyed:

More recently I've become a HUGE fan of audiobooks. Here's what I listened to while on the road for vacation.

I'm nearly finished listening to 

 

Not sure what I'll be listening to next. I'm visiting the Newport Public Library with Madeline tomorrow. 

Here's what I plan on reading next:

Marty McGuire is on the 2013-2014 OBOB list for grades 3-5. I'm on my own OBOB challenge reading my way through each 2013-2014 OBOB list.

I made it about half way through TLAP and then the Kindle died. I brought it back to life and so my goal is to finish.

Teachers Write! may be finished for the summer but I was inspired to look for Kristin Mentor Text as I plan for writing my dad inspired story for Maddie.

I'll continue with a couple of my writing circles that I grew to love over the summer. 

Tomorrow all teachers in my district return back to work. I look forward to hearing everyone's summer stories. And of course I'll want to know:

What are YOU reading?

Have a great week!