Reflections on the Teche

Celebrate One Little Word: Tell me your Story

January 13, 2018 by margaretsmn

Find more celebration posts at Ruth’s blog.

This week as we returned from our break and began 2018, I wanted my students to choose a One Little Word for their year. To lead them in this, I created a Google slide show.

My students were very thoughtful about their word choices. With three choices to creatively represent their words, students rotated from magazine collage to Canva and Animoto. For their writing element, I asked them to write the journey to their chosen word.

This exercise confirmed a belief I have about students and literacy. A child’s story should be told, honored, and respected. Then you can reach, teach, and move them forward.

My students worked through their struggles, their heartaches, their goals, and their dreams.

Erin’s word is Value.

Erin wrote: “I chose value because it’s unique like me. To most people it’s the worth of money. But to me, it’s the worth of myself. I could have chosen other words like confidence, determination, etc. But I couldn’t live by those words. I couldn’t try to be confident for the whole year. The first week I would fail. But I can value myself. I can live by this word, whether it’s me trying to have more value in myself, or me knowing that other people value me.”

Austin chose the word Strive.

Austin wrote: “I got my one little word from basketball. Since the beginning of Christmas break, I have been playing the game a lot. I still have been going outside, but not as much as I usually do. So when it was time to get on the court, I was not ready. I was not ready to run a lot. I was not ready to dribble the ball. I was not ready to put the ball in the basket. We lost both of our games. My mom and my dad told me that if I was not on my game the whole time, I would have been ready for this moment. That is when I decided that I needed to strive to be what I want to be (basketball player). I couldn’t just sit back and do nothing and wait until it was time to do something. I decided to limit my ps4 time. I would work more, hustle more., and especially strive more. I decided to go to the time, not wait till the time came to me.”

Faith’s One Little Word is Gratitude.

Faith wrote: “My journey to get to my one little word all starts when the hurricanes and fires and floods all started. When hurricane Harvey hit Texas, the devastation was horrible. Watching the news and all the houses and building destroyed, it made me feel thankful and grateful for everything I have.”

Trace made an Animoto video about helping. In his post, he wrote, “My One Little Word is Helpful. The way this train of thought all started was when my Mom had told me ‘Maw-maw has a problem where she is starting to forget so we will need to help her more often. Also she is starting to forget to eat so she really needs our help.’ So now I go there almost everyday to help. ”

https://animoto.com/play/joYHfwU0Y3n7F4h0zGGStQ

Posted in Celebration Saturday, Teaching | Tagged One Little Word | 11 Comments »

Poetry Friday: Bayou Sings

January 12, 2018 by margaretsmn

Poetry Friday round-up is with Jan at BookSeedStudio

With the start of a new year, I am trying to write a poem a day, or, at the very least, some ramblings in my notebook. I’m staying away from social media until I write. But I do check my email. I receive a poem-a-day from Jane Yolen. (You can sign up here.)

Jane’s poem begins each stanza with “The lake sings… It sings of…” Every day the bayou reflects the tone of the season. This morning as I write, the wind has turned cold, so I hear the echo of the whipping wind through the trees and the wind chimes clinging. On Jan. 6th when I wrote this poem, the bayou was still and calm. The trees were reflected perfectly in the water. The sun was warming the surface of the water.

Bayou Reflections, Jan. 6, 2018. M. Simon

The bayou sings of shadows,
reflections of trees
bare and still.

It sings of rising sun
warming a surface
of sky on water.

It sings of herons,
owls, mockingbirds,
a hawk flying high above.

But most of all,
the bayou
sings of peace.

–Margaret Simon, all rights reserved

Posted in Poetry, Poetry Friday | Tagged Jane Yolen, nature poetry | 17 Comments »

Poetry Friday: Tosca and Ten Words

January 5, 2018 by margaretsmn

Poetry Friday round-up is with Catherine at Reading to the Core

Brenda Davis Harsham posted a ten word prompt in Laura Shovan’s Facebook Project (which is currently open for new members). The words came from an article in The New York Times about Maria Callas and the opera Tosca. I sent it to my mother who is a musician and huge fan of opera. I asked her, “Did I ever see Tosca?” She responded that she had taken me as a child.

La_Tosca_poster_by_Mucha_-_detail

I listened to the recordings embedded in the online article, but nothing sounded too familiar. I did not inherit the same love of opera, I’m afraid.

But the article, the email conversation with Mom, and the ten words that Brenda selected led me to this poem:

My mother took me to see Tosca
when I was too young
to know tragedy.

I listened with ears of youth
tuning in to the crazy chords
that flowed in and out
like murmuring birds.

How fragile a single soprano note
hangs on a nightingale’s wing.
The song can wake you
alive to wonder about the night.

The night where silence
plants seeds deep into the soil,
where raw buds feign sleep
waiting for the light of dawn.

Margaret Simon, all rights reserved

Posted in Poetry, Poetry Friday | 17 Comments »

Spiritual Journey First Thursday: One Little Word for 2018

January 4, 2018 by margaretsmn

Spiritual Journey (first) Thursday is gathered here today. We are writing about our chosen One Little Word that will guide our year. Choosing a one little word is supposed to be easier than making resolutions. I suppose the theory is you will break your resolution in a month or so, but a word can be revisited time and time again and bring about new meaning and purpose to your life.

Placing the weight of inspiration on one little word seems daunting, but the fun and marvelous thing about language is that words can have many meanings and purposes. And every word’s meaning is up to interpretation.

I believe in trusting that a word will find you, and once it does, you must resist the urge to flick it away. Like the buzz of a mosquito, it will find its way back to you anyway.

When I was at NCTE this fall, my friend Fran passed around a stack of magnets with words on them. She didn’t hand us one; she asked us to choose. The word that chose me was Explore. The magnet said Explore new possibilities. I decided not to question why the word found me. I just placed it on my fridge.

Then I received an invitation on Facebook to join a group of writers to “Explore your Natural Creativity” for the #30for30Challenge. Anastasia Suen posts a check-in every day, Did you create for 30 minutes today?

A student gave me a new journal for Christmas. The cover says “Do one thing every day that inspires you,” and each day there’s a different creative prompt.

Once I head back to school next week, my exploration into my own writing and creativity will be more difficult to make time for. I also have to squeeze in ukulele practice (see this post) and exercise. Oh, and reading, and crochet, and cooking, and walking the dog…

Years ago when I read The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron, I was enamored of the idea of an artist date. She said you should make a date with yourself once a week to explore a museum or gallery. She believed in feeding the artist soul. That is where I want to take my word Explore...out into the world to see where it will take me.

If you are joining the round-up, click the Inlinkz button to add your post. Be sure to visit other blogs and leave comments.

Posted in Spiritual Growth | Tagged Explore, One Little Word | 14 Comments »

Slice of Music in my Life

January 2, 2018 by margaretsmn

Join the Two Writing Teachers blog for the Slice of Life Challenge.

Music has always been a part of my life. From very young listening to my mother play the piano to teenage years hearing my brother through the walls between our rooms. The musical talent was passed on through the lefties in our family, my mother and my brother.

I took piano lessons until I entered college. In high school and beyond even to today, I’ve sung alto in multiple choirs. So you could say music is part of me, but I’ve never felt very musical when it came to playing an instrument.

At NCTE this year, I sat in a circle of ukulele players. Jan Burkins placed her instrument in my hands and taught me three easy chords. She said, “You could do this!”

I asked Santa (my husband) for a ukulele for Christmas. He loved the idea. He researched and visited local music stores to find the just right one. I started practicing early Christmas morning. I’ve practiced every day since.

I cut my fingernails on my left hand. Those fingers are sore and numb from pressing hard on the strings. They say this gets better with time. I am determined not to give up because of a little pain. My husband, the runner, says you have to move past the pain.

I haven’t been able to sing and play at the same time which is my end goal. I do have an awesome teacher, though. Her name is Cynthia Lin. She’s patient and kind and takes it slow.

I’ve decided to take on the word EXPLORE for my One Little Word for 2018. No better way to begin my exploration than to learn to play an instrument. I will be exploring chords, strumming, and patience.

This photo is a bridge over the Mississippi River near New Orleans.

Posted in Slice of Life, Writing | Tagged Explore, One Little Word, Ukulele | 13 Comments »

Poetry Friday: Nature Inspires

December 29, 2017 by margaretsmn

Click over to Heidi’s space, My Juicy Little Universe for more PF goodness.

When I sit at my computer wondering what I may offer to the Poetry Friday community, I turn to nature. Nature is abundant here in my parents’ home on a lake in Mississippi. My mother took a picture of six great egrets hanging out on the dock, hunkered against the cold wind. Playing with the idea of a haiku-a-day from Mary Lee Hahn, I imagine that these egrets wished for warmer temperatures.

Posted in Poetry Friday | Tagged #haikuforhealing | 17 Comments »

Found Poetry in Nonfiction Narrative

December 22, 2017 by margaretsmn

Click over to Buffy’s Blog for more Poetry Friday.

I know the importance of reading nonfiction texts with my students; however, I am not a fan of assigning an essay after every reading, especially in December. I wanted my students to think critically about the text, to absorb it fully, and to demonstrate comprehension. So I turned to the found poem.

To write a found poem, the writer must make decisions about which text to keep and connect to. This requires critical thinking skills. For a found poem to work, the words and phrases need to be placed creatively.

We read “Shattered Sky”, a narrative nonfiction story in the November issue of Scope magazine published by Scholastic. In this story, my students read about a little known disaster in Halifax Harbor in 1917, one hundred years ago. They were fascinated. The author of the text, Kristin Lewis used craft moves to heighten the emotions of the story. I instructed my students to underline phrases and words that brought about an emotional response.

When we had written and were sharing our writing, Faith said, “I am amazed at how different everyone’s poem is.” And she was right. Each one was different. Each student had found a unique voice. Each poem reflected a different aspect of the article.

When Andrew posted his poem on our blog, he titled it “I like this poem, so you should.” Mason thought it was the best poem he’d ever written.

This exercise of finding a poem gave my students confidence to recognize craft moves as well as create a unique piece of nonfiction poetry.

Poem for Halifax

December 6th
They ring a bell
The image they see
They want to repel

Children getting ready, grabbing their schoolbooks,
Fathers, ready to work, grab their coats, off the hook.
Dartmouth and Halifax, buzzing with activity,
while mothers make oatmeal, hot and ready.

Two boats, Mont-Blanc and the Imo
With explosives and munitions, ready to blow.
There was no saving them, as far as we know.
Neither ship changed course and tore into the other and
put on a dangerous light show

Orange and blue fire ignited the boats
People rushed to rescue, thought they could help.
They succeeded but some retreated up.

Andrew, 5th grade

Shattered

The water had a thin mist of terror of WWI

The chimney swirled of smoke and ash

The people of Halifax were doing their everyday things

From eating to cooking and going to work

Then a sudden rumble and crackle of the two ships of cargo collide

They rush outside as every thing burst into flames and then boom

A sad tragedy will forever live in our hearts.

Mason, 5th grade

See more found poems at our Kidblog site.

Posted in Gifted Education, Poetry, Poetry Friday, Writing | Tagged found poetry, Halifax explosion, nonfiction narrative, Scope magazine | 13 Comments »

Slice of Hans the Christmas Frog

December 20, 2017 by margaretsmn

Join the Two Writing Teachers blog for the Slice of Life Challenge.

Every family has their traditions at holiday time. When I was growing up, my brother laid out a stick manger scene and would move the “three wise men” sticks every day of the twelve days until Epiphany.

Children bring joy to our traditions. Our youngest daughter is now 27 years old, but we still display “Hans the frog” in the front yard. When Martha was three years old, she announced with complete confidence that the frog residing in the back flower bed was Hans. Thus our family totem became a frog. A few years later, my husband who is quite handy with wood created an over-sized frog in a Santa hat. He took the design from a child’s coloring book. I can remember him painstakingly transferring the design to graph paper.

Hans has decorated our yard for Christmas every year for close to 25 years. It’s just not Christmas without him.

Our children are grown up adults now, so Jeff asked me if he should put up the frog. “Maybe I can just bolt it to the wall on the front porch?”

“No way!” I exclaimed. “The magnificence of the frog is the shadow it casts on the castle.”

So here he is, in all his silly magnificence…the giant shadow of Hans the Santa-frog!

I’m sure your family has a silly holiday tradition. Please share in the comments.

Posted in Writing | 4 Comments »

Poetry Friday: Winter Poetry Swap

December 15, 2017 by margaretsmn

Click over to Random Noodling for more of Poetry Friday.

I received a snow poem from Liz Steinglass. I’m not sure how well you can see it, but she cut up the letters in the word snow and made snow letters. Each stanza begins with snow fall and a line of imagery. Beautiful!

I thought about how I could share this with my students. We rarely get snow, but last Friday was one of those rare occasions, so what better way to celebrate than with snow poetry and making paper snowflakes. Liz also sent stencils and patterns for snowflakes. We are still working on a display in the classroom.

Thanks, Liz, for helping us celebrate winter, snow, and words on the page.

Student-made snowflake with an original pattern. Notice the heart shapes.

#haikuforhealing photo and poem by Margaret Simon, 2017

Posted in Writing | 15 Comments »

Slice of Student Mentors

December 12, 2017 by margaretsmn

Join the Two Writing Teachers blog for the Slice of Life Challenge.

Not every student is made to be a mentor. A common thought about gifted kids is to encourage them to mentor other students. As a teacher of gifted, I’ve seen students who work well with other students and I’ve seen those who don’t. I feel it is important to know a student well before pushing him/her to help other students.

I haven’t taught Chloe long, but I knew she would make a great mentor. She is confident without being condescending. She’s enthusiastic about whatever we are doing in class and spreads that enthusiasm. So when I asked her if she wanted to teach her regular class about color poems, she literally jumped up and down.

At NCTE I grabbed an Advanced Reader’s Copy of Polly Diamond and the Magic Book by Alice Kuipers and Diana Toledano. I also picked up a teacher’s guide which led me to the color poem pattern from Read, Write, Think. (Polly writes a color poem that her teacher loves.) Chloe wanted to write a color poem like Polly.

First she chose her favorite color, pink, and made a list of pink things. We talked about figurative language and how she could use it in her poem. Chloe wrote this poem:

Pink is cotton candy.

Pink is a horn of a unicorn.

Pink is my blanket.

Pink is a flower.

Pink tastes like bubble gum.

Pink smells like a rose.

Pink sounds like a violin.

Pink feels like a pillow.

Pink looks like my mom’s lips.

Pink makes me beautiful.

Pink is magnificent!

When Chloe shared her poem with her classmates, they were ready to write their own. Having a form helped. Her friends selected their own favorite colors and used the form to guide their writing in their writing notebooks. As she walked from group to group, Chloe checked in to see what they needed help with. She was patient and helpful. Her classmates were focused and serious about their writing. Chloe was a proud teacher.