I am wearing my shamrock socks and a green sweater. My husband is traveling so the corned beef and galushca (cabbage and noodle dish) that I made over the weekend is in the car, ready to share at work during lunchtime with my colleagues. Last year, I sliced the recipes of this meal HERE.
As I sit in Starbucks this morning, writing this slice, shamrocks are taped to the window and hang from the ceiling around the bar area. My daughter in Chicago mentioned seeing the dyed-green river on Saturday as the city celebrated this holiday over the weekend. Driving to Starbucks, I listened to Garrison Keillor on NPR's The Writer's Almanac note the story of Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland. He stated that since 1762, New York City has celebrated with a parade down 5th Avenue and that today, the largest St. Patrick's Day parade in the world will be marching in New York, 150,000 in all.
It is St. Patrick's Day. I no longer practice my Catholic upbringing much but I will dress for this day and I plan to grab a green beer after work. Why? Who doesn't want to spend a day thinking about the Luck of the Irish smiling down on them, dreaming of the pot of gold beyond the rainbow.
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
Monday, March 16, 2015
March 16 - Lawyers
I'm a sucker for The Good Wife, Law and Order and years ago, LA Law. I like watching how lawyers show how the law can be interpreted so their client wins. At the same time, I am glad I am not a lawyer. I tend to believe what people tell me. It seems like lawyers are the opposite. They need to remain sceptical and instead, figure out how the law can be used to the advantage of their client.
Recently, my husband and I have a lawyer helping us. We signed a contract to have a contractor build us a new house based on my architect husband's design. It's called the white(out)house, as we whited out or demolished the 80-year old house on our land and are having a new green-designed 21st century house built. We had planned to be in the new house for Thanksgiving. Tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day and only the shell of a new house is complete.
So lawyers are involved...
A year ago October, I signed my name to a piece of paper excited to have a new house built. The words on that contract have been read, reread, discussed, and interpreted in a variety of ways over the past 18 months. Hopefully by Friday, I will sign my name to a new document buying out the contractor and agreeing to no longer have them complete the building of our house.
This situation reminds me that the world is filled with different kinds of people who have different ways of seeing things - different perspectives. The builder thinks... We think... Luckily, the builder's lawyer and our lawyer have drafted a document that will allow both parties to agree to break a contract and no longer work together. Though I know I could never be a lawyer, I am glad one is helping. Without a lawyer, the thinking of the builder and our thinking would never be reconciled.
Recently, my husband and I have a lawyer helping us. We signed a contract to have a contractor build us a new house based on my architect husband's design. It's called the white(out)house, as we whited out or demolished the 80-year old house on our land and are having a new green-designed 21st century house built. We had planned to be in the new house for Thanksgiving. Tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day and only the shell of a new house is complete.
So lawyers are involved...
A year ago October, I signed my name to a piece of paper excited to have a new house built. The words on that contract have been read, reread, discussed, and interpreted in a variety of ways over the past 18 months. Hopefully by Friday, I will sign my name to a new document buying out the contractor and agreeing to no longer have them complete the building of our house.
This situation reminds me that the world is filled with different kinds of people who have different ways of seeing things - different perspectives. The builder thinks... We think... Luckily, the builder's lawyer and our lawyer have drafted a document that will allow both parties to agree to break a contract and no longer work together. Though I know I could never be a lawyer, I am glad one is helping. Without a lawyer, the thinking of the builder and our thinking would never be reconciled.
Sunday, March 15, 2015
March 15 - Fan Letter to Judith Viorst
I have another blog that I started back in 2011 - http://funwithreadingandwriting.blogspot.com/ where I post my thoughts about reading and writing.
Looking back through it, I have celebrated the many times I have heard authors speak. Living just outside Washington, D.C., I attend the Annual National Book Festival and I wrote about it here and here and here.
AND I celebrated new books by my favorite authors like here with Eric Carle and here with Sarah Weeks and here with Kathryn Erskine and here with Ralph Fletcher and here with Ralph and The One and Only Ivan and here with Candice Fleming.
AND I honored favorite authors who die like here - Maurice Sendak and here - E.L. Konigsburg.
To me, authors are like rock stars! I am amazed by their writing talent. They can place words in such order to transport me to other places, times, perspectives and they keep me thinking, questioning, pondering, and trying to live better. Writers change my world and as a writing teacher, I constantly am sharing authors' writing as mentor text for my students. Today I wrote this letter as a fan letter to one of my favorite children's writers and poets - Judith Viorst.
Dear Mrs. Viorst,
I am a new teacher at Janney ES but not new to teaching as I started teaching Kindergarten in 1986. Your first Alexander book came out 7 years before and it was one of the first books I bought for my classroom library. I'd read it aloud to my students, we'd all laugh, and then all easily wrote about their worst or best day, inspired by your writing. As a new teacher, I appreciated having you in my classroom through your books.
Seven years later, I took my daughters, age 6 and 3 to a free lecture at the Library of Congress while on my spring break in April. You were one of the speakers, as was Niki Grimes and student writers from DCPS. That day, as my littlest sat on my lap and her sister next to us in the beautiful Library of Congress building, we realize you as a poet. Our favorite poem you shared that day was Sad Underwear! A parent of one of my students worked at C-SPAN at the time and got me the VCR tape of the event. For the following 7 years, I showed you to my students each April as we celebrated National Poetry Month and you, again, inspired my students to write stunning poetry.
I began teaching 5th grade writing at Janney ES the week before the 2014 National Book Festival. I told my new students that I was attending this event and if they were free on Saturday, they should too. "So many great authors and poets will be there. I planned to go hear Judith Viorst." When I said this, a child said, "That's Isaac's grandma." "Really?" I replied. "Yes, and she's my grandma's friend," Avey said. "Really?" I guess I knew you lived in Washington, D.C. and that your grandkids go to a school. I just never thought about where. As your fan, I love that I am teaching at the school where some of your grandkids attend school!
Last week, the 4th and 5th grade students at Janney participated in state testing and as teachers, we did not moderate our homeroom students but instead, switched. This switch gave me the the pleasure of meeting Isaac and being his 4th grade teacher last Wed - Fri and again this Monday and Tuesday. Last Firday was Idol Spirit Day at Janney. The kids came dressed as someone they look up to or idolize. During our Morning Meeting, Isaac mentioned his idol is a guitarist, a few kids dressed as their moms and dads, a few as sports fan for both soccer and baseball and I wore my t-shirt from Columbia's Teachers College Reading and Writing Project. I told the class I go there each summer to learn how to teach writing better. Later, after testing for the day ended and I was helping Isaac with a math problem, I told him, "You know, I could have dressed up as your grandma today. I do look up to her as she helps me to write poetry." Hearing this, a big smile came across his face.
As I end my fan letter to you, I'd like to invite you to come to Janney ES to speak to the 4th and 5th grade writers. ANYTIME! I am not sure if your schedule allows for you to do school visits. However, I know the time would be worthwhile to the students at Janney, just as sharing your books and poems have been for me these past twenty-some years as a teacher. Feel free to email me at sally.donnelly11@gmail.com or send a note back via Isaac.
Thank you for considering this invitation and thank you for mentoring me through your writing to be a better teacher.
Your fan,
Sally
Sally Donnelly
5th Grade Writing Teacher
Janney ES
I hope she is able to visit my school and speak to my students. But either way, I'm glad I took the time to write her a fan letter. Writers really are rock stars!!
Looking back through it, I have celebrated the many times I have heard authors speak. Living just outside Washington, D.C., I attend the Annual National Book Festival and I wrote about it here and here and here.
AND I celebrated new books by my favorite authors like here with Eric Carle and here with Sarah Weeks and here with Kathryn Erskine and here with Ralph Fletcher and here with Ralph and The One and Only Ivan and here with Candice Fleming.
AND I honored favorite authors who die like here - Maurice Sendak and here - E.L. Konigsburg.
To me, authors are like rock stars! I am amazed by their writing talent. They can place words in such order to transport me to other places, times, perspectives and they keep me thinking, questioning, pondering, and trying to live better. Writers change my world and as a writing teacher, I constantly am sharing authors' writing as mentor text for my students. Today I wrote this letter as a fan letter to one of my favorite children's writers and poets - Judith Viorst.
Dear Mrs. Viorst,
I am a new teacher at Janney ES but not new to teaching as I started teaching Kindergarten in 1986. Your first Alexander book came out 7 years before and it was one of the first books I bought for my classroom library. I'd read it aloud to my students, we'd all laugh, and then all easily wrote about their worst or best day, inspired by your writing. As a new teacher, I appreciated having you in my classroom through your books.
Seven years later, I took my daughters, age 6 and 3 to a free lecture at the Library of Congress while on my spring break in April. You were one of the speakers, as was Niki Grimes and student writers from DCPS. That day, as my littlest sat on my lap and her sister next to us in the beautiful Library of Congress building, we realize you as a poet. Our favorite poem you shared that day was Sad Underwear! A parent of one of my students worked at C-SPAN at the time and got me the VCR tape of the event. For the following 7 years, I showed you to my students each April as we celebrated National Poetry Month and you, again, inspired my students to write stunning poetry.
I began teaching 5th grade writing at Janney ES the week before the 2014 National Book Festival. I told my new students that I was attending this event and if they were free on Saturday, they should too. "So many great authors and poets will be there. I planned to go hear Judith Viorst." When I said this, a child said, "That's Isaac's grandma." "Really?" I replied. "Yes, and she's my grandma's friend," Avey said. "Really?" I guess I knew you lived in Washington, D.C. and that your grandkids go to a school. I just never thought about where. As your fan, I love that I am teaching at the school where some of your grandkids attend school!
Last week, the 4th and 5th grade students at Janney participated in state testing and as teachers, we did not moderate our homeroom students but instead, switched. This switch gave me the the pleasure of meeting Isaac and being his 4th grade teacher last Wed - Fri and again this Monday and Tuesday. Last Firday was Idol Spirit Day at Janney. The kids came dressed as someone they look up to or idolize. During our Morning Meeting, Isaac mentioned his idol is a guitarist, a few kids dressed as their moms and dads, a few as sports fan for both soccer and baseball and I wore my t-shirt from Columbia's Teachers College Reading and Writing Project. I told the class I go there each summer to learn how to teach writing better. Later, after testing for the day ended and I was helping Isaac with a math problem, I told him, "You know, I could have dressed up as your grandma today. I do look up to her as she helps me to write poetry." Hearing this, a big smile came across his face.
As I end my fan letter to you, I'd like to invite you to come to Janney ES to speak to the 4th and 5th grade writers. ANYTIME! I am not sure if your schedule allows for you to do school visits. However, I know the time would be worthwhile to the students at Janney, just as sharing your books and poems have been for me these past twenty-some years as a teacher. Feel free to email me at sally.donnelly11@gmail.com or send a note back via Isaac.
Thank you for considering this invitation and thank you for mentoring me through your writing to be a better teacher.
Your fan,
Sally
Sally Donnelly
5th Grade Writing Teacher
Janney ES
I hope she is able to visit my school and speak to my students. But either way, I'm glad I took the time to write her a fan letter. Writers really are rock stars!!
Saturday, March 14, 2015
March 14 - A Memory from my Catholic Upbringing
Growing up, I went to St. James Catholic school for K-8th grade. I wore a grey and maroon plaid jumper with a Peter Pan collared white shirt and maroon sweater. I had some nuns for teachers and some regular ladies as teachers. I sat in rows, learned to read using Dick and Jane, and an SRA kit and went to school Mass once a month and on Sundays with my mom and siblings. I was taught to be dutiful and I worked hard at being good, following the rules imposed by the priests. nuns and teachers. I didn't question why, I just did what I was told to do.
During Advent (the four weeks leading up to Christmas), we gradually lit the three purple and one pink candle each week awaiting the Christmas holiday. Just before Christmas break, the whole student body gathered for Carol Night in the church. Each grade took turns singing a carol as the story of Christmas was retold for the parents and parishioners. Thinking back, Dona Nobis Pacem (Latin for Grant Us Peace), immediately comes to mind. I can still sing it by heart as a round. When googling to spell the title of this song correctly, I fould this video:
Chorus singing Dona Nobis Pacem in round .
Listening to the video, it is exactly what I recall my class sounding like. Yet, my class was dressed in our best Christmas outfits sitting in a large, beautiful Gothic-looking church.
I participated in Carol Night all nine years while being a student at St. James. Yet, this is the only song I recall singing. Why? Maybe because it was the first time I got to sing in another language. Maybe because it was such a challenge to sing it in a round. I do remember being yelled at as a class by Sr. Maria George. She had us practice it over and over and over again. It seemed that the 4th graders were being singled out and had to practice this more than any other grade had to practice their song. But then, on the night, at our time, the practice paid off. We sounded beautiful and our timing for the round was perfected.
At the moment, I am part of a teacher inquiry group studying how we might guide our students to have a growth mindset over a fixed mindset (based on work by Carol Dwek). Thinking about this song, I wonder if it was also a time I experienced a growth mindset. At first, as a class, we failed to sing well. But then, through practice and practice and practice, we finally got it! And now 40 years later, I can still sing it correctly.
I wonder if I am helping my students to practice their writing or reading enough so that 40 years from now, they will recall a school memory where their hard work related to literacy paid off??!!
During Advent (the four weeks leading up to Christmas), we gradually lit the three purple and one pink candle each week awaiting the Christmas holiday. Just before Christmas break, the whole student body gathered for Carol Night in the church. Each grade took turns singing a carol as the story of Christmas was retold for the parents and parishioners. Thinking back, Dona Nobis Pacem (Latin for Grant Us Peace), immediately comes to mind. I can still sing it by heart as a round. When googling to spell the title of this song correctly, I fould this video:
Chorus singing Dona Nobis Pacem in round .
Listening to the video, it is exactly what I recall my class sounding like. Yet, my class was dressed in our best Christmas outfits sitting in a large, beautiful Gothic-looking church.
I participated in Carol Night all nine years while being a student at St. James. Yet, this is the only song I recall singing. Why? Maybe because it was the first time I got to sing in another language. Maybe because it was such a challenge to sing it in a round. I do remember being yelled at as a class by Sr. Maria George. She had us practice it over and over and over again. It seemed that the 4th graders were being singled out and had to practice this more than any other grade had to practice their song. But then, on the night, at our time, the practice paid off. We sounded beautiful and our timing for the round was perfected.
At the moment, I am part of a teacher inquiry group studying how we might guide our students to have a growth mindset over a fixed mindset (based on work by Carol Dwek). Thinking about this song, I wonder if it was also a time I experienced a growth mindset. At first, as a class, we failed to sing well. But then, through practice and practice and practice, we finally got it! And now 40 years later, I can still sing it correctly.
I wonder if I am helping my students to practice their writing or reading enough so that 40 years from now, they will recall a school memory where their hard work related to literacy paid off??!!
Friday, March 13, 2015
March 13 - Every minute counts
One thing I recall doing when I stopped being a classroom teacher to become a reading specialist was no longer looking at the clock constantly. As a classroom teacher I glanced up at the clock and asked Is it time for the kids to arrive? No, I have 3 minutes. Is it time to get to a special class? Yes and unless we get lined up very quickly, we will be 2 minutes late for PE. Is it time for lunch? No, we still have 4 minutes. Enough time to play a game. Is it dismissal time? Still have 6 minutes. Enough time for another read-aloud. As a reading specialist, I did not have a classroom of kids in front of me at all times to guide and herd throughout their school day. I had to be on time for meetings and to co-teach but the minute-by-minute accountability seemed lifted. Now I am back in the classroom as a 5th grade writing teacher. Again, I find myself constantly looking at the clock or constantly setting the timer on my iPhone to help keep on schedule. Every minute counts!
I was reminded of this when reading my daughter's blog post yesterday:
https://annedonnelly.wordpress.com/2015/03/12/today-i-was-9-minutes-late-to-class/
She is working as a native English speaker in a French elementary school in Chambery, France (which is about an hour south of Geneva, Switzerland...a very pretty part of the world). As I finished reading her blog post about the reaction of her littlest students, I felt very proud of her. Thanks to Anne, these kids now know of the favored American book character, Pete the cat and can sing his song in English!
Anne's blog post, though, got me thinking about my time as a classroom teacher. How often am I rushing through my school day? Do I take enough time to enjoy my students? Maybe I shouldn't glance at the clock so often. Maybe I need to take time to experience, as Anne describes it, "the pure unbridled happiness of children."
Thanks for helping me to keep time in perspective, Anne.
I was reminded of this when reading my daughter's blog post yesterday:
https://annedonnelly.wordpress.com/2015/03/12/today-i-was-9-minutes-late-to-class/
She is working as a native English speaker in a French elementary school in Chambery, France (which is about an hour south of Geneva, Switzerland...a very pretty part of the world). As I finished reading her blog post about the reaction of her littlest students, I felt very proud of her. Thanks to Anne, these kids now know of the favored American book character, Pete the cat and can sing his song in English!
Anne's blog post, though, got me thinking about my time as a classroom teacher. How often am I rushing through my school day? Do I take enough time to enjoy my students? Maybe I shouldn't glance at the clock so often. Maybe I need to take time to experience, as Anne describes it, "the pure unbridled happiness of children."
Thanks for helping me to keep time in perspective, Anne.
Thursday, March 12, 2015
March 12 - My Writing Place
.JPG)
I sent this photo in when asked, Where Do You Slice in March 2015? And it got added to this video made by @blkdrama: http://youtu.be/onfdjS03fG8
As you can see, I'm at Starbucks. I am not a coffee drinker. I either order a vente hot chocolate, no whip or a vente black iced tea, unsweetened and a sausage sandwich.
If I go to the Lee and Harrison Starbucks, I sit at the counter facing the large window which looks out at the strip mall parking lot. Not a great view but I like the feel of the large view offered by the large picture window.
If I go to the VA Square Starbucks, I usually walk. It is about a mile from my house. I enjoy the morning walk and then, once there, sit in a booth and write.
If I go to the Chesterbrook Starbucks, I order and then head upstairs. I call it the double-decker Starbucks. I sit at one of the large dining room tables, both next to the large picture windows with a great view of morning horizon.
At all, the piped in music lulls me to my writing zone. I tune out all the hustle and bustle around me and can write.
If I stayed home, like so many others on the video did, I'd never write. I'd be too distracted by the dishes that needed washing in the kitchen sink, the homework bag filled with ungraded papers and the lack of background music.
At the moment, Starbucks provides me with a great writing place!
However, as soon as my house that my husband and I are building is done, I do think I will be able to stay home and write. Maybe while sitting at a large dining room table in the double-height dining room or in the TV room chair next to this beautiful window:
.JPG)
I guess I'm realizing that I will always write.
And I'll probably always be drawn to sitting next to a great view to get my writing ideas flowing.
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
March 11 - numbers I like, like 11!
Eleven (11) has always been my favorite number!
It is my birthday number, October 11th.
I like that it is a double number, fun to write - one(1), one(1).
When I glance at a digital clock and it reads 3:11 or 7:11 or 9:11, I smile.
When it reads 11:11, I feel a bigger sense of happiness.
I don't know why.
I could not sleep last night so I saw 3:11am on my phone and finally at 4:11am, I just got up.
I started reading and commenting on slices. My friend ended hers by saying rather wisely:
"I imagine what should be..." This simple line made me smile, just like seeing 5:11 makes me smile!
I am reading aloud Rain, Reign by Ann Martin to my student (highly recommend it!!) and the main character, Rose, loves prime numbers. In the chapter yesterday, she was adding up what words were worth when A=1 and Z=26. So, this morning in my restless state, I thought more about numbers, something I don't spend much time thinking about other than happily spying my favorite number.
I took time to add up what SHOULD is worth. It equals 79. I will admit that I don't have prime numbers memoried but I googled a list and 79 is a prime number. Rose from our book would like this! 79, Google told me, is also the atomic number of gold. This symbolism is not lost on me.
The list also reminded me that 11 is a prime number. On the 11 Wikipedia page it states, "If a number is divisible by 11, reversing its digits will result in another multiple of 11. As long as no two adjacent digits of a number added together exceed 9, then multiplying the number by 11, reversing the digits of the product, and dividing that new number by 11, will yield a number that is the reverse of the original number. (For example: 142,312 x 11 = 1,565,432. 2,345,651 / 11 = 213,241.) Really? Really? Who thinks up things like this??
Maybe a mathematician who also couldn't sleep one night!
It is my birthday number, October 11th.
I like that it is a double number, fun to write - one(1), one(1).
When I glance at a digital clock and it reads 3:11 or 7:11 or 9:11, I smile.
When it reads 11:11, I feel a bigger sense of happiness.
I don't know why.
I could not sleep last night so I saw 3:11am on my phone and finally at 4:11am, I just got up.
I started reading and commenting on slices. My friend ended hers by saying rather wisely:
"I imagine what should be..." This simple line made me smile, just like seeing 5:11 makes me smile!
I am reading aloud Rain, Reign by Ann Martin to my student (highly recommend it!!) and the main character, Rose, loves prime numbers. In the chapter yesterday, she was adding up what words were worth when A=1 and Z=26. So, this morning in my restless state, I thought more about numbers, something I don't spend much time thinking about other than happily spying my favorite number.
I took time to add up what SHOULD is worth. It equals 79. I will admit that I don't have prime numbers memoried but I googled a list and 79 is a prime number. Rose from our book would like this! 79, Google told me, is also the atomic number of gold. This symbolism is not lost on me.
The list also reminded me that 11 is a prime number. On the 11 Wikipedia page it states, "If a number is divisible by 11, reversing its digits will result in another multiple of 11. As long as no two adjacent digits of a number added together exceed 9, then multiplying the number by 11, reversing the digits of the product, and dividing that new number by 11, will yield a number that is the reverse of the original number. (For example: 142,312 x 11 = 1,565,432. 2,345,651 / 11 = 213,241.) Really? Really? Who thinks up things like this??
Maybe a mathematician who also couldn't sleep one night!
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