Celebrate: Five Star Things About the Week

It’s Saturday.  Time to reflect on the goodness of the week. Thank you Ruth for providing a place to share.

ONE

It’s Winter Break.  I love having this time to regroup and reflect.  Time to bake, wrap presents, and enjoy family.

TWO

Receiving the best poetry package ever from Ramona as part of the Winter Poetry Swap. She included such wonderful treasures: a sparkly folder for poem collecting and two poems; “For Christmas” which I shared with my staff and then her Nativity poem.  They will be out every Christmas.  Plus the fantastic book MANGER by Lee Bennet Hopkins. It’s perfect for the holidays. And to finish it all a snowman ornament and pad for lists.

THREE

Our simple Christmas: Our Christmas was different. For the first time in 24 years we didn’t do anything on Christmas Eve with either girl. Oldest daughter worked and an oldest grand girl was at her dad’s and Youngest daughter and girls were in southern Oregon(coming up next weekend). So husband and I almost made it to Christmas Eve service but we decided to stop by friends whose daughter died of an overdose a year ago today. She was a year older than our oldest. Our friends have been raising her son for years. (these are husbands’s friends from high school). Then we went out to eat. I then baked two batches of cookies and wrapped presents. I have to admit, I rather enjoyed this Christmas Eve.

On Christmas Day, we went to oldest daughter’s for the day. oldest grand girl tried to get us to open one present every hour. The adults didn’t like that idea much. Santa brought husband into the 21st century with a smart phone. Husband made pizza and oldest daughter had spaghetti so we had the “Christmas Feast” oldest grand girl wanted.

No drama. Letting go of perfection.  This POST explains more.

FOUR

Being included in this fabulous gallery of poetry, Finding Fall.  Carol does such a wonderful job of creating art with our poems.

FIVE

The CYBILS Poetry shortlist is decided BUT it will wait until January 1 for the unveiling.  Am very happy with the list.

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Celebrate: Five Star Things About the Week

Each Saturday people take the time to reflect on the week and then share at Ruth Ayres Writes. Here I am, once again a day late.  It’s been that kind of week with school and the home front and the need to sleep commanding my attention.  I missed my Tuesday post on Deowriter for SOLSC14. I missed Poetry Friday here as well.

But as I went to Ruth’s blog today and read her post on Personal Landmarks, I read words that reassured me that I am not alone.  There are times we all struggle. This statement reminds me of my capabilities: “I’m a writer who writes –15 minutes each day on her current story.”

So now to my celebrations of the week.

ONE

Family. They are there when you need them.  We had a week that the support and love of family was critical.

TWO

The CYBILS nominations of the Poetry books.  I think we have a great selection of Children and YA books to review and select finalists for January.  As the organizer, this has been one of the time commitments this week.

THREE

A co-worker and I engaged in a banter of Picasso quotes:

“If only we could pull out our brain and use only our eyes.”

—Pablo Picasso

“Everything you can imagine is real.”

—Pablo Picasso

“Nothing can be done without solitude.”

—Pablo Picasso

FOUR

Humor.  Thank goodness that my mother and father gifted me with a sense of humor.  Sometimes it’s gallows humor but it gets me through challenges.

FIVE

Kinders getting to check out their first book.  I just love their excitement when this day arrives for them.  They are so serious to choose the correct book.

What are you celebrating?

Poetry Friday: Announcing the CYBILS Poetry Panelists and Judges

It’s Friday. Head to The Poem Farm for more poetry.

Selecting from the CYBILS applicants is always SO difficult. There are such good applicants that are passionate about poetry. It makes me do the happy dance!  After considering those who are seasoned and those who are new, blending together a mixture of librarian, author, parent, and teacher bloggers; may I present Round One and Round Two.  The poetry books will be read by two fabulous groups.

And please, if you weren’t selected or had too much on your plate to consider being on the CYBILS Poetry Team, start thinking about which poetry books should be nominated starting on October 1.

Round One
Kelly Fineman
Writing and Rumination http://kellyfineman.blogspot.com
@kellyfineman

Nancy Bo Flood
The Pirate Tree http://www.thepiratetree.com

Jone Rush MacCulloch
Check It Out https://maclibrary.wordpress.com
@JoneMac53

Margaret Simon
Reflections on the Teche http://reflectionsontheteche.wordpress.com
@MargaretGSimon

Tricia Stohr-Hunt
The Miss Rumphius Effect http://missrumphiuseffect.blogspot.com
@missrumphius

Sylvia Vardell
Poetry For Children http://poetryforchildren.blogspot.com
@SylviaVardell

Bridget Wilson
What is Bridge Reading http://whatisbridgetreading.blogspot.com
@bridgetwilson

Second Round
Linda Baie
Teacher Dance http://www.teacherdance.org
@LBaie

Matt Forrest Esenwine
Radio, Rhythm, and Rhyme http://mattforrest.wordpress.com
@MattForrestVW

Renee La Tulippe
No Water River http://mattforrest.wordpress.com
@ReneeMLaTulippe

Diane Mayr
Kurious Kitty’s Kurio http://www.kuriouskitty.blogspot.com
@terserverser

Laura Shovan
Author Amok http://authoramok.blogspot.com
@laurashovan

Are you lamenting the end of summer?  Visit the Summer Serenity Gallery created and hosted by Carol Varsalona.  Several of us Poetry Friday contributors are showing their work.

Happy Poetry.

Happy Friday.

Celebrate: Five Star Things About the Week

It’s Saturday. Time to celebrate all the goodness of the week at Ruth Ayres Writes.

ONE

Summer vacation has begun as of today!  Our last day of school was yesterday. While bittersweet with eight people leaving us, it was a joyous day. So much love to be shared by students, staff, and parents.

TWO

Last weekend I was at my brother’s graduation from the Southern California Health Institute.  Forty years ago this month I graduated from Lewis and Clark College.  This weekend is our fortieth reunion.  Good to catch up with people.

THREE

Kindergartners who brought me cards for reading to them all year.  Singing “Metamorphosis” with the minders…it’s a song about change.

FOUR

I was accepted into the Darcy Pattison Revision Retreat along with 19 other people. In January 2015 (six months away).

FIVE

Getting my first summer poem in the mail for the Summer Poetry Swap from Diane Mayr.  Thanks, Diane.

 
What are you celebrating?
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Celebrate: Five Star Things About the Week

Today’s the day to reflect on the week.  Celebrating all the good things at Ruth Ayres Writes.

ONE

It was one of the busiest weeks ever and I persevered.  From the play performance to “Bring Your Child to Work Day” to a frustrating library media meeting and the cast party.  Plus other happy events, I am celebrating.

TWO

The play.  After over forty hours of rehearsal, students learning their lines, last minute costumes, and students filling in for absent students, “Mowgli, Boy of the Jungle” performed three times on Tuesday.

 

 

THREE

Arrival.  This box arrived from The National School Project.  Of  one hundred fifty poems submitted by students, more than one hundred thirty nine poems were selected.

FOUR

“Bring Your Child to Work Day.”  This is the second year my oldest grand girl has spent the day with me.  She’s  great fun to have around.  She read four books to my kinder and first great classes.  Her comments to others were hilarious:

When asked how she liked working for me: “She (meaning me) doesn’t run a sweatshop.  I want to work.”

To my library assistant: “So you check out the books and grandma entertains the students.”

FIVE

Having two college friends attend the play. It was serendipitous and meant a lot to me.

What are you celebrating?

 

Celebrate: Five Star Things About the Week

It’s Saturday.  Time to write about the good things in life and share at Ruth Ayres Writes.

ONE

Getting back to school. My snow wish came true, we had two snow days this week. Our Tuesday two-hour late became another day because our parking lot was treacherous (we don’t have to make it up as we were one of three schools in the same predicament).  It was a pleasure returning to school even if only for two days as Friday was part of the Presidents’ Day weekend. February is a wacky month with Presidents’ Day weekend and conference.  Throw in snow days, you wonder if you’ll ever get any teaching finished.

TWO

Co-workers who step in to help you out.  My partner with the  PRE-K story hour read the books for me this week due to an asthma flare-up  and loss of voice. Truly a gift for me to not have to read.

THREE

   

The beginning of a three-day author visit with Susan Blackaby.  Her latest book, BROWNIE GROUNDHOG AND THE WINTRY SURPRISE is the best.  Susan will be working with students on where ideas come from and how to elaborate and find the just right word during her time with us.

FOUR

  

I was invited to talk with students at another elementary school about my little haiku book,

SOLACE IN NATURE.  Plus some of the bought my book!

FIVE

My online conversation with Diane Mayr about haiku and the haiga she shared for Poetry Friday.

FIVE.FIVE

How could i miss this?  CYBILS Winners announced and the fabulous Forest Had a Song: Poems by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater was selected for poetry.

What are you celebrating?

Celebrate: Five Star Things About the Week

As always, I am grateful to Ruth Ayres’ blog for providing a place to celebrate.

ONE

Author and story-teller, Dawn Prochovnic, came to our PreK Story Time.  She taught us sign language for the colors and shared her book, See the Colors.  We had a great time and I know the colors in sign language now.

TWO

Cupcakes!
Wednesday was my birthday.  Cupcake on the left was from a second grader who is my birthday twin.  The right cupcake is from PTA.  So very thoughtful! And delicious.

THREE

The Super Bowl and our School Spirit Day.  Friendly rivalry.  Brandi, on the left, is in New York to cheer the Seahawks to victory.  She’s soaking it all in.  Deb, on the right, secretly hopes that the Hawks win but she had to show here Bronco love.

FOUR

Winner!  I retweeted a tweet of MrJohnShu. and minutes later I had won a signed copy of this book:

It arrived in the mail today!  Woohoo!

FIVE

An email from another teacher librarian colleague asking me to do an author visit with her after school reading club with Solace in Nature, my photography and haiku book.  What an honor.

What are you celebrating?

Celebrate: Five Star Things About This Week

 

Hooray for Saturday!  Hooray for celebrations.  More can be found at Ruth Ayres’ blog.

ONE

Making progress on my re-shelving project in the library. It’s providing interest in the kid because the books are not in the normal places.

TWO

 

Reading the CYBILS’ Graphic Novel Finalists.  A judge needed to leave because of a family emergency.  These for for both elementary and young adult.

THREE

Try-outs for the school play!! I have about fifty students trying out for Mowgli: Boy of the Jungle.

FOUR

Sunshine! After several weeks of an inversion and socked in fog, I am happy to see the sun.

FIVE

A kinder told me that an “author paints words”.  Another kinder wondered why the mouse didn’t just burrow out of the deep, deep hole in the book, Oh, No! by Candice Fleming.

What are you celebrating?

Celebrate: Five Star Things About Week

With school not in session, time is more relaxed. Thanks to Ruth Ayres for providing a space for us to celebrate our lives.

1. Christmas Eve with family. Listening to my oldest grandgirl discover the differences between the book Coraline and the movie, Coraline. I gave her the book for Christmas.
2. Quiet Christmas with just husband and pooches.
3. Time to read.
4. Being able to prepare soup and brownies to take to friends whose Christmas was shattered by the untimely death of their daughter.
5. The Poetry CYBILS finalists have been decided. I can’t wait until Wednesday, January 1, 2014 for them to be announced. The poetry nominees were abundant in goodness and quality this year.

Celebrate: Five Star Things About the Week

Every week, people gather at Ruth Ayre Writes to share our weekly celebrations.

1. Being flexible. I had a Readers’ Choice Book Talk event with the public librarian that needed to be rescheduled to December. I feel for all classroom teachers. They are handed things to do at a moments’ notice anymore. Things that one wonders if it is truly what’s best for kids. It seems they are always assessing in the name of data. So I knew that I could be flexible and change the date.

2. The view of Mt. Hood on the way home from school on Tuesday. The mountain was glowing against the grey sky. The photo doesn’t do it justice.

3. Lunch and catching up with a college friend on Wednesday(no school). It’s so nice to be able to go to lunch mid-week.

4. Thanksgiving. My oldest grandgirl stayed overnight. She helped with making cranberry sauce and tried her hand at peeling yams. This was not to her liking which was fine. Dinner was great. Later I met up with her mom for late night shopping. For me, it’s the experience. I never have to have anything and I have never seen poor behavior.

5. An email from a friend that let me know she does read my Slice of Life Posts at Deowriter. I wasn’t aware. It was such a good email.

What are you celebrating?