I finally found some uber-cute cards and wrote notes early this morning with sparkly gel ink pen, rounded up the appropriate postage (hrrmph of disapproval here, oh post office). Then, as I went to put the leftover cards back into the plastic container, noticed the MOST MICROSCOPIC teenytiny little notice: Not for use by children under twelve.
Ummm?
(looked at pile of envelopes. inspected child-cute, origami-inspired colorful pattern on front of a card, possibly printed with Highly Toxic and Poisonous Ink. Reflected. Intended recipients most unlikely to fondle, lick, or otherwise ingest a thank you note from an adult. But, nagging thought remained -- they are under twelve.)
Oh well! Computer is dancing away in its pretty red lei! time to go pack...
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kmessner writes wonderful stories and her generous spirit brings out the magic in others. 1. It's been so dark in the mornings that I've brought out my litebook (a mini lightbox that helps me jumpstart grey winter days). Really? In summer? Yes. For twenty minutes while I journal I can pretend I'm on a beach in the Caribbean. Without the sun lotion, sweat, and sadly, fruity punch drinks.
2. There's been another email from son's camp about someone with the flu. People, at this point, unless it's my own kid who's sick, you're just freaking me out here. Stop already! Sometimes too much info is a Very Bad Thing!
3. Lessons learned from the above items as applied to writing: a little sunshine can help a dark story. And, yes, too much info can weigh down a reader...
4. Wow, that was an unplanned discovery, but go journal, help me out that way!
5. I'm off and away next week for some family and then ALA time. My sister and her french daughters are visiting our folks, so I will cram a bit with rosetta stone over the weekend and try to come up with some suitable book-gifts. (The older two are tween and new-teen, but don't read much english -- last year I tried Baby Mouse for them -- the youngest loves to dress up and I'm thinking Fancy Nancy). Then my dad and I are venturing off for a few days through his hometown and his parents' hometown in Iowa. Our local library doesn't have much in the way of midwestern guidebooks, but I did find the 1930s WPA Guide to Iowa -- I love those books! -- and that will provide the appropriate context as a starting point for me.
(And in a side note, when I went to the YA section to look for books by some of the folks I've met recently, I'm happy to say that they're all checked out -- happy, because that means kids are reading them!)
6. I'm going to travel without my computer! Almost 8 days -- can I do it? ACKK! That will REALLY take me back in time.
Six is more than a few. Oh well. Happy summer, ravenous reading, wonderful writing to all --
And yes, kellyrfineman, I'm looking at YOU. (Separate email to follow if you miss this post!)
Our local fabulous Family Reading Partnership hosts a blowout book event each year, and as part of it, children are given a book.
This year, the focus is on poetry, and a bunch of folks are meeting in a few weeks to choose the featured title(s).
See below, and if you have a recommendation (book should be in print, and preferably, but not necessarily, available in paperback) list it in a comment -- THANKS!!
I have so many that I love and also, when I went into my library yesterday the carpets had been cleaned and I couldn't get to the poetry shelves to browse....
kellyrfineman, I'm looking at YOU. (Separate email to follow if you miss this post!)Our local fabulous Family Reading Partnership hosts a blowout book event each year, and as part of it, children are given a book.
This year, the focus is on poetry, and a bunch of folks are meeting in a few weeks to choose the featured title(s).
See below, and if you have a recommendation (book should be in print, and preferably, but not necessarily, available in paperback) list it in a comment -- THANKS!!
I have so many that I love and also, when I went into my library yesterday the carpets had been cleaned and I couldn't get to the poetry shelves to browse....
All of us at Family Reading Partnership can¹t wait for Kids' Book Fest 2009 Once Upon a Rhyme featuring poetry(!) to be held this year on Saturday, November 14th! It is time now to gather together a wonderful group of people to ask, "if there was one poetry book that you would love every child to own, what would it be?" One of the wonderful elements of Kids¹ Book Fest is the book gift program through which we are able to give a special children¹s book to 2,000 plus children and their families through their schools leading up to the Kids' Book Fest. As we explore the possibilities (of which there are SO many!) of placing a book of poetry in all of these homes, we are able to consider one book for all children or possibly two books, one for the very young and one for school age students.
Stalwart son is away at summer camp.
Nerd camp, he calls it.
As you might guess from his recent text request:
when you send the cookies, could you please include the Physics for Future Presidents book? It's right on the shelf thing in my room. that'd be sweet.
(I find this fascinating: texts in full sentences. but calls a bookshelf a "shelf thing." )
That's my boy.
In other camp news, there have already been two email notifications of campers with Flu Type A. In three days.
keep washing your hands, kids!
Nerd camp, he calls it.
As you might guess from his recent text request:
when you send the cookies, could you please include the Physics for Future Presidents book? It's right on the shelf thing in my room. that'd be sweet.
(I find this fascinating: texts in full sentences. but calls a bookshelf a "shelf thing." )
That's my boy.
In other camp news, there have already been two email notifications of campers with Flu Type A. In three days.
keep washing your hands, kids!
This morning my yellow pad greets me like an old friend.
Hello, it's so great to see you!
Last night I left it open to the page where I stopped so that I could fall right back in time, into the story.
and even though later today I have some things to do up at school, I started the day as a writer, not as a librarian,
and thank you,
old friends,
yellow paper,
blue pen.
(and thank YOU new friends & old friends who inspire me with your wonderful words and generous spirits!)
Over at Kelly's blog you can enter a contest! And learn all about Shakespeare!
Her posts have brought back memories of my senior year in high school, when I took a Shakespeare class. Our teacher led it like a college seminar (well, I didn't know that at the time, but appreciate it now) and had us look for FSQs -- famous Shakespearean quotes -- and as a result, that background in his plays and sonnets lets me limp through crossword puzzles and random references.
But you won't see me post a poem here. Nope.
And here's why.
While we were studying the sonnets, we had an assignment to write one -- cuz, you know, nothing makes you appreciate rhyming iambic pentameter like having to craft some yourself --
and at the time I had a crush on a guy in the class,
and boy did I pour romantic gushings into that sonnet, and typed up most of it, except the last couplet, which I couldn't quite make work, until the morning it was due, and as we were handing them in I scribbled in something.
Only to have the teacher pluck it from the pile and read it out loud.
Out loud!
In front of the class!
In front of the crush!
But was that the humiliating, mortifying, moment?
Oh, no.
The humiliating, mortifying, moment which still gives me goosebumps and rollercoaster-queasy-stomachflops,
was when the teacher finished reciting the poem, in all its flowery romantic stickysweet phrasing, and turned to me and asked,
" is it about your brother?"
My brother? (two years older, and still famous in the school)
Ick.
NO! and NO!
(at least that took the focus off potential crush-alert).*
and while I am still haunted by the first few lines of my sonnet-attempt (and have never, ever, tried to write another),
and I appreciate Shakespeare and am enjoying Kelly's posts immensely,
you won't see any of his poetry here.
No! and NO!
Sorry.
*And then -- and THEN -- just like in a story, where things get worse and worse? Until you just can't believe someone has to suffer so much? I was absent a day, probably from the angst and stress and mortification of it all, and returned to school to discover MY SONNET POSTED OUTSIDE THE SHAKESPEARE C
I tore that down!
Her posts have brought back memories of my senior year in high school, when I took a Shakespeare class. Our teacher led it like a college seminar (well, I didn't know that at the time, but appreciate it now) and had us look for FSQs -- famous Shakespearean quotes -- and as a result, that background in his plays and sonnets lets me limp through crossword puzzles and random references.
But you won't see me post a poem here. Nope.
And here's why.
While we were studying the sonnets, we had an assignment to write one -- cuz, you know, nothing makes you appreciate rhyming iambic pentameter like having to craft some yourself --
and at the time I had a crush on a guy in the class,
and boy did I pour romantic gushings into that sonnet, and typed up most of it, except the last couplet, which I couldn't quite make work, until the morning it was due, and as we were handing them in I scribbled in something.
Only to have the teacher pluck it from the pile and read it out loud.
Out loud!
In front of the class!
In front of the crush!
But was that the humiliating, mortifying, moment?
Oh, no.
The humiliating, mortifying, moment which still gives me goosebumps and rollercoaster-queasy-stomachflops,
was when the teacher finished reciting the poem, in all its flowery romantic stickysweet phrasing, and turned to me and asked,
" is it about your brother?"
My brother? (two years older, and still famous in the school)
Ick.
NO! and NO!
(at least that took the focus off potential crush-alert).*
and while I am still haunted by the first few lines of my sonnet-attempt (and have never, ever, tried to write another),
and I appreciate Shakespeare and am enjoying Kelly's posts immensely,
you won't see any of his poetry here.
No! and NO!
Sorry.
*And then -- and THEN -- just like in a story, where things get worse and worse? Until you just can't believe someone has to suffer so much? I was absent a day, probably from the angst and stress and mortification of it all, and returned to school to discover MY SONNET POSTED OUTSIDE THE SHAKESPEARE C
I tore that down!
All about reading in second grade!
(This is a class with many english language learners in it!)
We had to divide it into two parts to go on Youtube, and I am still trying to get a version where the text isn't blurry (the original is fine, just the webstreamed copy suffers...). But for now,
Part one (choosing books!):
Part two (reading strategies!):
Thank you, Milky Way Class! It's been a great year in the library!
(This is a class with many english language learners in it!)
We had to divide it into two parts to go on Youtube, and I am still trying to get a version where the text isn't blurry (the original is fine, just the webstreamed copy suffers...). But for now,
Part one (choosing books!):
Part two (reading strategies!):
Thank you, Milky Way Class! It's been a great year in the library!
Random stuff:
1. On the original school calendar, today was a vacation day, but --- we had too many snow days, so today there IS school.
2. As it was high-80s and sweaty -sultry weather yesterday, snow day -- SNOW day? -- hard to even picture.
3. Unsubstantiated rumors of school administrators from other district buildings camping out in my library space* over the summer (many schools are undergoing renovations, not ours of course!) -- at first led to mild panic (coffee spills! books borrowed and not returned! loss of the one surviving stapler!) but THEN -- we realized -- a summer spent sweltering in our airless space COULD lead those honchos to consider fixing up OUR school! Yes, air conditioning would be a GREAT thing for keeping books and computers (and MOI) in good condition!
4. Today is FREE CHOCOLATE FRIDAY over at realchocolate.com -- head on over and get yourself a coupon for a candy bar. Hey, it's almost vacation.
5. HEY, IT'S ALMOST VACATION!! No school Monday! They can't take THAT away from me!
So long, farewell --
As the university and college semesters have wrapped up, many of my students (academic families) have left already. Some goodbyes are for the summer, some are forever, and some kids aren't sure if they're going back to Uganda or just moving to a new apartment...
and while the kids who stay here long for the adventure of a summer in Mexico or Pompeii, the kids who leave wish they could keep going to swim lessons at the Y...
Go forth and have a fabulous weekend!!
*Okay, now I have a picture in my head of a bunch of school principals camping out. in a library.
probably only funny to me, right?
how do we set up the tent?
I don't know, I usually assign a staff person to head a committee.
maybe we can find out from one of these books....
1. On the original school calendar, today was a vacation day, but --- we had too many snow days, so today there IS school.
2. As it was high-80s and sweaty -sultry weather yesterday, snow day -- SNOW day? -- hard to even picture.
3. Unsubstantiated rumors of school administrators from other district buildings camping out in my library space* over the summer (many schools are undergoing renovations, not ours of course!) -- at first led to mild panic (coffee spills! books borrowed and not returned! loss of the one surviving stapler!) but THEN -- we realized -- a summer spent sweltering in our airless space COULD lead those honchos to consider fixing up OUR school! Yes, air conditioning would be a GREAT thing for keeping books and computers (and MOI) in good condition!
4. Today is FREE CHOCOLATE FRIDAY over at realchocolate.com -- head on over and get yourself a coupon for a candy bar. Hey, it's almost vacation.
5. HEY, IT'S ALMOST VACATION!! No school Monday! They can't take THAT away from me!
So long, farewell --
As the university and college semesters have wrapped up, many of my students (academic families) have left already. Some goodbyes are for the summer, some are forever, and some kids aren't sure if they're going back to Uganda or just moving to a new apartment...
and while the kids who stay here long for the adventure of a summer in Mexico or Pompeii, the kids who leave wish they could keep going to swim lessons at the Y...
Go forth and have a fabulous weekend!!
*Okay, now I have a picture in my head of a bunch of school principals camping out. in a library.
probably only funny to me, right?
how do we set up the tent?
I don't know, I usually assign a staff person to head a committee.
maybe we can find out from one of these books....
Mars is giving away 500,000 coupons later today (9 a.m. ET - 11 p.m.) for free chocolate.
You know you want it!
Um, here's hoping it's not like the KFC-free chicken fiasco.
Good luck!
You know you want it!
Um, here's hoping it's not like the KFC-free chicken fiasco.
Good luck!
Two weeks ago, I had to have my end-of -year goals conference at work. But! But! that little voice in my head said, the year isn't over yet! I can still reach my goals!
And for the outside of work life, where goals tend to follow more of a calendar year, we're nearly mid-way...
so this post by Christine Kane on building momentum shines a light for me!
LET'S GO!
(the timer on my i-phone is an awesome writing coach -- don't get up from that chair yet! no sirree! )
And for the outside of work life, where goals tend to follow more of a calendar year, we're nearly mid-way...
so this post by Christine Kane on building momentum shines a light for me!
LET'S GO!
(the timer on my i-phone is an awesome writing coach -- don't get up from that chair yet! no sirree! )
This is a story about a fourth grade girl. She has an old British name, highly suitable for a child who pops into the library every single morning to exchange one pile of thick books for another ... although to look at her, with clothes from the boy's department, practical haircut, and bulky sport watch, you'd imagine her to be more of a tomboy than a romantic. (not that you can't be both, of course)
but today.
I was introducing a web site (yes you too can practice for the NYS fourth grade science test with a fun online game!) to her class, when I interrupted myself --
"Oh! I almost forgot! I have some exciting news!"
"You're getting married?" she blurted out.
Um, no.
"When I say exciting news," I explained quickly but carefully, "it's usually book-related."
And went on to tell them about Free Comic Book Day.
but today.
I was introducing a web site (yes you too can practice for the NYS fourth grade science test with a fun online game!) to her class, when I interrupted myself --
"Oh! I almost forgot! I have some exciting news!"
"You're getting married?" she blurted out.
Um, no.
"When I say exciting news," I explained quickly but carefully, "it's usually book-related."
And went on to tell them about Free Comic Book Day.
first, important news: Saturday is free comic book day.
My students have had a blast this year at makebeliefscomix.com, so I know they'll be excited!
Anyway... while I was sad to miss the NESCBWI Conference, again (some year, it WILL be the right time for me to go!), I did firm up plans over the weekend to attend ALA in Chicago.
I'd mentioned it to my parents, who love Chicago and most-things-midwestern, and my dad asked if I might have time for a few extra days in Iowa.
Um... sure, I said. My dad never had any interest in telling stories about his boyhood or looking back at all, and I know little of his side of the family.
But in the past year or so (his mother died two years ago, at 98) he's been learning more about his relatives. And now he wants to share some of it with me.
Saturday morning, we worked out arrangements for driving to Iowa to visit his parents' hometown, Victor, and his own, Cedar Rapids (which, as I've told before, I spent my childhood believing was Peter Rabbit, Iowa).
Saturday night, I learned that my childhood best friend's dad, my long-time next door neighbor, died.
Yes, the universe whispered, this is the right time to go family-history-ing with your father.
My students have had a blast this year at makebeliefscomix.com, so I know they'll be excited!
Anyway... while I was sad to miss the NESCBWI Conference, again (some year, it WILL be the right time for me to go!), I did firm up plans over the weekend to attend ALA in Chicago.
I'd mentioned it to my parents, who love Chicago and most-things-midwestern, and my dad asked if I might have time for a few extra days in Iowa.
Um... sure, I said. My dad never had any interest in telling stories about his boyhood or looking back at all, and I know little of his side of the family.
But in the past year or so (his mother died two years ago, at 98) he's been learning more about his relatives. And now he wants to share some of it with me.
Saturday morning, we worked out arrangements for driving to Iowa to visit his parents' hometown, Victor, and his own, Cedar Rapids (which, as I've told before, I spent my childhood believing was Peter Rabbit, Iowa).
Saturday night, I learned that my childhood best friend's dad, my long-time next door neighbor, died.
Yes, the universe whispered, this is the right time to go family-history-ing with your father.
at our school in morning announcements first we have the pledge of allegiance, and then the earth pledge (which, um, for some reason I can't remember right now).
we are aggressive recyclers and were one of the first schools in the district to pilot a commercial compost program (this is now district-wide) that allows us to collect more than just food scraps and has resulted in a HUGE reduction of trash.
in any case, it can be hard to offer something "new" in stories to an audience that already has The Lorax and Wump World at home ...
and pity the poor teacher who wandered in yesterday afternoon wanting something good for earth day.
Silence.
"Oh, am I too late?"
The STUDENTS have already taken out The Down to Earth Guide to Global Warming and Tracking Trash and ... well, nearly everything set out on display.
.... but new picture books that have been fun to read this week: SPARROW GIRL by Sara Pennypacker and THE CURIOUS GARDEN by Peter Brown (CURIOUS arrived as a special surprise package just yesterday! what great timing, and thank you, Little Brown!!) -- both these books focus on a small child hero who makes a big impact on the environment...
happy earth day!
we are aggressive recyclers and were one of the first schools in the district to pilot a commercial compost program (this is now district-wide) that allows us to collect more than just food scraps and has resulted in a HUGE reduction of trash.
in any case, it can be hard to offer something "new" in stories to an audience that already has The Lorax and Wump World at home ...
and pity the poor teacher who wandered in yesterday afternoon wanting something good for earth day.
Silence.
"Oh, am I too late?"
The STUDENTS have already taken out The Down to Earth Guide to Global Warming and Tracking Trash and ... well, nearly everything set out on display.
.... but new picture books that have been fun to read this week: SPARROW GIRL by Sara Pennypacker and THE CURIOUS GARDEN by Peter Brown (CURIOUS arrived as a special surprise package just yesterday! what great timing, and thank you, Little Brown!!) -- both these books focus on a small child hero who makes a big impact on the environment...
happy earth day!
At a high school drama showcase tonight, I heard this song for the first time, and it is PERFECT if you need to cast away those evil you can't do it voices.
up the hill is the big university and yesterday sunny afternoon between dropping son at crew (beautiful day but o, the waves of the lake were rough and the wind strong) and picking him up again
was just the sliver of time for finding my way
to a lecture hall filled with writers, students, listeners,
gathered in words,
everyone surprised but not surprised that others too had chosen to be indoors
oh. the power of strong writing. that phrase! and this description!
the reader is practiced and fluent and makes it look
so easy
and sandwiched between two novelists, A. Manette Ansay and Stewart O'Nan
the poet Crystal Williams
(her new book is Troubled Tongues)
caught me between laughter and nods and a few tears
and
when I went out again to bright sidewalks and cheerful students
it felt like leaving a new country
but mmm hmmm
I will look for her poems
mmm hmmm
was just the sliver of time for finding my way
to a lecture hall filled with writers, students, listeners,
gathered in words,
everyone surprised but not surprised that others too had chosen to be indoors
oh. the power of strong writing. that phrase! and this description!
the reader is practiced and fluent and makes it look
so easy
and sandwiched between two novelists, A. Manette Ansay and Stewart O'Nan
the poet Crystal Williams
(her new book is Troubled Tongues)
caught me between laughter and nods and a few tears
and
when I went out again to bright sidewalks and cheerful students
it felt like leaving a new country
but mmm hmmm
I will look for her poems
mmm hmmm
I'm writing in a new spot by a back window and see SUN coming up over the ridge of pine trees--
my parents are coming for a lunch visit tomorrow --
and on Monday, Neko Case is coming to town
and friends are coming down
and we'll go hear music together
and celebrate SPRING
good things are coming!
my parents are coming for a lunch visit tomorrow --
and on Monday, Neko Case is coming to town
and friends are coming down
and we'll go hear music together
and celebrate SPRING
good things are coming!
...ever noticed how time moves differently -- more slowly, more fraught with missed opportunity -- when you are stuck at home in that "two hour window" offered by the local gas/cable/dishwasher repair/whatev service?
like,
I could be working out!
I could be walking!
I could be ...
oh!
I could be writing!
in fact --
I CAN be writing!
writing while I wait!
Christine Kane notes today that success is boring. Filled with writing while waiting type of stuff.
(I hope this works) -- a wonderful video by artist Jeff Scher.
It's still winter-cold here (not that you'd know it from stalwart son's shorts and sandals!)
but
SUN o glorious SUN
streams through the windows and gladdens my heart!
It's still winter-cold here (not that you'd know it from stalwart son's shorts and sandals!)
but
SUN o glorious SUN
streams through the windows and gladdens my heart!
I don't remember exactly when it started, sometime my first year in this job, but I make a really big deal the week leading up to every vacation -- of letting the students take an extra book* (or two. or five. depending) because,
I say,
vacations are for
(and the whole class yells out): READING!!!
*I love that this makes them feel really special! Even the fifth graders who've pretty much figured out that there is no limit ever to how many books they sign out.
The second graders sit there and ask over and over: how many? how many books can we take? like they just can't believe their good fortune.
Book happiness. Best part of my job!!
That's the question the third-graders asked, right after I read them MARVELTOWN by Bruce McCall. They are a wacky, distractable creative and active-alert class who immediately wanted to make robots after hearing the story.
(which I read because I know they love hearing their teacher read aloud STAR JUMPER by Frank Asch)
Well why not?
As a wacky and distractable librarian I just happened to have a pile of invention-station materials growing behind my desk.
Have at it, kids!
(The lone grounded-in-reality thinker in the class was sure that there really is a Marveltown -- in Canada, because there's a structure in the book that looks like the CNN Tower....)
(which I read because I know they love hearing their teacher read aloud STAR JUMPER by Frank Asch)
Well why not?
As a wacky and distractable librarian I just happened to have a pile of invention-station materials growing behind my desk.
Have at it, kids!
(The lone grounded-in-reality thinker in the class was sure that there really is a Marveltown -- in Canada, because there's a structure in the book that looks like the CNN Tower....)
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