It's Springtime - Time to Rethink Clutter

These past weeks with spring trying to make its debut, there has been a call to action to get organized. The #PFWChat community had a virtual spring cleaning campaign that prompted Twitter friends to cheer each other on as the big cleanup began. Being challenged by the amount of clutter and with the onset of National Poetry Month, I submitted a photo overlayed with a short poem about my clutter nightmare. 

After that discussion and spring cleaning activity, Talks with Teachers 4-Week Challenge was posed. I decided to join that endeavor in which organization was the topic for the first week. While hesitant to share my photo-poem pairing that described the cluttered mess I was in, I decided to let my inhibitions go, even though my photo seemed to be the only one in the Talks with Teachers Challenge that showed a real mess. 

Procrastination is not a becoming trait, but I have a reason why a once lovely family, media room became a reality show disaster. After retiring from my districtwide administration post at the end of June, I brought home my office. Unfortunately, the living space in my basement became filled with remnants of my former life. The entire room (you can only see a small portion of it) plus my home office are filled with books, binders, and other bits and pieces from pre-retirement days. Combine this with ongoing work that I am engaged in as a consultant, co-moderator of ‪NYEDChat, and blogger and you have a person who is piler, not a filer, with little free time or desire for cleaning.  This habit is unbecoming of one who really likes clean spaces, so decluttering is my mission for the month to gain back organizational balance in my life.  

In reply to the Talks With Teachers Challenge on Facebook, I wrote, "Thinking that I often work in such an environment does not excuse the fact that my house is out of control. So here I am baring my soul to all of you whose office/desk spaces may look cluttered but pale in comparison to mine. That is why I wrote in the poem that an intervention is needed! I will begin today but I am not thinking that within one week I will be an accomplished declutterer."

After reflecting on what I needed to do, I found, a blog that I wrote months ago. This made me realize that there is no time like the present to be resolute in my desire to get organized. Tip to me after reading the great article, 7 Habits of Highly Organized People, supplied by Talks With Teachers: put on the cleaning gloves and attack my mess by following these steps:

• Keep Flat Surfaces Clear
• Find a Place for Everything
• File Don't Pile
• Purge and Declutter Often

It's time to rethink clutter because "clutter is magnetic!" Spring this year will be my call to action season. Wish me luck.

Three Rules of Work: 
Out of clutter find simplicity;

From discard find harmony;

In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.

Albert Einstein

Why Write Poetry?

We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion.

Mr. Keating in Dead Poets Society 

So why write poetry? It is not just an experience for National Poetry Month. It is the opportunity to allow your thoughts to flow freely with unlimited possibilities, or if you prefer boundaries, the opportunity to write within a structured frame. Poems are avenues for thoughts that can grow into poetic expressions, becoming the wings of your inner spirit that wish to take flight. They can be the vehicle for the inner voice to gain entry into a universe of collective thoughts. Sometimes, though, thoughts are locked deep within. In this case, poetry is doorway opening to a portal of possibility.

This month is National Poetry Month so there is much focus on poetry as an art form. Twitter feeds are buzzing about poetry in the classroom, the integration of technology and art, and various techniques to create highly visual poems. Poetry can be introduced in various ways; appear in different shapes; paired with a graphic, photo, or bold typography to become a creative work or advertisement. 

For those who love language, poetry may come naturally. But there are those who feel intimidated by the genre. For every naysayer, I say there is a voice inside each of us that can flow as a steady stream with one leap of faith. 

To begin the creative process, you might like to start with a visualization. Mary Lee Hahn has provided several pathways to do so in her Our Wonderful World project. Taking her lead and using her poem as a mentor text, I tried the techniques she posted. My first draft was very rough. Rearrangement and refinement were needed. Being the editing geek that I am, several iterations later, I found my voice, gathered momentum, and produced a single thought worth sharing. Using the first and second day techniques that Mary Lee described allowed me to connect poetically with an inanimate object. By starting with a photograph and some research about the object, I lifted single words from either what I read or from my own background knowledge to relate to the topic. Here are my attempts to be more targeted in my approach to writing about inanimate objects:

Version 1 Created with Notegraphy, the Instagram of Words for the Writer
The Notegraphy image used reminded me of the Coliseum.

Version 2 Created with Word and Screenshot
The background design was chosen and paired with the text to reflect a table top.

Hoping to create a buzz about poetry, I am inviting all to participate in a literary event this April.

Your single thought can become an awakening for others so be reflective and enjoy writing. 

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You can view the first edition of the poetry collection submitted at:

REFLECT WITH ME-Bringing Together a Community of Writers To Celebrate Life and Learning 

CELI14: Connecting Educators on Long Island Through the Power of Twitter and Face-To-Face Conversations

Collaborative conversations energize learning lives and connect colleagues!

What can be better than meeting your virtual Twitter friends in a face-to-face environment to enjoy a day of learning? On Saturday, April 5, 2014, the learning spaces of Farmingdale Middle School were filled with a spirit of connectivity that brought Twitter friendships to life. Passionate educators, parents, and board members from New York and New Jersey met for the first Connected Educators of Long Island Meet-Up (#celi14) to engage in powerful talks linking educator to educator. With the backdrop of a springtime day, the heaviness of the long winter months lifted, and vitality to build relationships and forge friendships, a group of approximately 150+ gathered together to learn and laugh under the leadership of Dr. Bill Brennan. From the first moment of the day to the last good-by, energy and learning filled the hallways.

Launch of the NYEDCHAT/SATCHAT Live Conversation

As with most educational conferences, the list of ah hah moments mount throughout the day. The first one began during the early morning hours with the launch of a combination #nyedchat and #satchat that spanned 3148 comments from 528 people. My fellow #nyedchat moderators, Bill Brennan, Vicki Day, Blanca Duarte, Starr Sackstein, Tony Sinanis met with #satchat moderator, Bill Krakower, to discuss an engaging topic, Humor in Education. What started with a small live audience at 7:30 am grew exponentially, creating a steady buzz in the room filled with registrants greeting each other. Backchannel moderator talk and laughter were mixed with Qs, As, and comments, building momentum for a burst of ideas flying by in quick flashes on the Twitter feed. Educator-to-educator connections were made, ah hahs exchanged, and interviews with Bill Brennan, Don Gately, and Tom Whitby were mixed into the chat format. 

There were many high points of this momentous ed chat, among which was the coining of a new term, "ussies," for the collective selfie. Tying into the theme of humor in education, the moderators, Vicki Day, Banca Duarte, Billy Krakower, Starr Sackstein, Tony Sinanis, and Carol Varsalona, enjoyed a chuckle or two as they gathered for the debut of their "ussie" that was meant to equal the popularity of Ellen DeGeneres' selfie at the Oscars. Following this, Jerry Blumengarten was a featured, albeit a "virtual" guest in another version of the ussie. Needless to say, great fun was had by these connected educators.

Connect-Learn-Share-ACT

After the live combo educational chat aired, educators moved to the auditorium to be roused by a passionate keynote from Dr. Bill Brennan who then called together an esteemed panel to enlighten us further. Tweets were flying and photos snapped during the discussion, Journey of a Connected Educator: Turning Collaboration into Action.

 Memorable Tweets from

Important to inject some play and humor in classroom/schools. A smile can also go a long way in making someone's day. -Jerry Blumengarten

There are no experts. We are all learners. Educators need to live and breath learning lives. Teacher as chief learner. #Donspiration -JoEllen McCarthy

Remember...the holy grail is not the tech, but the people! Always look for ways to unleash them. -Dr. Bill Brennan

On Twitter, your title is stripped away. You are accepted for your idea, not who you are. -Tom Whitby

Internet has become the content expert. How do you access knowledge effectively, and critically is what we need to teach. -Ryan Scala

What followed throughout the day were a variety of breakout sessions that sparked the collective consciousness to act on educational issues important to them. In the session Blanca Duarte and I led, Preparing for Next Generation Learning, a group of ardent educators were given the task to create commitment statements for the days to come. With a culture of trust and collaboration established, well-crafted thoughts were designed and showcased. My own commitment to the group was a simple mix of words and images: to continue publicizing the power of Twitter ed chats, namely #nyedchat, on a national front to highlight it as the Voice of NYS Educators.

The afternoon sessions were spontaneously generated by various learners who were interested in either extending conversations from the morning sessions or branching out into new areas to explore. 

The day ended with a round-up of eduwins and the desire for more meet-ups to continue the friendships created and further the talk that linked us together. The enthusiasm in the room was infectious and spilled over into the Twittersphere. Syliva Lima, edufriend from the suburbs of Chicago tweeted out, "Standing in my laundry room mesmerized by #celi14." Angelo Truglio shared his feelings of being included in one word: "Re-energized." 

Feeling energized by the day's conversations, educators left feeling a sense of exuberance and a desire to bring back the messages of positivity and connectedness to their colleagues. 

With more endeavors like the CELI 14 Meet-up and regional collegial circles, together we can strengthen our reach to become a growing community of connected practitioners. 

In closing,  I dedicate this "found" poem that I created from the thoughts conveyed in the sessions that Blanca Duarte and I presented. It is a tribute to those passionate edulearners

 (as Angelo Truglio called all the CELI 14 attendees).

Continue to learn, connect, act, share for as Debbie Olsen said in her new blog, "Together we are better and connected we are empowered." 

National Poetry Month: Come REFLECT WITH ME as I Bring a Community of Reflective Writers Together

As March closes and April makes its entrance, winter becomes a passing memory on Long Island. People speak of flowers, gardening, and various springtime pastimes that were unavailable during the long winter months. Although spring has not launched into full bloom, signals of renewal and rebirth are making their move as the human spirit awakens to nature's renderings. It is fitting during the month of April that poetic expression showcases itself as an art form, for as Dr. Maya Angelou says, "Poetry is music for the human voice." 

Let us join hands, hearts, and spirit to speak of our awakenings this April. 

Invitation

To honor the voices of those who hear the music inside their hearts, the REFLECT WITH ME Community of Writers will broaden its reach, bringing voices from near and far to awaken springtime senses through artistic expressions. 

JOIN me this April to add color, vibrancy, and voice to our sense of awakening. What started in March with the collaboration of sixteen writers and photographers, across the states, was a modest attempt to let human voice take flight. With National Poetry Month upon us, I am hoping that more writers will come forward to showcase their talents and create a collection of artistic expressions based on the topic, April Awakenings.

Let this project open the doors of connectedness and positivity across the globe to allow poetry to sing its song in a genuine spirit of collaboration.

Lend your voice, your spring awakenings, connect photographs of springtime with poetic expressions. 

Join the Community of Reflective Writers. 

Share a poem, poetic expression, photograph, or visual to build an explosion of thoughts during National Poetry Month.

I will be happy to share the collection in a virtual gallery on this site and Pinterest with a link on Facebook. Enjoy springtime!

REFLECT WITH ME - Bringing Together a Community of Writers To Celebrate Life and Learning

Thoughts spring alive on the page

When unencumbered by limitations. 

They have power, energy, and perspective,

Opening portals of possibility.

Welcome 

to

"REFLECT WITH ME"

springing forth this season

to celebrate the limitless potentiality

of reflective practitioners of life and learning.

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PERUSE the EXPLOSION of  THOUGHTS and IMAGES

A Virtual Gallery of Artistic Expressions

That Began With One March Monday Idea

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Enjoy Your Gallery Walk!

Thoughts that have Already Taken Flight:

Thank you to the reflective practitioners of life and learning who shared their artistic expressions. 

Creativity is Contagious. Pass it on.

Albert Einstein

Notes:

• The REFLECT WITH ME Community of Writers will soon be showcased on Facebook and Pinterest. 
• It is my hope that this Virtual Gallery of Artistic Expressions will continue to grow.
• Visual compositions were created by Carol Varsalona after writers sent in their thoughts and/or photographs. Mention was made if a writer sent in his/her own combination of text and image.
• Please leave a response, your feedback, or glow/grow thoughts in the comment section.

I hope you enjoyed this visual experience!