Day One… The Teachers College Reading and Writing Project 16th Annual July Institute on the Teaching of Reading: Teach Me in the Key of Life July 6, 2009
Filed under: Calkins,TCRWP,independent booksellers,professional development,professional learning community,reading,reading workshop,reading-writing connection,school — bestbookihavenotread @ 8:13 pm
Tags: Lucy Calkins, TCRWP, Maurice Sykes, Mary Ehrenworth, literate culture, Mimi Chenfeld, Reading Institute
Whew! What a great day! I am now sitting in my very dorm-y dorm room. Two major differences from when I was last living in an dorm room: A-it’s much nicer with AC and my own bathroom (although the mattress had me wishing for a hotel last night), and B-I’m drinking a beer while doing my homework (or avoiding it I guess by typing this).
This is the largest TC Institute with people from 24 countries including Sweden, China (Shanghai, specifically), Iceland, India, and Kuwait; 38 states; and includes 90 principals, 6 superintendents and a total of 1374 participants! Wow!
The day started with a Keynote by Maurice Sykes (Executive Director of Early Childhood Leadership Institute titled “The Courage to Teach the Joy of Teaching”. He was a FANTASTIC speaker and started with a poem by Mimi Chenfeld (from Columbus, OH!)
Teach Me in the Key of Life
by Mimi Brodsky Chenfeld
I am waiting for you
I have been waiting all my life
to spend this time
with you.
I am full of questions, adventures, wonder, curiousity,
imagination.
I am full of fears, doubts, confusions, nightmares, dreams.
I am the Cowardly Lion. I need a badge for courage.
So do you.
I am the Tin Man. So tight. I forgot about my heart.
How’s your heart?
I am the Scarecrow. Hangin’ so loose my brain feels unhinged.
Does yours?
Sometimes I’m
GrumpySleepyDopeyBashfulDocSneezyHappy.
Sometimes I’m seven new dwarfs as yet unnamed.
I love to sing.
I know the words to 2,437 songs.
Teach me through songs.
Let me paint, doodle, scribble, draw, carve, fix, sketch – DO.
I can’t keep still.
I’m a spaced-out, far-out, Star Wars, Superman IV, rock ‘n’ roll, disco,
punk, psychedelic, tuned-out, right-on, cool age,
electronic, stereo, video games, computerized, technicolor, ten-speed kid!
I need action!
Keep it moving!
I love to read baseball cards, album covers, TV schedules, movie ads,
license plates, T-shirts, buttons, posters, cartoons, cereal boxes,
recipes, highway signs, historical markers, magazines, picture books,
sad stories, weird poems, animal histories, lost-and-found boards…
Let me ask my questions – even if you don’t know the answers.
Dumb questions, like who started numbers?
Do caterpillars know they’re going to turn into butterflies?
Where does the white go when the snow melts?
Why does time fly?
How do we see?
What do you see?
It’s not my birthday, but every day can’t we celebrate SOMETHING?
Colors, seasons, Tuesdays, Mexico, circles, houses, maps, our names, numbers, one seed, our journals, favorite books, inventions, rivers, peace!
Can we celebrate our country on the fourth of October or the twelfth of May?
We don’t have school on the fourth of July!
Every day let’s celebrate SOMETHING!
Life – the wonder and power and miracle of Life – of being here, learning together, with all our fantastic powers.
Surprise me.
Amaze me.
Startle me.
Challenge me.
Try me.
Laugh with me.
Love me.
Teach me
in “the key of life,”
and I promise I’ll
surprise, amaze, startle, challenge, try, enjoy and love YOU!
Monday, October 18, 2010
From: Off The Grid- Defending Our Christian Heritage In Print
Thanks niece Linda!
Most of the receivers , aside from you and your dad, George, and me, will not pay this message much heed. I think it is a great message.
Sam
----- Original Message -----
From: leegraham@aol.com
Sent: Monday, October 18, 2010 01:10
Subject: Fwd: Writers Wanted - Defending Our Christian Heritage In Print
-----Original Message-----
From: Off The Grid News
To: Linda L Oiler
Sent: Wed, Oct 13, 2010 11:12 am
Subject: Writers Wanted - Defending Our Christian Heritage In Print
Writers Wanted - Defending
Our Christian Heritage In Print
One thing almost all of today's liberals (and even many neo-cons) absolutely hate is that America was founded as a Christian nation. The Colonies were in fact started by Christians, many of them religious refugees who were in fact, zealous Christians.
I guess you would have to change that to "extremist" Christians for today's vernacular, but you get the point. They had very explicit Christian purposes in the founding and attempted to establish a Christian law order.
In the early fifties, Earl Warren spoke in no uncertain terms of America's founding:
Patrick Henry takes a stand with his "Give Me
Liberty or Give me Death" speech.
"I believe no one can read the history of our country without realizing that the good book and the spirit of the Savior have, from the beginning been our guiding genius.
Whether we look at the first Charter of Virginia or to the Charter of Massachusetts Bay, or to the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, the same objective is present, a Christian land governed by Christian principles.
I believe the entire Bill of Rights came into being because of the knowledge our forefathers had of the Bible and their express belief in it. I like to think that today we are living in the spirit of the Christian religion. And I would also like to believe that as long as we do, no great harm can come to our country."
A most remarkable set of comments coming from a Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Now, Justice Warren was no right-winger and certainly not a tea partier. In fact, you might even make the case for him being a liberal. My point is that just 50 years ago, even liberals knew that the roots of liberty rested on Christianity because they knew the true history of our nation.
Roger Schulz, head of Liberty University's history department, has framed Justice Warren's comments into four main points:
The country at its origin was anchored in the Bible and Jesus Christ
The foundational documents of American history testify to its Christian roots
Our liberties rest upon a Christian and Biblical law order
God will providentially protect a faithful nation
Listen Up: We live at a time when these roots are both ignored as well as suppressed, especially by our government-run schools. There is a genuine hostility to Christianity, especially as it relates to the history of the founding up to the writing of the Constitution.
More and more folks call our office and say something like this: "Bill, what's the best way to respond to a guy in my local paper who says America was never a Christian nation? Can you help me? Can you teach me how to argue with these guys? Can you? Huh? Huh?"
Well, strangely enough, the answer is yes, sort of. At least I can give you a "qualified yes" answer to such questions. And actually I can't teach you myself, but I know of a few people who can get you started.
Provided of course, that the person wanting to learn has the ability to overcome the propaganda they've learned in public education. And, most importantly, they must possess a desire to learn how to defend our Christian heritage as well as an appetite for freedom under God.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Advertisement
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So here's what I recommend: If you were my student, the first thing I would ask you to do is give yourself a basic education in what constitutes true liberty. So to begin with, you should go to the web-page www.TheOnlyWayBack.com and learn what you can about the difference between freedom and slavery. It's simply the best presentation I have ever heard on where liberty actually comes from.
Ok, after you master that course, I would further instruct you to get John Eidsmoe's course on the Constitution as well as his book Christianity and the Constitution. They can be found at www.thefoundersplan.com. As I mentioned before, getting a good education on the founding and the constitution borders on the impossible in America today. You see, most books written about American history are not just bad: they are downright dangerous!
Onward. Once you've got a grip on the real history of our nation, simply sit down, pick a part of Christian history you like and then... get writing! The goal here isn't to re-write the Magna Carta or even a Wall Street Journal Op-Ed article. The goal of this exercise is to get you started, period. Keep in mind that once you absorb the information in the previous courses I've mentioned, your pen will start to move on paper right before your very eyes. But you must saturate your mind with true history first.
Now, once you start writing, keep it short. What you want to do is stick with the facts you have learned and cite only one or two historical examples at a time as you write your short letter to the editor. Then, put your letter away for a day or so and let your brain work. Then get it out and take another look. You will be surprised at what this does to your perspective. Next, "re-write" your article and put it away one more time for a day. Get up early on the following day with a fresh cup of coffee and finish your letter by massaging any rough spots and putting on the finishing touches. That's it, you're done.
What? You want Off the Grid News to publish your article? Sure, no problem. I've decided to create a special section on Off the Grid News for our readers who want to self-publish their articles on America's Christian history. So, if you want to practice writing at OfftheGridNews.com before you go out into a cold, hostile world with your articles, send them to submissions@offthegridnews.com.
Why do this? Why go through all the effort, blood, sweat and tears of writing articles on America's Christian heritage? Because the soft, easy and prosperous times in America are over. Many of the freedoms that we have taken for granted are coming to an end unless we return to America's roots. Right now, more than anything, America needs tough-minded Christian writers who are willing to take a stand for the truth.
The great heroes of the Bible: Joseph, Moses, Joshua, David, Jeremiah, and Elijah, were tough-minded, courageous doers who took a stand. As I write this, the forces of darkness seem to be prevailing. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is looking for courageous men and women who will stand for righteousness and against the wickedness of our day. Moses told the people of Israel "Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified because of them, for the Lord goes with you, He will never leave you or forsake you." Then as now, we are commanded not to be afraid of the evil of the day.
Once again, check out the courses at www.TheOnlyWayBack.com and www.thefoundersplan.com to beef up your knowledge of our Christian history. Then, submit your articles to us at submissions@offthegridnews.com. We look forward to receiving and publishing them.
Do this. Do it. Do it. If you feel called to take a stand at this time, please don't procrastinate. We look forward to taking a stand with you against the growing evil of our day and for the Kingdom of our Lord and His Christ.
Yours for taking a stand,
Bill Heid
Founder
Off The Grid News
P.S. One more thing. If you get good at this and want a job writing for Off The Grid News, we are always looking for passionate, professional writers. If we publish a few of your articles, and you're the best of the best, we would love to talk to you about joining our team. This is not a writing contest. We're just looking for good writers.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Advertisement
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Help a friend by forwarding this newsletter to them!
This newsletter is a free weekly service of Solutions from Science. You can reach us at:
Solutions from Science
815 W. Main St.
P.O. Box 518
Thomson, IL 61285
Email us at info@solutionsfromscience.com
Solutions From Science, 815 W. Main Street, PO Box 518, Thomson, IL 61285, USA
Most of the receivers , aside from you and your dad, George, and me, will not pay this message much heed. I think it is a great message.
Sam
----- Original Message -----
From: leegraham@aol.com
Sent: Monday, October 18, 2010 01:10
Subject: Fwd: Writers Wanted - Defending Our Christian Heritage In Print
-----Original Message-----
From: Off The Grid News
To: Linda L Oiler
Sent: Wed, Oct 13, 2010 11:12 am
Subject: Writers Wanted - Defending Our Christian Heritage In Print
Writers Wanted - Defending
Our Christian Heritage In Print
One thing almost all of today's liberals (and even many neo-cons) absolutely hate is that America was founded as a Christian nation. The Colonies were in fact started by Christians, many of them religious refugees who were in fact, zealous Christians.
I guess you would have to change that to "extremist" Christians for today's vernacular, but you get the point. They had very explicit Christian purposes in the founding and attempted to establish a Christian law order.
In the early fifties, Earl Warren spoke in no uncertain terms of America's founding:
Patrick Henry takes a stand with his "Give Me
Liberty or Give me Death" speech.
"I believe no one can read the history of our country without realizing that the good book and the spirit of the Savior have, from the beginning been our guiding genius.
Whether we look at the first Charter of Virginia or to the Charter of Massachusetts Bay, or to the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, the same objective is present, a Christian land governed by Christian principles.
I believe the entire Bill of Rights came into being because of the knowledge our forefathers had of the Bible and their express belief in it. I like to think that today we are living in the spirit of the Christian religion. And I would also like to believe that as long as we do, no great harm can come to our country."
A most remarkable set of comments coming from a Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Now, Justice Warren was no right-winger and certainly not a tea partier. In fact, you might even make the case for him being a liberal. My point is that just 50 years ago, even liberals knew that the roots of liberty rested on Christianity because they knew the true history of our nation.
Roger Schulz, head of Liberty University's history department, has framed Justice Warren's comments into four main points:
The country at its origin was anchored in the Bible and Jesus Christ
The foundational documents of American history testify to its Christian roots
Our liberties rest upon a Christian and Biblical law order
God will providentially protect a faithful nation
Listen Up: We live at a time when these roots are both ignored as well as suppressed, especially by our government-run schools. There is a genuine hostility to Christianity, especially as it relates to the history of the founding up to the writing of the Constitution.
More and more folks call our office and say something like this: "Bill, what's the best way to respond to a guy in my local paper who says America was never a Christian nation? Can you help me? Can you teach me how to argue with these guys? Can you? Huh? Huh?"
Well, strangely enough, the answer is yes, sort of. At least I can give you a "qualified yes" answer to such questions. And actually I can't teach you myself, but I know of a few people who can get you started.
Provided of course, that the person wanting to learn has the ability to overcome the propaganda they've learned in public education. And, most importantly, they must possess a desire to learn how to defend our Christian heritage as well as an appetite for freedom under God.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Advertisement
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So here's what I recommend: If you were my student, the first thing I would ask you to do is give yourself a basic education in what constitutes true liberty. So to begin with, you should go to the web-page www.TheOnlyWayBack.com and learn what you can about the difference between freedom and slavery. It's simply the best presentation I have ever heard on where liberty actually comes from.
Ok, after you master that course, I would further instruct you to get John Eidsmoe's course on the Constitution as well as his book Christianity and the Constitution. They can be found at www.thefoundersplan.com. As I mentioned before, getting a good education on the founding and the constitution borders on the impossible in America today. You see, most books written about American history are not just bad: they are downright dangerous!
Onward. Once you've got a grip on the real history of our nation, simply sit down, pick a part of Christian history you like and then... get writing! The goal here isn't to re-write the Magna Carta or even a Wall Street Journal Op-Ed article. The goal of this exercise is to get you started, period. Keep in mind that once you absorb the information in the previous courses I've mentioned, your pen will start to move on paper right before your very eyes. But you must saturate your mind with true history first.
Now, once you start writing, keep it short. What you want to do is stick with the facts you have learned and cite only one or two historical examples at a time as you write your short letter to the editor. Then, put your letter away for a day or so and let your brain work. Then get it out and take another look. You will be surprised at what this does to your perspective. Next, "re-write" your article and put it away one more time for a day. Get up early on the following day with a fresh cup of coffee and finish your letter by massaging any rough spots and putting on the finishing touches. That's it, you're done.
What? You want Off the Grid News to publish your article? Sure, no problem. I've decided to create a special section on Off the Grid News for our readers who want to self-publish their articles on America's Christian history. So, if you want to practice writing at OfftheGridNews.com before you go out into a cold, hostile world with your articles, send them to submissions@offthegridnews.com.
Why do this? Why go through all the effort, blood, sweat and tears of writing articles on America's Christian heritage? Because the soft, easy and prosperous times in America are over. Many of the freedoms that we have taken for granted are coming to an end unless we return to America's roots. Right now, more than anything, America needs tough-minded Christian writers who are willing to take a stand for the truth.
The great heroes of the Bible: Joseph, Moses, Joshua, David, Jeremiah, and Elijah, were tough-minded, courageous doers who took a stand. As I write this, the forces of darkness seem to be prevailing. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is looking for courageous men and women who will stand for righteousness and against the wickedness of our day. Moses told the people of Israel "Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified because of them, for the Lord goes with you, He will never leave you or forsake you." Then as now, we are commanded not to be afraid of the evil of the day.
Once again, check out the courses at www.TheOnlyWayBack.com and www.thefoundersplan.com to beef up your knowledge of our Christian history. Then, submit your articles to us at submissions@offthegridnews.com. We look forward to receiving and publishing them.
Do this. Do it. Do it. If you feel called to take a stand at this time, please don't procrastinate. We look forward to taking a stand with you against the growing evil of our day and for the Kingdom of our Lord and His Christ.
Yours for taking a stand,
Bill Heid
Founder
Off The Grid News
P.S. One more thing. If you get good at this and want a job writing for Off The Grid News, we are always looking for passionate, professional writers. If we publish a few of your articles, and you're the best of the best, we would love to talk to you about joining our team. This is not a writing contest. We're just looking for good writers.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Advertisement
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Help a friend by forwarding this newsletter to them!
This newsletter is a free weekly service of Solutions from Science. You can reach us at:
Solutions from Science
815 W. Main St.
P.O. Box 518
Thomson, IL 61285
Email us at info@solutionsfromscience.com
Solutions From Science, 815 W. Main Street, PO Box 518, Thomson, IL 61285, USA
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