ABC's of Reading

ABC's of Reading

Ask for help after trying a strategy
Blend sounds together
Comprehension= there needs to be a story, movie moving in your mind
Do it with a friend.  Buddy reading is a great way to go!
Easy books are okay.  Every once in awhile pick up an easy book to read just for fun.  Just don't only read the easy ones, otherwise you won't get a chance to grow!
Fluency  Fluency doesn't mean fast, it means a speed that makes the reading make sense and flow
Goldilocks.  Think, just right.  Find the fit for you.  It won't be the same for everyone
Have fun.  Make sure that you are reading something that you want to read, don't just read to get it done
I PICK  I pick means... I choose the book that I want to read for the purpose that is meaningful for me
Just do it.  Sit down, find a space and read, read, read
Know the words.  Make sure that you know most of the words that you are reading, not just being able to say them, but understanding them as well
Love it.  Love reading, it'll make it more fun
Meaning.  If you aren't making meaning while you are reading go back and try again until you understand what you are reading
Never give up. You might just have a book that is too easy or too hard.  Look for the good fit book and keep trying.  It may be that the book isn't your kind of book, so try something else
On your own.  Reading on your own can be great, give it a try!
Purpose.  Think about why you are reading.  If the book matches your purpose, then go for it!
Question.  While you are reading ask yourself questions.  Stop after a chapter, or a few pages and make sure you are still getting it.  Ask deep questions too, why did the author write it this way?, etc
Read, read, read.  it is the only way to get better
Savor the moments.  read and reread if you loved the book.
Tell someone about it.  If you loved the book, then tell a friend, a teacher, a sibling.  Reading should be social!
Understanding is essential
Voracious reading.  Read all the time that you can, you will be amazed at how much you grow!
Wonder.  While you read wonder about all parts of the book...
X marks the spot. Find a great spot and sit and read
Yearn to learn more.  Reading can take you to places, so find where you want to go and do it!
Zero in on captions, pictures, graphs and all other text features.  When you are reading a nonfiction text remember to look at all the parts that make it up~

Rare Things

A mother who sits and reads while her children play peacefully
Waking up and wanting to get moving before your alarm clock rings
Eating chocolate and not gaining weight
Making a family dinner that every member will want to partake in
Having enough time to read all the books you want to read
Wives who take out the garbage
Husbands who notice dishes and laundry being done
Pets who don't beg for dinner early
Students who ask for more homework
Money to buy clothing when you want it, and shopping for clothing when you have money and having some clothing actually there that you want to buy.
Parents who don't tell you how to do things, even when you are grownups
Teachers getting paid the money they deserve
Stay at home moms getting paid for the hard work that they do
Not having to pay back snow days when you live in upstate New York
Family vacations being relaxing



This writing prompt was taken from http://writingprompts.tumblr.com/ I love this blog, I always seem to find new ideas to write about from this blog!  Be sure to check it out!

ABC's of writing

Awe. Be aware of awe and wonder in your writing. Ask questions and think about your dreams 
Brave. Be brave. Write about things that really matter even if it might be difficult.
Collaborate. Talk to friends about ideas they are writing about. 
Draft. Do a first draft and then look back and polish it up. 
Exciting. Make sure to include excitement in your writing. 
Free writing. Try to start with free writing. After you write for a few minutes you'll get a sense of what you want to write about then you can do it. 
Go for the jugular! (thank you Natalie Goldberg) 
Have fun. Writing should be fun. Be creative and write something you would like to read. 
Interest. Write about something that you are interested in. 
Just do it. Begin. You will never know what story lies within you unless you begin. 
Keep writing. Don't stop. 
Let the ideas flow. Let yourself go. Whatever comes to mind write it. 
Make mistakes. You can always go back and fix them later. Sometimes mistakes lead to the best writing. 
Never give up. If writing is hard for you, keep trying and doing your best, eventually the practice will pay off and it'll come easier. 
Observe the world around you. Your experiences make the best topics of writing. 
Poetry can take many forms. Haiku, free verse, couplet. Invent your own if you want. 
Questions. Sometimes the best way to write is to start with a question. Research. Take time to know your subject well 
Share with friends so they can help you revise or just enjoy what you wrote! Take your time. No need to rush. Writing is a process, not a product. 
Use prompts if they help you 
Vocabulary. Use the words to make your writing interesting to the reader. Write what you know. 
X marks the spot. Find a comfy place to write or get comfortable where you are writing so you can stay focused and engaged. 
Yearn to keep on writing. Passion in writing makes it more interesting. 
Zero pressure. Don't succumb to pressure when writing. Take the time to just write whatever is on your mind, even if it is repeating over and over again.

Alphabetical Advice

I was browsing through different blogs and a few nights ago I came across a blog that posts writing prompts every few days.  I loved it immediately! I decided to use one of the prompts today for my writing and here it is:

The link below is a link the blog where I found this:
Writing Prompts Blog

My Alphabetical Advice:
Always do your best.  (4 agreements) Enough said.
Be yourself.  Yourself is good enough.
Consider others feelings before you speak or act.
Don't make assumptions. (4 agreements)
Easy does it.  Don't overdo anything.  Don't go on a crazy diet, don't push too much with exercise.   Just ease into it and do what you can.
Food is meant to be good.  Eat what you want, in moderation.
Girls just wanna have fun.  It's true, they do.  Boys can too of course.  But just make sure no matter what gender you are, that you have fun in your life!
Hope for the best.  (otherwise what good is hope anyways?)
I believe in love.  (Love is incredible)
Just do it.  If you haven't tried something new today, go ahead and do it, it may turn into your favorite thing!
Kindness can go a long way.  Try to always act with kindness first.
Love yourself first.  If you don't love yourself first, then how will you ever have enough in you to love others?
Make time for family.  Put your family first.  Don't fret about cleaning and chores all the time.  
Spend time with your family instead.
No excuses.  Don't make excuses for your actions.  Say your sorry and move forward.
Openness.  Be open to others ideas and suggestions, but make the decision on your own.
Pictures.  Take pictures of special occasions, but remember you need to be in them too, and not to spend all your time taking pictures, live in the moment too!
Queen for the day.  Dress up and look fancy, if it makes you feel great, do it!
Right wrongs.  Say you're sorry when you need to.  It means a lot!
Simple is best.  Don't over complicate your life.  Simplicity is key!
Talk it out.  Don't let frustrations fester inside you, take the time to talk things out with those you love.
Use your time as you wish.  Your time is precious, spend it how you want to.
Value experiences over things.  Rather than always buying something for someone or yourself,  consider going to a play, concert, or getting a massage.  We don't need to accumulate so much!
Wonder.  Wondering is dreaming while awake.  Take time to wonder every day.
X marks the spot.  Find the spot you love and be there whenever you can for moments of calmness.
Yearn to know more.  Be a lifelong learner.  There is never a better time to learn something new than right now!
Zaniness is fantastic!  Don't be afraid to be wild and crazy.

7 Valleys Writing Project Shout out

I'm on the eve of my final day at the 7VWP Summer Institute.  I can't sleep because I am both excited and sad at the same time.  Mostly, I'm filled with a million different ideas of what to do and where to go.  I actually want to change the name of my Blog now too, since I have morphed and I am no longer going to simply have the identity of Reading Teacher, since now I see myself as a Writer and a much better prepared Writing Teacher.  I owe a world of thanks to David, Danielle and Kathryn for all they did to make this institute what it is (was...).  The impeccable way that Danielle and Kathryn model co-teaching is inspiring.  Writing to Learn has transformed my way of thinking and eventually my way of teaching.  Basically, these 3 weeks have blown my world up in such an exciting way.  I also would like to say a huge thank you to my cohorts this summer as well.  Thank you James, Shannon, Lauryn and Wendy (who joined us most of this week).  I am very grateful that my colleague, Marilyn, introduced me to the 7VWP. Thank you Amy for all your support with my demo, burning question work, and being an amazing editor of my writing! Inspiration like this has the momentum to move mountains.  I am going to sing it loud and proud that this is the place to go to improve your practice and become a lifelong writer.  To quote Flashdance, "Take your passion, and make it happen!"  This will be me from here on out.

Pastry Perfection

Zachary hard at work!

The rhythm of the kitchen
Crash!
Clank!
Sizzle!
The oven radiates energy
to create a confection
Mother is the drum major
of today's creation
Zachary's unrestrained voice
provides syncopation
Our hands together
roll out the lattice crust
which lays over
slippery apple slices
dancing in cinnamon
the final beep sounds
apple pastry perfection

No One Told Me (Poem to my Daughter, Meghan)

No one told me
I couldn't hold you in my arms
No one told mehow long that pain would last
No one told me
how independent you would be
No one told me
resisting you would be impossible
No one told me
how much you would melt my heart
No one told me
how sleep would be a stranger
No one told me
how instantly you were at ease
No one told me
how your voice gently calms
No one told me
how feisty you could be

No one told me
how much you would teach me
No one told me
how much you would look like me
No one told me
how love for you would shake my world
No one told me
How hard it would be to leave you
No one told me


And even if they did,
Would I have been able to hear?