Happy Thanksgiving!

Wow! November 25th already. The first real break of the school year. So much has happened this year since August. We've read and learned new things in our classroom. Friendships have formed and dissolved. We lost one of our classmates to a terrible accident.

On this Thanksgiving morning, I am so grateful for so many things in my life - at home and at school. I'm grateful for my children and all that I learn from them every single day. I'm grateful for each of my students at school - all of you add a richness to our team by just being you. I hope everyone is enjoying a restful, fun Thanksgiving break, and that you come back ready to take on the world.

Happy Thanksgiving!
Ms. Hagen

Sunrise

What is it about the sunrise that inspires poetry? I sit most mornings sipping a hot mug of coffee and watch the sun come up. It is a moment I love each morning. Today the sun is nestled in a deep blanket of clouds that are casting a purple hue across the sky. The sun is still hidden behind the trees, but soon will come bursting out lighting up the whole sky. It's quite a way to start your day if you've never tried it. Everyday I get a reminder that a fresh start is here. No matter what mistakes I feel I made yesterday, or what happened, today is another chance to go out in the world and shine a little light on others. I guess teaching is the same for me. A new school year is another chance to grow and learn, to help students be more than they were the day before. My own personal sunrise.

Happy Tuesday!

Ms. Hagen

I'm back at school!

So, today was the first day back for teachers. We spent the morning in a whole faculty meeting, had lunch and spent the afternoon in a team meeting - mostly planning our first day together. It was good to think about the new school year and what I want to achieve as a teacher, but the most exciting part is yet to come - you guys! I love to see everyone again and to take on the challenge again of making us all grow as readers and writers. Tomorrow morning is all mine, so that's what I'm doing, putting some polishing touches on portfolios, Writer's Notebook stuff, independent reading, and some other classroom goodies. Then in the afternoon it's off to a district language arts meeting.

Don't forget to stop by and say hi Wednesday at schedule pick-up! I'm very excited to see you all!

Happy Last Couple of Days Off For You!
Ms. Hagen

The party was a success!

Today was the big party. I have to admit that I was a bit worried. Yes, I teach classrooms full of middle school students and don't find that scary (mostly!); however, I was a bit intimidated by all these little kids. I imagined them all swinging from ceiling fans, drawing with markers on the walls, and tackling the dogs. I was so wrong! They were awesome!!! They played pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey, Pokemon Bingo, and made Pokemon masks. Then we ate lunch - hot dogs, chips and grapes. They played a bit, and then we had cake and ice cream. Suddenly parents were arriving, and we hadn't even opened presents! They all said they had fun, and my son thought it was "awesome," so I'll take that as success.

Happy Saturday!

Ms. Hagen

Wrapping it up

So, this is it, for me. The last day of summer vacation before I start meetings and official school preparations on Monday. I met yesterday with Mr. Scholten and Mrs. Townsend about some integrated projects we want to do with the computers - even though Mrs. Townsend won't be with us in the library :(. I've also been writing about our Writer's Notebook, independent reading, projects. All that good stuff. I'm excited to start reading and writing with you again.

The only part that I'm trying to work out is how NOT to make our school year feel hectic, rushed and stressful. Yes, there is more to do, but how can we all feel less overwhelmed? How can we enjoy the processes of reading, writing and thinking without the stress of time, grades, and getting it all done? Everything I've learned this summer reminds me that our brains learn best when we're happy, not when we're upset, stressed or downright angry.

Well, I don't have any answers for all that right now, so I'll keep working on it. I'm sure while I'm doing laundry, vacuuming, and all that today, my brain will be busy. That's how it usually goes.

Enjoy today. Relax. Have fun. Smile as much as you can.

Happy Friday!
Ms. Hagen

Back in the classroom!

So, today is the only day this week that I'm not chauffeuring children to appointments or anywhere else, so I'm getting to work in our classroom. It's coming along quite nicely! I've got some blank bulletin boards ready for your creativity; I posted the Mark Twain and Truman nominees so we have some book ideas right off the bat; and I put up chart paper for Writer's Notebook ideas. I'm having fun with lots of colorful, pretty things! Then there's my desk... well, school doesn't start for a while, right? :)

You'll have to check out my school website to see the new theme I picked. I brightened things up a bit!

OK, I guess my break time is over... maybe I'll tackle that desk. Maybe.

Happy Wednesday!
Ms. Hagen

Book Club

I went to my book club last night, and wow! what a lively discussion we had about Await Your Reply. People were talking over each other and had so much to say. We were all figuring out the ending of the book, and then tracing back to other parts to make sense of those. And, as always with a good discussion, people brought up ideas I hadn't considered before. It stretched my mind and made me excited for the author to come to Columbia.

Our next book... Mockingjay! It's coming on August 24th! I am SO excited to read it!!

Happy Tuesday!
Ms. Hagen

Soaking Up Experiences

One thing I know about writing is that to be a writer, you have to live. You have to do things, notice things, and think about things in order to have something to say. This is one reason I love summer. I'm outside a ton more than usual; I'm with my kids a ton more than usual; and so I keep tucking away things to write about all summer long. Yesterday was no exception...

It was really hot , so we decided to go to the pool with my sister and my nephew. #1 son swims like a fish and loves having my nephew to do "boy stuff" with. This frees up the girls to putter around at their own speed near me. I just leaned back and soaked in that cool water. It was such relief from the heat. About an hour and a half into our stay, #1 son appeared next to me with a horrified look on his face. "What?" I asked with a sinking feeling in my stomach. He just opened his mouth and stared, unsure if he should cry or not. His new front tooth stared at me, the one that we waited for 18 months to come in because he knocked out the baby tooth on day care's wall and another child's head. A chunk was missing. Right down in the corner, a whole piece, gone. "Are you OK?" I asked, but thinking, "Don't panic. He's fine and you'll upset him if you make a big deal out of this." Then a flood of tears and his six-year-old body crumpling into mine.

Today I'll call the dentist and see what can be done. Hopefully some bonding or filing or something fairly minor.

So, while I soak in life, my brain filling with stories to write later on, I'm wondering how many stories my son's body will hold by the time he's grown... a scar here, a chipped tooth there, his own personal notebook of sorts. Everyone has their own way, I guess.

I hope you too are soaking in life in all the best, safest possible ways.

Happy Monday!

Ms. Hagen

Guest Speaker

Yesterday I got to go to my girls' daycare class and be the guest speaker. They are learning about jobs (which is a relief because previously my daughters wanted to be fairy princesses, and now are considering nursing or teaching!), so I got to tell them about being a teacher. I also shared Amelia's Notebook, talked about our "big kids" Writer's Notebook and gave them each a spiral of their very own. Let me tell you, I have NEVER witnessed such excitement. Chubby little hands grabbed their notebooks, and they RAN to the table to begin writing and drawing. There was much yelling, "Miss Lynn! Miss Lynn! Come and see what I made!" My heart was beating with joy!

Now 7th graders, I think we can learn something here. If four and five year olds can show some excitement for new Writer's Notebooks, how about you? You can do it! Please... just a little? You don't have to hug me or yell with delight, but how about a smile...or at least no major scowling or eye rolling? :)

Your very appreciative teacher,
Ms. Hagen

Finished the book

I couldn't hold off any longer. I finished Await Your Reply last night to see what was going on. It turned out to be a lot more complicated and a lot more simple than I thought. It was far more complicated in the way the plot was structured - it's not linear like a lot of books, one thing happening after another, but layered and intertwined in ways you won't realize until the end. That's the complexity (so if you don't like a bit of uncertainty - like "What's going on here??" - you might not enjoy this book now). I won't tell you the part that's more simple than I thought. That would give away too much.

The creepiness changed too. It was less creepy in that some of my wonderings were resolved in a better way than I thought. There were no ghosts or killers in the horror book sense. But it was also more creepy about the internet and all the criminal activities regarding money and indentity that can happen .

My book group meets Monday night and I can't wait to go! There is so much to talk about in this book because at the end, you have to make a lot of inferences and you also have to decide for yourself what will happen next for the main characters. I can't wait to hear others' views on all this!

While this book really is an adult novel, there are a few of you that would be intrigued by it. If you really want to try to unravel a complicated package and are willing to hang in there, it was quite good. There's a bit of strong language, just a warning, but not a lot. The c0ol thing is that since it's our One Read book, the author will be in here this fall and there will be a lot of activities hosted by the library.

Next on my list... Gone by Michael Grant. It's one of the Truman Award nominees, and all I know so far is that all the adults disappear! I'll let you know!

Happy Friday!

Ms. Hagen

Creepy book...

So, I'm reading Await Your Reply by Dan Chaon. It's Columbia's One-Read book, so there are lots of copies at the public library if you're interested. Creepy and weird, is all I have to say. It's giving me weird dreams, and I'm totally wondering what's really going on. It has an amazing hook at the beginning and there are three different stories going on. As the novel has progressed, they've gotten more similar. I know they're going to connect; just not sure how. You all need to read it because there's a TON to talk about!

Happy Thursday!
Ms. Hagen

My Favorite Time of the Year Has Arrived!!!

I know it sounds crazy, but it's true. I love August. It is my all-time, very favorite month of the year. Really. Yes, my birthday is this month, but that thrill left with my 20s. I love August because of SCHOOL! I love the leisurely days of getting my classroom clean, reorganized, and adding some new touches. I love the smell of the waxed floors, especially the gym. I love seeing other teachers who I haven't seen all summer and getting caught up. I love planning lessons when I have time to really think things through. I love to load new fonts on to my computer, to create handouts and fliers. I love to write in my new lesson plan book, recording the events of the year that I know about. Everything is so fresh and clean.

And, then, finally, at long last, the day before school arrives. Butterflies invade my stomach in nervous anticipation. Before 6th grade, I usually don't sleep very well, but 7th grade I do. Then comes the first morning of school. I open my door, flip on the lights and make sure everything is ready. Then I head down to the office hall to wait for the first kids to appear. This will be my 13th year of doing that at Smithton, and I'm just as excited for this year as I always am. I guess that's how I know I'm meant to be a teacher.

Adding to my excitement this year is that I will have TWO kids in school this year. Number 1 son will be a big first grader, and Number 1 daughter goes to kindergarten. I guess because I am the middle child too, and because she is SO much like me, this is really special. I know she'll love school in ways her brother loves recess. She'll want to go school supplies shopping in July just like I do, and she'll plan out every outfit a hundred times before the first day of school.

Keep enjoying your days off, or if you're like me, feel free to get excited! Do what makes you happy for the next couple weeks before the crazy pace of school hits us all!

(I promise I'm still doing summer stuff too! Oakland Pool is our new favorite spot!)

Happy August!

Ms. Hagen

P.S. The picture is from our deck last night! Quite exciting!

Relaxing

I feel like this big buy that we saw at the zoo a couple weeks ago. I made it! Turned in my portfolio on Wednesday with all my writing, reflections, book review and an action plan for the school year. We all then went out to Cafe Berlin for a yummy lunch celebration - must remember to put strawberries in my salad at home. Delicious!!

Today I'm going to tour the new elementary school with a friend. I'm excited to see it!

Happy Friday from a much-relieved-and-not-stressed-anymore,

Ms. Hagen

Homework...again!

Wow! I might have to stay up past 9pm tonight - presentation tomorrow and my portfolio due Wednesday!

To Do List:
1. Revise two pieces of writing
2. Write a reflection on a book I just read
3. Make copies of presentation
4. Write an overview of my portfolio.

(to do lists look happier in pink)

OK. Must stop writing to you and do my work. I am using one of your laptops (#1) and you're right. The cursor does jump around. I suspect that is because I keep bumping the mouse. My laptop has a virus; can't wait to get it back! Although perhaps if I added some cute stickers to this one I'd be more in love...

Happy Monday from a frazzled Ms. Hagen

School supplies

We have to go shopping today for a birthday present for one of the kids' friends today. I've been trying to avoid the school supplies sections of the stores, but I think today might be the day. It is always so exciting to see the new binders, notebooks and folders. Shelf after shelf of paper in all varieties, clean, new and fresh. And the pens. Ahhhh. Row upon row of new ink in a variety of delectable colors. I'm smiling just thinking about it. Maybe I can just peek a little. After all, I will have TWO kids in school this year; I should definitely get prepared. Where do we go? Walmart? Target? Hmmm. And then there are places like Michael's, Hobby Lobby and the Dollar Store. I think my heart rate just jumped a little. I'll let you know what I find. :)

Happy Sunny Saturday!
Ms. Hagen

Amazing week!

Ahhh. I have just spent four days in heaven. Well, heaven for me, anyway. I have had my first week of class in the Missouri Writing Project, and it has been incredible!

We start out each day journaling - our facilitators (teachers who are learning right along side us)provide topics, or we can write about whatever we want. What a luxury to have 10 minutes of time to just write without feeling guilty that I should be taking attendance, checking in with absent kids or doing some other task for school.

Then someone presents the daily minutes, where they review what we did in class the day before in a fun format. There was talk about how this practice might work in the classroom. Maybe a weekly overview?

The main part of the day is where someone presents a Round Table discussion/writing lesson. So far we've done interviews and written oral histories, we revised common stories and revised them to send different messages (I did Sleeping Beauty and had the princess rescue the prince), and today we did several fun activities - you'll have to wait until school starts to see them.

The biggest highlights so far have come during our afternoon activities where we have done things to bring social justice into the classroom. One of them I'm going to save for school, but I'll tell you about today's. We went out to Lenoir, to just sit and talk with someone who lives there. I was really nervous about this activity. I kept imagining interviewing a person who couldn't hear me even though I was yelling, and that person being very angry about the whole thing. My experience was NOTHING like that. It was amazing!

I met a woman named Norma who I'm guessing is in her 80s. She used to be a teacher in a one-room school house in rural Missouri, and then she got married and traveled the world. Her stories of the travels and projects that she and her husband did over the years were so interesting. I was transported to India, Liberia and the Czech Republic. And, it didn't stop when they retired. She and her husband continued helping people in the Appalachians, in Arizona and even in Alaska. I was so inspired to travel and lead as rich of a life as she has. Now I will write up my interview notes into a story. I am so grateful for this experience and can't wait to hear everyone else's stories too.

My last little nugget is that this week we read and talked about the book Life is a Verb (you know that book by the woman [Patti Digh] who loves Johnny Depp as much as I do?). I hadn't quite finished it, so I read the rest this week and it was SO GOOD!!!!

I am loving my summer. I've been writing and reading and having great conversations with friends, and swimming and lounging and painting and loving my kids, and just being happy. I hope you too are having a rejuvenating summer. Ms. Selby, our new principal, sent us an email this week saying she hoped we were resting and having fun because she needs us back 100%. I extend my wishes to you and say also, I need you 100% too. Bring your experiences, your noticings and your wonderful brains. It's WAY to early to say I can't wait to see you, so I won't. Live, laugh and have fun!
Ms. Hagen

What to write about

Happy Sunday morning to everyone! I'm a little worried that our pool plans may be put on hold the way the sky looks this morning. It was pretty an hour ago when a pink glow spread across the blue. Now we just have gray dotted with darker gray, and I can hear the far-off rumbles of thunder.

Tomorrow starts the Missouri Writing Project. I was having nervous heart palpitations this morning thinking about it. The class will be full of people I know, which is great, except when it comes to sharing writing with them. If it's a bunch of strangers, then who cares if my writing is good or not? But with my friends, I feel a lot of pressure to write something meaningful. You know about this, don't you? It's the same pressure you all feel when sharing your writing in class. It's nerve-wracking!!

So, here's what I did to help myself. I sat with my journal (just like Dumbledore's penseive) and wrote down a list of topics I care about. Then I sat and listed possible formats I could write in. Here's my list:

• adopting needy kids from other countries as "better" than adopting needy U.S. kids
• school lunch
• materialism, consumerism
• advertising
• minimalism
• owning stuff vs. stuff owning you
• downsizing
• our new house
• my kids - the 5-year review
• my kids' birth mom
• raising kids: competing theories of how to raise "good" kids
• what are "good" kids???
• the negative impact of rewards & punishments

And, then my list of types of writing:

• poems
• essays
• articles
• short stories
• descriptive pieces
• letters
• editorials
• blog posts
• newsletter articles

Look at that! Totally enough material for class. After all, it's ONLY 8 DAYS LONG! I felt so much better after seeing these lists. Writing does that for me - it pulls the fear out of me and lets me look realistically at whatever is scaring me. Usually, I realize it's not as bad as I think. Or, if I see that it is bad, at least I can begin to see a path to a solution.

Happy Sunday to everyone!

Ms. Hagen

MWP Assignment #1

Monday I begin the Missouri Writing Project, the 2nd class I'm taking. It's focus is on writing for social justice, and my first assignment is to write a poem, based on "I, Too, Sing America" by Langston Hughes. I think I have several poems of this style floating in my head, but here's the first one:

I, Too, Paint America

I, too, paint America.

I bought the nice house
With neutral beige walls,
A Design to Sell paragon.

But I dreamed
Of airy blues and greens,
Pops of fuchsia and orange.

Tomorrow
I'll take my brush
And personalize my home
Nobody'll dare
Say to me,
"Anyone could live here"
Then.

Besides,
They'll see my home is alive,
Not a set behind the mask of a television screen,
And be ashamed.

I, too, am America.

Lynn Hagen
July 2010

So, I'm very excited about this class, the prospect of two weeks living as a writer, creating everyday. Yes, it's a little daunting too - that little voice in my head saying, "Is it good enough?" keeps creeping in. But, you know what? I'm going to step on that little bug. I'm going to live out loud in my writing whether it's good enough or not.

Happy live-out-loud Friday! Enjoy each moment of this day!
Ms. Hagen

Yes, I'm still here!

Ah, vacation! Four days of sun-filled bliss. We rented a condo down at the Lake and swam and played outside and had tons of fun. The kids LOVED the pool at the condo, which most mornings we had all to ourselves. They chased each other around, jumped off the sides and played for hours (I read The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, which I thoroughly enjoyed for many reasons!). We also went to Big Surf and had a blast. They swam in the little four-foot pool with the green and orange slides (#1 son and my nephew), and the girls paddled around the steps (thank goodness for life jackets!) The wave pool was also a surprising hit. The boys dove straight into the wave, were knocked down repeatedly, came up laughing and dove in for more. They were not the surprise! The princesses, who shrieked at getting their faces wet in other pools, waded out after the boys and had to be fished out, called back, and reminded repeatedly to stay safe. Go figure!! We ended our day their with ice cream treats from Sonic (a first for my crew!) and then snuggling in at our cozy condo to watch TV. My son thought he had gone to heaven!

Today the kids and I joined our daycare's field trip to the zoo in St. Louis. It was only 98 outside!! We saw tigers, zebras, monkeys, snakes, gorillas, lions, prairie dogs and so much more. The big hit was the pool of sting rays. We got there just at feeding time (little white fishies for lunch) and got to help. I thought this would be a breeze. I was instructed on how to hold the little morsel in my hand, flat along the surface of the water and just let the ray glide over my hand and suck it up. Brave Mommy would demonstrate for her children how this was done. Ha! I chickened out every time and yanked my hand back as the menacing black and gray beasts swam near (Have you seen a sting ray up close?? They're BIG and SCARY!!).

Yea, so my six-year-old fed them no problem.


Needless to say, my house is very quiet tonight. I think I have officially worn out the Hagen children; all of them are snug in their beds soundly sleeping.

Happy very exhausted Thursday!
Ms. Hagen

Tidbits!

Books: I'm almost done with Hush by Jacqueline Woodson. If you liked Zach's Lie, you'll find a lot of similarities. This is the story of a family who goes into the witness protection program because the father witnessed a murder. It really lets you feel what it would be like to wipe out your whole past when you didn't want to do that.

Next on my list - The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian by Sherman Alexie.

On the nonfiction side - Still meandering through Life is a Verb (with my kindred spirit friend Patti Digh); reading several parenting books about how to raise creative, caring, thinking children (a lot of it applies to our classroom too).

Painting: I know this isn't part of my reading/writing life, but I love to transform spaces, so I thought I'd let you know that I have painted my kitchen, familyroom and bedroom. As daughter #1 said, "No more desert! Now we're living in the sky!" Yes, the tan is gone, replaced by an airy light blue. I'd show you pictures, but Sally Princess Hagen chewed up my camera cord, so I have to get a new one.

All this transformation at home (and the book Journal Bliss) has me thinking about transforming our classroom. What if I took down all those store-bought posters and we used your art / writing instead? You made beautiful poems last spring. I think it would be better. More us.

I hope you're all having a fabulous vacation. Seven days left of summer school and then freedom for all! Enjoy!
Ms. Hagen

Technology...

Technology reduces empathy and dehumanizes us. Just read that recently. What do you think?

Capturing Memories - the 4th

The 4th of July was panning out like most holidays - we went to my sister's for bar-be-que; the kids played outside with their cousin while we oohed and ahhed over my niece, who is almost 4 months old. After supper we headed out to the driveway armed with packages of red, blue and green sparklers. By the 2nd box, the fear had faded and the kids were dancing around fighting off mosquitoes, being Harry Potter with magic wands, and laughing like crazy at their own silly games. The boxes dwindled and the sky paled to a soft gray. We caught a glimpse of a few neighbors' fireworks, but it was already 9:00 and time to go home.

With windows open, we drove back to our house, less than a mile away. Booms, bangs and sizzles filled the night air. The kids were in awe. They'd always been asleep by the time the real fireworks began, so tonight was magical. As we drove down our street towards home, fireworks exploded in showers of pink, green and white above the rooftops. Freak's little voice (from Rodman Philbrick's Freak the Mighty) shouting out chemical compounds as the fireworks burst in the sky, filled my head, mixing with the "Awesome!" from my backseat. The kids scrambled from the car and ran for the upstairs deck where we were treated to a spectacular display. We could see Fire in the Sky at the Hearnes Center in the background, while our neighbors provided a most impressive show. Their competing shows echoed through the night with a shower of blue off to the south, an explosion orange and green to the north, a burst of pink sparkles directly ahead. My three little cherubs shrieked in delight and clapped their pudgy hands hardly noticing the dogs who circled their feet surely thinking this excitement was for them.

With a grand finale of fireworks at Fire in the Sky and a few final bursts from our neighbors ending the show, I scooped up my babies and ushered them inside. I'm sure their dreams exploded in red, white and blue, while the echoes of bangs faded into the black night sky.

Happy 4th of July!
Ms. Hagen

Summer...

July 1st. The last day of my class. My project is done - presented yesterday. I have 8 pages left to read of my assignments, and then I have two full weeks with an open schedule - time to have fun with my kids, do some painting at my house, finish the little dirt pile in the back yard into a flower garden. Time to just go for a leisurely run, to linger over my morning coffee, time to curl up with the books I brought home from our classroom shelves.

How lucky are we to have summer vacation? I think about all those people with year-round jobs that are so busy constantly and never get a big break to recharge their batteries. They work and work, having lots of luxuries like fancy cars and big houses, but not the luxury of an afternoon at the pool just hanging out with their kids. I think about people who are living in poverty, with illness or violence in their lives, those who never get a break from the hard lives they lead, never get any kind of vacation from the burdens they carry. The worry is always there, nagging them even if they can forget it for a while.

I wonder how much richer all of our lives would be if we could somehow share the load, each of us using our talents to help our world be a place where everyone has what he or she needs and gets the summer vacation, the true relaxation, that we all need.

As I pulled books from the shelf yesterday, I wanted to find books about kids your age that will help us see the lives others live. I want to read about kids in the past, kids in the present, kids from other countries, kids from other worlds right here in the U.S. My reading list for right now includes the following: Schooled by Gordon Korman, Titanic Crossing by Barbara Williams, and Hush by Jacqueline Woodson. I think I'll start with Hush. I'll let you know how it is.

I hope you are enjoying a vacation of your own. Whatever you're doing, wherever you are, find some space to breathe this summer, to just be for a while.

Happy July!
Ms. Hagen

Extreme Guilt!!!

I know, I know! I haven't posted in 3 DAYS!!! I feel horrendously guilty over this and thought about it daily... here's what I've accomplished in all my "slacker" time since I wrote last:

1) Read The Help by Kathryn Stockett (awesome fictional Civil Rights story about black maids in Jackson, Mississippi - 444 pages!). Yep, read the whole thing over a weekend for homework!

2) Finished Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire. Holy cow! I think that may be the toughest book that I ever really read (didn't even skip any). Very complex, but it was also REALLY good.

3) Planned a unit that I will present tomorrow in class about how we're going to use our Writer's Notebook this fall (or late summer, really... less than 2 months now!). I have found some wicked cool ideas for our front cover!! Curious? Google "altered text" or "altered books" and "junk art" and you'll kind of get a little sneak peak.

So, my laundry is piled high in a crumpled heap on the dryer; my desk is a disaster (I'm sure that is no surprise at all); and I haven't blogged like I promised. BUT I have fed my brain well.

I hope everyone has had a lovely, lovely June. My class ends this week, so I'll actually have some free time. Might have to hang out at Barnes and Nobel...

Happy Tired Tuesday!
Ms. Hagen

Making our Writing Matter

Good Morning! It's still a bit dark this morning as I write this. I'm hopeful that it will turn out to be a pretty, sunny day so the kids and I can head over to the Humane Society today for a carnival fund-raiser.

The idea of helping animals is nothing new to me. Fourteen years ago, I picked out Maude, my little kitten who would drink orange juice and eat yellow rice and beans from the table when my back was turned, and Shakespeare, who was nestled a pile of sleeping puppies, from the Humane Society in Tampa. This has carried through to this year with our adoptions of Sasha, Domino and Sally. I know I've given them a home, but it's hard to really feel that I'm helping them when they bring so much joy to our lives. They're just our pets and we love them.

The critical literacy class I'm taking (which is done next Thursday) has opened my eyes to so many other needs in our world. We have spent many an afternoon looking at issues of education, poverty, power, and the consumer society we live in. On Thursday we took a field trip to St. Francis House, a hospitality house that helps men who are homeless. We watched a video on Dorothy Day and the Catholic Workers, people who dedicate their lives to helping others. Right now we're reading a book called The Help by Kathryn Stockett. The main character is just out of college back in her hometown of Jackson, Mississippi in the early 1960s. She is a writer and takes on a very dangerous project of interviewing black maids to tell their stories of working with white families. It's very risky, but she feels that maybe she can change attitudes by giving these women a voice.

That is the heart of writing - giving voices to people. Last year we focused on finding our own voices, telling our stories. I wonder how this might grow, how we can find the stories that need telling so that we too might help others through our words.

Happy Saturday!
Ms. Hagen

Writer's Notebook Cover

Writer's Notebook is on my brain!! Right now, I'm thinking about the cover. Remember last year how I required you to have a 3-ring binder with a clear, plastic cover and then we personalized our covers? This year, I want to do something similar except I want you to have more ownership over it. So, like I said yesterday, you get to choose what kind of notebook works for you (once school supplies are out in July, I'll go on a little exploring mission and give you a preview of what's available). Then we'll personalize the front cover. So far, I'm thinking about photos, words that mean something to you, stickers, that kind of thing. But what if we branched out further and took cameras out around the school and took pictures of each other for our notebooks or things we liked; or what if we created poems to put on the cover? My brain is whirring, trying to push beyond my first thoughts, so that we can create some really cool covers that we're proud of!

I think I'll get the people in my class to create their own covers so that we have lots of samples to look at! Feel free to send me your ideas!

Happy Creative Thinking Wednesday!
Ms. Hagen

Writer's Notebook

Yes, it will return this fall. Our Writer's Notebooks will be back - filled with our noticings about ourselves and our noticings about the world, and, most importantly, it will also be filled with what we notice that we believe should be different than it is now, and what we might do about that.

Next week, my final project is due for my class. I must admit that I'm nervous because besides a lot of thinking, I have not started my project. A week is not a lot of time, so today I'm committing to some serious planning. My project, I decided yesterday, will focus on our Writer's Notebook. It will start with daily writing, just like last year, but it will also be a tool to review our thinking and discover what matters to us, a springboard for bigger writing - stories, poems, essays, pamphlets, and other pieces. It will be a place to capture and examine our thoughts before talking to others about what matters to us. Ultimately, it will help us connect our lives to our world and to make plans to do something to make our world a better place.


The style of your notebook is totally your choice this year. Lat year we tried the binder, so that you'd only have one thing to bring to class. I'm not sold that it is the ultimate Writer's Notebook for all of us. If you liked the binder, go for it! Keep your Writer's Notebook (TOGETHER) in there. If you didn't, find something else that works for you - something mobile, useful, and something that you love. Maybe you find a fat, 5-subject notebook in lime green that calls your name. Maybe it's a black and white marbled composition book. Maybe it's one with Hello Kitty or a Transformer on the front! Your choice.

I know it's only June, so do you really have to start thinking about your Writer's Notebook yet? No. Live your lives fully this summer. Notice the world around you. Make it your habit to be awake, thinking people who LIVE in this fascinating world of ours!

Happy Tuesday!
Ms. Hagen

Simplify!

Happy Saturday Morning to Everyone!

As I sit here this morning in my little office space, I realize that somehow I've accumulated a lot of stuff again. It looks crowded and cluttered, which makes me feel crowded and cluttered. So, I'm going to spend some time today getting rid of some more stuff! What fun! The past two days I've simplified my schedule, slowed down so I'm not rushing around; I've tried to focus on one thing at a time. Today's I need to do the same!

Here's what my simplified focus brought me...

1. I finished the adult novel I was reading for my book club. It was not my typical read, but I found a lot of value in it. I'm not going to blog about it because it isn't something I want you to pick up out of curiosity! The next book club book is all for you!

2. I found that going over to school and sitting at the hallway table by the big window allows me to finish my homework for class in 2 hours, not the 3 1/2 it has been taking me at home (as I let the dogs in and out ... several times, answer phone calls, check email, check Facebook, get a cup of coffee, get a snack...). Single tasking with homework has made a huge difference!

3. I snuck in a little nap which made me feel refreshed and energetic so...

4. I vacuumed the whole house!

Now I'm off to single-task on the most important job I have - being a mom. The cherubs should be up soon!

Ms. Hagen

Sleepy, rainy morning

I awoke this morning from a dream that my basement was flooding and that my attic (which I don't have) was leaking buckets of water. I had also bought a baby leopard, which I was informed a bit too late, was really beyond the safe age to own a baby leopard, and that I should probably sell it quickly. As my sleepy brain came out of its haze, I realized that it was thundering, and that Sally was whining in her kennel. I looked enviously at Shakespeare who in his doggy-old-age has become blissfully hard of hearing. He was deeply asleep, unaware of an approaching storm, a howling puppy or anything else around him.

I often have the bad habit of filling my life with too much to do. I like to be busy and on the go. But days like today, when nature rolls her soft clouds into the sky and douses the world with rain, I think about the value of less to do and going slow. When I do less, I have space to ponder, to play with ideas, to listen to the thoughts in my head. I get to sit back and live the details of my life instead of watching them zoom past.

Last night we went downtown to Flat Branch Park. My kids were fascinated with the catfish and gar brought in by the conservation department. They stood and stared in wonder. They felt the smooth, wet skin of the twitching fish as the man held it in the air. They asked, "What is that?" about every detail on that fish. The same happened as we looked at a snake, frogs and the pelts of a fox and an otter. Slowed-down curious brains, soaking in the world around them.

Today instead of rushing to get as much done as I can, I vow to slow down, to revel in a long, summer day, to focus on each task purposefully. I'll watch the rain and all my little leopards playing so that I don't suddenly discover that they too are grown and now it's too late; I missed it.

Happy slowed-down Thursday!
Ms. Hagen

Class

Good Morning!
I realize I've gotten into an every other day pattern... that may continue for a while! I'm taking a class at the University, and I am doing a lot of reading daily (3+ hours). All my morning free-time isn't happening so much. I know, it all sounds like excuses! At least I didn't say the dog ate something, which around here, with two playful puppies and a mischievous cat, that is a real possibility!

So, what is all this reading I'm doing for class? The class is called Critical Literacy, which means we are studying ways reading and writing (education as a whole) should prepare students to be fully human beings, not just people who can do a job. We talked briefly about the purpose of education in our Civil Rights Unit, but I have learned so much more about what it means to be a fully alive, fully human person, who is a thinking, acting being. We've read articles and books about how to make classrooms a place of true learning for teaches and students; we've read about people who are powerful and make lots of decisions, and we've read about those who have no power, no voice in this world. And we've questioned everything - why are there so many poor people in a world that is so rich? Why don't some people have access to the same education as others in our country? Why are there standardized tests? Why do so many kids drop out of school? And so much more.

This is making me plan some interesting units of study for 7th grade. What if we did book groups that studied other countries? What if we looked at immigration into our country? What if we looked at the material/consumer culture that we live in (the culture of buying stuff)? We could also use our writing as action - poetry and stories to express what we're learning; letters to people; newspaper articles.

I want our classroom to be a real place where we all are engaged (yes, reading and writing lots) with real-world issues - we can find them in novels, articles, stories and poetry. And we can write them ourselves. Our Civil Rights Unit was just a small taste!

OK, off to read about No Child Left Behind ... now, that's excitement! HA!
Happy Tuesday!
Ms. Hagen

Book suggestions, please!

Good Morning!

This summer, I've been reading TONS of adult literature so far: articles and chapters of books for class, a fiction book for my book group, nonfiction writing books and life books, and blogs that I follow, but as of yet, I haven't read a single young adult novel. So, today I'm on a quest to find some good ones - I've put out the call on Facebook; I'm going to check the Mark Twain and Truman Awards list, and I'll look on YALSA's website (an organization that lists all different kinds of award winning books), and I'll also google young adult books to see what I can find.

My other great resource? YOU! Drop me a comment and let me know what fantastic books you're reading, or what I should avoid. I'll let you know soon what I'm finding!

"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." - Dr. Suess

Happy Sunday!
Ms. Hagen

Did I mention that 3 is my favorite number?

Good things in my life tend to come in three's. I don't plan it that way; it just seems to happen. So it should come as no real surprise that I started the process today of adopting our third dog. Yes, number THREE. I never thought in a million years that I would have any reason to own more than one dog. Shakey and I have been together for 14 years. And then came Sasha, our own little moose. And now today, the latest baby (named by my spunky Princess-in-training - child #3)...Sally. I suggested Violette. She answered (in her best Junie B. Jones voice with her hands on her hips), "Yea, but her name is Sally. Sally Princess Hagen."

So, apparently in my life, I'll keep downsizing my stuff with many trips to see my friends at Good Will. But somehow I don't think the number of fuzzy children in my life is going to shrink!

Luckily the other dogs are VERY happy. Shakespeare now has the peace and quiet he has longed for since Sasha came into our lives. And Sasha has her very own playmate who wants to romp and play just as much as she does.

Needless to say, my THREE children are also quite excited!

Happy Saturday!

Ms. Hagen

A new book to love

You all know how I love fonts on my computer, right? So, I got this new book called Journal Bliss by Violette (isn't that a lovely name?), and it's about doing an art journal, where you have words and drawings (doodles, sketches, decoration). Anyway, the part I'm on is about creating your own fanciful lettering. I remember back when I was in middle school, and probably high school too, that I loved to experiment with different handwriting styles. I'd write big, then small, loopy, then straight. And yes, I think I even did the hearts above the i's at one point (although that's a little embarrassing to admit).

Anyway, I do remember the joy of just plain old writing when I was having fun with my handwriting, so I'm going to give it a whirl. "Be free Enjoy Jump Skip sing Dance unabashed experiment be the Creative Being that you are!" says Violette. So I will!

How will you "be the Creative Being that you are" this summer? Will you write? Will you doodle? Will you come up with your own Lettering style? You might even be able to submit one as a new font! That would be cool!

Happy Writing!

Ms. Hagen

Blogging is kind of lonely!

Hello kiddos!

I'm reading all these articles and books about classrooms, and a lot about talk between adults and kids (right now I'm supposed to be reading about pen pals, but I'm taking a little break). It got me thinking that blogging is one-sided conversation; it's just me talking at you. Now you know how I enjoy talking, but without all your questions, your thoughts, and your comments, it's a bit lonely. Is that me saying I miss you guys, after all of three days into summer vacation?? Maybe I'm just avoiding my homework! :)

Conversation really is much more fun when there's more than just me, so drop me a comment! Let me know you're all still alive, well, and thinking! I'll try to plan a get-together soon!

OK, I'll get back to my homework now!
Ms. Hagen

Freedom of Choice in Writing

I just finished my homework for my class today - lots of introductions to ideas that I now want to know more about! I was struck today by a quote in the book For a Better World: Reading and Writing for Social Action that says, "the experience of coming up with something to say, developing intention and purpose, invoking an audience, and speaking out in the world gives one a sense of having important things to say and the language with which to say them" (3). I thought immediately of our Writer's Notebook and my adamant insistence that YOU COME UP WITH YOUR OWN TOPICS. I knew that this was important, for you to value your own experiences, but there's more to it. Choosing your own topics and choosing your own words both help you to be free, to grow up seeing that you can be someone who changes your own life (for the better, I hope!), and you can also be someone who helps change the lives of others.

I'm just at the tip of the iceberg on this empowering idea, but right now, I'm content to know that writing your own ideas, stories, poems, songs in your Writer's Notebook is GOOD. Now I hope to learn ways to make it GREAT. More to come...

I see the sun peeking out in the cloud-filled sky. Maybe my walk on campus will be more pleasant than I imagined this morning!

Happy Tuesday to all!
Ms. Hagen

Books!

Hello again - I said I'd post twice since I missed yesterday (due to Blogger's technical problems). I just read a post from one of my favorite teachings blogs, http://twowritingteachers.wordpress.com about a way to read books online for free, called We Give Books. You can check it out at http://www.wegivebooks.org/p/how-it-works
It's a great way to read some good books; plus, books are donated to people around the world who need books. How great is that?

Speaking of reading, I'm off to do MY HOMEWORK! I started my class, "Critical Literacy Across the Curriculum" yesterday, and I have read some very cool stuff (3 articles and a book chapter, to be exact). My mind is already spinning with ideas for next year, but since nothing is definite, I won't share quite yet.

I hope you all stayed dry today, and that your first week of summer is going as well as mine!
Happy Tuesday!
Ms. Hagen

Poetry

Yesterday when I went to post, Blogger wasn't working! By the time I could get back on, it was writing group time, so I'll share a draft of my poem this morning and something more later on.


BOXES-
all our stuff
piled in the garage
stacks and stacks and stacks
of brown cardboard

Where do we begin
making this house our home?

Do I find dishes -
spoons, plates, coffee mugs?

Do I open the books -
Billy Collins?
Sark?
Junie B. Jones?

Do I look for a box with photos -
the Disney trip?
the family around the Christmas tree?
dimple-skinned babies with chubby, creased arms?

Is this how I make a home?
Is this the right box to unpack?

No.

It's pizza covered in ham and pineapple
with the family on a Friday night.

It's a summer afternoon
with crayon-shaped water-shooters
spraying the backyard.

It's the kids
munching pink bagels with grape jelly
splashing in tub with blue-haired Barbies
sleeping under a tent of stuffed animals.

It's Domino the cat
high on the white TV cabinet
nestled in green leaves.

It's Shakespeare and Sasha
noses to the glass
tails thumping to their own rhythm
waiting to come in.

It's a pen in my hand,
a notebook on my desk
gazing at the sun
in the pink and orange sky.

Have a fantastic day! Later I'll tell you about all my HOMEWORK!!!
Ms. Hagen

Introducting My Desk!

Good Morning! I'm giving up trying to sleep in. Yesterday, I woke up at 5:30; today 5:32. By the time I am sleeping to a reasonable hour, it will be time to get up early again! I know, you guys don't have this problem!

Well, since I'm up, I thought I'd introduce you to my workspace today. Whenever I've moved somewhere new (college dorm, house, classroom), I always felt better once my desk was organized. (You might not know this since you've seen what my desk at school often looks like!) Anyway, I have a little corner in my family room that has my desk, computer, bookcase, filing cabinet and a few pretties. I have a window which right now looks out on to blooming orangish-yellow lilies and the rising sun. The little shelf in the picture above, however, is the best. It has my favorite decorating colors (pale blue and green which remind me of the ocean), a splash of pink (of course!), a great quote, these cute little painted words, and my wonderful supply of pens, markers and colored pencils. The walls have yet to be painted andI haven't hung up my big bulletin board or my pictures, but those will come.

I think office is too formal a name for my creative little space. I'll have to call it something better. Maybe I'll read some Anne of Green Gables for inspiration. Haven't read it? OHHH! You're mising out - it's fantastic, especially in the summer! The author is L.M. Montgomery - check it out!!

Happy Sunday!

Ms. Hagen

I'm Grateful!

On this first official day of summer, I'm going to look back at all the great things about this school year.

1. Our lap tops! I never dreamed I'd EVER have a full classroom set of laptops where we could jump on the internet, write a paper, or create poetry whenever we wanted. That has been a dream come-true!

2. Loving Poetry Mondays! I've always done a poetry unit in my classes before, but never I never chose a day to just create poetry. I'm grateful that we tried it, but I'm more grateful that you all jumped in and created fantastic poems. AND you liked it!!

3. Our Civil Rights Unit! I learned as much as you did - with our research and our projects, all our lives were changed. The Rosa Parks movie was just frosting on the cake.

4. Our classroom! I was really nervous about moving back into a "regular" classroom after spending two years teaching in the commons (which was HUGE!). I was worried we'd be cramped, crowded and grouchy. But we were not! After re-arranging several times to get things just right, our room was terrific!

5. YOU! What can I say about this year's team?? You love to read (over 2,500 books this year); you came with me on all the writing journeys that I took you on; you corrected me when I forgot HHH; you teased me when I needed it (Skittles...need I say more?); you listened intently to my passionate speeches about your future; you got me accused of cheating on the writing assessment because you did so well; you guys were terrific. I am so lucky to have one more year with you!

Happy First Day of Summer!
Ms. Hagen

The last day of school!

We made it! The very last day of your 6th grade career. We've been signing yearbooks, t-shirts, shoes, and socks.... all morning! It's been a really good year. We read lots of fun stuff (over 2,500 books team-wide!); you wrote a million notebook entries, stories, essays, and poems. We used our new laptops to do Power Points, Photostory projects, and, of course, lots of essays. I watched you blossom from my baby 6th graders to almost 7th graders. And, unlike many teachers, I am always sad when the school year ends. Not sad that summer is coming, just sad that I don't get to see my school family all summer, and that I don't get to do reading and writing with you all every day. Really (no sarcasm at all, even if you find that hard to believe!).

But instead of staring at the door that's closing, I'm choosing to turn around and look at the one that's opening...the one full of no 5:15 alarm clocks, sunny, warm days, reading and writing whenever I feel like it (and my children will let me!), and lots of painting at my new house. Oh, and a little planning for 7th grade will of course sneak into my brain! We'll have adventures in Greek mythology, how-to speeches, learning how to persuade without whining...

Happy Summer my Little Readers and Writers! Tomorrow starts the real world of summer blogging!
Ms. Hagen

Anxiety, Anxiety, All Around

It's very exciting to have followers - a real audience, not just random ramblings. Thanks, guys!

So, I'm getting ready to be a student again. Monday to be exact. I'm taking a course in Critical Literacy at the University, and I'm not sure what all I'm going to learn about. I guess that's how you all feel going into most of your classes; you have no idea what you're going to learn.

I have some anxieties too. What if there's TONS of homework? What if there are mean people in my class? What if they're all super-creative, high-tech, geniuses and I feel really dumb?? Should I take a laptop with me? Should I buy a really cute notebook and some fun pens? Backpack or bag? Clothes - what kind? Shoes? AHHHHHH!

I know. You're thinking that this is really good for me, aren't you? You're thinking that this is just how you felt when you walked into middle school last August, not knowing what to expect. You were probably 10 times as scared as I feel. After all, I have been a college student before.

Well, here's what I think. I think I'll just be me. I know I love to read and write, so I'll just do the work the best I can. I'll bring my cute notebook, pens and my laptop because all that makes me happy. I'll wear shorts, a t-shirt and my Chacos because they're comfortable. And I'll carry my backpack because it's way more comfortable to walk around with than my bag. And if I'm not cool, I can live with that.

Anxiety gone? No. I'll keep you posted on how it goes!

Have a fantastic Wednesday afternoon!
Ms. Hagen

Permission to be Imperfect

I had a moment of stress this morning when thinking about blogging again today. What if I have nothing to say? What if I'm boring and you all tune me out? In this moment of panic, I almost decided not to blog. After all, it's not really summer yet. I don't have to blog. Right?

And then I thought of all those Writer's Notebook entries I made you all do. Week after week that I had you write, even when you felt you had nothing more to say. I thought of all the talks I gave you about how just writing will make you stronger; you don't have to be perfect, you just have to do something.

And so I decided to compose a perfectly imperfect post.

I have no real topic today, so I'll just describe something I love. Decorating magazines. I had a new one this morning (spring is my favorite because I love all the bright colors) that I picked up at the grocery store. I opened the cover and found so many cute ideas for my house. Moving does that to you, I guess. You want to make your space personal so it feels like home. Here are two things I'm going to try. First, I'm going to get (or find in my garage if I'm lucky) two bins for recycling. I'm going to make cute label tags with scrapbook paper for them. Second, I'm going to get either wall paper or contact paper for the back of my plain white bookcases (I have two big ones in mind). They could use a little pizazz.

There. I feel so much better. I think imperfection is a much better way to live!

Happy Monday!
(moment of sadness - no Poetry Monday)
Ms. Hagen

Long weekends feel like summer!

It's Memorial Day weekend, what to me feels like the beginning of summer. As a kid, we were always done with school by now, even though the weather was usually chilly.

Not so here! The weather is beautiful this weekend with sunshine galore, warm breezes and low humidity. I say bring on the summer! And, since it feels like summer, let's do a litting blogging!

I'm reading two books right now, and I like them both for different reasons. First, I'm reading The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo by Steig Larson. I started it after some teacher friends HIGHLY recommended it, and after 30 pages was ready to abandon. Then I decided to be part of a teacher book group this summer. First book? Yep, The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo! Back to it. This time, I sat up at the kitchen counter, focused on the book instead of laying in bed, exhausted after finally getting moved into our new house. And, guess what? I like it! I'm just getting to the mystery, and I think it's just going to get better. Lessons learned: when you're really tired, even good books drag, and sometimes, you have to read bigger chunks to get into a story.

The second book I'm reading is Sidney Poitier's The Measure of a Man. It's his memoirs, and so far I'm still in his childhood on Cat Island. It's a great "lay-in-bed-and-let-the-words-wash-over-you" read. So far. Still early, so I'll keep you updated!

Writing? Nothing exciting yet. I do have my desk, computer and office kind of set up, so that will start soon!

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!
Ms. Hagen

Not Quite Summer, but...

I know that this is my Summer Writing Blog, but since I'm not at school today, I figured it was OK to post something. Today is Moving Day #1 for our family. I'm getting a little truck and loading up boxes before the real movers come tomorrow. The sun is shining brightly, and it's supposed to be perfect moving weather - low 70s.

We're very excited about this move - we're downsizing to a smaller house, part 2 of the simplifying our home plan. Part one was major decluttering the house. Now, we need less house and less yard to maintain. I'll keep you posted on how it goes.

All right. It's 6:15am (you did know I'm a BIG morning person, right?), and it's time to get this day started. I hope you all have a fantastic day at school, reading and writing diligently. The stories are good; I promise.
Ms. Hagen