One of the things that I did yesterday was catch up on some of my neglected blog reading. I love the blogging world and the ideas that I get from fellow teachers, literacy specialists, and coaches. There are so many wonderful things going on in schools and it amazes me all the shots that are being taken at educators right now. The hard work and dedication to kids that I see each time I read the blogs out there show what you all value and how much you care about your students. (Sorry, hold that thought for another post!)
Yesterday as I was reading the blog, A Year of Reading, I caught a post from Saturday on Newspaper Blackout Poems. I was captured right away! The thinking and creativity involved in this type of poetry would be just the thing to capture the interests of my seventh graders coming back after a week of Spring Break. My "teacher brain" was intrigued. Now to gather enough newspapers for my 100 students!
Quickly, I opened my school email and sent out an all-school request for newspapers. This new idea really got me excited! Even on break, I couldn't help but think about school and my students. My "teacher brain" would not turn off. Not long after I sent out the email, I received a reply. This reply told me to quit thinking about school and enjoy myself this week. Today, I got another response telling me basically the same thing. My "teacher brain" DOES ENJOY finding new ideas to try out with my kids!
This all started me thinking about teachers, literacy specialists, coaches, and the like. Doesn't everyone have a "teacher brain" that continually sifts through information and ideas for school? Is this something that is that unusual? What do you think about having a "teacher brain"?
I love the Blackout poetry too and am going to present it to my creative writing students. There is a web site for it also (I found it through Pinterest) http://newspaperblackout.com/ There are some great examples there.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the website, Deb. There are some great mentor blackout poems there! I will be using it next week with my kids.
DeleteI don't think it's possible to turn off the teacher brain. We always are looking for the next thing that might spark a student. Enjoy your time off!
ReplyDeleteI agree- it is not possible to turn off a teacher's brain even during the summer. Part of what we "do" involves our ongoing reflection and planning to do things just a little better the "next time."
ReplyDeletePS I too love blacklout poems - thanks for the reminder and website
Oh yeah, there's no way my "teacher brain" will ever turn off. (Part of the reason for my stress-filled post yesterday!) I LOVE finding new ideas too but I do just wish I could turn it off and not have school thoughts encroach upon every waking moment... and sleeping moment! Make sure you do take a little time to silence the teaching voice in your head and do something fun though! :-)
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