Slice of Life: Counting the Clouds in the Sky

I am linking up with my friend Michelle over at BigTime Literacy for her BigTime Blogging Writing Challenge!!  Today is my first post for the month of July considering I just found this awesome linky!  I am challenging myself to write a blog post every single day that is left in July!  Ready?!  Here I go!!

Have you ever counted the clouds in the sky?  Have you ever tried?  Honestly, have you ever considered this task?!

Perhaps, you might be thinking that I am crazy right now for asking this question...why would anyone count the clouds in the sky?  Why would anyone set up this impossible challenge for themselves only to know that he/she will fail?

The amazing thing to me is that, most two year olds don't know that counting the clouds in the sky is an unbelievable task.  They see objects to count, and they start counting.  Many adults see this task and turn the other way immediately.  Honestly, I too would turn away and run in the other direction.

Well, my daughter decided that counting the clouds in the sky was not too hard of a task for her.  She grabbed a stick from the ground on our walk this afternoon , pointed it at the sky, and dove right into counting.

After E went to sleep tonight, I rehashed my amazement with my husband, and we both started to truly think about what this adorable and innocent act reminds us of.  Adults often run away when times get rough.  Children often dive right into the task at hand.  At least that is what I have seen with our little girl and many of the students I teach.

*I want to remember this next time I want to run in the other direction when times get hard.  When times get rough.

The sky is endless, and so are our abilities.

Do you want to jump onto this Linky?!?  Check it out here and get the directions here!!

Classroom Transformation

Woah!  My classroom transformation is underway!  Check it out in the MY CLASSROOM section of my blog, or click here!  I cannot wait to go into school next week to check it out!  I will share pics as they become available!

Letters from Past Students

Every year the 5th graders are given the opportunity to write to past teachers before they leave for middle school, and every year I secretly hope that I get a few letters from my once 2nd graders.  :)  Well, they did not disappoint.  Here are a few.  :)

"You are the Good Ones," said Grandma.

Another amazing day of Writing Workshop today with these super talented teachers!  Here is a piece I wrote two years ago, but was able to continue to work on it today during workshop.  After I read Remember, Grandma? by Laura Langston to begin our Guided Imagery for a Memoir piece the participants began writing, this is the piece I revised from two years before.  It is far from the publishing stage, but I hope you enjoy.  I hope it paints a clear picture of my grandma, our family's relationship and how much I miss her.

We all sat in the living room.  Together.  Staring.  Waiting.  Wondering.  Finally, I said, “Grandma, Hi!”  She stared at me with a blank look.  Sometimes we get what we are looking for and sometimes not.  Today didn’t look like it was going to be the kind of day where a glimmer of hope would be released.  What was going on inside her mind?  I thought.  Sometimes I try to imagine what she’s going through, and then I stop because it is just too painful.

Still waiting...I grab the scrapbook Mom made when times get rough.  Grandma’s eyes lit up and she grabbed the book out of my hands, just as a 3 year old would.  Flipping through the pages one by one, she made comments about each person on each page.  Well, maybe not comments, more like grunts, but we knew what she meant by the pointing, her confused looks and her strange noises.

She began by pointing at a picture of a gorgeous, young woman with hair and makeup done to perfection.  The clothes and shoes were a close second.  As she pointed, Mom said, “That is you, Mom.”  “No, sister,” Grandma replied.  Grandma looked confused.

On the next page there was a picture of a man standing by himself.  He was a dapper man in a 3 piece suit standing next to a light pole.  Grandma pointed and smiled and then slowly her smile turned to loss.  “Gone?”  Mom nodded with tears in her eyes.  Grandma stroked the picture with tears in her eyes.  As fast as the smile faded turning to despair, so did this distant memory.

Next page.  Four kids sitting in a row.  Grandma smiled again.  Mom reminded her of the names of her four cute kids’ faces.  Confusion.  Hearts breaking.

Next page.  The five grandchildren.  Grandma pointed and let out a disapproving sigh.  I knew it was my shorts that caused Grandma to roll her eyes and place her hand over her chest.

Next page.  Next page.  Next page.  Pictures and pictures and more pictures.  Waiting.  Wondering.  Staring.  Hoping.  Then it happened.

“You are the good ones,” was all she could mumble.  We knew that Grandma wanted to say so much more.  But, she just couldn’t.  She was unable to.  But, her comment was exactly what we needed to be content.

Writing Workshop

Do you use Writing Workshop in your classroom?!

Thoughtful ideas
Perfect word choice
Strong voice
Daily revisions
Editors
Sharers
Publishers
Smart writers
Proud students

I owe it all to Writing Workshop because all of these occur in our 2nd grade classroom.  :)  I could not ask for more energy, determination and focus in our room during Writing Workshop.  If I could store in a jar the excitement and learning that happen every day during Writing Workshop, I would be a millionaire!  :)

If you are not doing Writing Workshop, please consider it!  If you need help with any resources to get your started, please do not hesitate to ask!  I LOVE talking about Writing Workshop, and I love teaching Writing Workshop even more!

Ummmm...I think I just said WRITING WORKSHOP 15 times!  :)

During my time in Hinsdale with the Illinois Writing Project two summers ago, one participant in my workshop asked me if I ever considered consultation work.  Woah.  What an honor to have been asked that.  I am doing consultation work right now with the Illinois Writing Project.  I am living the dream.  :)

These books are new for me through Heinemann Publishing.  I hope my order comes soon!  I cannot wait to incorporate more anchor charts in my classroom this coming school year!!  I have always had students be included in the process of creating the anchor charts that they will be referring to in the classroom, but these books have amazing strategies that I need to know about!!  Do own these in your library??

Where I'm From Poetry

What a fantastic week it has been so far!  I am a leader for the Illinois Writing Project  www.illinoiswritingproject.com, and I am teaching teachers in Elmhurst, Illinois all about Writing Workshop and strategies to use in their classrooms.  I sooooo enjoy sharing ideas!  I am also learning TONS from such talented teachers in our group!  It is a win-win!  :)  One participant came up to me today and asked, "Can I just get into your head and learn all of your ideas and gain all of your knowledge?"  I.was.honored.  Me?  Little ol' me?  That comment will sure stick with me forever.

One of the activities tomorrow:  The teachers will write a Where I'm From Poem.  This idea is originally from Georgia Ella Lyon.  Boy did I love this experience.  Brainstorming at the beginning...prewriting ideas...and drafting this reflective poem.  It makes me smile about where I came from.  Maybe you want to try it and see what you come up with!  Here is a resource you can use to get your mind thinking.
http://www.georgeellalyon.com/where.html
Here is what I wrote tonight in preparation for tomorrow's class!  Hope you enjoy!

           *Where I’m From

I am from the hardworking

and responsible.

I am from the parents who taught me right

from wrong.

I am from the immediate family of 3

and extended family of many.

I am from the smell of my mom’s homemade pizza

lingering in the kitchen,

from New Kids on the Block singing “Hangin’ Tough”

and from the original American Girl doll Samantha.

I am from the movies

“What about Bob?” and “The Mask “ on Friday nights.

From watching the movie “Father of the Bride” on the couch with Daddy

both of us dreaming of my future prince charming.

I am from nicknames like, “Pumpkin” and “Daddy’s Little Girl.”

I am from the most manicured lawn on the block,

And the looooooooong driveway with planters ending each side.

I am from playing catch with Daddy and shopping with Mommy.

I am from being the tom-boy playing basketball with the boys and

being the girly-girl playing Barbies.

I am from stockings stuffed

and from a long line of presents on Christmas morning.

I am from being able to tell my mom anything

without fear of her response.

I am from Saturday lunches with 3 generations

and outings of women.

I am from long legs in the family tree,

from Gabl and from Sweiding.

I am from a long line of emotional women.

I am from the mind your p’s and q’s

And look both ways before you cross the street.

I am from skinned knees after hot summer afternoons

on the softball field.

I’m from the most voted to become a nun in the high school yearbook.

From mashed potatoes and Coke Slurpees

From the original Nintendo days

And Super Mario Brothers.

I am from pride.

I am from unity.

I am from the generous.

I am from family.

I am Kari.

Emma's 2nd Birthday Party and Monday Made It!

Today, I am super excited to share some pictures from Emma's 2nd birthday as well as to link up with Tara from Fourth Grade Frolics for Monday Made It!!  This is my very first Monday Made It, and honestly, I am even more excited that my very first Monday Made It happens to be about my favorite little munchkin in the whole entire world.  :)

So, I decided for Emma's birthday this year, we would have a pink lemonade stand considering summer SCREAMS lemonade and adorable lemonade stands.

Here is the link I found on Pinterest that inspired this lemonade stand!

Emma's pink lemonade stand birthday party was a HUGE success!!  Family, friends, lemonade, bubbles, playing outside, cake and presents...a little girl's heaven!!  :)

We are so lucky...AGAIN...that the rain held out until after cake.  Last year, and then this year, we had friends and family tracking the weather to make sure that we did not get stuck in the rain!!  :)'

If you want any info on how we made the lemonade stand, just let me know!!