24 Years Ago Today

What are your songs?  My wife and I have three:  "For Baby, For Bobby" by John Denver; "Living in the Name of Love" by The Whites, and "When I Fall in Love" Linda Ronstadt or Doris Day version.

     Twenty-four years ago today, I married the most beautiful girl I've ever known.  We met in college, I can still tell you what she was wearing when I noticed her less than a day in to her freshman year (plaid shirt with a white collar, blue pants, and clogs)... 

     But it was on December 21, 1985 that she knocked me out of my tuxedo shoes!  She came into the narthex of the Holy Shepherd Lutheran Church (we decided to see each other before the service) dressed in ivory satin brocade, a single strand of pearls, flowers in her hair, and a long flowing veil.  Our family and friends parted, gave us our space, and we kissed... it was a moment I still close my eyes and remember.  I was in awe!

     24 years later... still am!  She's still the most beautiful girl I've ever known... and I can't wait to celebrate the next twenty-four years.  Today we celebrate!  Our wedding was at 7:30 p.m. (the upswing per my mother-in-law) and it was beautiful.  The lyrics of For Baby, For Bobby still mean the same as they did when they were sung at our wedding by our friend Jan... I still hear the chime of bells each morning, noon, and night!

     Enjoy... 

I’ll walk in the rain by your side
I’ll cling to the warmth of your TINY hand
I’ll do anything to keep you satisfied
I’ll love you more than anybody can

And the wind will whisper your name to me
Little birds will sing along in time
Leaves will bow down when you walk by
And morning bells will chime

I’ll be there when you’re feelin’ down
To kiss away the tears if you cry
I’ll share with you all the happiness I’ve found
A reflection of the love in your eyes

And I’ll sing you the songs of the rainbow
A whisper of the joy that is mine
And leaves will bow down when you walk by
And morning bells will chime

I’ll walk in the rain by your side
I’ll cling to the warmth of your tiny hand
I’ll do anything to help you understand
And I’ll love you more than anybody can

And the wind will whisper your name to me
Little birds will sing along in time
Leaves will bow down when you walk by
And morning bells will chime

AARP? Secrets? Abigail Thomas?

I know a secret... my wife bought me this book for Christmas!  Thinking About Memoir is a sweet little book we found while perusing our local bookstore.
     I am so excited to read this book by one of my favorite writers, Abigail Thomas.  I loved A Three Dog Life (excerpts of which I've often used with adults when talking to them about responding to reading).  It's a brilliantly written book written about her relationship with her husband after he was severely injured after being hit by a car when out walking their dog.  Have you read it?
     I love her writing style.  She's so honest.  If fact, she says "Be honest, dig deep, or don't bother."  I almost feel like I know her.  She "sees" story in everything... coffee with a friend, learning to do Pilates, rescuing a dog, eating ice cream.  And, through her work, Abigail teaches us to do the same... and gives us specific examples of "practice" in this book (many I think we can use with students).
     Although I worry a bit that my wife's buying me a book that was introduced in AARP magazine, I can't wait to open it up on Christmas Eve and finish reading.  I love how Abigail nudges us all to be writers... and to be writing.  I learn so much about her every time I read her work.  In this book, she illuminates her daily life, which will hopefully help me learn to illuminate mine!
     My students look at Ralph Fletcher and Cynthia Rylant as the writers from whom they learn the most... I can't wait to share my learning from Abigail Thomas.

Smart Science Series

I just discovered this series of Basher books!  Rocks and Minerals is the fifth in the series of science books. The illustrations, although a bit cartoonish, are engaging.  
     In Rocks and Minerals, the information is written in first person perspective. I love the way the factual information about science topics is presented... great nonfiction mentor text.  This book explores rocks, gems, minerals, crystals, fossils, etc.  The text develops science concepts through understandable and creatively written text.
     I love this series and so do my students.  Although some of the concepts are difficult to comprehend, budding scientists will spend time wisely working their way through the text... asking lots of questions, drawing inferences, and synthesizing learning. 

     

Thank You!

I have a third grade boy, we'll call him Brian, who says, "Thank you, Mr. Allen" every day before he leaves.  He's the kind of learner that makes it so easy to say, "You're welcome!"  He leaves the classroom each day with a smile on his face!
     I had two of his siblings and they both did the same thing... every day.  Could it be good parenting?  Of course.  But, hearing a sincere "thank you" reminds me of the gift I'm given each day... the gift of working with terrific learners.  And, the look in Brian's eyes tells me it's coming from his heart.  He means it.
     Recently, I was rereading bits and pieces of Life in a Crowded Place by Ralph Peterson—have you read it lately?  It’s a great “old” read.  He says, “Making a learning community—coming together, keeping together, and learning together—is not easy.  It is far easier to dominate and require obedience.  But if the prospect of encouraging the social nature of learning lets our students experience genuine learning and helps them to uncover ideas that make a sound in their hearts, isn’t that a compelling argument for trying?” 
     And hearing a "thank you" makes the end of each day realize that community is so important.

     And, I humbly want to say, "No... thank you!"

Inferring... A Synthesis

We just finished a strategy study of how wise readers (and mathematicians and writers) Draw Inferences.  As part of the culmination of our study, my third graders brainstormed the following list of "What We Know About Inferring."

     Each statement on their list is followed by clarifying statements other students made in response.  I love these discussions and hearing student's thinking about this strategy after several weeks of study and how it applies to their own learning.  If our goal is to get students to use thinking strategies independently, talk lays such an important foundation at the beginning of a study and at the end.  It's so important to compare their initial definitions to their thinking after intense study.  It's about being metacognitive.  Enjoy...

What We Know About Inferring 

If a book leaves you hanging, you can infer what is going to happen next. (J.)  “You come to a part you don’t understand and you can’t figure it out, you don’t know what’s going to happen next, you infer because you’re not sure.” (L./J.) 

I know that you need schema, text clues, and predictions to equal an inference. (B.) “If you didn’t it wouldn’t make any sense, you’d just be guessing because you don’t have enough information to go on in order to infer.” (P.)

If you don’t understand a sentence in a book, you can infer to find out what you don’t understand. (L.)  “If you go past it without knowing what a word is or something you ask yourself ‘What did I just read?’” (B.) 

I know that your head and heart are in inferring for feeling, for getting a sense of the text. (J.)  “The text doesn’t know what you’re feeling. (J.)  You have to catch yourself inferring… so that those feelings will emerge.  You just can’t hold it in!” (B./L./Mr. A.) 

There are three puzzle pieces to inferring:  background knowledge/background experience, text clues, and predictions. (R.) “These three parts have to happen – they are tools to help you understand, remember, make it memorable, and extend meaning.  Emotions, thoughts, and ideas are three more parts that you have to have to infer.” (P./I.) 

I know that inferring is important: you use background knowledge, text clues, and predictions to infer what is going to happen. (I.)  “You need to have all these things happening to infer.  You have these things happening and you have to lead yourself through them to lead yourself ‘up to inferring.’” (K./T.) 

You can’t leave one step out, you have to use them all because otherwise it’s not inferring. (L.)  “The secret to inferring is: not all writers tell you everything, not because they ran out of paper, but because they want you, the reader, to figure it out for yourself.” (Unknown) 

You don’t use inferring just in reading, you use it in math and writing too. (P.)  “It’s a strategy you use everywhere, anytime.” (I.) 

If you have a question, it can be confirmed or disconfirmed. (R.)  “If it’s confirmed it means that you inferred well… if it’s disconfirmed, you may have to go back and try it again and look for other clues.” (P.) 

Inferring means to understand.  If you don’t understand a word, you infer what it might mean. (P.)   “Inferring is about personal meaning.  To understand the meaning you have to infer so that you can read on otherwise you won’t be able to understand the rest of the story.” (Mr. A./R.) 

You need to know what inferring is to be a better reader, writer, and mathematician. (K.)  “If you just use one strategy all the time you won’t get better at the other strategies that you know.  Inferring helps you understand meaning and to get better as a reader; it adds another strategy to your brain.” (P.) 

I know that confirmed means that “I got it” and disconfirmed means “Try it again because I didn’t really get it.” (T.)  “If you don’t you wouldn’t know if your inference is in the ballpark.  If you don’t notice you won’t go back to see what you missed.” (R./I.). 

I know that with picture clues you can figure out what a picture is trying to tell you. (M.) “Sometimes the text doesn’t give you enough.  Sometimes the pictures give you what you need.” (L.) 

Inferring helps you understand the meaning. (E.)  “I know that when a book doesn’t give you enough information, you have to give yourself information, you have to be metacognitive about your inferring about what you’re doing.  It’s just going through you if you don’t pay attention.” (P.)  

You have to ponder when you’re inferring. (J.) “If you didn’t ponder, you’d have too much in your head and wouldn’t be paying attention.  When they slow down, it helps wise readers to make decisions.” (P./L.) 

You have to have a book that you understand or it will be really challenging. (T.)  “If you have a book that is too hard, you can’t infer because you’re not picking up text clues.” (I.)

'Tis the Season... for Giving...

Franki and Mary Lee wrote about giving back on their blog this week.  You can read their post at: http://readingyear.blogspot.com 
     Franki and Mary Lee got me thinking about our own giving during the Christmas season.  Besides sponsoring a child for Compassion International throughout the year, we do something special in December.  Each year, my own children choose gifts from Alternative Gifts International http://www.alternativegifts.org to give to their godparents.  My wife and I give a gift to the adults in our lives from this organization.  Our church sponsors a gift market each year (http://www.ourfatherlutheran.net).  It's usually the youth and their families that sponsor a booth in our fellowship hall on "shopping day."  

     Alternative Gifts International is a non-profit organization that inspires support for humanitarian and environmental causes.  They offer donors the option to designate charitable gifts through carefully selected agencies in the name of their relatives, friends, and associates.  It's a great way to give a gift in someone's name.

     You can choose from a catalog of projects around the world (http://www.alternativegifts.org/projects).  For example, you can choose "Educating and Mobilizing Disabled Children" in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, or "Learning to Read & Sew for Success" in India, or "Gardening & Critter Care for Happy Families" in Bolivia.  The website has a catalog of choices; there's a rich assortment of projects, prices, and possibilities.

     With each gift, you can choose a special card to accompany your gift.  Here are a few examples:

One touch of the nature makes
the whole world kin.
--William Shakespeare 

How wonderful it is
that nobody has to wait
a single moment before
starting to improve the world.
--Anne Frank 

Today, we bring 'simple gifts'
to a troubled world,
Seeking hope for peace in a new day.

Goods news from heaven the angels bring,
Glad tidings to the earth they sing:
To us this day a child is given,
To crown us with the joy of heaven. 

     This is the season to remember those who may need our help and support... Thanks to Franki and Mary Lee for the reminder!

A Great Sports Book

This book is full of the kinds of sports stories that inspire readers who love sports.  Len Berman (veteran sportscaster extraordinaire) has chosen some of his favorite groundbreaking sports stories.  He begins with Michael Phelps's victory in 2008 in Beijing.  He writes about such athletes as Hank Aaron, Billie Jean King, the U.S. Women's soccer team, Nadia Comaneci (and a certain golfer who's been in the news of late).
     This is a wonderful collection.  It is a nice mix of historical sport's moments.  It's an engaging book for young fans.  The book also includes an audio CD of ten actual moments in sports history.  I'm always on the lookout for books to add to my collection of sports books.
     I especially like how Len Berman shares his favorite moments in sports in the book and challenges the reader to identify the moments in history that would make his or her list (persuasive writing launch, perhaps?).  It's visually attractive and fun to read.  I've added this book to my "must have" list and I can't wait to get this book into the hands of young readers.