Late Night Writing

I am sliding into Poetry Friday at the latest possible time I can imagine but I have my  reasons. I thought of writing last night BUT I was presenting my last professional development session of the school year on Zoom to the Reading Specialists Council of Suffolk and writing my combined Spiritual Journey Thursday and Two Writing Teachers March Writring Challenge post, all of this while my little grandgirls were enjoying their five- day-stay-over with at Grandpa and Grandma's house. 

A Just Be Day

Little Loveys

Wake-up early

Race down the stairs

With energy

Dressed in jammies

Little Loveys

Plan their day two

Wide-eyed wonders

Choose their first show

Usual foods

Little Loveys

Find their rhythm

Still in jammies

coloring, playing

slow-paced day for

Little Loveys.

©CVarsalona, 2023, 4x4 poem

You might think that I had time to write today BUT I was too busy trying to keep up with the pace of the two little girls and other life interruptions. So here I am at the latest possible time before the clock strikes midnight. 

I planned to share a book review of Matt Forrest Esenwine's fabulous new book, "Everybody Counts", but did not have time today. Watch for the review to come out soon.

The little grandgirls had a stay-at-home-in-jammies day BUT still wanted to play right up to bedtime. The energy of children seems to be like the Energizer Bunnies' pace while Grandma was exhausted.

Now to finally have time to add this post to the Poetry Friday Roundup hosted by the fabulous author/poet Tanita S. Davis at {fiction, instead of lies}.

The grandgirls will be with us until Tuesday morning so my visits to writers' blogs will be slower than usual.

A Busy Week & Strange Occurrence

As I was decorating for Halloween, a strange occurrence happened. I turned to my computer and opened my blog to read a comment from slicer friend, Chris Margocs. She alerted me that my slice, A Busy Week, may have disappeared. Sure enough, it did! I know that I wrote the blog post because another slicer friend, Bob Hamera, aka arjeha, responded. Below is the missing slice that I happened upon when I opened my iMac. Internet prank??? or just Happy Pre-Halloween, Friends!!!

🦇🧹

Since last Tuesday, I have been on a whirlwind path of meeting my To Do list. In the space between then and now I prepared and presented my first keynote address for the Reading Specialists Council of Suffolk, entertained out-of-town guests, and dealt with week two of recuperation of my husband's hip replacement. All went well so I am grateful.

In addition, there were business and personal calls and writing a book review of my poet/author friend Matt Forrest Esenwine's creative nonfiction book, A Beginner's Guide to Being Human. Today is the official release of the book on its #blogbirthday. This book is one that should be in the school library and read aloud in classes from elementary to middle school. Key topics, like humanity, kindness, and compassion are introduced and supported through vivid illustrations. 

This busy week reaped rewards but I must admit that I am exhausted. Now, if I could only write before the midnight hour calls.

REDO 

Join me at Slice of Life Tuesday celebrated at Two Writing Teachers

a meeting place for a world of reflective writers. 

Teacher Writers-Awakeners of Learning

With an enthusiastic, upbeat attitude I looked forward to my first keynote address on Zoom last night. I had been preparing for the Reading Specialists Council of Suffolk professional development program for weeks with the topic of Teacher Writers, Awakeners of Learning. As a writer, I felt the jitters of vulnerability. I was placing my years of study on this topic in the hands of my audience. Could I deliver my thoughts in a forty-five-minute session? 

I did and this morning, I woke to the quiet of a "Second-Summer" October day and peace in my heart. I accomplished my task last night, delivering a presentation, The Power of Writing, Determining Your Why as a Teacher Writer/Awakener of Learning. As I sat at my desk, I scrolled through my mail and found an interesting one from a passionate author friend of mine, Ruth Ayres (editor of Choice Literacy). Her article, Get in the Pool: Teachers Who Write, held a truism, " If we want our students to grow as writers, then we must be teachers who write." 

Quick Write Thought

like threads sewn by nimble hands

writing flows

like winds that blow through the sky

writing flies

like thoughts that come and go

writing knows

heartbeats and sorrow

today to tomorrow

writing grows

©CVarsalona, 2022

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Today is Poetry Friday and a wonderful poet/Kidlit author, Matt Forrest Esenwine is the host of the Roundup. If you travel to his website here, you will find exciting news about his new book, A Beginner's Guide to Being Human, which will be released on October 18th. To celebrate the occasion, Matt is writing a collection of poems based on topics in his book.

Join me at my blog, Beyond LiteracyLink, for my review of Matt's book. It is one that should be in school libraries and read aloud.

NOTICES

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November 3, 2022 marks the second professional development workshop sponsored by the Reading Specialists Council of Suffolk. I am preparing now for my keynote address, Inviting and Encouraging Students to Discover the Writer Within, because I am in the writing zone, a very good place to be. 

My Finding Fall 2022 Padlet is growing as a gallery praising autumn. Please feel free to add your artistic expression or send it to me for insertion on the padlet. Thank you.

Responses to Poetry Friday friends will be spread throughout the weekend since we have friends staying with us. Happy October!

RSCS Presentation-The Power of Writing

As I sit preparing my keynote address on Zoom for the Reading Specialists Council of Suffolk professional development series, my mind wanders back and forth between the content component and the creative process. 

The "Second Summer" October days we are having provides a beautiful Autumn scene outside my library window. The light streaming in promotes creativity and helps me keep on task. Below is an example of a slice from my upcoming presentation.

Writing is an art form that moves thoughts to paper. It is a process that reveals pieces of the inner self while splashing thoughts across the page. Writing starts as a glimmer of an idea, a seed that sprouts in the quiet corners of your mind, and takes form when the muse beckons you. Writing can be an arrangement of free thoughts or an on-demand task. It can be a messy synthesis of ideas or an elegant rewrite. With faith, the writing process allows thoughts to germinate, grow, and give voice to a learning life.

I look forward to my first keynote address at a professional development program. CTLE credits are being provided for all educators who participate. There is even a book raffle of Buffy Silverman's newest Kidlit book (donated by Lerner Books).

Join me at Slice of Life Tuesday celebrated at Two Writing Teachers

a meeting place for a world of reflective writers.