The Beauty of Peace!

While Christmas Eve was less than the best (nearly 20 not-so-cheery in-laws), Christmas Day was just incredibly peaceful and full of bliss!! All of my kids woke up with such happiness and joy in their hearts! We made piles for each of us and took turns opening presents one at a time--then after a few rounds just let loose. Abby just adores her new American Girl--Emily, and all of the accessories. Adam got a tri-bot and some night vision goggles. He loved all of his gifts, but it is so obvious that the gift to play with his big sis is his favorite! Oh, and of course little Charley Mike--well, he does enjoy his Little People Noah's Ark and Pirate Ship, but again he is so happy to play with the older two that the gifts don't really matter.

After presents were opened, I picked up my grandmas for a Christmas lunch. I was a little concerned about making two feasts in less than 24 hours, but this second one was a snap. Adam convinced my grandma Koeppen that, yes, he did turn the whoopee cushion off (he just wanted her to try it out for him!). Much to all of our hysterical delight, she actually sat down on it!! That still has me laughing!!! Oh, the power of great-grandchildren!! Adam might be the funniest thing that ever lived!

Another nice surprise of the day was that Paul gave me a nice watch. I haven't worn a watch in nearly a decade, but I definitely need one as my kids grow older and have more and more things to do. The watch is wonderful, but I am nearly as excited about my new "helper's chair". I have wanted one of these for a while, but I probably would never buy it for myself. I have been in love with yellow lately too!! I also got some books and CD's that I wanted. Good deal!

Since Christmas, we have been so laid-back!! Today is a new record--we are ALL still in our PJ's and it's after 2 pm. I love doing nothing. I actually have read some books (I want to offer The Shack to all of you. Whoo! That book is incredible!) and had some time to think about some projects I want to do this summer. Next week, we are going to muster up the energy for a short getaway to the Lansing Sheraton for a beach party! It's become a tradition of ours to go somewhere for just one night between Christmas and New Year's...last year we went to the JW Marriott in GR. If you haven't been there, put it on your list of things to do!

I'm not sure if it is because I have had a little time to slow down a bit or what, but here is a "soft mommy" thing that has been going through my head these last few days...my kids are all growing up much, much too fast. Abby is as high as my chin and wears a size 10 pant! What's more is that she writes a TON and can read pretty lengthy (5th grade level) books!! How did this happen? I thought she just peacefully entered our world as a soft pink 6 lb. 1oz. bundle yesterday!?! At nearly 8 years old, I feel her slipping more and more into an independent young adolescent every day. Where'd my baby go?
If that isn't bad enough, Adam is huge too! He can read and write and remember phone numbers of all of his friends. He's too old for so many things! I am happy all of his health problems are now resolved, but it is almost too much to think about that he is nearly 1/2 way FINISHED with Kindergarten.
What's even harder on my heart, perhaps, is baby Charley will be TWO this winter!!! He isn't even a baby anymore! I have tried and tried to slow him down a little, but that little turkey has grown teeth, walked, and so much more months earlier than his older sibs ever did! I am so proud of all that they have accomplished, for sure, but where did my babies go?

I hope that you all have had a relaxing, joyful break as well! You certainly deserve it!

Santa, can you give me some sanity please?

A month ago, I was eager to begin trimming the tree, buying gifts, making cookies, going to programs, and ho ho ho'ing all the way. Now, I am feeling a tad bit different about all that...stick with me here...

The Whining
Ok, so there is a part of me that is just tired. My ankles are sore, my neck and shoulders are tense, and my eyes are drooping. I am scrubbing and baking and wrapping and shopping in snowstorms. I get totally ticked off at Paul when he insists on picking one or two things to do each day, and constantly tells me to "just relax"! Excuse me, but if I relax before the evening of the 25th there will be a backlash large enough to swallow me whole just like a tsunami. I have held the chaos at bay, but now it is time to roll up the sleeves and dig in--we are having his family over on Christmas Eve and my grandmas on Christmas Day. That is TWO big meals, TWO rounds of appetizers, drinks, and desserts--in less than 24 hours. I am feeling overwhelmed!
There is also the piece of me that is sad that my parents and sister and great Texan friend won't be there to toast the year out and play some innocent games! It's a nagging tug at my heart strings. Double tug actually, because I know that they would not care if my house were clean (nor would I--duh, I have 3 little kids) and they would just start baking--my to-do list would include hittin the whiskey and throwin on a little Jimmy Buffett Christmas. For fun, not necessity.

Be of Good Cheer
Here's the good stuff. I am so blessed! I have the three wackiest, busiest and crazy-funny kids! Yesterday, at the end of the sermon, our pastor was letting us know that he didn't think there would be any coffee due to the winter storm (there were only about 20 of us who were able to make it). Abby shows up in the doorway with a pot of coffee at exactly that moment and says, "Nope, I've got the coffee right here. We've just got to wait for Adam to bring the cups." To be sitting in church with my daughter saving the day with a steaming pot of coffee in the middle of the service made me laugh so hard I cried.
I also love all of the Christmas artwork. It hangs from my patio window, is layered on my refrigerator as each piece fights to be seen, and is taped to bedroom doors, walls, and trees. It hides everywhere too--like a terrific hide and seek partner. Spring cleaning is very different at my house than it ever used to be!
Adam decided to make a new store tag for his teddy bear. So he found a Sharpie and wrote, "gotta get a gund" on an entire piece of paper and superglued it to the bear's butt--leaving super glue and Sharpie on my WHITE countertop. During that same 1 1/2 hours that I was gone getting a massage, the baby decided to eat a dishwasher detergent packet. Luckily, Paul thought to call Poison Control(ladies, it is a good idea to put those bright green little stickers on every telephone in the house)--as Charley spontanaeously vomited the contents of the packet out. How did they gain access to the Sharpie, super glue, and detergent? Mom wasn't there. Some babysitters are better than others...you can train husbands all you want, but if they are determined to be the hands off, er, I mean, laid back variety, you have to grow patience beyond belief.
Ok, back to the good... I am happy to FINALLY have found a church I love. The people are so nice and inviting. Many of our friends go to the church, but even the people I didn't previously know called me by my first name after the first visit. I love it--and I have been trying out churches for years! It is a wonderful, rare gift to have found a place that is extremely family-friendly and warm and inviting and modern, yet quite traditional. Plus, the pastor gives a strong, unpretentious sermon every week! Apparently, those are all of the things I was looking for!! I can see myself going to this church for the rest of my life. And here's another thing--I started just going by myself with the kids because Paul was turned off to church in general by his Catholic up-bringing, but he is coming too! Which is a HUGE relief because quite frankly it is rather odd for a married woman with three young kids to go to church alone. Though I am not holding my breath about him being a regular. I am committed to having this church family for me and my kids, regardless of whether he comes or not.

Oh, there is so much good! Before break, my students turned in their pieces of fiction, and most of them are really good with quite a bit of variety and thought into them. Hallelujah I say, Hallelujah!! They are becoming adept at being writing coaches to each other. I am so proud! For those of you who teach, you know what this means!!

Overall, I am happy to be able to provide traditions for my kids--the tree, the hot chocolate holiday lights drives, the little parties here and there, and even the family meals. I am praying for a little grace and a lot of patience to make it through my moments of weakness. If you are a praying person, feel free to throw me on that list. I only need it through the 24th...=)

Today, I am taking my kids to a bowling birthday party and we are going to do more baking. It is a good day! And, even if you are enduring the pre-Christmas crazies like myself, I hope this holiday season is wonderful for all of you too!

Ho Ho Ho!!

I Can't Believe This Feeling!!

I have five minutes until my class comes in, and I feel that I MUST write this down somewhere....my classroom sits right outside of THE polling place for Ionia. All I do is open my door and I am looking at who's in line to cast their ballot. Most of the people in line I know--friends I grew up with, co-workers, family, parents of students, the cashier from Fred's...they are all here!

Yes, there is a special solidarity that unites me with all of the voters in our town. We have decided that our voice matters, and thus chosen to stand up and be counted. As a woman, I will vote responsibly every single chance I get. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, Sojourner Truth, and all the others did not fight for naught--I get that. However, what especially intrigues me today is that we are voting in a responsible, hard-working, young black man who is going to take this country to new heights!!

To be continued...

Halloween Rules! Or, what is my goal here?

I started this blog this past summer, nearly four months ago now. Incredibly, I still have no real idea what my focus is with it. Initially, it was to do something different for the RCWP log report. Then, it made wild topic swings from my kids to my students to my inner thoughts, and random typing all the way...today I have decided that it will always be this sort of "snapshot of necessity" for me. My only goal is to keep writing in multitudes of ways, and this helps me do that ( a little bit). On top of that people are reading it occasionally. Giddyup!

So, here are some disconnected things in my head today:

1. This week's TIME magazine features 10 Questions with Boone Pickens. My husband, Paul, is featured the author of the first question!! Yeah!! He is an interesting guy. Last year, he had his class on the Today show, they were featured in Al's Book Club.

2. I love Halloween! I carved three pumpkins yesterday--a spider in a web, a pirate skull, and a Sparty head.

3. I am happy to be done with Parent Teacher Conferences, the MEAP and being sick. WOOHOO!

4. I wrote with my kids last weekend. Mostly, I wrote what they said. It makes me laugh, so I'm linking it for your pleasure. Wait, I can't figure out how to link it! Sorry. I'll attach that when I learn...

Remember John Dewey?

I remember in my MACT Master's classes learning in the Deweyan way (I know that I messed that up...) You know what I mean, though? This is where we listen to all sides of an issue without judging--truly hearing as many perspectives as possible, with each having validity? I am still mesmerized by this learning style. In many, many ways it seems like a TRUE way to learn history, to explore literature, and to communicate on issues that matter.

As a teacher, it is really hard to honor Dewey and critical literacy (which I am guessing he would love) and have to be accountable for a zillion standards, MEAP test scores, homework, grades, etc. Throw into that pot apathetic students and parents who are, after following their child's progress for 8 yrs. or more, displeased and possibly defensive. I feel more like a dictated dictator--a robot some days...when all I want to do is explore literature and writing with my kids, and maybe have a little fun on the way. I want them to learn in authentic, enticing ways. I want them to learn to be critical thinkers. To not always just follow the current, but to stand out as an individual. I often feel like I have my hands tied. What do you do when some kids are at a lower el. level and others could conquer high school standards glowingly? In 55 min. a day, that is a real struggle.

Don't get me wrong. I love, love teaching still. I have hope that our educational system will flourish. I just had a tough week. I am reeling with frustration. I want families to be stronger. I know that no family is perfect, but how do you convey to parents that if they don't talk to their kids, tell them they are beautiful and strong and glorious, tell them they are a force to be reckoned with, and that the world is a better place because they live in it--no one else will? How do I teach my standards when some children are so broken? Where do I start?

Good News!! (Read this post with feeling--like a deep, deep-voiced dude on a commercial).

I felt like I was falling behind. I was the last one left who hadn't yet begun a class blog. And then, the moment to end all moments...dun dun dun dun....I now unveil to you... the beginnings of a blog!!!!

Announcing the grand opening of www.mrsfrostwrites.blogspot.com !!! Visit it, love it, recommend things for it, and let me know what you do that works(so I can copy)!!

I went to the MCTE Autumn Assembly and picked up this STELLAR idea from Barry Lane--my new friend (see picture). Check out this YouTube video (Monty Pythons--Ministry of Silly Walks), then encourage your kids to do a silly walk that "fits" a character in the book. For example, Romeo and Juliet would be two people stabbing themselves, etc. I also heard from Robbyn and Nick VanFrankenhuyzen, and other cool educators from around the state. Even Barack Obama was there (well, he stayed the previous night there actually)!
I learned a little more about Native American culture, and encourage you to go to www.oyate.org --this site critiques books and more from the Native American perspective.

I also attended a wonderful demonstration about the value of painting in writing. I'll talk more about that later...

Finally, I want to give a shout-out to Miss Penny Lew!!!! I began your "trip" lesson today and discovered that my students create the most interesting characters ever!!! I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for a wonderful day!!!

Gotta Love Weekends!

We spent Saturday at the Fall Fest, and had a terrific time.
plants, firefighters, search and rescue, bubbles, face paint

Adam said, "If our school ever caught on fire, I would call 911. They would drive the fire truck over and use their hose. I would tell them to bring marshmallows too. We could have s'mores." Ha!!

Week 3--I WILL Keep Writing!!

I am using a slightly modified version of the reading log sheet that was offered on our listserv several weeks ago and have decided I love it!! It asks them to find words they don't know, metaphors, similes, and asks questions to promote active, productive thinking as they read. The only thing is, my kids really struggle with finding metaphors...so I found a neat little ditty on grammargirl.com that served as another mini-lesson. Don't know if it helped, but I will on Monday! If you know of any other sites that might help me teach my students how to locate metaphors in their novels, please feel free to rush those links ASAP!!! I am desperate!!

We also did Janet's neighborhood map activities. I can say that I am happy that Denise threw in the questions about multiple homes/blended families to our discussion. I think I saved a lot of confusion and sadness by telling the students to add a second map if necessary. One girl told me again the next day that she was very happy I allowed two maps. Her mom's house is beautiful and is emotionally sound. Her dad has a single-wide trailer, multiple girlfriends, and up to 7 people living there at a time. We put the map and the story starters in our writer's notebooks and will add to them as we go. I thought it would be a nice way to have all of these memories fresh for whatever theme is given on the MEAP, and it will be particularly helpful to have a big list of topics when we do our memoir unit this winter.

MEAP Review is not the way I would prefer to start my year. It is laborious, time-consuming, painful, and not the best way to introduce myself as a teacher. It is also necessary. This week, we worked on "Writing from Knowledge and Experience" pieces, which we will finish early next week. I decided, in an effort to make the writing task fun, some kids will make podcasts of their work next week to put on my school website...

Besides teaching, I parent. This week my angels started a new round of swim classes, Girl Scouts, and more. On the 17th, they had school pictures, and Adam (remember, he is only in Kdg.) woke up, put on his new duds, and ran in to announce, "The ladies are gonna lo-ove this, mom!" Apparently, he liked his little Kenneth Cole sweater vest and pinstripe pants. And morphed into a teenager as he pulled each pant leg on!

Off to the neighborhood party and football game! Enjoy your week!

Week 2--Reality Sets In

Wow! This week was busy! Since it still is, and I am determined to keep up with this, I will just do lists:
The Good:

• I organized a school-wide good deed. We gave one of my favorite teachers a gift card to pay for gas. I just love this guy! Talk about dedication!! He drives 40 miles for radiation every morning, teaches every afternoon, and coaches too! He's a favorite among kids--mostly b/c he is so kind and real.
  
• Most of my students seem to be motivated to read and write. They also work well with partners. This just makes me smile!
• We survived the first week of MEAP review!

The Bad:

• Reading levels seem to be lower than last year.

The Ugly:

• I am struggling with which book reports to assign my various classes, the new technology that isn't allowing some kids access to the computer, and with the lack of time!
• I'm planning to take my kids to the State game tomorrow, but my hubby just told me that we are supposed to get 3-4 inches of rain. At least we are not taking the baby. Can you say WET?
  

Week 1--Post RCWP Teaching

I am so excited to finally get to see how my teaching has transformed since the RCWP! I am proud to say that we are using the Letters to the Next President idea in 7th grade. Many of my kids expressed delight in the idea of actually writing the President. Here's the lowdown. Most of my kids are too young to participate in the contest, so instead of entering, we are going to come back to this piece whenever we can over the next few months to revise and clarify the letters. My plan is to send them out as soon as the President is inaugurated--all 90 letters full of rich, wonderful voices expressing good wishes, concerns, and hopes from citizens too young to vote.
The dual goals of this piece are unique too--as we mine ideas, conference, and share, students will learn about each other in (ideally) valuable, intelligent ways. In the past, I have spent lots of time at the beginning of the year going over norms, expectations, blah, blah, blah. This year I decided to just do that the first two days exclusively, then discuss the expectations as we need them. I am hoping that this will alleviate a lot of the repetition and boredom at the beginning of the year (for both the kiddos and myself). It will also give me a way to model writing for a purpose and the process in general. Because the inauguration is months away, it will allow for them to see how a piece can REALLY grow in rich, meaningful ways over the course of time (and many revisions).

Already, they have listed things such as alternative energy, mental health, building strong families, and major economic issues. I imagine I'll post some--maybe through podcasting. My guess is that the kids will pay more attention to the presidential race now that they have a role in it. I also see this as a way to use the critical literacy questions to examine community opinions, campaign ads, and media pieces of the candidates. Of course, this is in addition to preparing for the MEAP and our regularly scheduled curricula!

I thought about my fellow TC's a lot this week. How did your first week go??

PS--Two things I am attuned to since the RCWP:
1. I take note of names I like for characters. I have two students that have given me permission to use theirs someday--Jack Lindgren and Levi Dunn. Neat, huh?
2. Good, true, funny, unbelievable quotes that stick with me. Try these, "No, you can't use the drumstick to clean your ear out," or "Stephen, you can't have the Lazyboy and the fan!" The first one is obviously one I said to a new kid who brought the wrong tools to English, and the second I said to a boy who was sitting in our "fancy" chair, hogging the fan on our extremely hot 2nd day of school. The one that is not something forced out of me is WAY better(said with 100% sincerity), "Mrs. Frost, how much of my homework can my mom do for your class?"

Damn! I Am A Writer (Finally)!

If it is possible, I want to know how to do all the things life has to offer. I started in on Facebook, and lost track of my blog. I just have to say that is incredibly addictive. I began my page at the end of July, found some friends and reconnected, then found some more old friends and reconnected, and I believe this will occur until I die. So, it's not just fun to chat, but you also get to have neat apps like Virtual Bookshelf, the Lil Green Patch(which saves the rain forest), and other weird and fun things. I tend to send drinks and flowers to my friends way too much, and I apologize for that, sort of. Except in order to save trees, I have to send flowers...

I also meant to peel the last bit of wallpaper this summer, but that will have to wait. It just doesn't sound fun, so I decided to stick to what I love. Needless to say, my stairway and hall might have some fancy 60's stuff up there until I force my children to do it someday.

Finally, I want to tell my RCWP friends what I am up to. So, I have been pouring over Ralph Fletcher, Nancie Atwell, Anne Lamott, and others these last few weeks to just be a better teacher (damnit!) this year....all of this excitement for my 7th graders when out of the blue our district posted a new position--Literacy Coach! Holy Cow! My heart pounded. My head raced! My pudgy sausage fingers typed up a little cover letter and sent it! NOW I AM GETTING READY FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF TWO DIFFERENT JOBS KNOWING THAT ONE OF THEM I WILL NOT BE DOING!

I guess interviews aren't until next week, so I will be in a little time crunch at the beginning of the year if I get it...needless to say, I am a busy gal.

OOPS! Got to talk about the kids. Adam starts kindergarten in the fall. He's come a LONG way from those early days in the NICU. Charley got his first haricut last Friday--my little sweetie. Abby is simply amazing. I hope you all get to meet her soon.

Good Luck getting ready for the year!

It's my Birthday--7/27/77!

I chose to celebrate my birthday, as I have now 31 times, with a new experience. We took our kids to Millenium Park in GR for a soaking good time, which it was. They have a splash pad for the kiddos, which is really a big mat with 100's of ways to get wet. I loved it! There is also a little beach on a lake in the middle of nowhere--baby Charley loved the lake and hated the splash pad!

My husband made Baked Alaska for dessert (white cake with strawberry ice cream filling and meringue topping), and we played UNO with the kids to round out the night. Nothing fancy, but a good time for sure!

I Miss the RCWP. I Really Do.

Ok, guys. I am sitting here at the crack of dawn, writing. I already started my purple journal, because DIAAW! Funny how something I wished I had "even just a little time for" several weeks ago has become all I want to do....anyhow, I must dry my tears now. Mojito beckons.
I created my first podcast!!! It is at the bottom of our peeps wiki. Coincidentally, I am pictured just above it, and even look like I am reading something as serious as this piece. So, you don't have to use your imagination (Thanks to whomever posted that pic!)!

Mojito--dedicated to the wonderful, wacky women I wrote with on Marathon Day: Suzanne S., Suzie Gordon, Penny Lew and Susie Phillips, through deep belly laughs at the intro, inspired me to finish the damn thing. Finally, to the rest of the cohort for being such a terrific audience at the dinner and the four weeks that came before it.

Love,
Christina

Killin' Time...

Hey RCWP folks! It has been a true joy spending my summer with you all. Now that we're almost done, how will you spend your summer?

I will be here, sweating and trying to keep my kids from overheating as they run from ride to ride. The world has changed in many ways, but the Free Fair still is a huge part of Ionia, MI!

Did you know?

I thought this would be a fun post to start...please add any odd or otherwise interesting info that you know...

1. Pringles are only 42% potato product. Click here for more.

2. www.freekibble.com was started by a 12-year-old girl to help feed dogs at her local animal shelter--she patterned it after www.freerice.com. Free Rice donates 20 grains of rice for every definition you guess correctly. You can play as many times a day as you want--feed the world, baby! Free Kibble, on the other hand, limits you to just one question day and the kibble is donated whether you are right or wrong.

3. An espresso has less caffeine than a coffee? No kidding!

RCWP Log Report

Pre-Institute Chow: An amazing egg dish and freakishly delicious white chocolate cherry cookies(see recipe in comment section) by the thoughtful TC.....HOLLY DORNBUSH!!! THANKS HOLLY!!!

9:00 Janet's (decaffeinated) call to order: PANIC FOLKS! This is coming down to the wire!

9:05 Troy? Troy? Paul? Helloooo....Awww thanks to Janet(channeling David Sedaris) for leading us in the writing prompt for Sacred Writing Time.

9:15 Write People!

9:30 Working with kids--viewing the Tech Camp's digital stories and offering 2 stars and a wish(plus dealing with the personal state of shock I was left with after admiring "Delta Through the Decades" iMovie by tech wizard, David).

9:55 Tired of Making Choices? Want your life to be planned out with the roll of the die? Suzanne S. has the website for you! Visit: www.ind.ecisions.net

9:56 Portfolio Buddies/Work Time(aka. The End is Near, Cram Now I)
Friendly Portfolio Reminder:
4 writing pieces, with MAPS
1 writing reflection
4 book reviews, critiques, whatever
1 reading reflection
1 teaching demo, reflection, and related CRTD's
1 self-assessment cover letter
1 letter telling the coaches the grade they should give you(be creative here =))
....and a partridge in a pear tree.

11:45 Penny's Rockin' Log Report

11:50 Lunch--Yes, we really were set loose earlier than scheduled!

1:05 Tech Sharing--Mitch so kindly added our resources to the wiki!

2:00 Potty Time

2:07 Blood Pressure meds, anyone? Business Meeting--there was talk of the cash bar, read-around, and other "celebratory" stuff. Oh, and we chose a fancy shmancy entree for that night. No, we did not attempt to frame the constitution, but we began the quote selection for the T-shirts...no fights here.

2:20 Hammer Time! Portfolio Work Session (aka The End is Near, Cram Now II)

3:30 Leave, with a teensy weensy to-do list. Good Night!

Major announcements:
1. E-mail your final anthology piece by 9 am (Monday) to the editorial board. Chris will stand behind you and wait until you finish if it is not in on time!!!!
2. Dee offered her house for out-of-towners wishing to dress up between the Institute and the dinner next Thursday. Thanks Dee!

Here I am!!

Welcome to my very first blog!! My goal for this blog is to invite comments, ideas, and posts from everyone so that I can become "blog-literate" by the time school starts. SO PLEASE--type away!