Ruth Ayres invites us the celebrate each week. Click over to her site Discover. Play. Build. to read more celebrations.
This morning, I’ve been cleaning and doing chores like kitty litter and laundry. My hands smell like bleach. I kinda like the smell, tingly clean, but I should’ve worn gloves. As I swept the kitchen floor, what else was there to do but reflect on my week. Do I really have anything to celebrate? The list got longer and longer.
The logo for SCBWI is a kite. I set out my kite last weekend. I found out it needs a few repairs, but it may fly one day. I have hope. The Houston conference gave me hope, but I also connected with other writers on this journey and that is what I celebrate today: Connections. I wrote about the conference for Slice of Life Tuesday.
On Tuesday night my husband and I attended a fund raiser for a fairly new nonprofit called the Shining Light Foundation. The organization provides financial assistant to children who have a dream. The event offered a roundup of local Cajun and Zydeco bands. I was particularly taken by a young girl playing the washboard. She has such a natural rhythm and a sense of confidence. I celebrate young talent and passion for going for it.
Chubby Carrier and students
This week our gifted sixth graders finished up their project on Wonders of Iberia Parish by painting sets for an original play. Their performance was held at our Gifted by Nature Day for all elementary students, and the three boys that I teach felt proud of the accomplishment. I can see how this experience changed them into confident leaders. I celebrate student leaders.
My students continue to enjoy singing poems with Amy Ludwig VanDerwater over at The Poem Farm. Some of them are going to the site on their own between class meetings. One of my groups created their own song this week. See if you can figure out the tune. Here is a matching form from Amy’s site. Like Amy, I will post the Soundcloud tomorrow for you to see if your guess was right.
Written by Matthew, Tyler, Noah, Jacob, and Vannisa
Tree Song
Apples fall from apple trees
Watch out! Watch out!
Syrup comes from maple trees,
Sweet, a sticky mess!
Acorns fall from old oak trees.
Squirrels eat them.
Squirrels and humans both alike
all depend on trees.
All depend on trees,
All depend on trees.
Squirrels and humans both alike
All depend on trees!
I’m still happy about you going to the conference, so great Margaret. It sounds like a very good week!
Your students continue to amaze me. How fun to learn with them!
Singing poems?!?! Awesome!!! So much I want to try and so little time! Sigh… I want to hear more about the conference!! Can’t wait to hear what the tune is…I have no idea!
Margaret, such a celebratory week you had. I especially like the information about your students’ learnings and writing. They are really interested in Amy’s poetry paired to music project. I was wondering if they would like to contribute one for Spring’s Symphony along with a mentor poem by you? I look forward to hearing more about your conference learning.
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