Slice of Life - My Tribe

Slice of Life is sponsored every Tuesday by Stacey and Ruth from Two Writing Teachers.

Started adding dates to my calendar today:

·      February 2013

o   Anderson’s Children’s Literature Breakfast

·      March 2013 

o   Michigan Reading Association conference (attend)

o   Illinois Reading Council conference (present)

·      June 2013

o   All Write Conference (attend)

o   ALA Annual (possible)

·      July 2013

o   Kids Read Comics Celebration (possible)

·      November

o   NCTE 2013 – Boston

What are these dates about? Seeing my tribe. See, I just read Seth Godin’s Tribes on the recommendation from a good friend. It’s about surrounding ourselves with people that inspire us, that make us want to lead. I realized that unintentionally I have done just that. I love reading and writing. Heck, I love teaching. And I’ve slowly built a group of teachers – in person and through Twitter – that inspires me to do more. This group is vital to me. They make me more reflective. They remind me that I can grow in many ways. I love meeting with them, attending sessions, talking books, and just visiting.

Last Wednesday I arrived in Las Vegas for NCTE and five beautiful, but exhausting, days. Flying home I was anxious, of course, but there was more. There was excitement to see my boys, a longing to get in the classroom, and a pang of sadness for leaving my tribe. So what’s a girl to do? Begin listing all of the possible times I will see them in the next year.

Thus I came up with the list above. Some are guaranteed visits; I already have planned on going. Some are hopeful; I think I can swing it. And heck, there are so many more I’d love to add: Dublin Lit Conference, EduCon, IRA, and more. But I can’t do it all – my wallet cannot afford it! These will have to suffice.

Luckily in today’s day and age distance via miles does not equal lack of communication. Today I participated in the amazing Twitter chat #engchat and reflected on NCTE with an amazing group of educators. I exchanged text messages with several of these fabulous friends. I talk to several of them on the phone on a regular basis. I know the always fabulous #titletalk is coming up this Sunday. Social networking keeps my tribe close, even when geographic locations are the opposite. And when I sit down to Thanksgiving this year I will be thinking of family, health, and friends – especially this group who I hold close to my heart. 

NCTE 2012

Oh NCTE, you always destroy me. While not a night owl by nature, I find myself staying up later, and later, and later when attending. Even when I finally tore myself away from a group last night around 12:30 am, I cursed myself for being tired all the way back to my room. So what if I had to be up by 5:30 am to make our flight? I don’t get to see these friends all that often.

I first attended NCTE last year in Chicago. Going once, I was hooked. What I’ve discovered is that through Twitter, Goodreads, Nerdy Book Club, and more – I’ve found my Tribe. (see Seth Godin) That tribe gathers at NCTE like a family reunion. I leave inspired, rejuvenated, elated, and yes – exhausted. But upon leaving today I found myself already turning the pages of the calendar in my brain. Boston for NCTE13 – yep, I’ll be there.

Below you’ll find some snapshots from an amazing whirlwind of four days. There is no way to really summarize this place, but these photos might give you a start.

I presented twice - first time ever at NCTE. I already commented on the other presentation in my last post. My Saturday presentation was on The Nerdy Book Club. We had a round table - which Donalyn Miller likened to speed dating. SO FUN! I had very little voice left (horrid cold) but the participants were beyond kind. I loved this type of presentation. 

The exhibit halls were crazy. So many booths, so little time. I don't tend to take too many ARCs. I have a list of ones I know I'd like to get. Then I talk to fabulous book reps, like Lauren from Random House, and ask what they are excited about. Here's what is being shipped to me as we speak. Can't wait to dive into this box. 

Blurry but had to add it. Friends have mad
photo-bombing skills. :) 

Quite possibly the highlight of my trip, or even my year, was a party for bloggers of The Nerdy Book Club. I can't express the energy in this room. Please excuse the multitude of photos I'm about to add, I want to remember and be inspired by this amazing night. 

Brian, my new little brother. :) 

Cindy - amazing friend.

Holy Moses, it's Tony! 

So wanted to meet Chris, and I got the chance! Brilliant! 

My running friend, Franki.

RJ Palacio - I had the chance to gush about WONDER.

The King of Nerdy Book Club - Colby

My students will be so jealous, Jenni Holm. 

I have no words. Jonathan Auxier. 

Donalyn doing what she always does,
giving a speech that makes me cry.

Read more about the Nerdy Party HERE. 

And while I wanted to weep with gratitude to exit the plane today, I was sad to leave it behind. But driving home I saw this sunset. Beautiful. And I was beyond grateful for the experience, the knowledge, and the friendships. If I saw you there, thanks for the great week! And I know there were some friends I didn't get to connect with - we'll have to remedy that next year! I know I cannot wait to jump into my classroom tomorrow and talk to my students, not only about what I learned, but how I learned just as much talking with my friends into the wee hours of the night as I did at the amazing sessions. This is something they need to understand. What a beautiful experience. 

Lessons from NCTE 2012

Day two of the conference is just about over. Sitting in my last session today I thought of many things:

·      How grateful I am to my district for letting me come.

·      How blessed I am to have a husband who willingly pays what they don’t.

·      How much I learn and soak in during these brief days.

·      What an amazing group of teachers I know.

And here’s the thing. I faced a lot of fears to get here. I abhor flying. Anxiety that is almost paralyzing occurs when I’m on a plane. I do think it has something to do with my control issues. Placing all of my trust in others is scary. That being said, I did it.

Today was my first presentation. I’ve presented in my own district before but this was different. Shortly before our session we realized our room would be outside of the main building and quite a trek. As I walked over I began to wonder if anyone would walk that far to hear us. And then the doors opened. People began trickling in. I quickly busied myself with helping Kellee set up the technology, then I didn’t have to look up. J When I finally did, I saw this:

Oh my goodness. My heart was pounding. But you know what? I think it went well. I was super nervous when it was my time to talk but quickly saw familiar faces, friends I’ve met through Twitter. They nodded, smiled at me, encouraged me on. Thank you all – you have no idea how much that meant.

And, as always with these types of conferences, there are not enough minutes in the day. I ran from meetings, to sessions, to presentations, to the exhibit hall and more meetings, to more sessions. And no matter how much I hurried, I couldn’t see it all, and that’s ok.

What I’ve come away with on day two is how amazing teaching is. Sir Ken Robinson started us off this morning with inspiring words. And teacher and authors kept me thinking all day long. Finishing up this day with writing advice from Jeff Anderson and Mark Overmeyer was fuel to the fire. I started this blog almost a year ago after NCTE 2011 made me want to write. This conference has continued to add to that passion. Can’t wait to see what tomorrow has in store. 

Slice of Life – Sharing NCTE with My Students

   

Slice of Life is sponsored every Tuesday by Stacey and Ruth from Two Writing Teachers.

Wednesday I am doing something I dread with every fiber of my being – getting on an airplane. I haven’t always been afraid of flying, as a kid I loved it. Turbulence made me laugh. Somewhere in my twenties that changed. A flight became a time of massive anxiety. I prefer to drive 19 hours over flying for three. I become claustrophobic and convinced I will not survive the flight. Surely humans weren’t meant to fly, right?

So why would I put myself through this torture? To attend NCTE’s annual conference. I’m actually looking forward to the flight, or as much as I can possibly look forward to it. That flight will get me to my friends, amazing sessions, and BOOKS!

The only downfall to NCTE is that I’m out of the classroom. The kids had been lamenting this to me already – how can I possibly leave them for three whole days! They love my substitute – it is my mom – but still, who will they tell when they finish their book? Who will recommend another book to them? I quickly reminded them of the community we’ve built, the friends they can talk to, and they calmed down.

Then I shared. I told them what NCTE is and why it means so much to them. I told them the sessions I plan on attending. I shared the two sessions I am presenting at, how nervous I am. And then we got to the “good stuff.”

I explained to them what an ARC is, what a F&G is, and showed them some examples. I told them when I attended last year I had two ARCs I really wanted to get: Jo Knowles See You at Harry’s and Kate Messner’s Eye of the Storm. I talked about how I got them and read them that weekend. How I sobbed over Harry’s and my heart beat so strongly during Eye of the Storm. I then talked about ARC etiquette and how I will only be taking what I think we will read in our class. They laughed when I talked about shipping them back.

Finally, I showed them the list of authors that would be there. I mentioned that they were welcome to come over to my laptop during independent reading time to see if there was an author they felt I should really try to meet for them. I glanced up as I moved around the room to confer. Over and over kids would scroll through the list, calling to a friend when they saw a favorite author’s name. Lamenting once again when they saw the absence of one they adored.

And then Matt came to see me. Matt is someone I’ve spoken about before. Flying through books at amazing speeds. Although he classified himself as a non-reader, his habits show otherwise. Matt is a bit addicted to graphic novels – has read over seventy this school year. This past week he picked up Katherine Applegate’s The One and Only Ivan. He’s over halfway through and loving it. He walked over and said, “Ms. Applegate’s name isn’t on that list.” I nodded and told him I didn’t think she would be there. He looked down and said, “I just wanted to tell her how much I love her book.” Pow – right to my heart.

As I looked at Matt and the kids cheering as they looked over the list of authors, the kids pouring over some F&Gs spread out on the floor, and the kids holding ARCs of See You at Harry’s and Eye of the Storm while they compared them to the actual novels, I realized what a community had been created in my classroom. I adore these kids. I’m so grateful they think authors are rock stars, just as I do. And I can’t wait to bring them back some books from NCTE. If that requires me to jump on a plane, so be it. 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

 I’m joining Jen & Kellee (and many other bloggers) in discussing what we are reading this week. Join us! Go to their site and link up your own blog.

Crazy times – need to prepare to leave for NCTE on Wednesday and am drowning in “to do” lists. So, quickly, here’s what I read last week:

Only two more books in my house I need to read before I leave for NCTE. (Well, plenty I NEED to read, but two more from the library for Cybils.)

As for other reading plans – I think I’ll read Raven Boys on the flight to NCTE. My book club meets the Monday I get back and I haven’t started it. Oops. I hope to find some great books while I’m there, although this year I don’t have a “wish list” started. Need to find out what ARCs are out there that I should look for!

Have a great week!