A Love of Reading

I've asked students to follow these steps:

Therefore, since my last project was a flop, I will stick to this idea until I DO get inspired. Truly inspired. For I learned from my last project that I won't have anything to show if it's not something I for which I am passionate.

Since setting a Goodreads goal for 2013, I have found that I have gaps in my reading choices. I do not read many adult fiction books anymore, and I don't read a lot of novels (young adult or otherwise) from different countries. I've been reading books that take place in the United States, mostly. I also don't read many mysteries. What DO I read? I am about to find out this year.

So... starting this January, I decided I'd have a goal to keep reading (as is normal), with a twist. I'd read three young adult or children's novels, and then one adult novel, nonfiction or professional book.

The books I've read this year are on Goodreads and also on my Google doc. On this document, I also note which genre each book is.

The places I read about are on this Google doc. At the very least, I can read fiction set in different states, yes?? I tried to read I Am Malala, but abandoned it after 120 pages.

My progress so far...

My favorites so far this year...

     Choice Words by Peter Johnston - for anyone who works with children.

     The Pregnancy Project - for anyone who knows, has known, or might know a teenage mother.

     The Running Dream - for middle school and high school students!

Celia WHO?

It's half a year after I was supposed to finish my last (summer) Genius Hour project.

It's still not done.

There is no final product.

It won't ever be completed... UNLESS... someone else cares more about it than me.

That's what I've learned - You need to CARE about your project, or it won't mean as much to you. If it doesn't mean much to you, you won't learn as much as you could if you were truly dedicated to getting something accomplished, or producing a product.

So what IS my thing?

Photography.  Reading.  Organizing.  Walking.  Biking.  Being with family & friends.

I've come up with a goal for the second half of the school year, so I can share my progress with my students. It is NOT poetry. It is NOT trying to better our school bathrooms with poetry about girls and judging. I'm going with reading... I'll keep reading until I am inspired. And then - only then - will I act on it. If I'm only a tad inspired, I think I'll sit out that project...

Celia Door Has Hit a Wall

This project has been on pause for awhile.

I know why - it's NOT my passion. I don't believe it's my place to be putting up thoughtful quotes or passages or poems in the girls' bathroom at school. I don't believe my work is good enough, and I haven't been able to fix it up to make it better.

Pity party over - now I need to realize what my next step is.
     --> Ask for more help from someone who already has this type of passion. I'm going to ask Janelle at work for help. She will be my mentor once school starts. She and Kristie head up the "Girl Up" club at school. Of course they can give me direction!
     --> Use what I've learned so when I ask this of my students, I know what I'm asking. I won't be asking for weekly blog posts. I will check in with students, or they can check in with me through blog posts, vlogs, sticky notes, emails, see me during lunch - whatever they choose. I will keep tabs on their progress, even if they don't blog regularly about their project.
     --> I have not failed. I've only stalled. I've heard it say that "Done is better than perfect." Well, I know it's not perfect, but I do not have a deadline, like my students will. So I can wait until I think it is MORE perfect (like turn that last line upside down - thank you, Sheri) before I'm done.

What's my passion, then? Living life to the fullest. Figuring out how best to teach 7th graders. That's really what I've been working on all summer. That's what can fill many hours of my day and I won't even know the clock is ticking. I'm on my fifth professional development book of the summer, and I've read copius young adult books so that I can better talk with my students about good books. I've collaborated on documents to help me choose the best books, connect my classes to authors and other schools, and even teach grammar better. Teaching to the best of my ability is one of my passions. I can never learn enough. I can never create enough resources for them. And it looks like I have a difficult time pausing for a bit of poetry...

I'm glad I took this challenge of the #20TimeAcademy MOOC this July. I have learned a lot about what I want from my students, and I will be better able to guide them on their own journey as a result. I will finish this project. But I'm still calling it a success, even though I don't have a product - YET.

Celia Door's & My "Dark Side" Poetry

I haven't written in over a week - this is a tough assignment I gave myself.

Here's what I've learned - or haven't learned - so far (that will help me when I try this - once again - with my seventh graders)...

  --> How can I expect my students to do a blog post every week, when I have not done one every week... and it's SUMMER... and it's MY OWN work I gave MYSELF... ?!?! If I can't even be diligent enough to do this - How can I expect a 12 year old? And I TRIED!! But I had no more inspiration! (Finally, today, I have the inspiration...)
  --> I did not "pitch a product" first. I may have to ask my students to do this. I at least have to ask them to tell me what they want in the end. What do they want to achieve with their project? What about this one of mine? I should've asked myself. I know now - I wanted to try to write poetry, and show others (doubters) that they can, too. But I also wanted to go a step further, and make one piece (or more, but I know now that won't happen any time soon) that could make a difference in someone's day.
   --> A rubric would not have helped me.
   --> A grade might have helped me work, but it wouldn't be my best work. I would just be doing it to "get it done."
   --> I know I could go further with this project, but I know I won't, because I am not using my genius like I could. What is my genius? Angela Maiers (@AngelaMaiers) asked this of me in a Google Hangout this week, and I didn't know what to say. Finally, I just blurted out - "I love life." Because you know what? It hit me hard this week that not everyone loves life. That is something I feel I am truly blessed with. Because I love life, I look at things differently, and I am grateful for a new day, every day. Knowing this, I know this project does not include my genius. I am just doing it to "get it done." This does not sit well with me.

So. What next?

Write that poem. Write the poem that depicts what I want those 7th and 8th grade girls to think about. What would Celia Door want to tell them? Celia, who doesn't fit in... I'd like girls to be able to think about this topic when no one else is around. They can read it and think about it on their own, with no influence whatsoever. They can judge it or see it for what it is, and connect to it with what experiences they bring to it... I'm planning on posting this in each bathroom stall in the upstairs girls' bathrooms. (Can I do that??) I'm hoping I could get the plastic coverings that many bathrooms have to house advertisements... (?) Then poems or messages can be switched out, based on what students want to publish for others... (?) I'm still working on that. I want to ask our "Girl Up" sponsors at school for help with this idea.

Here are my notes... that have been stewing in my head since last week's mini camping vacation:

My first attempt at putting my thoughts together:

I feel like I need to add some of my "genius" here, however. I feel like I need a picture behind the entire thing (the white is too plain for me, and I'm not happy with the colors I already have, either), or have small pictures throughout. But of what? Maybe I just need to print this on colored paper of some sort. Any ideas? I thought I could do this project on my own, but it's time for mentors... Please give me your thoughts!

Celia Door's Poetry, and More Attempts from Me

What IS poetry? I looked it up. So many meanings! I like how it was used in folk songs from long ago - I always think of songs as a type of poetry. I also like how it doesn't always have to rhyme. That's the type of poetry I like best (other than songs). Do I need to know what poetry is before I can move on? I don't believe so. I have a general idea, and I'll just keep trying to write poems to see if it fits with a general description.

So I need to keep writing. Celia Door (of The Sweet Revenge of Celia Door) wrote when she was upset, usually. There were other times she wrote when she was excited or happy. I'd bet that poets write when they are inspired - by their passions or by what irks them. What am I passionate about? Photography, singing, teaching...  If I want to be "dark," like Celia believes she is, I'll have to channel what bothers me...
  1. People who judge quickly, without knowing the other person or situation.
  2. When children are focused more on materials, rather than just plain fun or learning.
  3. Drivers who cut people off and think that only THEY are important.

I could go on and on, but I stopped early, because I think I have to go with the judgement idea - my students are very quick to judge, and this may be something I can use to help make the world a tiny bit better. Last year, when I read aloud Where Children Sleep, by James Mollison, they were quick to respond when I put up a picture of a child. I heard, "What IS that on her head?" "Is that a boy??" "Woah!" "Ew!" And I responded with, "Ouch." It hurt me to know they were not empathetic until they heard a part of the child's story in with one paragraph.

I thought of an idea for a product. Where could I put whatever it is I end up making? The girls' bathroom stalls. Girls in middle school can be so mean to each other, and to themselves, as well.

I've been brainstorming... This is in no particular order.

I know that this needs to be a picture, not written out in lines like this.

------------BRAINSTORMING ONLY------------

What do you see?
  Perfect hair
     Her hair would look better long.
     I cut my hair because my cousin is going through chemo.
  Weight
     She needs to lose weight.
     My doctor says my thyroid glad is out of whack. I've been so sleepy.
     She is so scrawny.
     I have to lose weight or the popular girls will make fun of me.
  Nerd
     She asks too many questions
     I just don't understand anything the teacher says.
  Unwashed hair
  Brand name jeans
  Clothes from Goodwill
  Pretty pens
  Stubby pencil
  Lipgloss
  Bushy eyebrows
We want people to be unique, yet we put them down for being different.
What is perfect?
Who are you to judge?
Who am I to judge?
The only judgement we should base on looks is
  facial expression - scowl? frown? smile?
What do you hear?
  Whispers
  Shouts
  Chuckling
  Nothing, but a look can say it all.
What do you know?
  You know what she wears, but not why she wears it.
  You know how she looks, but not the story behind it.
Get to know the PERSON, not the skin she's in.
  Have you talked to her? Asked her a question? Made a connection?
THIS will get you far in life.

Celia Door's Poetry, and a Bit of Mine

One week later...  I had to get the book out of the library, because Celia makes sure she does NOT write certain words in her poetry. I had to find out what they were again, to see if I use them or not! After a long search, I found it - chapter 24...

   I, Celia the Dark, vow that I will never write love poetry.
   Additionaly, here is a list of the eight words that I believe should never be used in writing poetry: love, soul, heart, dream, sad (sadness), pain, awesome, and above all other words that should not ever be used in poetry, beautiful. Beautiful has been so overused in poems that it has no meaning anymore.
   I call this my list of "Never Words."
~The Sweet Revenge of Celia Door, by Karen Finneyfrock

I think I'll be okay. I'd written a poem to my husband before we were married, and it may have had some of those words in it, but a poem about trees doesn't have to! And trees is where I was heading next. I had jotted down a few ideas from last week's bike ride, and I finally came up with this:

Red, from a Tree's Perspective


Red X
  There is no worse fate.
  Selected to be killed.
     That one is in the way.
     That limb has fallen long ago.
     That one? Can't you see it's dead?
        If it's not quite dead yet, it will be soon.

Red Flag
  Not as bad.
     That branch grew over the path.
     That one obscures the view of the lake.

Red Dot
  A mark of distinction.
     Leading the way.
     Showing the path.
     Blazing a trail.

Red Jacket
  Not mine, but I'll take it.
     Leaning against me.
     Needing shade, resting.
     Assured I won't move from the middle of the meadow.
         Faithful.
         Strong.
         Steady.
  Red core
     discarded to the ground.
          Soon to be eaten
              by a creature who'll live long...
      just
         not
            as
                long
                    as
                       me.

Before writing, I thought of these questions: Should I make it in the shape of a tree? No. Can I indent? A lot? To make a point of some sort? Yes. Should I get a picture of an X, flag, dot, and jacket? No. But... I'm still thinking of a product of some sort. What if I found a picture to represent each idea of red? The rest of the picture can be black and white. I saw the red on the trees on my bike ride - I could go back and take pictures, and learn how to make just the red portion colorful. Then put the words on top of the pictures?? Maybe make a video of some sort? I'd need to fabricate the red jacket. But... how would this help others? ??

I need to brainstorm more, because writing like this is NOT my passion. I just don't feel it.

Celia Door's Poetry

So. I just finished a book. (Big deal. I read a lot.) It was a "new" YA book - The Sweet Revenge of Celia Door, by Karen Finneyfrock - recommended by a teacher I follow on Twitter. And at 40 years old, I think I'm ready to try some poetry once again. This will be a Genius Hour project that will take me out of my comfort zone. I'll need to share it, and I know it will be criticized. Why do it then? Because I've been going back and forth on joining Teachers Write with Kate Messner this summer, and I know I don't want to write a picture book, novel, or nonfiction. So this is my compromise. I know I'll be writing SOMEthing.

When I was in high school (high school??), I wrote five poems for a poetry contest. Didn't win a thing. Sadly, the only one I remember being proud of was about my dog's poop. Yes. You read that right. In high school?? Ugh. I'm proud to say I've come a long way!!

Celia Door kept her poetry to herself. What good does it do there? So I know that my project is out of my comfort zone, will be difficult for me to perfect, and I could be made fun of. But I'm going to do it. Because I expect some of my students to take the same risks.

When I got home from my bike ride, I wrote this attempt at poetry to my husband, who is out of town until tomorrow.

     Glad I went.

     First, not so much.

     Traffic.

     Three minutes in, chain fell off when shifting.

     Three black fingers later, chain fixed.

            It even kissed my calf.

            (Tattoo still there after showering.)

     Next up - big lawn mowers - off! Phew!

     Spotted an oriole!

     Careful across Higgins.

     A poem idea swirling in my head regarding trees.

     People stats - passed four walkers, one roadie passed me.

     Weather? Perfect for a ride.

     At the dam...

             A young deer and a grey heron on the "island!"

     Numbers - 9.6 miles (?), AVS 12.?, 46 min.

     Wave to Rick.

     Home safe.

Doesn't much look like poetry to me. Just train of thought rambles. What IS poetry? Rick is our neighbor, by the way. While I was biking, I thought of a poem I could start with, even though I technically started with this one... It's "safe" to write about nature, right? Trees are pretty neutral. I'll think on it. I also need to think about what my final "product" will be. Do I want to change the world? No. What's my goal? Maybe to inspire others to write something? It's a small goal, but it's a start. Next steps: think of a "product," keep writing, and find out what poetry really is (because I don't think what I wrote today fits in that category).

One more side note - I realized, while writing this post, that I'm not doing all I asked my students to do last quarter. I'm not following the rubric. Why should I? It's not natural to write a reflection with a rubric by my side. Yup. Another thing that's will probably in the trash next year...