1. An "all's clear" mammogram. The James has a billboard ad campaign right now with the catch-phrase, "There is no such thing as a routine mammogram." So true, whether or not you were diagnosed with breast cancer with your very first mammogram. I'll breathe easier (and remain vigilant -- do your monthly self-exams, friends!) for another year.
2. An absolute show-stopper of a rainbow on the way home from my mammo/onco visit. The colors were so bright and it was so solid-seeming that you just wanted to reach out and break a piece off to taste. I wanted to stop and take a picture of it, but by the time I got off the freeway and found a place to pull over where I could see it clearly, it had faded. For a moment I was sad, but then I reminded myself that some memories need to be kept in my heart, not my iPhoto files.
3. No school on Friday. Time to rest, reboot, and reflect on how I can adjust my teaching so that I can better meet the needs of my students while doing all of the things I'm "supposed to be" doing.
4. Thursday, I asked my students to help me with this reflecting and rethinking. I projected a blank document with MORE OF THIS typed at the top and LESS OF THIS typed in the middle.
LESS OF THIS stayed blank. MORE OF THIS included: independent reading time, book clubs, writing time, choice time, ways to use their devices, science.
Could I have been hit over the head any harder with what I know to be right and true? Thank you, Universe, for the loud and clear message. Time to stop SAYING I trust the process and time to LIVE it. I'll put into place what I know needs to be there, and work backwards to get to the "supposed to be-s."
Happy Saturday! Happy Fall!
Visit the Celebration Roundup at Ruth Ayres Writes. Thank you, Ruth, for keeping us focused on the CELEBRATIONS in life. It makes all the difference in the world!
I"m up too, Mary Lee. :) Writing-in the day with my warm cup of tea and clacking computer keys. I love this line from you: "Time to stop SAYING I trust the process and time to LIVE it." I'm glad we're celebrating together.
ReplyDeleteShine on,
Ruth
Health is a precious condition to celebrate. I like how you interpret the message from the universe. Happy weekend and new start on Monday!
ReplyDeleteCelebrating the workshop process is good for my soul. Children thrive on the relationship built within the workshop approach. Thanks for the reminder a out my health. I need to make that appointment. :) glad you are enjoying some quiet time to yourself this morning.
ReplyDeleteHappy to hear that your week was full of good things, starting with that all-important check, Mary Lee. Love the asking of 'more of this' and 'less of this'-always good to ask! And don't forget to ask yourself too! Happy Saturday!
ReplyDeleteWe love your ideas of a More of this/Less of that chart --can't wait to try it.
ReplyDeleteClare and Tammy
Mary Lee I am celebrating that my friend is healthy and will be writing MORE poetry about tasting rainbows!
ReplyDeleteWe end each day with a closing meeting where we share "What worked for me and what didn't." I am finding a trend- what's not working is all about RECESS and what's working is all about learning! YAY, learning!
I have never thought about "tasting" a rainbow. Hope you enjoy your long weekend. I want to try the more/less idea. Anxious to see what my 4th graders would say! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you're healthy to celebrate more of the kinds of moments you shared! I like how there were more focus on the positive in the classroom than the negative.
ReplyDeleteI love rainbows. They represent magic to me. It sounds like you are on a road to magic happening as you reflect and reboot.
ReplyDeleteI am giving thanks for your results and a beautiful rainbow gift. I love how you trust the kids. ( Hardly a surprise....) I am going to focus my talk about the joy of poetry on the power of doing what we know works and staying strong in these nerve-wracking times for too many. I am celebrating from afar. Janet F.
ReplyDeleteHooray for a clear mammo! I love the reflecting with the class. Such great insight.
ReplyDeleteSo true. I stay nervous until I hear otherwise. Had to go in once for a re-run and that was not fun. Great to have the all clear.
ReplyDeleteI love this line: Time to stop SAYING I trust the process and time to LIVE it! Me, too. I am pledging right along with you.
So happy to hear about your "all clear" appointment. Such good news!
ReplyDeleteLove the messages your students are sending. So glad you're staying true to what you know is good for kids! It makes me think back 27(?) years and remember who helped me figure out best practices (you!!!).
Such good news about your health, Mary Lee. Good, good, good. And more validation that you are doing what needs to be done in the classroom. Best to you, and may your weekend be restful.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great week! Amazing how kids can always tell us what we know to be true, huh? Here's to another week of rainbows and reading and celebrations!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your mammogram - I had to go back for a follow-up right after school started because of an abnormal reading, and even had a sonogram. It was a scary few moments waiting for the dr. to come back and tell me everything was ok. It was, but I'll never take a normal mammogram for granted again! I love when you said you "just wanted to reach out and break a piece off to taste." That's a great image - I can see it in one of your future poems! :-) Also, I love that your kids are enjoying exactly what you know is to be right! Keep on keeping on! :-)
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of the reflection with your students. That is such a great and simple thing to do with the more of this and less of this lists. I hope you enjoyed your extra day off.
ReplyDeleteSo glad to hear the good news on your mammogram! I LOVE your reflection with the kids...More of This, Less of That. I think I'm going to start tomorrow morning off with these two phrases! I hope your weekend was just what you needed. Have a great week!
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