We're Off to See the Wizard

Another morning keynote from reading and writing guru Lucy Calkins.  She showered us with more incantations and inspiration to work magic in our schools.

I have to say it again, it is incredible to be amongst over 1300 colleagues each morning who are truly into improving their craft.  Later in the day, there is nothing like sitting amongst 100 other 2nd grade teachers at my large group section and enthusiastically trading tips and insights on the teaching of reading and embracing the powers held within the TC style.

Incantations and Potions from Lucy:

-You are the conversations that you are in.  When talking to

 a student you bring with you all that conversations that you have had.  You are carrying all [the people you have ever interacted with] on your shoulders.

-The reason you have a conversation is to change your mind, to think new things, to come to a new understanding.

-You can predict ways to intervene with people to help them move forward.

-Create the classroom we believe in and invite kids to role-play in it.

-One teacher along with one principal can turn a school around.

In reality, before listening to our mega-mentor this morning I followed the yellow, okay - gray, brick road for another lovely morning run.   

Dorothy, Toto, and Toto's cousin relocated in retirement.

 Sometimes I go by Grant's Tomb.

After standing in the cancellation line for around an hour, we scored tix to Wicked!  It was great.  It was a BIG show - lots of cool lighting, big, elaborate stage settings, creative and colorful costumes, characters that moved through the air and disappeared or transformed on stage.  I really didn't know what it was going to be about, except that there was a witch involved and if you don't want to know anything about the plot cover your ears

here.  It was a fun, fantasy story line, that contained ties to the Wizard of Oz.  Alright, I'm just going to spill it here, especially since I'm studying how readers relate to a  text this week - 

it unfolded the background story and relationships between several characters in the W of O.  You can uncover your ears now.

Having only had time for a rushed dinner of take-out pub burgers, sitting on the ground right outside the theater we decided to sample the latest in frozen yogurt concoctions, pink berry yogurt. It has

the tanginess goodness of real yogurt, it was yummy, and I think it is good for you.