Close Reading LIFE

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

     Today, I went to blogging PD led by the fabulous Michelle Brezek.  She is having a blogging challenge, where I am supposed to blog every day in the month of July and link to her site.  I have never really linked to anyone's blog before, so this is a new challenge for me.  I hope to succeed with it!

     The challenge for today is to write our first blog post.  I already had this blog, so I just spruced it up a bit.  Changed the font and background a bit, and added some new blogs to my Blog Roll.  They are, by the way, the blogs created by the D100 staff in Michelle's PD.  Check them out!


     I write blog posts to share information with the D100 staff about literacy.  But, mostly, I write blog posts to reflect on things that I am learning and doing in the classroom.  My role as a teacher changed dramatically when I allowed myself time to reflect on the things that happened in my day.  Being the big picture person that I am, written reflections really help me process and see how things fit together.  Mostly, I blog for myself.  I thank any of you who take the time to read my posts and reflect along with me.

     Today's reflections are about close reading.  But not the close reading that is scripted, overdone, and boring.  No.  I am talking about close reading the way that it is meant to be.  Close reading for the purpose of taking a slow and purposeful look at a text.  Noting the details.  Seeing patterns.  Creating ideas.  Close reading of a "text" that is often forgotten in our busy busy day...

LIFE.  


     I challenge you to close read LIFE today.  Take a look at those special people around you. Watch their smiles.  Look at the sparkle in their eyes.  Hear their giggles.  Appreciate all that you have today.  Whether at the park, or the grocery store, or reading books at bedtime.  Close read it, if only for a few minutes.  Life is sometimes short, and we need to take time to notice the moments we have in this beautiful season of summer, as those memories will help the long winter seem a little warmer.

    The picture above is of my kids, and I plan on taking them to the park right now.  I am getting ready to close read life with my 2 favorite people!  I hope you get a chance to do the same.


8 comments:

  1. I love this post! and my fave line is, "Look at the sparkle in their eyes." You're right....we need to remember these moments so we can warm our hearts when the winter is here. I'm sure you found a few of those moments at the park tonight!
    Excited that you're taking the challenge!
    Michelle

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  2. Thanks for sharing this. We all need to "close read life" as much as possible!

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  3. Reflecting is so important in teaching and in life! Thanks for sharing!

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  4. I love your post, especially since I attended YOUR PD in the past on Close Reading. You said that you "close read" everything, and this post is proof. Love it! ;)

    You're so right about the fabulous Michelle Brezek. I really enjoyed being at the PD as well. I'm right there with you on being a newbie of linking up with others, but we've managed to do it! The only reason I know that is because I was able to click on your post from Michelle's Link Up! :-D I'm going to try the challenge as well. I may need to change some of the topics, but I'll really make an effort to post every day in July!

    Good luck and I can't wait to blog more often with you now! :)

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    1. I just gave myself permission to change the topics today. We shall see what tomorrow brings. :)

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  5. I have always loved reading your blogs! Glad you now have to post every day! ;) And I do appreciate how reflective you are. It makes me know what you're saying truly is meaningful. I am also always in awe of how you can be so succinct in your posts. (I.E. I would have rambled on about Justin Timberlake for DAYS!)

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    1. I could go on and on about Justin in a whole blog for himself. It was a true test of self-control writing that one...

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