When My Writing Space Needs an Intervention

Cluttered chaos is what I call my office space. Stacks of books (favorites and ones to be read) sit amidst writing tools. Also, piled into my tiny office space are a variety of folders in different colors and many notes that need sorting. I would like to call this my haven but as the piles grow my space lessens. At various times, I get the urge to neaten up the space and do so with vigor. I step back and feel the pride that swells from a sense of balance but as days go on and my thoughts move in different directions, my clutter accumulates again-to the point of hair pulling. That is when I know my writing space needs an intervention. I am at that particular point right now, especially since Bonnie Kaplan created a lovely video, Where do You Slice in March 2015?, in which slicers showed their writing spaces. Perhaps after an intervention, I will be able to post a photo of my space.

Here is an interesting add on to my cleaning dilemma: one year ago today, I wrote the following opener to a post called, "Frustration Comes in Bundles": When feeling stressed, overwhelmed, and frustrated, take a step back and breathe. A poem accompanied the post. I totally forgot about this writing until a Twitter colleague, Jennifer Hayhurst sent me a comment here. Isn't this uncanny that I would have similar feelings exactly one year later?

Today starts a new day of sorting (I'm ready to tackle this), organizing (this task will add on layers of clutter but it is worth it) and continued writing (smooch is the word of the day to build a poem around for Heidi Mordhorst's March Poetry CHallenge at my juicy little universe). 

While musing about today's word, I recollected how much fun the neighborhood children had during our recent snowstorms. They created wonderful snow people. I thought I would be inventive in keeping with my winter theme so my poem deals with a snow couple. 

Snowman Smooch
My snowman looked so forlorn.
He needed a mate to weather the storm. 
I asked the children down the street
to find a partner for him to meet.
They molded and sculpted a beautiful one.
She came alive in the morning sun.
Then, her heart quickly melted away
as Snowman gave her a smooch that day.

Adapted from 123rf.com

To read more slices for Day 11 of the March Slice of Life Story Challenge, please go to Two Writing Teachers.

Listen to Write

Since the beginning of January, I have been allowing my one little word, listen, to guide my learning life. It is surprising how many twists and turns my OLW has taken me on in such a short time. Because I am still designing the Gallery of Winter Whisperings filled with different perspectives of winter, my thoughts have been centered around the positives of the winter season. I have been listening to the sounds of nature to crystalize thoughts into poetic pieces. With this in mind, I decided to challenge myself with a new writing format, the tanka. 

Tanka poems are short, five-line poems that originated almost 1200 years ago in the Japanese culture. The translation of the word tanka is short song. The word listen popped to mind when I read this. Then, I remembered that my blogger/writer friend, Michelle H. Barnes sent out a ditty challenge to write a tanka poem this month. I coupled Michelle's challenge with Heidi Mordhorst's MarCH Poetry challenge of the day on the word sketch. After many attempts to write a tanka, I have an offering. Since I like to reflect, I engaged in a mental checklist to see which parts of the tanka format I achieved. 

✓ five-line poem

✓ kept to the line pattern of short-long-short-long-long 

✓ centered the poem on nature and a season 

?  attempted to create a change in perception from examining an image to examining a               personal response to the scene

I added an image as my personal brand to capture the stillness of the scene both in words and image. A quote from Margarita Engle on Michelle's blog affirmed my desire to capture winter poetically. 

Seek the resonance that enters a poem only when it is touched by the stillness of nature.

To enhance Heidi's challenge, I altered an original photo to give it the feel of an artist's well-developed sketch, using PicMonkey.

Listen to Yuki, a traditional children's song in Japan that tells a story of snowfall.

To round off today's challenges, I am including this post in Day 10 of the Slice of Life Story Challenge at Two Writing Teachers. Stroll over there to read other slices of the day. 

Teachers as Facilitators of Learning

During the winter months, it is important to keep your students engaged 

so that lethargy does not affect the positivity of the learning space. 

Ah, the learning process in action!

Collaborative conversations lead to inquiry.

But, according to MIke Schmoker's research gathered from visitations to 1500 classrooms for his book Results Now, only 15% of the classrooms had more than half of their classes paying attention to the lesson. Student engagement is a critical component of effective classrooms. Be the guide on the side that assists students to achieve the possibilities that learning can afford them. 

So what does student engagement look like? Certainly not this image:

A student-centered, engaged environment has the look and feel of a collaborative classroom, where students work in partnerships, triads, and quads. They read critically with pen in hand; soft skills are visible: creative decision making, problem solving, noticing, wondering, exploring, and discovering. Students create, discuss, debate, and ask questions. They perform, present, interact with peers, and share their learning. Technology is integrated into lessons with students respectfully demonstrating 21st century digital literacy competencies. The teacher becomes the guide on the side, not the sage on the sage, a teacher of learning, rather than a preacher of learning.  

Heidi Mordhurst is into her second week of the March Ch Challenge. The word for the day is "preach" which makes me think of church. It also reminds me that there needs to be less teacher voice in the classroom and more student voice. Keeping students engaged negates boredom that was more apparent in the factory model of teaching. I dedicate this modest attempt of incorporating the word preach into a poem. Walk in my shoes for a moment to join my virtual classroom: 

When I prepare to teach

I don't want to preach.

Sermons are meant for church,

and deliberate soul search.

When I stand and teach

I don't want to preach.

I want passion to spill-

learners engaged in the thrill.

Learning is messy

and that is so.

Keep the students 

engaged, on the go.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Now take a stroll over to Two Writing Teachers for Day 9 of the March SOLSC! #SOL15

"Make Things Happen"

I have always been fascinated by history and the courageous women of the past whose strength and courage changed the world. Today, March 8, 2015, marks the 2015 International Women's Day, a worldwide event celebrated in twenty-seven countries. Recognized as a national holiday in many countries, this year's theme, Make Things Happen, is purposefully designed to be an outcry for equality and the discrimination of women across the globe. While many advancements in gender equity have occurred since the first International Women's Day in 1911, issues of discrimination and equity still exist.

"In the U.S., the problem is no less pronounced than it is elsewhere. According to the U.S. Census, women make less than 80 percent of what men do. Women hold 19 percent of seats in Congress. And among CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, fewer than 5 percent are women."

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/abhorrent-thousands-march-international-womens-day-n319701 

Because the issue of gender equity is one of great concern, today thousands marched in the streets of New York City. They were joined by the First Lady of New York City, Chrilane McCray who stated, "This march started more than a century ago, but we still have a long way to go before we get to equality." (ABC News) 

"Women's rights are human rights,"

the crowd chanted as they marched.

Thousands deep, they walked the streets

heralding a message of equity,

loudly crying out to a world of sleepy denial.

In strong unison, women and "men sisters" 

marched despite winter's cold,

noting the need for global action.

With open arms, New York City 

greeted the throngs

who championed change.

Let their voices be heard. 

newyork.cbslocal.com

Now please connect with Two Writing Teachers Day 8 of the March SOLSC  to read other bloggers stories. 

Celebrating the Story of Winter

When winter decided to make its entrance this season, it announced itself through many a storm. Its story unfolded each month through news flashes across the states and the ins and outs of winter blasts. This week, winter roared like a lion as it entered March. Its message was clear and visible: I am just not ready to give up my domain. I celebrate winter's story this week and reflect on each step it took. 

While winter raged this week, storm watch headlines became a gift of the spirit. Instead of bringing the tone of positivity down, it stimulated positive feelings for me. Weather became my kick starter for poems or stories as I creatively and positively approached what winter had to offer. Below is a progression in images of how I captured March's wintery entrance this week.

http://beyondliteracylink.blogspot.com/2015/03/in-like-lion-slice-of-life-challenge.html

http://beyondliteracylink.blogspot.com/2015/03/digging-out.html

http://beyondliteracylink.blogspot.com/2015/03/which-will-it-be.html

http://beyondliteracylink.blogspot.com/2015/03/journey-onward.html

http://beyondliteracylink.blogspot.com/2015/03/winter-morning.html

As I wake to celebrate another Celebration Saturday, there is a heaviness to the morning. The sky's grayness is weighted by the snow as it settles over the neighborhood. There is a mournful look to the landscape but as I search through my Google + posts, I see three by blogger friends (Violet Nesdoly, Vicki Day, and Amy Brennan) that resonate with me. In the words written are a message that leads me to a realization. Leaning in on someone is a step toward meeting each day with positivity. 

Words celebrate the story of life. Today, I offer this: when winter's world feels heavy, it is time to lean in, find the special someone to lift your heart, and walk out onto a fresh, clear day. Within the coldness of the air, find the breath that warms the morning. 

Celebrate life as we know it. 

Celebrate winter's story by sharing together moments. 

As the frost settles on the window pane, look over the Celebrate This Week site that Ruth Ayres created for bloggers to bring light to their special weekly moments and joys.

Also, find the warmth of friendship among the bloggers at Two Writing Teachers' Day 7 of the March SOLSC! #SOL15 site. 

May the beauty of the winter morning be reflected 

in the way you celebrate your day.

Winter Morning

For the past two days, winter once again touched and tussled the Long Island landscape, leaving frosted pathways and marshmallow mounds. With no one to challenge its entry, winter allowed its stormy path to unfold with stories of quiet beauty, challenging snow removal, and educators traveling to a literacy event. Undaunted by winter's rush, educators filled the halls of the LILAC/NRC Annual Conference to be warmed by camaraderie and new learnings. 

Life as we know it is uncertain and unpredictable. As we plan, we learn to expect the unexpected that changes daily routines. In the winter of 2015, we learn patience as we take positive steps forward. Winter cold may surround us but winter warmth can be found inside hearts lit with passion. 

Allow the music of Fiona Joy Hawkins to fill your soul with soothing sounds.

As your day comes to a close, 

stroll over to the Poetry Friday Round-Up with Robyn Campbell as host. 

There you will find her poem, Which Road Will You Choose? 

I chose positivity.

Also, travel to another poet's site, my little universe, to read about the Forward...MarCH Challenge where Heidi Mordhurst is 

featuring the word fetch today.

Lastly, please send me your offerings for the Gallery of Winter Whisperings that I am creating. The unveiling will follow the close of the winter season. 

Different perspectives of winter are welcomed. 

Journey Onward

In the stillness of the day,
listen to the whistling of the wind
as it whispers through the trees. 

Focus your gaze.
Look beyond the dense forest 

blanketed by snowdrops.

Follow the path, set in silence.

 With foresight and God speed,

let it lead you on. 

With an adventurous spirit 

Turn your gaze to the heavens.

Find the beacon that glistens on winter's land.

Reach up to the sky.

Dive into pillows of snow.

Stretch your arms to hold the joy of the sun.

With angel's wings

upon your shoulders 

fly above snow-kissed spaces.

Behold the wonders of the land,

untouched by earthly bonds.

Await the stillness.

It unfolds in shadows

kissed by winter's snowsun-

idyllic in its imaginings.

Hear the breath
rustling in your being,
holding court in the stilled quiet.

Pause and reflect
under the arched passageway
of spiritual peace and beauty.

Then, listen again for a gentle presence.

Live the adventure called life,
crafted by the Divine Hand
that holds the majesty of humankind. 

And in your quest find the means to walk the journey with the 

fruit of the Sprit-

love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, 

faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

(Galatians 5:22-23)

For those who reflect, this song will carry you to a meditative place as you journey.

In the spirit of adventure, move over to Holly Mueller's Spiritual Journey Thursday site to hear the perspectives of the blogging community on the word adventure. 

The storm keeps raging here on Long Island and so the journey of winter wonderings continues. May the Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life Story Challenge accept this poetry as my offering for Day 5 of the winter collection of stories that I am piecing together during this month's challenge.

Life is a journey. Be inspired to walk it with a reflective eye and a thoughtful soul. Peace!