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NCTE 2018 has come and gone as a quick wind beneath my wings. The presentations, the authors, the people, the atmosphere lifts me up and says, “You are doing the good work.”
In his keynote with his twin brother Paul, Peter Reynolds said, “Your brain is beautiful.” Everywhere I went, everyone I met helped me to believe this is true.
My husband calls the NCTE conference “hobnobbing with your fellow wizards.” My fellow wizards include poets from Poetry Friday, teacher-writers from Two Writing Teachers and TeachWrite, and dedicated educators from Good to Great. These people are my tribe.
I was so privileged to be able to present with Ralph Fletcher, Naomi Shihab Nye, and Chris Crutcher on the theme of Voices in the Air. These three authors are inspirational and powerful speakers. Their message was one of hope, that when we write and put our voices out in the world, someone will be touched by it.
On a panel with my Poetry Friday peeps, Heidi Mordhorst, Laura Purdie Salas, Mary Lee Hahn, and Irene Latham, we inspired teachers to take their students outside of the classroom to write in the wild. We talked about exploring the world through other perspectives and looking more closely.
In a session with Michelle Haseltine, Amy Ludwig VanDerwater, Linda Urban, and Jen Cherry, I felt renewed interest in writer’s notebooks, in providing a place for students to be themselves, to encourage mindfulness, build stamina, and encourage risk. I felt braver writing in my own notebook, realizing that there is no perfect way to keep a notebook, my notebook is mine, and I should give my students more opportunities for free writing.
In a panel with Jan Burkins, Kim Yaris, Dani Burtsfield, Christina Nosek, and Kari Yeatts, I learned new ways to be responsive to my students as readers. I learned to look at four characteristics of a reader: book choice, healthy habits, strategic process, and authentic response. They said, “Learn about your student first; the teaching will come.” I also noted this quote, “The awesome in us sees the awesome in you.” Back to that beautiful brain. These teacher-leaders did not say they had all the answers; they said, “We are with you.”
Sitting beside my students, I will have these people with me. I am full! I am rich! I am renewed!
NCTE is…
presenting with author rock stars…
connecting with poets…
meeting your favorite author…
spending time with friends…
and more!
Reflections on the Teche 