Joyce's Journaling

Advocacy Day Two - Wimberley TX

2008-04-12T10:13:00.002-05:00

Dory read the letter that started all of the brew-haha regarding the make-up of the TEKS committee. Unfortunately, the letter was quite lengthy and not provide a clear path towards the response that we need to make in reference to this letter.

The TEKS didn't drive student achievement. Writing Next shows that separating grammar from writing. We uploaded beginning data for an annotated bibliography to google docs.

Advocacy breakout TXNWP - Wimberley

2008-04-11T12:57:00.002-05:00

Cynthia read the letter that Pat Jacoby referenced in her teleconference with the TXNWP at 10:00 a.m. this morning.

Discussion: Well written letter. Easier to access using a separation of grammar and writing. Separate strands. January 4th & 5th work groups worked to blend the two, but on March 13/14 the two were separated.

Texas Writing Project Spring Meeting

2008-04-11T09:53:00.004-05:00

Dory is trying to help connect the collaboration of state and regional networks. We have a state network with a pamphlet that might need to be updated. We need to revisit the accessability of resources for SI's and TC's of the frameworks.

We need to make better use of the strength of our network. Partly this is because we have a new director and allow them to find their role and relationships with people.

What can we most effectively do at the state level.

Leslie Patterson discussed the TEKS revision process with TEA and other work groups were appointed to "TEK TWEEKING", if you will...so they are going to NOT follow this process, but rewrite the TEKS. This has been a polorizing process who wants to separate the grammar/writing, to have phonics the focus into the forefront and then add comprehension at 3rd grade. The whole comprehension strand is left out. Zero specialists from ELL populations are included. One African-American researcher is included. Pat Jacoby has been instrumental in trying to revise with consciencousness and TECLA, NJWP, and NWP are all involved. Testimony, overwhelmingly, was presented that the connections between the reading/writing/comprehension link. The revision process will continue throu April, and the final draft will be posted in the Open Register with the final vote in May. Geraldine Miller is the swing-vote. She is our "friend". Try and increase the phonics base, professionals incorporate using a balanced, child-centered approach. We need to tailor instruction to meet the learner. There are state board elections coming up, too. Ten years is a long time to live with the effects that will be voted on in a couple of months.

Pat Jacoby talking of Table of contents-look side by side. In red is what is deleted and what was changed. Reading K-3: Made 4 changes, they have some knowledge and skill statements that were K only, Fluency in High Frequency word lists has a "range. Accuracy and decoding in the "monitors using syntax and visual information"...monitor using decoding, syntax and visual information. Not alot of changes will be made. Reading: deleted vocabulary strand; and vertically aligned the vocabulary. Fluency was taken out of K-3 because it needs to extend through 8. Added comprehension. Add whole section on comprehension, big debate about any process skills do not want any of this in the changes.

Writing: Ms. Roe to move writing separate--followed with research. Huge divide between reading/writing. A coalition recommendation backs the connection of the two. We need a research based bibliography, small articles to build background knowledge. A strong recommendation will be sent directly to the committee. A "position statement". Look at the region strand and tweek that has a gap or something that is a little out of place. Only try and tweek the product.

Need: Position statement with numbers of teachers who are involved in training. Regional Meetings in Houston, but Dallas/FW need revisions to come through those regional meetings. Immediately by April 18th on website...

Be sure that we send our appreciation notes to those who are supporting our cause. Scott mentioned that we need to submit written statements to add to the meetings. Lucinda suggested that we have the list of the committee members. It is listed on the TCTELA.

Local Sites Research initiative (LSRI) $grants awarded and culturally remedial writing initiatives. Stated within the site and had an advanced course to see how reading is mediated to ELL learners. Lesson plans, observations, 4 high schools, 2 middle schools, lots of data. Collecting qualitative and quantitative data. Connecting academic and life writing.

What will this tool, BLOG, be used to do? What is its purpose? Why use it?

Midwinter Conference Presentation

2008-02-01T20:48:00.000-06:00

This link will take you to my teaching presentation from the Midwinter Conference here: http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=df6kc7v5_18f8b2tx

More resources will be coming soon!

Joyce :)

Long Time Overdue

2008-01-25T21:06:00.000-06:00

I have been remiss in journaling and I intend to improve that. Today I presented at a 4th grade writing camp at South Hills Elementary in FWISD. It is always enlightening to see where other writer's are on the continuum, and we, as a district, have so very far to go...but I see progress--progress pockets, at least.

I am looking forward to a respite with my husband and daughter this weekend...cha-ching go the coins as I win BIG in Shreveport... :)

Pat's Lesson

2007-07-31T13:54:00.000-05:00

My Dad and I twisting to Chubby Checkers
Come on let’s twist again
Come on and twist again would echo through the house
Like we did last summer
My Dad was an excellent snapper—I tried and tried to snap like he could
Come on let’s twist again
We would dance until my mother would send the dog into the room with a note shoved in his collar
Like we did last year
Telling us to STOP and come eat dinner
Do you remember when, things were really hummin’?
Boy, I hated to stop
Come on let’s twist again, like we did last year…

My Name Is Joyce...

2007-07-30T14:39:00.000-05:00

My name is Joyce, which I was lead to believe was French and meant joyful, but after looking today, it appears it is English AND means Little Lord. Hummmm…I don’t know about this Little Lord business! Do they not realize this royal being is used to being the Queen? Little Lord—no, the Bahama Mama maybe or Tahiti Mimi (most definitely).

If my name were a number, it would be my favorite number 8. Eight is an infinity symbol when you turn it on it’s side. I like that; never ending. My name is connected to my grandmother and even though she isn’t on earth anymore, I still feel her loving me—never ending. If my name were a color, it would have to be a shade of pink. My world is pink. Love pink…didn’t so much when I was younger, but now, the world revolves around pink. My notepad says it is “an attitude”. I believe it.

My name was chosen by my grandmother, which has so much significance in my life, which will unfold as I tell you about my name. Joyce if French and means, well, Joyful. My grandmother chose the name and my mother liked it. Like my name, I was chosen. I heard all my life that my mother carried me in her heart for 9 months, instead of under it like all of my friends. At five, I had no idea what that meant, but I knew I was special.

Not only did my Grandmother help my mother choose my name, but we shared the same birthday. It is not a coincidence, but a layer that added closeness to my grandmother. She would have been 100 this year, and my birthdays are not quite as rich, since she left…but I do have Bailey’s birthday one week before my birthday and Zach’s birthday one day AFTER my birthday.

People usually respond to my name by saying, “My Aunt was named Joyce.” Or, “My great-great-great-great niece was named Joyce.” Great, I think to myself, old women and dead women. You don’t hear about new births being named Joyce.

River Legacy Voice Thread Slideshow

2007-07-24T06:48:00.000-05:00

Here is the link to my River Legacy Experience...I'm not as advanced as Janelle or Master Scott, but I was able to add written comments...great fun!

Joyce :)

River Legacy~

2007-07-19T07:28:00.000-05:00

Wow! What an experience. I have a PowerPoint, but after viewing Janelle's new information, I will have my NEW, IMPROVED, presentation ready by Monday.

We are such a great learning community of writers!

The FAMOUS Dusty Roads Morning Weather Report

2007-07-17T11:57:00.000-05:00

Listen to Dusty's Weather Report!

Teaching Demonstration

2007-07-17T00:05:00.001-05:00

Hi Bluebonnets!

My lesson can be found here: Joyce's Teaching Demonstration

Have a great day! Don't forget to send me my response letter!

Joyce :)

My weather forecast

2007-07-12T10:17:00.000-05:00

Kinderbeanie :) said...

This is Dusty Roades with your afternoon drive report:

There was a low pressure front moving in from the Missing Piece and the Big O area, but there were just a few sprinkles where storms bubbled up. The wind shifted by the afternoon and there was a MAJOR high pressure front, bringing brilliant memories and loads of funshine by the 1:00 hour.

The day wrapped with a rainbow appearing over the UTA listening area.

Day Three

2007-07-11T21:12:00.000-05:00

Well, another excellent day! We had a great a logging experience that allowed the teachers to write themselves--a letter that they will get at some point during the first semester next year. I get to send those letters--so, only I will know the date! :)

Janelle read the Missing Piece and the Big O by Shel Silversteen. We had a writing experience where we generated questions after the reading and then responded by using a "weather forcast" writing response. Very hard at the beginning--but it did get easier!

We are working toward our critical events writing, and everyone is doing such an amazing job. These first steps are scary, but we will all succeed!

A quick lunch, and then Jeannine read a Mem Fox book about a little guy with 4 names...I can't remember them all, Gordon, Wilifred, something, something...

We then had the grab bag writing experience where we reached inside our bags and pulled out an object when she told us to. See the Purple Marker writing...what a HOOT!

We elaborated and shrunk a moment. Always a terrific tool to elaborate our writing.

We had another fantastic day and I cannot believe tomorrow ends our first week! Whew! It FLEW by!

What In The World Did I Grab???

2007-07-11T13:30:00.001-05:00

The Purple Marker…

When Jeannine asked me to stop, I closed my eyes and thought, “Oh, good.” And that thought was NOT in my happy voice. But after thinking for just a minute, it really should be happy. Purple is not my favorite color, so I’m not real sure why it is in my purse. I’m a pink girl through and through. BUT, this marker makes me think about Bailey and her favorite book, Purple, Green and Yellow. I read that book to her what seemed like from 3 to 5 years-old. She would turn the pages with her little hands and look at the colors and laugh before we turned to the next page. Usually, if the batteries were fresh, we would hear Billy Ray Cyrus sing “My Achy-Breaky Heart” for at least a half hour—mostly until Curt or I could not tolerate it one more second OR the Energizer Bunny batteries finally quit running…either way, sometimes I thought I could not BEAR to hear those sounds one more second.

The Purple, Green and Yellow phase lasted a LONG time, and although Bay struggled in reading in first grade, I was confident that she would pull through this little literacy hiccup and charge ahead. This was the case, and although the marker was initially an “oooooh”, now I think it is more of an “aaaahhh” and “ohhhhhh” than less than happy.

This marker also makes me think about my kinders. I’ve gone through withdrawl this year; switching form kinder teacher to 3-5 Literacy Coach. Of course, all the kids loved stopping by my office to draw a picture for me or use the cool scissors. They loved that I had markers, and I’m sure that this is one that I tossed in my purse from school and have been signing checks, making laundry lists and just gnawing on when the mood arises.

The possibility that I will be marker free is a scary one for me. I think that although there are definitely more appropriate writing tools, I love what this marker actually means to me. It’s my connection with the past and my small bit of rebellion against that thing called age that keeps following me around. I really do not feel 44 at all when I carry my marker.

Day DOS!

2007-07-10T21:06:00.000-05:00

What a terrific day...
We started with yummy snacks from Janelle. We had a great logging activity by Janelle. We went to the computer lab and Scott Massey helped us with our storyboards. Thank you, Scott!!!

We had lunch and then I read Whoever You Are by Mem Fox. Then we used pointing by Peter Elbow in Writing Without Teachers (pages 85-86). It was a good experience for me and hopefully for the Bluebonnets.

Jeannine read Thank You, Mr. Falkner by Patricia Polocco. Then we used an activity where we drew a heart in the middle of our paper/screen and added the names of students who touched our lives. We then picked one and wrote for about 10 minutes. We picked another and wrote for about 10 minutes and one final name that we wrote about for 10 minutes. We shared and the listeners used the pointing technique that was introduced with the Mem Fox book.

We shared, blogged, and debriefed the day...tomorrow--we shall see!

Day 1 SI 07

2007-07-10T05:11:00.000-05:00

Wow! What a great day we had on our first day of SI. All the participants were so eager and willing to learn about all the wonderful things writing can be in their classrooms and within themselves.

Tuesday will be our first real use of great technology and I can't wait to learn more about the wonderful educators who are part of our garden.

2007-07-09T13:42:00.000-05:00

Spooky, Summer and Bentley: The Jacobs' Fur People!

Hellow.....

2007-06-11T11:50:00.000-05:00

Good Morning!

We have had a very fun and educational morning. Woo-Hoo!

Can't wait for July!