"In like a lamb, out like a lion", or "In like a lion, out like a lamb", only the weatherman knows for sure

February 29th, Leap Day. It's funny how a number can make people go a little crazy. I've been listening to radio personalities complain that they are working an extra day, how everyone in the world should have the day off. Celebrations for weddings and birthdays that only happen every four years are all around us. But why and what is the purpose of Leap Year? It surly isn't just for the chance of females asking males to get married. To find out more just Google and you will have more information than you'll ever need.

So what should I write about on this extra day of the year? My mind is racing to all the things I could be doing and not wanting to do any of them. An extra day should give me a chance to finish up all those little projects that just never get done or even a chance to start something new.

But my focus seems to keep coming back to a two day meeting I have with co workers from across the state tomorrow and Friday. We are a mixed bunch of dedicated people with various personalities. We all get along and are of common mind and spirit, most of the time. I really do look forward to meeting with all of them. The problem is we have lost some of our excitement. We have fallen into that depressed state that many of our teachers have found themselves. We are downtrodden, broken almost. Our moral is shot.

And here's me, the person who thinks she has to fix everything. I have been taxing my brain for something fun, exciting to do that would just lift our spirits a bit while we tackle the work at hand. I've thought of lambs, you know, March in like a lamb, out like a lion. White, fluffy, soft lambs. Just don't know where to get 25 of them and I don't think the Marriott would allow them in anyway. So here's my thought, food, there has to be something that we could eat that would take us to a soft, cozy, happy place. And chocolate, has to have some element of chocolate.

The only idea I have so far is to find the cute little lamb I bought after Easter last year. Take Easter grass, put the lamb in the middle and place a bowl of chocolate candies directly behind him. Gross or funny? I don't know. I chuckled. Maybe just a little bit of foolishness is all we need to make the day go smoother.

That takes me to years gone by with my ELLs. When they started to "get the joke" I knew we were on our way to understanding English. Getting the hidden humor in a language takes skill and knowledge.

I guess this extra day has made me extra windy myself. Long blog without much power, unlike the windy day we are experiencing today. Hope your extra day gives you power to get things going. An extra day to enjoy the humor around you.

Happines=Positive Outcomes, Positive Outcomes=Happiness, Chicken or the Egg?

I just finished watching a TED Talk with Shawn Achor, "the happy secret to better work". So entertaining yet so thought provoking. 

Dr Achor gives us 6 things we can do to change our outlook.
 

• Spend two minutes a day to write down three new things you are grateful for - for 21 days in a row.
• Journal about one positive experience you’ve had every 24 hours.
• Exercise.
• Meditate to allow your brain to focus on one thing at a time.
• Perform random acts of kindness.
• Write one positive email to someone you know every time you open up your inbox.

I recommend taking 12:21 mins of your day to listen to this TED Talk,

http://www.ted.com/talks/shawn_achor_the_happy_secret_to_better_work.html

It could change how you approach your students. It could change how they learn.

The Write Topic

A month has past and have I blogged? Yes, but did I post any of them? No. Sometimes I just write to get frustration or crazy thoughts out of my head. I've never been a writer,  never in my wildest dreams have I thought myself a writer. I know that I miss punctuation in vital places and the grammar police should have arrested me years ago. But I plunge on, expressing myself for all or no one else but me to read. Sometimes I re-read my posts and think, ugh, what were you thinking? Or I find tons of mistakes. And I grew up speaking and writing in English!

The act of writing in English for an English  Learner, EL for short, is a daunting task. Not because they have nothing to say, but because putting thoughts into words that feel like gravel in your mouth is hard, very hard. It is important to think of writing as an extension of reading, speaking, listening and comprehending. It isn't a product all by itself, it's a way of reflecting on what is read, what is said, what is heard and what is known and felt and putting it all together in written form. Writing is part of learning content, it should be a daily part of every lesson or activity.

Two books that are helpful when thinking of writing in this way were suggested by one of the many teachers who work so diligently in our state to meet all the needs of our ELs. Thank you, Lindsey.

Check out:
Making Sense, Small-Group comprehension Lessons for English Language Learners, K-8, by Juli Kendall and Outey Khuon, Stenhouse Publishers, Portland, Maine, 2005.


101 Activities for English Language Learning, Content-based Ideas with Easy Internet RE-sources, by Charles F. Hirsch and Deborah Lazarus, Grades 1-4, Rigby, 2002.

So thank you to all of you who struggle through my blogs just to get the resource nugget at the end. Maybe if I keep practicing I'll finally get a post without errors and one that is easy to read.

This is the year!

A new year has started and along with it new opportunities for success. That is what I'm going with, "opportunities for success". These are promising words, challenging words, words to hang your hat on. In order for me to realize success, I first have to get a clear picture at what I want to be successful at. So, I created my success list for 2012. Some may call it a resolution list but resolutions are too easily broken.

My Upcoming Successes In 2012

1. organizing personal belongings, alleviate clutter
2. read at least one fun book a month
3. read at least two professional books/articles/blogs all the way through each month
4. job reevaluation; keep what is working, change what is not
5. connect more often with family and friends
6. love, laugh, enjoy life more
7. cry and regret less
8. exercise the body, mind, and spirit daily
9. to blog or not to blog without guilt
10. realize that some things are not in my control; but the ones that are, control with wisdom, kindness, fairness, and perfection
11. learn something new each day
12. realize that success can be measured in many ways and that finding success is a never ending process

Do you have your own list by now?  I know mine is not finished, I plan to be successful over and over again this year. Just like our ESL students and their families plan to be successful providers and learners. The stages of acculturation they go through make it difficult to always keep that positive goal and attitude. Sometimes living and surviving in a new country or with new language barriers make that daily struggle almost impossible. As educators we need to realize what our students go through stages of adjustment (Gergory Trivonovitch). It is important that we realize that these stages can last for various time periods and return or cycle back around depending on the cultural demands. 

Honeymoon Stage-Everything is wonderful, new and exciting.

The Hostility Stage-Everything is hard, different, impossible to understand. Anger and resentment can pose real issues in school settings.

The Integration/Acceptance Stage-Things become more manageable and more normal feeling. This is the way it is.

Stages of Acculturation or Adjustment (whatever you may call it) must be taken in consideration just as equally as the stages of language acquisition our ELs travel through. Don't dismiss bad behavior as normal bad behavior. It may be a child reaching or searching to come to grips to his new life.

One tool that is very helpful was designed by Dr. Catherine Collier. Her Acculturation Quick Screen will give great insight. For more about her work visit her website, http://crosscultured.com.

As for me, I will keep my list of successes handy so I can remind myself of what I want to accomplish this year. I have high hopes and have promised myself that I won't become discouraged when I don't reach the height of success I want. Baby steps at 59. Good grief! I forgot to add to my list-Don't freak out in May when I have to start saying 60 instead of 59! That may be one success I fail!!!

RTI: Run To IT, no, Rethink your Thoughts and be Insightful, no, Response To Intervention, yes, that's it!

 Rats! I just checked back at posts that I have written, saved for editing, but never posted. It wouldn't be a big deal, I could re-write them and add them as new ones but the one I really liked was my New Year's post. It is written and has all my wonderful plans for success in 2012.  I wonder if the second week of January is too late to add it? I guess if I am going to follow my own targets of success for 2012, I should post it and not think it odd. But the 2011 me is embarrassed that I forgot it and would like to hide the fact that I messed up.

Our ESL students face that same problem every time they open their mouths or try to read. Do they try to hide the fact that they might mess up or do they plow on, making all sorts of mistakes but learning every step of the way? Many times they will appear as if they need special education services, making so many mistakes that teachers feel that they must have that extra help from a SPED teacher. With implementation of the RTI model in many of our schools, teachers have been able to focus on our ELs needs without going to that Tier 3 intervention (SPED).

If you're interested in reading more about ELs and RTI you will find that more and more books are starting to appear on the topic. For years, Dr. Catherine Collier and Dr. Alba Ortiz have been the names I think of first when considering ESL and SPED. However, we are seeing other names enter the mix of experts in the field. A recent book that I have added to my library is titled, " How to Teach English Language Learners, Effective Strategies from Outstanding Educators". This book highlights scenarios from classrooms that provide instruction to ELs with the RTI model. This is a practical resource that is an interesting read with strategies that can be used in your classroom tomorrow.


"How to Teach English Language Learners, Effective Strategies from Outstanding Educators", Diane Haager, Janette K. Klingner, Teresa C. Aceves. Published by Jossey-Bass, www.josseybass.com, 2010.

Well, I guess I'll bite the bullet and post my old post next. If I am going to continue to teach this old dog new tricks, I must carry on.

When things reach the boiling point, make tea.

Okay, I give up. Simple as that. I have tried to register for TESOL several times and each attempt has been unsuccessful. It isn't their website, it's me. First, my membership had expired, so had to stop and renew that. Then, I didn't know which hotel would be the best, had to stop and research that. Now, I can't pay for anything! My credit card expires before the conference and because no payment will be made until the stay is complete, they won't take my card. Frustration is reaching the boiling point and this is really a minor deal. I still have a place to live, my family is safe, we have food, we have freedoms, we are not fearing anything or anyone. So, my advice to me is to GET A GRIP! This is no big deal.

Speaking of big deals, TESOL is. Have you ever checked them out? You should. Not only do they put on an international conference with all the big names in the ESL field,  they offer so much more. Online learning, publications, webinars, etc. Membership is $95 for basic but there are several other membership options available.

To find out more visit Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, Inc. at www.tesol.org.

As for me, tomorrow is another day. So maybe I won't get a room at the Marriott, the one that is attached to the Conference Center with easy access to everything and with a great view of the city. I guess walking is good for me. Hmm,  looks like I'll have to go buy a great pair of walking shoes. Such a hardship. ☺

May Your Holiday Be Merry and Bright!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! May peace be with you and love fill your heart.