Author: Beth Sanderson

The Community of Teachers

Leave a comment

For the second summer week in a row I feel joy in the community of teachers.   This sense of comfort is easy to find during the school year — pop into a teacher’s classroom for advice or participate in a brainstorming session.  But in the summer, teachers come together for the love of teaching.

Last week I attended the July Reading Institute at Columbia’s Teachers College Reading and Writing Project (TCRWP).  An army of 1,200 strong listened to the latest research, laughed with keynote speaker Jacqueline Woodson and shared ideas to take back tot he classroom.  The generosity of spirit was invigorating.  Some of us were only a couple of days removed from the classroom but we were all equally eager to engage.  I left New York with new friends and the promise of sharing ideas across the transom.

Today I begin the Teachers Write summer project.  Authors Kate Messner, Jo Knowles and Gae Polisner host over a thousand teachers, challenging us to write every day.  Over the course of several weeks, a couple dozen guest authors will provide prompts, comments and encouragement.  Equally important, the community of writers will share and provide support.  I am excited for the challenge and hope to find my writing voice over the next several weeks.  I plan to write for writing’s sake…to see where the words take me.  Unlike most of my writing, this summer work is not audience-driven or lesson-based.

The slower days of summer offer the community of teachers a chance to truly shine.  When we are not bound by classrooms or schedules, we teachers can reenergize.  But I marvel at the flow of creativity that these warm, supposedly lazy days bring out!

Book a Day Challenge

Leave a comment

The Nerdy Book Club’s Book-a-Day Challenge peeked my interest.  Could I really read a book a day? The stack of books in my dining room suggests that is exactly what I need to do!

My plan was to start the challenge on June 20th, the day school gets out for summer.  However, Laurie Halse Anderson’s lovely new book The Impossible Knife of Memory was just too tempting. I started the book this morning sitting on the patio in the early morning sunlight.  I took the book with me to run errands as well as on a visit to a local playhouse to watch two students perform proudly in front of a large audience :-).  I finished the book as the sun set.  The luxury of a whole wonderful book in a day is exhilirating!  I now know my summer days will be filled with a variety of picture books, graphic novels, professional books, non-fiction books and novels.  I can’t wait to tackle tomorrow’s book!

As for LHA’s new book, I highly recommend everyone rush out and pick up a copy.  The book is filled with imperfect characters who work their way into your heart as you read.  The struggles of Hayley, her father Andy, Finn and best friend Gracie are very real for many of today’s teen.  Hayley’s relationship with her war veteran father exists on pins and needles.  As a reader, I found myself holding my breath each time Hayley opened the door to her house wondering what version of her father she would encounter.  Anderson’s searing prose stays with me…I love these characters and feel like I know them personally.

I think Amber McRee Turner’s Circa Now is up next in the pile.  Can’t wait!

A summer filled with books

3 Comments

Thanks to the #10summerblogs challenge I am jumping into the blogging world to share a love of reading, teaching and community. I am a middle school classroom reading teacher.  I have the distinct pleasure of sharing books and reading strategies with over 100 students a day.  What could be better!

Last summer I attended a Teachers College Reading and Writing Project (TCRWP) Summer Institute. One of the keynote speakers during the fabulous week was Kylene Beers. During her talk she noted that Twitter is the single most important professional development tool we have today.  My short time on Twitter has offered exciting new ideas for my middle school classroom, a host of new reading mentors and an always available platform to share ideas.  What a gift!  Folks like Kelly Gallagher, Donalyn Miller, Penny Kittle, Kylene Beers and more light the way for engaging students as lifelong readers.

This summer I have big plans for reading and learning.  A few highlights include:

  • another TCRWP summer reading institute
  • a book study with colleagues on PLCs
  • work on countywide language arts curriculum
  • Donalyn Miller’s book-a-day challenge!

Before school ends, my students will:

  • create a recommended book list for the rest of their middle school community. Everyday students charge into the classroom excitedly talking about the review they plan to include in our summer “must-read” list.  The enthusiasm is contagious.
  • participate in a “Book Speed Dating” day so each student can build a personal summer reading list.  It is all about choice.
  • set a summer book challenge and each student will select an individual reading goal for the summer.  I will tell them about the book-a-day challenge I have accepted and update them via an approved site as my reading progresses 🙂  I look forward to hearing about all the books my students are reading.

With only a few short weeks of school left, my mind is filled with books.  As I finish this blog I am already turning to the book sitting on the table beside me…I love holidays for reading!