The (some-what) Happy No.

Any one who has gone through the journey of trying to become a legacy (traditionally) published author has faced rejection, rejection, rejection.  Most of the time those rejections come as a non response.  You're left wondering did they read it?

Or a form reply... Decline, decline, decline, decline because your writing is not as good as theirs or hers or his or mine.

But sometimes, rarely, only twice for me you get a personalized rejection.  It's still a no.  Still a I'm sorry, we'll have to pass.  However, it has personalized feedback.  You get to have the mini-celebration that someone valued your idea enough to at least read your work.  I just received one of those "(some-what) happy no" letters last Friday.  Here's what it said:


Ms. Bemiss:

Thank you so very much for your query.  Unfortunately, Back Then is not quite right for us, so I am going to pass.  I understand your impetus for penning this story -- so much to pass on to our children.  Yet, in this very tough picture book market, I am afraid I feel Back Then would get lost.  Although a few things made me pause, mostly I worry that there is very little room for the illustrator to work his or her magic and interpret the story visually.  Given how subjective this business is, I am sure there are others who will feel differently.  Best of luck as you continue to make those connections.

Wishing you much success on your journey,
M.Z

I am so thankful for this feedback.  Hopefully this is just one more rejection on my way to acceptance.

I do have a somewhat exciting update on my Hockey story... The Nashville Predators are considering selling this story next year through their foundation.  So, it's still not a yes... but not a no.  I would donate the sales to their foundation and the Monroe Carell Jr. Hospital.  Keeping fingers crossed.

Visible Tweets

I learned about this at TeachMeet KY 2011 but am just now having the opportunity to use it.  Check out the link below to see our K-2 Digging Deeper into Mathematics Common Core tweets regarding Teaching Student Centered Mathematics.

@B4= Before Portion of Lesson
@During= During Portion of Lesson
@After= After Portion of Lesson



CLICK HERE for our TWEETS

Vuvox

I'm prepping for a literacy training next week and wanted to try out a new tool.  I came across "Vuvox" from a web search and thought I'd give it a try.

Here goes nothing...



Click here for Vuvox

Schema, Schema, Schema

You know in college when we learned about Jean Piaget... I liked his ideas.  I even hoped at one time to be able to go take a class in Ireland and Scotland centered around his ideas but that didn't pan out.  However, I'm embarrassed to say that it wasn't until 9 years into my teaching career that it actually clicked for me... why his ideas were so important.

Schema,
Schema,
Schema.

Jean Piaget is the grandfather of this term.

Prior Knowledge,
Background Knowledge,
Connections
What ever you call it
Schema is the foundation for ALL learning.

Whether you are talking about learning your ABC's or Quantum Physics.
It's all based on Schema.

See, we can only learn something if we have a bit of knowledge (or hook to hang it on- Or Folder to put it in)

Click below for an example. Follow these directions, no cheating...
1.  Read the paragraph.  Do NOT scroll down and look at the image or you'll ruin it. :)
2.  What is the paragraph about?
3.  Scroll down and look at the image.
4.  Reflect.  How did that picture help you understand the paragraph?

Schema Glog

See, I told you.  If you had seen that photo first the paragraph would have made sense the first time you read it.

We want to teach kids through relational (many) connections to their experiences (or other hooks in their brain.)  If you go back to the glog and click on the word "schema" you can learn more about it. (There's even a clip of my favorite math guy the late John Van de Walle speaking about making connections in math.)

 Also, clicking chart-stand graphic will take you to a psychology glog with a little slide show about how children learn.  Neat stuff... And it makes so much sense.

We also know that engagement is important to learning... SCHEMA, again folks.
If I cannot connect learning to something you know or care about, significant learning will NOT occur.

Another confession:  I used to think we only activated schema at the start of the lesson then I could continue to teach my heart out.

Ugh, wrong again.
That's why kids need to reflect through out the lesson.
Why, you wonder... Picture this.

You are sharing a story with young children (or lesson, or giving directions, or anything, really...) what happens?

Student 1: "Mrs. B that reminds me of the time my brother fell down."
Student 2: "Oh, Mrs. B I fell down once and broke my arm."
Student 3: "My dog had a broken leg when he got hit by a car."
Student 4:  "My Dads car tore up."

Sound like a familiar carpet time to you?  One of the hardest things to do as a teacher is to get kids to STOP reflecting on their schema.  So really, if you think about this when planning your lessons, giving kiddos time for reflection throughout the activity can really help students to activate their own individual schema about the topic you are studying.  (It's important to remember because our experiences are always unique... so is our schema.)

The other thing I'm just learning is tied to schema is also exemplified  in the conversation above.

KIDS NEED TO TALK TO LEARN...

Saying things out loud helps them to connect to schema.  I mean, I have always let my kids talk out their learning, pair share, triads, whatever you call it.  But its just now making sense to me as to WHY they have to do it.  They are processing and sharing their schema...  (Which leads to QUESTIONS and Wondering... Agh... That will be another blog soon.)

So, I'm a bit embarrassed to say that I just now really connecting to what a great idea good 'ole Piaget was on to with Schema... I had kids make connections since my first year in the classroom.  (Although at first I only taught it as a thinking strategy in reading- How awful is that?) But I never saw the BIG PICTURE that schema is a part of EVERYTHING.

But you know, in college I probably didn't have enough (any) teaching experience to fall back on.  So, what I was learning and studying was not yet meaningful to me.  I thought it was sorta interesting but I didn't have the experiences (or SCHEMA) to attach it to yet.

Here's one of my favorite pictures of Piaget.

Interesting tidbit.  Did you know Piaget began developing his theories on how children learn while giving the IQ test to young children while working with Simon of the Binet-Simon IQ Tests?   He noticed that kids of a certain age all had the same wrong answers and was curious about the pattern.  

TWO days of TORNADOES in one week is TOO much for me.

First off, we are so so thankful our family is safe. Prayers to all suffering loss.

When the local college closes and national storm chasers show up in my area... I decide it's fine to pick my little super hero up early from school. (Thankfully his school district was supportive.)

But... When your picked up early by two elementary teachers (Mommy & Mamaw) the learning doesn't stop just because you leave school!  No, we made Cat-in-the-Hat Hat's and practiced reading Dr. Seuss books.  Caleb even made number bookmarks for everyone.  How perfect that today was Dr. Seuss's Birthday. This helped the children (and adult's) minds off of the 9/10 storm con index the national weather channel had put us under.

Jonah had to cut PT a little short today due to an ear infection and feeling a little yucky.  So, he practiced driving in the floor during the Dr. Seuss birthday party.  

Later as the COWS sirens went off the party moved down to the basement. 

Yes, they are wearing hockey helmets... This was what made it fun for them! You do what every you can to make it fun, keep them from being too scared but also stay safe.  That's also a bag-o-fun in the basement party packed with books, ipads, toys, water, yummy snacks. 

Joe slept through most of it.  Daddy played games on his phone.  

Paw paw monitored the weather. My how technology impacts everything now!

I really don't care for this weather... Here's to a safe spring.

Tots & Tornadoes

We woke to picture like this on the news.  How scary.  We thought the worst of the weather was going to miss us, but alas... Snow, it misses us all winter.  Tornado warnings, not so much. 

The sirens started ringing.  We gathered blankets, pillows, flashlight, computer, and set off for the bathroom.  (Someday I'll get that house with a basement.)  Jonah thought this was a lot of fun.  We'd never hung out in the bathroom floor.  

Then, it was a lot of work.  Local news, NOAA, Weather Channel, Texts.  It was a lot for a 10 month old to keep up with.  

After 35 minutes the novelty and enjoyment wore off.  He was tired, hungry and confused.  

Thank goodness soon we were able to come out of the bathroom safe and sound.

Joe had a nap and some lunch...  And all was well again.  

Hope everyone stayed safe today.  Can't wait to hear from Daddy and big brother when they get home.

Signing Off The Air,

Tots & Tornadoes

Trying

"God doesn't require us to succeed; he only requires that you try."
~ Mother Teresa ~


Sometimes when I feel stressed I find comfort in words.  Tonight, it was Mother Teresa.  There is so much truth in these words.  I can so easily become let down or discontent with unsuccessful endeavors.  But I really think she was on to something... T.R.Y.


I have often said anything worth doing in life is challenging.  I still believe that. But often the task seems too daunting.  At times I feel unqualified or not knowledgable enough...  
So, I don't try.  
Or I feel afraid to try.  
Or embarrassed to try.  


But really, it all goes back to Jonah.


Not my son, the other Jonah.  The one that was swallowed by the whale.  


Jonah was afraid to try.  So, God gave him a little push... 






Sometimes I can try to ignore my push.  Roadblocks slow me down and it is easy to want stop.  


Fear of the unknown
Fear of the change
Fear of the next step.


Martin Luther King Jr. said faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the stairs.  
I want to do that.  I want to move forward.


But change is hard. Sometimes.
It must be done.


So, it's time to try.  Because like Mother Teresa said.  


It isn't always about success.   
It's just about the effort.
It's about the 'try'.    
It is about the journey.


I pray that wherever this path leads me.
I follow it in faith.
Making a difference 
for others.