a break

I am taking a small break from blogging. At least for a week or so. This time of the school year and taking graduate courses seem to be taking over my life....so I am prioritizing and getting some things knocked out over the next few days! Be back soon.

Lane

traveling light

I am currently reading "Traveling Light" by Max Lucado. I don't think I have read a book by this author in a long time. It is refreshing and a good reminder of what it means to "travel light."

the pumpkin spice latte

I think it's great that Starbucks has oatmeal now. I also love the pumpkin spice latte....this is how I know it's Fall!

the things that cannot be negotiated in Writing Workshop

Sat down with some teachers today in the county. The discussion was..."What are the essentials (the non negotiables) of Writing Workshop." Here is a summary of what we came up with:

1.A Strong, to the point Mini-Lesson (no more than 10-15 min.)
2.Independent Writing Time
3.Conferring with Writers
4.Mid-workshop Teaching Point
5.Share Time
6.Publishing Celebrations
7.Modeling so students can see a writer at work.
(This is basically the Writing Workshop format)

Here are the non-negotiable crafts that I personally think cannot be forefitted
1.Writing With Sensory Details
2.Writing a great lead sentence
3.Writing Small Moments (or zooming in)

if for nothing else than do it for the sake of writing:)

A sweet friend of mine recently shared with me how she and her son (who is almost one) get up every morning and as a part of their routine they watch the school bus go by in the mornings. Now picturing this in my mind is just one of the sweetest pictures because she is such a great mom, but the thing that I love the most about this picture is that one day this simple morning routine will turn into a beautiful story in his 3rd,4th, or 5th grade writing time. How do I know this? Because so many of the moments my 5th grade students write about in Writing Workshop are the sweet, simple moments with their families...like getting up in the morning to watch the school bus go by.

So for parents who are reading...I hope you are creating the moments if for nothing else than for the sake of writing:)

great story

This is a story from my good friend Leslie's blog....so funny

"At Home"

So B. and I moved to Gwinnett about a year and a half ago now. Moving is a really stretching time. I assume any move you make is difficult and stretches you to get out of your comfort zone. You don't really know anyone, you meet tons of new people and you just pray every time you see them you'll remember their name. You long for the "home feeling" to set in very quick, you want relationships to grow (but you realize that things only grow with time), and you look for new doctors, dentists, etc...all over again!! I can honestly say that 12Stone, Buford, Lyman Hall, Gwinnett County has become our home. I love that I know people's names, that I can invest in people's lives, and that I can feel "at home."

The word "home" is such a peaceful word for me (although I do realize that for much of the population the thought of "home" brings on a very negative connotation). I am thankful Christ has allowed us to call this place our home. One of my goals in life is that I always make people feel "at home" when they are around me. I think I get this from my Mom and grandmother (Mama June). They have an incredible way of making every person they meet feel comfortable and "at home."

What about you? Where or when do you feel this "at home" feeling?

Hall of Fame day

So yesterday was the first Hall of Fame day in my class (inspired by Liberty Mutual commercial). Students had nominated each other for random acts of kindness within our classroom community. My student Emmanuel won and I bought him a $25 gift card to the movie theatre and a new book. The cool thing about Emmanuel winning is that he is one of my newcomers which means he speaks very little English(so I'm not even sure he understood the whole concept but he is just one of those kids who loves to help and give to others). When he won and I explained to him with my so awesome Spanish skills what he won I asked him if he had ever been to this movie theatre and he responded:
Emmanuel: I never had been to movies
I realized this precious child had never been to a movie theatre.

When I was putting him on the bus to go home he came up to me and said with his adorable quiet, Spanish accent:
Emmanuel: Thank you, Mrs. Moore
and then he gave me the sweetest hug

I wish the whole world could hear me when I say this: there is nothing better than the joy of giving and the joy of loving students.
Here is a picture of my sweet Emmanuel and his certificate