Wednesday Word Work: Celebrating Peter Reynolds

                              Word study this week was unplanned.  Shh our secret!

Rush out purchase this book!  I would have given a million dollars to have yesterday's mini lesson videotaped professionally.  First I shared the beautiful cover.  I passed it around the room.  Everyone touched it and felt the raised letters and could see the sparkle. Every learner was engaged in this book.  Every learner connected and shared their stories.  I now know where everyone hides their clothes when they don't want to clean their room.  But the power of the last two pages - folded it out. Just ask Where are you?  #priceless

I have loved every book by Peter Reynolds.  There is always a page that every learner can connect with and share their story.  But this one grabbed me and wouldn't let go!!  Let me share another special Peter Reynolds moment. 

Celebrating authors and their craft is the best word study lesson EVER!

When I Don't Know the Answers

I purchased this print about six months ago to hang on my wall in my library in our home. It took me three months to find a frame that I loved as much as the print.  It sat framed on the floor probably since Christmas. Today was the day it was placed with honor.  This photo says it all if you truly know me. "I love my library." The young girl choosing a perfect book on her library ladder. Truth be told I really wanted a ladder when we built our home, but we just couldn't figure it out.  

In the past two weeks, I have become quiet. Choosing not to be involved in conversations about what's happening in the world specifically in Ostrander, Worthington and Florida. I don't have any answers.  My time is spent on prayers and reflection.  I am a wife, mom, teacher and a citizen.  For me there aren't any clear answers.  I choose to focus on how I can help my family and my students.  The best way I know to help my students is continue to increase their knowledge, compassion, and empathy for people who are different than us.  I believe one of the best ways is to share stories.  Stories that allow students to see another point of view. Stories that open up their eyes to how fortunate they are.  Stories that have them asking questions and yes hard conversations.  When I don't know the answers, I turn to books that I can share with my impressionable readers.

I always participate in #NF10for10 either with a post or following all the blogs.I opened several tabs and started requesting picture books from my favorite little library in Ostrander. This is my pile that I picked up yesterday at the library.  Today I had time to read all of them.  Several touched my heart and will be shared in our classroom. I found one that I ordered for a friend because I believe paying it forward is one positive way to move forward. When I don't know the answers,I know my answers can be found in books and that is why I love my library and more importantly that is why I believe we need to continuing sharing books with our students allowing stories to be told and conversations to be opened.

Summer Celebrations

Three weeks into summer, and I am loving every moment of it. The season of summer is not my favorite. I am not a hot weather type of gal. But with the warmer temperatures, I have several favorite activities and at the top of my list is gardening. 

Our vegetable garden has ebbed and flowed over the years. We have had way too big and way too small as Goldilocks would say.  Choosing plants and the right quantity has been a challenge too. I love to share our produce with neighbors which makes weeding the gardening palatable. My celebration this year is dividing the garden into fourths and choosing a wider variety of plants. 

Flower gardening is my passion and a little secret is I'm on a mission to raise beautiful flowers cheaply.  Sounds crazy but I have switched almost all of our flower beds to perennials which I purchase at the end of a season usually 75% off and plant a dead bush waiting for it to burst open in the spring.  This year I have planted more seeds because I am anxiously waiting for a wider variety of cut flowers. 

Finally I celebrate my passion for reading! I am a reader and summer is my time for preparing for Newberry Club 2018.  I saw this photo "I love my library." that Peter Reynolds created, and I ordered one for my classroom. Perfect opener to conversations in the fall.  My two favorite books of the summer: Train I Ride and Lucky Broken Girl. 

Reserve them now at your local library. 

I hope everyone is having a wonderful start to summer and your finding time to enjoy your favorite hobbies. I am sad I'm missing Allwrite this weekend and I am thankful for all the tweets to help me stay connected. Congrats to Ruth for an amazing conference.  I'm happy to link up with my Saturday celebration friends.