Reflection

It seems like just yesterday when I was sitting here designing this blog.  And here we are...at the end.  I don't know what happens to time these days.  For my pre-teen, his day yesterday took "forever".  My day didn't have enough hours in it to finish all that I need to accomplish.  It is amazing to me how the older you get, the faster time goes.

This experience has been so good for me.  I made myself read.  I know that isn't what you are looking for as a reader.  I realize we as teachers want to create a desire in students to read rather than make it something they are forced to do.  And now that I have been reading, I am so grateful for the assignment to make me do so.

Let me back up.  This assignment hasn't been about making me read.  It has been about making reading a priority in my life.  I have always loved reading.  I also have always loved writing.  But as a mother, what I love becomes last on the list.  Which up until now has been just fine with me.  However...with my desire to finish my degree, comes my desire to do other things that I've put on hold for the last twelve years.  I don't want to shuck  my life completely from how it was, but am enjoying the way that I am integrating the things I love into the things that need to be done.  One Saturday, I let everything go.  It was cold and rainy.  I decided that I was going to finish my book.  Not because I had to, but because I wanted to know what was happening.  I didn't get laundry done.  I didn't get a big meal cooked.  I didn't get the house straightened or the decorations completely put up.  But I learned something from the book.  I cried as it ended.  I felt moved to do more.  And guess what happened to all of my chores?

They waited.

And they were still there the next day.  I realized that there are days when I can put other things aside to reward myself with a good book.  In fact, the number one thing on my list for Christmas is a Kindle.  I want to be able to slip my book world into my purse and take it to practices or to read in between games.  I realized through this experience that I have a desire to read. 

So I will.

I love to write as well, and I believe I'll keep up with this blog.  Journaling about my experiences is something all too familiar with me.  So I would like to keep this going for my kids to read someday when they too are having a hard time finding the balance.

I have NOT become a runner.  I would still love to tackle that goal.  But for now, I am finishing school.  And through many hours of "training"...I've become a reader again.  I am excited to open my mind to the possibilities that come with new books.

In my classroom, I'll use the PRABE experience for many reasons.  One...technology isn't going anywhere.  This is a good way to integrate technology with reading.  It also allows them to think freely as they practice their typing skills.  I might have them journal on paper to make sure they have the opportunity to truly "write".  Perhaps putting the PRABE in as a centered activity once a week would be a good idea.  For my classes, (3rd and 4th grade) I would have them only write four or five sentences describing what happened in their book and why they enjoyed it or why they didn't. 

Thank you for the experience.  Thank you for your enthusiasm.  Thank you for your grace when it comes to our learning.  It is hard find the right balance in living...learning...and succeeding.  I am blessed to have had the opportunity to re-learn this about myself.  I love to read.  I have learned to make it a priority and will continue to teach that to others.

Have a blessed day!
Amy

Week 11

I finished the book!  Here I thought I'd be done with this a month ago.  No such luck.  But I took the time and finished it yesterday.  I closed the book with tears in my eyes.  And the desire to want to do more.  I love to write.  The Help was about so many things, but one of the topics was Skeeter's desire to be a writer.  Not just a writer, but someone who wrote about something that meant something in this world.  She wanted to make a difference.  And I believe she did.  What a great book.  What a sad time in history.  I think so often we think...

that was a long time ago.

And then I see the dates listed in the book.  1964.  That wasn't that long ago.  How can we be living in a time when just almost fifty years ago, life happened like that.  And people let it happen.  It is unbelievable to me.  It is too much for me to wrap my mind around.  I can't imagine treating someone like those women were treated.  And yet...it happened.  Not that long ago.

I think there are several things in our history that we'd rather turn our cheeks to.  They were horrible.  And if we don't talk about it...it maybe didn't happen.  But this happened. I think the book is an incredible way for people to see just a glimpse of what took place just not that long ago.  Children will read this story and think to themselves...did this really happen?  And the ugly truth is that it did.  But the beautiful truth is that because someone was courageous enough to stand up for others...things changed.  And the wonderful thing about this particular book is that because a woman stood up and used her writing to tell the world a perspective that might not have otherwise been heard...things changed.  What an amazing story.  What an amazing book.  I am anxious to see the movie, but don't want it to change how I view the book.  I have an image in my head from reading and I am afraid the movie won't do it justice.  I guess I'll just have to see. 

Anyway, I believe I'll wrap up this PRABE project with a few more devotionals and some light reading.  Thanks to my attempt to finish the book yesterday...the laundry is still rolling through...as I type.  It was worth finishing the book though.  Completely and totally worth it. 

Amy