Monday, March 21, 2011

....& Beyond!

I started working with the Six Traits of writing in the winter of 2006 and since then have fallen in love with the world of writing.  I have felt, at times, that everything I do revolves around writing, but then I remember that I have to teach math at 2:00 everyday to 6 year olds.  LOL.  I suppose if we write story problems---we'll get some writing in math too.  ;)

Anyway, as I was saying, after I started working with the traits by dabbling for a year, and then launching the language into full swing in my classroom, I wanted to open the door to more teachers.  I felt like the traits were lost in translation---literally because so many thought it was another program.  Wrong-O friends!  It's a language, or rather, a common vocabulary.  

I became a trainer and co-taught a class with two other phenomenal teachers.  I wanted to keep going and teach the course again, but we were unable to get enough teachers who had not already taken the introductory class or who were able to match their schedules to the class schedule.  After listening for a year to what teachers were still needing, attending a fabulous seminar in Indianapolis with the amazing Kristina Smekens of Smekens Education, and proposing a level II class, I am pleased to announce that class starts on Thursday this week!  We have found 12 awesome, dedicated to learning, teachers in our district who are wanting more in the area of writing for their students.  They'll get to walk away from the course ready to launch the traits in 6 days at the beginning of their year in the fall of 2011!

I am thrilled to be able to work with these teachers and should be preparing for Thursday......but I just had to get all my excitement down first!!  ;)  Onward!

4 comments:

  1. Yippee, Nik ~ that is so exciting! I really wish I was still there to take the course too. I wish you the best of luck in this new endeavor, friend. ;)

    Nicole
    kinderdoodles.blogspot

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  2. Great work, Nikki! It's been wonderful watching you promote writing throughout the district so passionately.

    Clint
    mrheitz.blogspot.com

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  3. Hi Nikki,

    I work for the company that produces Mutual of Omaha’s “Aha Moment” campaign; visit www.mutualofomaha.com/aha to see what an aha moment is and the incredible stories we’ve filmed over the last two years. As I came across your website, I couldn’t help but think that you might have an aha moment to share.

    We’re taking our 34-foot Airstream mobile film studio to 25 cities to capture inspirational, life-changing aha moments from folks all over the country. We are headed to Davenport, IA on August 4th and 5th, and would love to invite you to share what ignited your passion for teaching, and how your life has changed since. If you have a different story you’d like to tell, whether it’s about your work, your family or other life experiences, you’re welcome to share that instead. You would just have to step into the Airstream studio for a few minutes and tell your story on film to our tour manager. Your video will then be posted to www.mutualofomaha.com/aha, where you will be able to share it with your friends and family via email, Facebook and Twitter!

    For the second year in a row, our tour manager is Jessica Henry. Hailing from Athens, GA, Jessica is an outdoor enthusiast and self-proclaimed "foodie" who enjoys talking about powerful life moments with people just like you all over the country. You can read Jessica’s bio (and meet the rest of the crew) at www.ahamoment.com/tour/about

    We will be parked at Putnam Museum at 1717 West 12th Street, on August 4th and 5th from 11am to 7pm.

    Let me know as soon as possible and I can reserve some time for you.

    Many thanks!

    Olivia Lasky
    olivia@skadaddlemedia.com

    View aha moment videos: www.mutualofomaha.com/aha
    Read the tour blog: tour.ahamoment.com
    Follow the tour on Twitter: @myahamoment
    Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/myahamoment
    Check into your tour stop on foursquare: www.foursquare.com/myahamoment

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