Category: Champions

The Gift of Grandmothers

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This week, I came across two picture books that reminded me about how important grandmothers are in the lives of children.  Grandmothers are wise leaders and mentors.  They have gentle and guiding hands.  They offer solace for scraped knees, dented feelings, and broken hearts.  They can set the world right again. In my own life, … Continue reading The Gift of Grandmothers

The Work Around

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I think of it and call it “The Work Around.”  And I teach this to children.  No matter what problem you face, what obstacle you encounter, there is ALWAYS a work around. There is always some way you can solve a problem and improve your situation. You just have to keep curious and be willing to play with your stumbling block.  Toss it around a bit, roll it down the hill, bounce it into the bushes.  Don’t be afraid.  Create something new.

Time to Play

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For the last three weeks, the girls have been thoroughly engaged in the process of creating.  They set goals, planned, organized materials, worked collaboratively, monitored their own progress and adjusted their plans to complete their projects.  I saw their independence and self-confidence blossom.  They were play engineers. They were in charge of their learning.

Here I Am!: Conferring with Student Writers

~ wordancerblog ~ 9 Comments

There are many things I love and enjoy about teaching – presenting concepts, sharing ideas, being witness to creativity and discovery, but the one thing that is most important to me is connection.  I know that connection is key to student understanding.  Without connection there are just untethered ideas.  And that is why I absolutely love the time I get to sit down with student writers and talk about their work.

Books as Breadcrumbs

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Books as Breadcrumbs - This year, I work with both struggling and gifted readers and writers. The arc of my work keeps me on my toes and makes me reflect on what moves I make to push my students forward. What arrows or breadcrumbs am I laying down? The first thing I do when working with students is to listen to them and give them space for them to tell me who they are. As Parker J. Palmer says, “Teaching is a daily exercise in vulnerability.” Sharing my struggles and successes with students help them to open up and share what is easy and difficult for them. Then together we plan next steps to reach our goals. This is true for students who have learning differences and students who find academics easy and are searching for more and more challenges.

Writing Community

~ wordancerblog ~ 11 Comments

I have seen myself as a writer ever since I could hold a crayon.  I drew and wrote letters, telling stories to anyone who happened by. Usually, that person was my mother. She was a teacher and always encouraged me. She’d look at my scribbles and pictures and ask me to tell her about them.  … Continue reading Writing Community