One of the memorable experiences many teachers share each summer is a chance encounter or two with a student. If you work with youngsters, the expression on the face of a six- or seven-year-old when they bump into you at a supermarket can be priceless. From the look of shock at seeing us out and about in public, it's safe to assume they thought we'd be spending the whole summer sleeping on a cot in the back of the classroom, eating gruel while we eagerly awaited their return.

On the other hand, teenagers who run into us at the beach can tend more toward expressions of horror at the thought that we swim and sweat and have fun just like normal people in June or July.

And every once in awhile, we have a chance meeting with a former student, long past our time together, that reminds us why we teach in the first place. Jennifer Jones shares one of those meetings with a former student in this week's Big Fresh. Grab your hankies. We've also got a workshop activity built around memories of former students and teachers which is a fun icebreaker for summer or early fall workshops. Plus more as always. Enjoy!

Brenda Power

Editor, Choice Literacy

www.choiceliteracy.com

***Free for All***

Jennifer Jones ventured out to lunch with some former colleagues, and came home with a new perspective on the impact of her teaching after a chance encounter with YuYang, a former student. Anyone will enjoy her reflections, but if you work in one of those high-pressure schools where you're expected to show every ten-year-old student is on the path to becoming a doctor, lawyer, or astrophysicist, you'll appreciate an alternative perspective on "success" in measuring the value of teaching and learning:

http://www.choiceliteracy.com/public/374.cfm

"Memorable Teachers and Students" is a quick-write workshop activity that is especially suited to the more relaxed pace of summer professional development workshops, or first meetings with colleagues in the fall when everyone is refreshed and reflective:

http://www.choiceliteracy.com/public/375.cfm

***For Members Only***

If you are a mentor to new teachers, or responsible for a mentor orientation program sometime this summer, our Mentor Interview Questions might help in your planning. This series of over 30 questions for mentors or novice teachers can be used to plan a mentoring program, match mentors and novice teachers, or launch partnerships early in the fall: http://www.choiceliteracy.com/members/379.cfm

Fess up - when you did your final clean-up of your room, did you find you had a little more than your share of book sets from the school library or bookroom? The Sisters (Gail Boushey and Joan Moser) help Kelli reorganize materials in her reading group area, in a way that promotes more student independence and better tracking of reading materials in this short time-lapse video:

http://www.choiceliteracy.com/members/377.cfm

Finally, an oldie but goodie - from the Choice Literacy Archives, Jennifer Allen realizes summer may be the best time to establish a rapport with new teachers, when she helps Jessica work through her fears about the unknown in "Night Terrors: Let the Coaching Begin." Her essay is a terrific reminder for mentors to look for opportunities to connect in these relaxed weeks after school is out:

http://www.choiceliteracy.com/members/131.cfm

That's all for this week!