I am going to a school tomorrow to observe their writing program. I am excited and scared to death! Excited in that I am so pumped to see what other schools are doing to promote literacy--that drives me! Scared to death because I'm not sure half the time if I know what I am doing! What I do know is that if we have a common thread called literacy, that is half the battle. Anything we can do to allow students the opportunity to become better readers and writers is the most important job any of us can have. So, I go with an open mind and open eyes and can't wait for the wonderful things I will see! I'll bet they will teach me a thing or two.....or three!

Love is in the Air

I love snow.....for about 5 minutes, then I'm ready for it to go away! As I sit and watch the big, fat, fluffy flakes fall faster and faster, I am reminded how beautiful a simple thing such as a snowflake can be. To see its contrast against a black sky is truly mesmerizing. I'm thinking how ironic it is to be watching it snow in a coastal region and the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, are just beginning its opening ceremonies! Tomorrow, however, I will want warmer weather. You see, while I like to look at snow, I don't like to be in it. That is a strange comment coming from someone who grew up in Massachusetts, a place that got feet of snow each year. Since moving to a coastal region 25 years ago, I've become a weenie to cold weather. I like it warm. So, while I am loving this special gift from Mother Nature tonight, I am secretly yearning for that warm, sunny day tomorrow!

Test scores...What do they really say???

The PASS test scores went public today. There is a part of me that needs to know how my students did in comparison to other students in the grade I teach as well as how my students compare to others across the district. I need to know whether or not my teaching strategies are on par with other schools based on the performance of my students. This part of me always searches for connections I can make to test scores, growth, etc. Sometimes I loathe this part. PASS is a one shot deal - one day writing - one day for grammar and revising - one day for reading and research. Three days to represent a child's entire ELA experience in one year. I wrestle with whether or not this is a true measure of a child. If my success was based only on test scores, I may not be where I am today. What did my test scores say about me? Not enough. My will to learn, my determination, and my sacrifices were my true measures. Testing is important and it should be done. But is it the tell-all of a child?