Slice of Life

I'm going to participate in the daily writing journey during March. This will be my first time. I so enjoy reading the stories written by others. It will be a great challenge for me, but here goes.

The first day of  March certainly arrived like a lion. My day began early because I was scheduled to visit elementary teachers at a school an hour away. When I went outside to load the car, it was covered with lots of wet snow. The temperature was above freezing so the roads were clear. I cleaned the snow from my car and headed south.

When I arrived at the school, I rang the buzzer to be invited in. That is a new procedure for 2013. The door to each classroom was also locked. I felt safe and the students seemed accustomed to having the door locked. Each classroom that I visited was a reflection of the teacher. The rooms were decorated in themes, selected by the teacher. A few themes I saw include a frog, ladybug, monkey and bee. The bulletin boards were filled student art work. The atmosphere was a good learning environment. Students and teachers were polite and respectful. I felt welcomed into each classroom. I witnessed positive interactions throughout my visit.

The teachers listened to my comments and shared some of the issues they were experiencing. The day was a successful one for me, I always learn so much when I go to school.

Here's to hoping March goes out like a lamb.

Wintery Weather

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 The most recent midwest storm created some difficult choices for us. Many area schools closed or sent students home early because of hazardous travel conditions. The view on the left was from my front porch, sparkly and cold. Later that night I heard a loud crash. I went to check things and found a limb from the elm tree had broken under the weight of the ice. It came close to my house. I was lucky because the huge limb fell down inside the tree instead of on my house.

Writing Progress

I have a couple items to report:

First, I commented on 3 different picture book submissions. These writers are so creative, I really had fun reading their work. I'm not sure my comments were helpful but I tried to be objective and make suggestions that might improve the story.

Second, I wrote a 275 word story that had been rolling around in my head for some time. It evolved during this month as I narrowed the focus. I submitted the first draft on the critique site today. Yea!

Now I wait for comments and suggestions.

Personal Learning Network

Recently I attended a tech conference that encouraged me to create a PLN for me and my coworkers.

Educators so often work in isolation. It is very apparent to me when teachers get together for a staff meeting or training session because they have so much talking to get out of the way before they are ready to attend to the speaker.

Social media has allowed teachers to connect without leaving their homes. Twitter is one fast paced networking tool that I have used to connect to other educators. After seeing how a PLN can be created, I think it would be a useful tool in my current job.

Here is a great web site with tips for creating a professional learning network.

http://newsroom.opencolleges.edu.au/features/20-tips-for-creating-a-professional-learning-network/


Check out Kathy Schrok's guide to PLNs

http://www.schrockguide.net/creating-your-pln.html


At the tech conference I attended a session with Shelly Terrell and here is a link to her web site with information about creating a PLN

http://shellyterrell.com/2009/12/13/pln-where-do-we-begin/

My next step is to attempt a PLN and invite coworkers. We could be connected before nightfall.

On Writing

I've recently joined 12x12 to focus on writing picture books. I am encouraged by reading the other writers' posts. I have learned much in a short time. I'm interested in writing stories from my childhood, stories about nature and biographies. I've been working on a story about sharecroppers who picked cotton. I also joined a critique group. I like reading the creative works of others but find it hard to write a good comment. And my work has not been posted because I'm still revising it. Maybe before too long, I will have written a story so I can post it. My goal is to have a good draft completed by the end of February.

Quick Sketch in Celebration of the Bald Eagle

I spent the past two days working behind the scenes to make things happen so everyone could see eagles in their natural habitat. Numerous volunteers and coworkers made the event successful. School children and the public visitors got to view coots, snow geese, deer and eagles as they traveled to scopes set up in the field. Folks from the Dickerson Park Zoo in Springfield brought a Golden and Bald Eagle to acquaint everyone with habitat needs and the restoration projects of the Bald Eagle. We all learned a great deal. Our time was well spent. In honor of the weekend I completed the quick sketch of the Golden Eagle. I think the length of the eagle is a bit compressed so next time I will try to lengthen the silhouette.

Sketchbook Challenge

I have been creating sketches, trying to improve and now with the new year, 2013, it seems a perfect time for me to begin posting a few by accepting the sketchbook challenge. Here is a sketch of an insect I drew earlier this year.