Virtual Travel Diary

Each new day is a blank page in the diary of your life. 
The secret of success is in turning that diary into the best story you possibly can.
-Douglas Pagels

As the pandemic rages across the globe, colleagues practice social distancing Twitter-style. With no mention of quarantine life, a tweet chat turns into a travel diary. Places across the states and as far away as Brazil and South Africa are shared with those who shelter in place.

Honey blush sunrise stills Central New York.

Sunny bluebird feather skies shine in California.

with a similar sight in North Carolina.

Rose-pink florals cascade in Los Angeles.

Courtyard green vegetation thrives in Texas while

Colorado white snow snowscapes share faith over fear.

Kansas white downy clouds billow

and ducks congregate in Wisconsin.

Silver strand clouds brush across Brazil's sky.

Evening nears with a heartthrob sunset hovering over Los Angeles.


☵
as day closes
nature shades evening light
shelter in place
humanity needs peace
 ataraxia exists

Nature Nurtures

©CVarsalona, 2020

Photographs collected from Cheryl Abla, Robert Breyer, #chazchaz, Christelle, colldingwithscience, Al Dhalla, Eric Hayes, Faige Meller, Sharon Norden, 
Karl O'Leary, Dr. Jill Ries, Elizabeth Russell

I invite you to join me bring voice and the artistry of nature to heal troubled hearts during these challenging times. See the special invitation by clicking here. Reminder to add your offering to my Nature Nurtures! padlet and on social media using the hashtag, #NatureNurtures2020.

Mission-Critical

For years, we have discussed the importance of reading for children. Respected experts in literacy have provided guidance and tips for families, schools, and communities to encourage learners to become lifelong reading and writers. Historical figures, such as Frederick Douglass, have also voiced their opinion: "Once you learn to read, you will be forever free." While Douglass' comment is particular to the time period, it has merit in today's society. Reading opens doors of knowledge, builds vocabulary, increases language and critical thinking skills, and sparks imagination and inquiry for all children. Through books and other reading materials, learners freely explore the wonders of the world.

We have heard and read other outstanding quotes about the importance of reading but I have never been so impressed than listening to the following amazing speech by a brilliant four-year-old. This youngster places emphasis on what reading can do and with an appealing style encourages others to discover the wonders of reading. 

Tonight, #NYEDChat will enlist educators, parents, students, and colleagues from all walks of life to join their voices with my fabulous creative guest moderators, Peter H. Reynolds, Paul Reynolds, and Susan Verde. We will discuss 2020, the Year of Reading. In a 21st Century world, "Literacy is mission-critical"-Paul Reynolds. We must problem solve the issues before us. Reading will bring clarity and resources to pressing topics.

Questions for Discussion

Q1 In a world where the global family must communicate and collaborate to solve the planet’s most challenging problems, Literacy is increasingly mission-critical. What do you think are the most essential things we can do to promote a culture of joyful reading?  #NYEDChat

Q2 Have you seen NYSED’s Lifelong Practices of Readers & Writers? http://www.nysed.gov/common/nysed/files/programs/curriculum-instruction/lifelong-practices-readers-writers-11-30-17-conference.pdf Which of these 16 lifelong practices resonate most strongly with you? #NYEDChat

Q3 It is said that “Children are made readers on the lap of their parents.” Emilie Buchwald but sometimes home is not the or the only place where reading happens and it is teachers and mentors who also help “make” a reader. Recall a personal example of this statement. #NYEDChat

Call to action! What can we as parents, educators, or administrators do to make 2020 the Year of the Reader? What creative strategies will spark and accelerate this movement? (#Reflaction) #NYEDChat

William Faulkner's terse statement, "Read, read, read," is what lifelong readers do, but how about those who do not know the pleasures of reading a good book? We need to find strategies to encourage all students to read from toddler years on. 

Please consider joining our chat or scheduling answers to the above questions so that people across the world can engage in a positive call to action in 2020 as "the Year of Reading".

Connecting and Collaborating

Connecting and collaborating is a practice that I have enjoyed this week, whether it was face-to-face, online, or in Twitter virtual conversations. How do these chance and scheduled meet-ups impact my life? Do they enhance my awareness of my 2019 "one word," embrace? I ponder these questions tonight. 

When I connect and collaborate with colleagues, I reap rewards. Virtually moving beyond my home on Long Island allows me to discover diverse perspectives in online corners of thought (Twitter chats, like #NYEDChat with @EmpaticoOrg last night). I network with positive people across the globe. I learn, share ideas, and find new inquiry paths. I embrace small steps through reflection and reflaction (reflection with action) that open channels for change. Most of all, I discard any small thoughts about inadequacy. Opening the mind to new pathways, allows creativity to be harnessed and writing sparked. 

I encourage everyone to: 

When I connect and collaborate,
I am inspired to create and let voice fly. 

Above you will find a new offering for my #SpringSplendorGallery.
Perhaps, you are interested in joining my creative challenge.
The invitation can be accessed here. 

Thank you to Fran Haley, one of my Tuesday Slice of Life friends, who connected with me about digital design this past weekend. Back and forth we chatted via messaging on topics related to digital design: types of digital tools I use, ideas for enhancing digital, credits. Here is one of Fran's digital creations that will be showcased at my Spring Splendor Gallery. This nature photo that Fran captured is so beautiful that it deserves a place of recognition in a gallery of artistic expression.

Now, I am off to connect and collaborate with some online friends tonight at

Two Writing Teachers.

March Musings #30: Poetry Is for Everyone

Dear Readers,

As we near the beginning of April, not only is spring in the air (finally) but National Poetry Month, the largest literary celebration in the world, is being celebrated. To honor the impact of poetry on our culture and in our lives and promote #poetrylove, #NYEDChat and WonderChat will host a long-awaited poetry chat. My amazing poetry friends, Irene Latham, Laura Purdie Salas, and Charles Waters, will guest moderate. John MacLeod from Wonderopolis will moderate alongside me. 

Save the date, April 9th at 8:00 pm EST for our combined Twitter chat, Poetry Is for Everyone. There will be announcements, reminders, and a countdown to call everyone into this global chat because poetry is not just for the educational world. Stay tuned for more because John MacLeod from Wonderopolis, the three poets, and I have been planning this chat for months and we want to spread #poetrylove across the Twittersphere.

Here's a digital inspiration on poetry that I created for you to ponder.

Everyone has keepsakes. Which ones do you have hidden in your soul? 

Will you join me to celebrate poetry this April during any of the following happenings?

-I will host Spiritual Journey 1st Thursday on April 5, 2018 at my blog site, Beyond LiteracyLink. The writing prompt that I will be using is "Poetry as a Spiritual Practice of the Heart".

-I will unveil my winter gallery of artistic expressions, Winter Wonderland.

-I will be part of the annual Progressive Poem organized by Irene Latham. I will add my one line to the poem on April 12, 2018.

-I will write digital poems on springtime and later in the month send out an invitation to my spring gallery

Thank you for being a faithful reader and poetry lover.

Sincerely,

Carol

P.S. I am heading over to my poet friend, Heidi Mordhorst's blog to celebrate Poetry Friday. Then, I will be making my appearance at Two Writing Teachers for Day 30 of the March Slice of Life Challenge.

Post Chat: Find Your Greatness

The countdown began early in the day. By midday, the momentum built up. Questions were loaded on TweetDeck and a fast flurry of pre-chat thoughts shared.  Our stellar team of educational friends, Laura Robb, Evan Robb, and Dr. Mary Howard, were ready to rock Twittersphere with burning questions and a topic for all, "Find Your Greatness". As the hour drew near, colleagues began sending tweets and tagging friends to join the convo. Then, the magic happened. I opened the doors to #NYEDChat and a tribe of tweeps, full of energy, gathered together in a virtual hall of conversation.  

For veteran tweeters and newbie chatters eager to grow as learners, nothing can match a virtual professional conversation for its depth, passion, collegial spirit, and instant shot of positivity. Let's take a look into the inner workings of an hour-long chat on Twitter. When visiting #NYEDChat be prepared for a fast-paced experience filled with greetings, quick responses, sidebar conversations, and beneficial, asynchronous professional development delivered to you in the warmth of your home. Topics are key and vary, professional learning a given, and growing a professional learning network a plus. Teamwork by a supportive and inviting group of connected colleagues who value and honor voice is evident. Everyone leaves the chat with a feeling of euphoria, a layer of new knowledge, new friends to chat with in the future, and an action step for the following week. 

Now let's dig deeper and see what transpired at last night's chat. Within five minutes of the opening remarks, Dennis Schug and I, along with our panel of all-stars, watched as comments, like fireworks split in the air causing a rush of excitement.  The news of #NYEDChat's trending on Twitter propelled a continuous flow of voices being raised across social media. Find Your Greatness tidbits of wisdom were shared along with one words to guide professional and personal journeys. The hashtag, #FindYourGreatness, was the spark for a stream of questions and amazing responses. It was heartwarming to see so many colleagues from different roles come together to exchange comments on the hows and whys of their journeys to find their greatness. 

For two hours after the airing of the convo, #NYEDChat was one of the top trending chats on Twitter. The conversation was filled with many memorable statements. Mary Howard was so excited by the awesomeness of the conversation that she storified the chat immediately. You can read that here. 

What a pleasure to spend an hour exploring GREATNESS

with it surrounding me at every turn."  - Mary Howard

Participate partners with NYEDChat and also created a transcript of the chat. You can access that here.

Wisdom Tidbits and Digital Inspirations from the #NYEDChat Community

Greatness -
a never-ending journey,

a pathway to betterment.

©CVarsalona, 2018

Greatness is something to strive for. 

The challenge to pursue greatness is so motivating.

©Brent Gilson, 2018

You can see Brent's Pe-Chat blog post here. 

The guest moderators and moderators were all excited that Brent had the enthusiasm to post before the chat. 

From Valerie Tilton

From Valinda Kimmel

From Stephanie Affinito

Evan Robb: 
Greatness evokes a desire to serve students, teachers and parents. 
"Not everybody can be famous but everybody can be great, because greatness is determined by service." 
-Martin Luther King Jr. 
Great to be here tonight. Lift others up and find the greatness that is in you and those you go through life with.

Dr. Mary Howard: 
Greatness means that we have left our thumbprint on those around us in some way that will live beyond ourselves and enrich the lives of others.
Question 2 reminds me that each of us are on our journey. I love and respect that our personal own journey can converge with the journey of others.
Greatness was never meant to be a lonely proposition. I love that we can do it in the company of others.

Laura Robb:
An honor to be here tonight with this dedicated and inspiring group of educators. Keep striving for greatness through your work and learning with others. Thanks to Dr. Mary Howard, Evan Robb, Carol Varsalona and Dennis Schug. Memorable chat!
Every time you reach out to another person, a student, and support them, treat them with kindness. You've taken a step toward greatness.

Thanks to the unwavering support and preparation of my all-star team of Laura Robb, Evan Robb, Dr. Mary Howard, and Dennis Schug, we planned, delivered, and lit up Twitter with powerful and inspirational statements from a "tribe of tweeps". Finding greatness is an ongoing pathway and what better way to walk the path than with like-minded professionals committed to impacting teaching, learning, and life. 

Request:
Since I could not capture all of the amazing quotes and digitals, please  leave your blog links, digitals, posters, and inspiration in the comment section for all to see how #NYEDChat's tribe of tweeps are finding their greatness.

In closing I leave you with a few digital inspirations to ponder.

©Brent Gilson, 2018

                      

©Carol Varsalona, 2018

Gearing Up

I am looking forward to tomorrow night's #whatisschool Twitter conversation on "Engaging Families and Community in Student Learning". Laura Hill, Moderator, John MacLeod, Family Literacy Expert at Wonderopolis and NCFL, and I will discuss this topic with the global community across Twitter. 

Please join us on September 21, 2017, 7 pm EST at #whatisschool.

To gear up for the event, the team created publicity documents. 
Jon Reigelman, Creative Director of Wonderopolis, 
designed the following promotional flyer.

You can link to my Wonderopolis Wonder Ground post here that followed Laura Hill's blog post. Below is the question document created by Wonderopolis and provided by John MacLeod.

Stress and harmonic imbalance at home can decrease student's ability to enjoy school and perform to the best of their abilities. So what can we, as educators do? - Laura Hill

It is an important question to pose to parents and community members, as well. As stakeholders in children's educational lives, home-community-school connections are vital. Students are the future and we need to invest commitment and diligence to fostering positive learning grounds for them. 

Learning grows each day through a stance of noticing and wondering in positive environments.