Deep Thoughts

On a snowy, wintery day, where I am at the library working on school stuff since we have no school...my brain is overwhelmed with many thoughts. Thought I'd write them out because then my brain always seems to feel better.

• After attending the Carl Anderson study group, I want to make sure during my conferences that I am showing kids in their writing (and reading) how a writer does something, why, and how I do it (since I'm also a writer).
• I am amazed at how patient I think I am, but yet I'm not. I was checking my e-mail to see if my friend wrote me back yet and was surprised when I was disappointed that she hadn't...it's only been 10 minutes since I sent it. I feel like in this day and age and especially in my own life, there are things that I expect to happen right away...students to learn basic math concepts (don't you know how to borrow YET?), losing weight (but I ran more than I did last week), spiritual concepts and discplines, and even receiving phone calls (however, I am starting to convince myself that even though he got the number, he won't be calling...I mean, come on, it's been over 10 days since he got it...but out of all of the things I want to wait on, that's the one I really don't want to).
• The other night I just felt restless...one of the things I enjoy the most (when I actually do it) is reading over past journal entries, reflecting, and then writing. I feel like most of the junk that I am carrying around is then lifted off of me and vanishes. So I got my journal out and wrote. I think I haven't journaled in a while because that journal is almost full. Did you know that I have NEVER completely filled a journal? I am almost sad. When I look back and reread, I am sometimes amazed at what I write in it...some very profound thoughts come out of me (thanks only to God). I do have a new one...it's green (my favorite color) and says the word LIFE on it. I am hoping that in my new journal that I begin to see what the abundant life is all about.
• Wish I would have started sooner - I saw in another elementary classroom where they post ONE vocabulary word a week for kids to practice using in their vocabulary. They then keep up the past 9 others and bag the old ones. Kids have access to them if they want to use them in their writing. We have two words up: peered and jubilant. More info will come as I discover how it affects my students and their work.

On just another note, I just want to say thanks to all who read my blog. It means so much to me, that you would take time to hear what I have to say and then even possibly comment on it. I've actually had a couple of parents who read my blog and I also want to say, what an honor it is to have your child in my class. I am blown away by my class this year and it makes me want to be the best possible teacher for them. They deserve so much!