The Big Fresh from Choice Literacy January 9, 2010 Paying Attention


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The Big Fresh from Choice Literacy
January 9, 2010
Paying Attention

I start out the new year like many of you with a list of things I want to pay more attention to at work and home. As I was compiling my resolutions, I came across this quote from the poet Mary Oliver:

This is the first, wildest, and wisest thing I know - that the soul exists, and that it is built entirely out of attention.

What have you decided you need to pay more attention to this year?

And the more important question, how will those things feed your soul?

So many of us are experiencing burnout these days, even when we're getting better or more efficient or more competent at our work. If the job is exhausting, you may be paying too much attention to what others expect, and not enough to the joyful aspects of teaching.

What do you love best about working with young readers and writers? I hope it is the "first, wild, and wise" item on your list of plans for the new year - whether it's more time for read alouds, or tea and laughter after work with your favorite colleague, or quiet time with your own writing journal or blog. Pay attention to what you love about literacy learning, and feed your soul by doing more of it.

This week we've posted a new article by Shari Frost with lots of practical suggestions for building interest and excitement about literacy across your school. Plus more as always - enjoy!

Brenda Power
Editor, Choice Literacy

Free for All

Have you ever visited a middle school where every student has a sign on their locker that includes their name and the book they are currently reading? Shari Frost has, and it's one of her practical and smart suggestions for building a schoolwide literacy culture:

http://www.choiceliteracy.com/public/1062.cfm

The Eight Irresistible Principles of Fun is a delightful five-minute video that will get you thinking about what you want to pay attention to this year. There are terrific quotes and questions in the presentation to use in staff goal-setting meetings and study groups:

http://www.eightprinciples.com/

The folks at Box of Crayons (who created the Principles of Fun video) are also offering a 25% discount to Big Fresh readers on their boxed card sets of the 8 Principles and Irresistible Fun Packs through the end of January. Just type LITERACY in the discount code box to receive your coupon:

http://www.eightprinciples.com/store/

From the Choice Literacy Archives, more suggestions for schoolwide literacy events to build a good publicity buzz in your community:

http://www.choiceliteracy.com/public/152.cfm

If you're looking for some web-based resources for Martin Luther King Day to supplement books in your classroom, Larry Ferlazzo has an excellent round-up of the best websites for studying King:

http://bit.ly/6kPqI7

Our 2010 Choice Literacy Summer and Fall Workshops are filling rapidly. Last year our most popular events sold out even before our print mailing went out in March, so don't miss the boat. You can download flyers and registration forms with descriptions of our workshops in Texas, Ohio, Washington, Oregon, Maine, Massachusetts, and Florida at this link:

http://www.choiceliteracy.com/public/department22.cfm

For Members Only

Is fun in short supply in your word work and vocabulary programs? You might want to take a look at Kevin Hodgson's article Inventing Words with Wikis. Learning, play and technology are combined in a creative approach to word study:

http://www.choiceliteracy.com/members/1039.cfm

Tammy Mulligan and Clare Landrigan have ideas for Making Data Analysis Motivating and Worthwhile. If you're drowning in assessments, there are a few lifelines in their piece:

http://www.choiceliteracy.com/members/1038.cfm

This week's video features first-grade teacher Courtney Tomfohr as she works with a small group on chunking skills. Commentary is provided by "The Sisters" (Gail Boushey and Joan Moser). The video is from an upcoming DVD, and is a test of our new higher resolution online video player:

http://www.choiceliteracy.com/members/1060.cfm

Finally, we've got the latest New Teachers Digest from Jennifer Allen, with a focus on using student work to guide instruction. Over a dozen links to additional videos, articles and web resources are included:

http://www.choiceliteracy.com/members/1061.cfm

That's all for this week!