The Big Fresh from Choice Literacy May 21, 2011 Paint It Big


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The Big Fresh from Choice Literacy
May 21, 2011
Paint It Big

I said to myself -- I'll paint what I see -- what the flower is to me but I'll paint it big and they will be surprised into taking time to look at it. I will make even busy New Yorkers take time to see what I see of flowers.

Georgia O'Keeffe

One of the gifts teachers and literacy leaders treasure as the school year closes is the ability to "paint it big" - to magnify for students, friends, and colleagues a few spare moments of learning and wonder from throughout the year that are worth remembering. That's why so many teachers in conferences with parents move beyond all the data and numbers to a story of each child in the classroom that paints a vivid portrait of who he or she is as a reader or writer. It's why you've likely had a late night or two recently putting together a computer slide show of favorite class photos, or gluing together memory books with your students. This time can be the fulfillment of that Eudora Welty quote about childhood and learning - "Learning stamps you with its moments. Childhood's learning is made up of moments. It isn't steady. It's a pulse." It's teachers who are making choices this time of year about what's worthy of stamping.

What's your most remarkable moment this year? How are you painting it big? What we paint big also reminds us of what else needs magnifying. What important thing got a little lost this year in the crazy busyness of school life, and how might you paint that big in the fall?

This week we've got more suggestions for teachers of literacy keepsakes to send home with students, with some great ideas for preserving and magnifying those special moments. Plus more as always - enjoy!

Brenda Power
Editor, Choice Literacy

Free for All

What's the Most Beautiful Thing You Know About. . . ? is a lovely reflective activity from Melanie Quinn and Ruth Shagoury for closing out the year with colleagues or students. It also works as an icebreaker to launch summer workshops and courses:

http://www.choiceliteracy.com/public/584.cfm

From the Choice Literacy Archives, More Literacy Keepsakes for students to carry home at the end of the year:

http://www.choiceliteracy.com/public/1196.cfm

If you are starting to shift gears and organize for summer professional learning, you might enjoy these suggestions for how to set smart daily goals:

http://the99percent.com/tips/7023/

"Go in There and Earn an Oscar!" presents the Top 10 Myths Told to New Teachers. This would be an excellent conversation starter at a meeting of new teachers and mentors:

http://bit.ly/cGu4Kj

Here is a good link to send home to families who may have a boy or girl who is competitive, and are looking for a simple way to motivate their child to read more in the coming months. The Summer Reading Challenge is fun, and easy to participate in for any family with access to a computer:

http://bit.ly/jdfIek

Literacy Coach Jumpstart with Jennifer Allen is a full-day workshop for literacy coaches. Whether you are a veteran or novice coach, you'll pick up scores of ideas for everything from leading study groups to collaborating with teachers in classrooms. Upcoming sessions will be offered in Wrentham, Massachusetts (July 19th), Ann Arbor, Michigan (July 26th), and Rockport, Maine (October 15th). Participants will leave with a wealth of new ideas, materials, and a DVD of coaching examples from classrooms. Click on the link below for a full description and registration information:

http://workshops.choiceliteracy.com/courses/category/24528

For Members Only

We've posted a new cluster on Reconsidering Mentor Texts with contributions from Shari Frost, Franki Sibberson, Jennifer Allen, Aimee Buckner, and Karen Terlecky:

http://www.choiceliteracy.com/members/1520.cfm

In Reader's Theater Revisited, Katie DiCesare becomes reacquainted with an old curricular friend. But in trying reader's theater again in her primary classroom, she finds ways to streamline the process and foster more independence in students:

http://www.choiceliteracy.com/members/1522.cfm

Teacher writing groups are a wonderful informal way for teachers to get together over the summer voluntarily. Heather Rader has format suggestions, as well as tips for helping your group run smoothly:

http://www.choiceliteracy.com/members/1521.cfm

We've also posted the latest installment in Heather's video series on teaching summary reading and writing skills to intermediate students:

http://www.choiceliteracy.com/members/1525.cfm

We have two video updates this week, with higher resolution and full-screen options now available -

It can be a challenge to get young English language learners to converse during writing conferences. Ruth Shagoury confers with Emily, who comes from a home where Hmong is the primary language spoken. In fits and starts, she manages to move Emily from one syllable responses to more conversation about her work:

http://www.choiceliteracy.com/members/1523.cfm

Helping new teachers connect findings from assessment data to curriculum planning is some of the most important work of literacy coaches. Jennifer Allen demonstrates how she helps novice teachers bridge assessment and curriculum mapping in this video from a grades 3-5 new teacher group:

http://www.choiceliteracy.com/members/1524.cfm

That's all for this week!