Celebrating This Week: Resiliency in the Face of Failure

Part 1 Celebration:

I have been been reflecting on the growth mindset this week to focus on how positive thoughts can affect change. Each day brought me closer to creating a visual image that expressed my idea. Yesterday, Leadership Day 2014, I started tweeting the image that I created with a free digital photo and PicMonkey. I was rather pleased with the combined photo and quote that I created and decided that I will use this in future professional development workshops designed for teachers and leaders. 

Perhaps this will be your mantra or a Words To Live By poster 

for your classroom? 

One Twitter colleague tweeted me that this will grace her office wall. You can imagine how special I felt that she considered this worthy enough for her learning space. 

I created this image to turn the table on failure. My advice for the week (that I am attempting to live by) is to accept the act of failing as a positive step for future growth. Although I do not have a specific classroom of students, the teachers and leaders that I present to make me acutely aware that we need to help students embrace learning as a messy process where failure is acceptable. We also need to celebrate the act of reflection and make it the go to action for stopping, pausing, and moving forward. 

Part 2 Celebration:

This morning on #satchat there was a very lively conversation about embracing failure. Of course, this topic provided the opportunity to interject my own thoughts, especially the image I created. During the #satchat conversation, I had many sidebar exchanges that were stimulating, insightful, and provided "food for thought."

Below is an example of a conversation I had with 

a Twitter colleague, Joe Sanfellippo. 

Joe Sanfelippo ‏@Joesanfelippofc  50m

Do you know a kid that fails a level in a video game & gives up? I don't either. That environment of safe 4 them. Need 2 extend it #satchat

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Carol Varsalona ‏@cvarsalona  7m

@Joesanfelippofc Being transfixed & perseverant when in front of screen must be transferred over to classrm. We need to find way. #satchat

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Joe Sanfelippo ‏@Joesanfelippofc  17s

@cvarsalona Agreed. I think it has a lot to do w/ ownership of the process. Kids want 2 do better & like the progression in that environment.

Then, the video clip of Rocky Balboa's inspiration speech to his son was sent out to all. 
.

Video Viewing

Failing Safe! SparkyTeaching

Finally, Salome Thomas-El (@Principal _EL) twitted, "Building resilient kids is not teaching them to be successful...It's teaching them how to respond when not successful." Isn't that what it is all about? Celebrate all the events, big or small, and give encouragement when failure is evident. Teach the learner to reflect upon the misses and allow those experience to give rise to a new beginning. The spirit of resiliency will give the learner the opportunity to shake the dust off and try again. 

I am celebrating the connections, reflective moments, and opportunity to write this week. When I encounter my missed step I am going to be reminded that failure with reflective action is a steppingstone to success. 

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This week you can read the blog posts of the writers who Celebrate this week with Ruth Ayres @ ruth ayres writes.

We need to reflect upon the small moments of our week because those are the times that help us grow as learners.

Perspective on Leadership Day 2014

Today is Leadership Day 2014 but in reality every day is a day to celebrate leaders and their contribution to society for "Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other." ~John F. Kennedy  

What is the essence of a leader? 

A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus.

Martin Luther King

Leaders are those who empower others.

Bill Gates

Great leaders are almost always great simplifiers, who can cut through argument, debate, and doubt to offer a solution everybody can understand.

Colin Powell

Example is leadership.

Albert Schweitzer

What do these quotes have in common?

Leaders are visionaries, mediators, advisors, guides, 

and solution makers of learning communities 

that work together for a common good. 

Leaders lead by example.

In order for change to occur, mind shifts need to happen. 

Cultures of trust need to be developed. 

Stakeholders need to connect.  

Leaders need to rise to the call of leadership.

End result: 
Impact Teaching and Learning Daily
because 
students are our investment in the future.

Celebrate Leadership Day 2014!

Skyline Serenity

Watching the glow of dusk moving over Manhattan's skyline elicits a range of emotions in the 9/11 post-years. As picturesque as an artist's rendering, the city spins a story of power, might, and perseverance. On this clear summer night there is a magical quality settling over New York City that inspires a writer to express her thoughts in poetic fashion. Listening intently to the sounds, observing the sights, and feeling the night's transformation from hurried hoofbeats to quietude, settles the hurt once felt in 2001. Broken into fine dust it spreads evenly over Ground Zero. Hope emerges from the bright lights of bridges, skyscrapers, and reflecting pools of water while stillness blankets the Manhattan skyline with a gentle softness. Quiet peace hovers over avenues and streets. A feeling of serenity is elicited. Travelers and city goers revel as words spin to form independent thoughts. 

Capturing a single scene in a photograph and blending it with expressive words is a collaboration of the heart and the mind. Combining two art forms, photography and poetry, opens channels of creativity releasing emotions and feelings. The sensations evoked are transferred from writer to readers and viewers. You can become immersed in this process when the REFLECT WITH ME: Summer Serenity Gallery is unveiled at the end of August. The scene below is one of many settings showcased in the virtual gallery. 

How to appreciate the fusion of a poetic expression with a striking image in the upcoming Summer Serenity Gallery:

1. Engage in a close read of the photograph. 
2. Observe the setting and details.
3. Reflect upon the literal.
4. Focus on the underlying reason why the picture was taken. 
5. View the photo through a different lens enjoying the scene or making connections. 
6. Read the poem focusing on how the words merge with the photo. 
7. Allow for a certain emotion to surface during the process. 
8. Question: What resonates in the pairing? Does the pairing of the poetic expression with the picture of a natural surrounding or man-made structure transport you to a place of stillness, even if it is for a brief time? 

Why should we engage in a viewing of a virtual gallery of artistic expressions? 

• The Poetry Foundation believes that poetry should have a "vigorous presence in our culture."
• Marc Polonsky who wrote The Poetry Reader's Toolkit says, "Poetry is an imagination machine. Good poetry, given patience, lights up your imagination in some way. It surprises you, tickles you, gives you a nudge, or even awes you. It might reveal a new perspective, dazzle your mind's eye, broaden your inner vision." 
• Finally, watch the late Robin Williams as John Keating in Dead Poets Society deliver his thoughts on Why do we read and write poetry? 

I hope you enjoy this short poem that I wrote while in New York City two weeks ago. 

Manhattan Skyline
You can hear the poem read aloud at Audioboo.

This week's Poetry Friday is being hosted by my juicy little universe.

Please stop by to read other submissions by a variety of writers.  

A Slice of Life: Recalling Words to Inspire Teaching

While feeling the sting of Robin Williams' passing, I found a quote by him that struck me as both sad and inspirational.

No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world.

The world is saddened by the death of Robin William, such a talented humorist and actor, especially in light of the fact that his multiple onscreen personalities provided endless moments of enjoyment for all. His words charged with humor brought laughter to the forefront. Little did we know that behind the movie persona, behind the words and ideas, was a complex character with deep issues. 

Teachers, stop and reflect: Perhaps, we need to step back this year and become better "kidwatchers" to understand the nature of each student. Will this reflective act help us find the words and ideas that can fuel individual learning? Will our simple words, our thoughtful actions change the world of the classroom for each learner?

While rummaging through old journals, I found a poem I wrote for the millennium that still holds true for me today. These words although tucked away for years, provided the fuel for my teaching as 2000 brought new changes to the educational scene. I would like to share this poem, thinking that my words and ideas from then may change the landscape of today's literacy classroom as I continue to focus on reflective practices in my life as an ELA consultant. 

This writing is part of A Slice of Life challenge from the Two Writing Teachers Community. You can read what other slicers are thinking about now if you take a stroll over to that site. 

Celebrating Life on Long Island

Children Frolicking at Jones Beach, Long Island, NY
August 5, 2014

This is the 2nd week that I have participated in Ruth Ayres' Celebrate This Week. I would like to thank Ruth for focusing on reasons to celebrate life before I begin to write. 

Sunshine cast a warm glow over Long Island this week, making spirits soar as July turned into August. Meteorologists cheerfully broadcasted the unusual weather pattern. Temperatures in the low 80s were reported, not the usual dog day heat of past years. Beaches were packed with frolicking children and adults were either surfing, bathing, or relaxing in the sun. Lifeguards' were on careful watch as high tides with rough undercurrents swept in and bounced shorefront beachgoers off their blankets and chairs. But this did not seem to stop swimmers from jumping in the ocean as the waves came close to shore. 

Back in my neighborhood, streets were filled with people interested in celebrating the good weather. Walkers had a sprint to their stride; bicycle riders traveled in pairs; children shouted as they played ball. Even the dogs were barking to a beat and one of the best spectacles of the week was a free parkway for traveling~clearly something to celebrate on Long Island. 

During this past week, I found myself pursuing activities that celebrated family, friends, and life. Now that the week draws to a close, I think of these summer days as gifts to be remembered - heartfelt memories that will flow in and out of my mind similar to the movement of high tide that I witnessed at the shore.  

Celebrate August as an:

Awesome summer month that

Ultimately, is the last hurrah of summer with

Grand summer memories locked in hearts as it

Ushers in back-to-school times and

Sharpens our awareness of fall

That makes us want to spend more summer days thankfully building memories.

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DigiLit Sunday

After learning of the tool Tapestry from Margaret Simon, I decided to try to create a digital poem. My product is a modest attempt and will be posted to Margaret Simon's DigLit site where other posts about digital literacy will be collected. 

The link to this slideshow is https://readtapestry.com/s/pl9zk2oE9/

Just tap and see 3 slides.

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Since I thought I lost my first slideshow, I tried a 2nd one but I still need to practice to perfect my skill at creating digital stories. You can decide which presentation is the better 1st attempt.

Let's hope this can be viewed.

See 

https://readtapestry.com/s/aTmRUma6P/

Childhood Memories Awakened

Tagxedo Word Cloud reminding me of the 
the roses in my grandmother's garden

when Nonnie's hands held mine

summer days unfolded 

in simplicity

fragrant flowers bloomed

caterpillars tickled the path

clothes hung to dry

curiosity awakened

wonders explored

childhood dreams celebrated-

in warm August heat

time stood still 

when Nonnie’s hands held mine-

as summers past

and hands grew still

rose-petaled memories carried me home

cvarsalona 2014

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There shall be eternal summer in the grateful heart.  -  Celia Thaxter 

My heart is full of gratitude for the gift of fragrant summers and rose-petaled  

memories my grandmother provided for me. Carol 

Please see Celia Thaxter's poem, The Sandpiper, a delightful summertime memory, that was written in the late 1800's as a verse for children.

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Poetry Friday is being hosted today at a Year of Reading 

 

Please visit the site.

Mary Lee Hahn starts us off with a poem, Poem on the Fridge, that connects with her present activity of combining her original poems and photos to make magnets. 

A Slice of Time

Dear Summer,
July turned the corner to August and left me thinking about fleeting time tonight. Revelation: life moves on despite the "agendas" I have for it. Reality: I still want to hold on to the notion of what the summer season should be: a time to reflect, relax, and recharge with blissful days at the beach, a quiet reading on a lounge chair, pure enjoyment with family and friends, and solitary writing time. 

So in my attempt to continue my summer wishes, I stopped looking at my task list sitting on my computer. I thought I could accomplish this without any glitches until I heard a doorbell buzzing noisily. Startled by the unexpected distractor that broke my thoughtful writing time, I jumped off my chair and leaped up the stairs as I would if my alarm clock woke me from a restful sleep. At the top of the stairs,  I found my front hallway cast in a darkness. An eery sense of foreboding struck me and then I realized one of my top task list priorities had been forgotten. Oops! "Wait!" I called out into an empty house, stumbling for the door.  Since my house was covered in total darkness there was no night light to lead me to the door. But wasn't it still early - 8:30 pm? A blanket of darkness lay over the scene and all I heard was my husband waiting for me at the door. Relieved that it was a familiar voice, I fumbled to open the door trying to make light of the fact that I had forgotten to turn on the outside timer. Such an ironic scene!  I was sitting in light downstairs in my office when the outside world was feeling the newness of August's shortened days. 

Time and tide wait for no man.

Geoffrey Chaucer

New Revelation: 

August has arrived so I need to mix in some household tasks before summer nights become even shorter and still hold on to summer dreaming, sunshine days, and lazy, hazy times of renewal. 

Join Tara Smith at Two Writing Teachers for this week's Slice of Life. 

Celebrating Possibilities Through One Little Word: Openness

It is interesting how one little word (OLW) can change your outlook on life. In January when the bloggers asked which word would guide your path I decided upon openness. Being resolute in purpose to shift, reflect, and redesign a course of action, this OLW became my portal to a year of possibilities. Today, I not only honor the journey of life and learning that I have traveled this year but focus on my most recent week of celebrations.

As 2014's weeks unfolded, doors opened to noticings, wonderings, and possibilities. I became acutely aware of my surroundings and opportunities offered in positive and negative spaces. One simple word became a beacon, guiding my footing as surely as the fuzzy caterpillar that intersected my summer path years ago. For a brief moment, I stopped to muse on the caterpillar crossing that tickled my finger as a child.  Life's movements were noted in the here and now back then.  My adult eyes now see nature's simplicities differently. Perhaps, the caterpillar's parade was a prelude to its metamorphosis. If questioned would it have said the following? Step lightly! Observe your surroundings! Avoid distractors! Celebrate the destination! 

Months have passed since the word openness became my guide to possibilities. Some weeks seemed more celebratory than others but this past week marked a momentous occasion-38 years of marriage. To celebrate, a jaunt to New York City was in order. 

Anticipating what the "city" has to offer is always an exciting prospect. Driving into Manhattan on a clear day provides a panoramic view of a skyline that is breathtaking no matter how many times seen. Warm sunshine, teeming crowds, clomping hoof beats, shoes pounding, and honks beeping in syncopated motion are sights and sounds illustrating the pulsating beats of a city alive with possibilities. From Restaurant Row, to Broadway, through Times Square, and off to Fifth Avenue by way of Bryant Park and the NYC Library, I marveled as though this was the first traveling of an eager tourist. I took in the offerings, savoring each as a delectable bite of perfection. When the day came to a close, exhaustion and sore feet could not take away the splendor of what New York City has to offer.

It is fitting that this blog post is filled with the word celebrations. Four times in the course of two days have I engaged in positive offerings: a birthday outing to a movie with friends, a pop-up of Ruth Ayres' Celebrate This Week site, a Sunday morning "Spiritchat" Twitter chat on "Celebrating Community with Combustion," and a relaxing yoga session in which I was able to reflect in stillness. These events plus my 38th anniversary outing have opened my heart to the importance of celebrations. For their spontaneity and simplicity, I am grateful.

Thank you to Ruth Ayres for starting a link up to celebrate the week's highlights. 

You can view the Celebrate This Week's offerings here.