PAVEing a Blog

CHECK OUR PRESENTATION IN LAS VEGAS OUT IN 10 MINUTES AT:  edtechtalk.com/ttt

That was Saturday, and if you go to the above URL you will see us presenting!  🙂

Usually, I like to organize all things nice and neat, in a NEAT little package, ta da! BUT life is not that way,  Uh -huh.  So I am posting something out of order (GASP), that started out as a task for my one student who needs fiction authors that have published, and Alan Sitomer is a PERFECT example of someone to contact, ask further questions using social media, and examine closely.  I will eventually get the items here from my first days of the conference, but every once in a while, there will be an impressive injection of items that are way too cool to wait on.  So on my Author Strand session, one of three authors – Alan Sitomer,

talked about his books, below is his awesome info –

Alan Lawrence Sitomer – http://www.alanlawrencesitomer.com

Mr. Sitcomer is on the far right!

Another interview here online:

http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2011/09/geekdad-interview-alan-lawrence-sitomer-author-of-the-downside-of-being-up/

Frequently Asked Questions:         

http://www.alanlawrencesitomer.com/faq/

 Books:

The Secret Story of Sonia Rodriguez

Hip Hop School

HomeBoyz

The Hoopster

Nerd Girls                          

The Down Side of Being Up

Daddies Do it Different

Twitter:

http://twitter.com/alansitomer

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/alansitomer

Videos on UTube:

http://www.youtube.com/alansitomer

Comments he made about his novels and reading in general:

“Kids will want to take ownership.” regarding what they read.

“Their worlds will explode.”

“The power of books to shape people is undeniable!”

“Reader text 1 on 1 has the ability to move the human soul.”

“If I do not nourish myself with books I feel myself becoming empty.”

“We are on the frontlines of fighting that fight.”  – Speaking of teachers having to defend fiction over non-fiction reading due to, the increasing pressure for more non fiction books required for standards.

“The Magic Triangle”  – He needs to explain this…I missed this explanation in his presentation..

“Hemmingway lexiles out about 610 on a lexile reading scale.”

“Reader and task is the most significant aspect of common core.”

“The Landscape of America’s common core is shifting.”

“Common core is reshaping the landscape of classroom curricular content.”

Feels there is a war coming, war regarding  Digital versus print.

This war is like Goldilock titles versus rigorous text.

“Kids will read and need to read.”

“As a kid I liked school. I liked books.  I liked homework, I was a latch key kid, I liked work that spoke to me.”

Books are, “An escape from chaos.”

“Bibliotherapy kept me sane.”

“As an author, I often see how the magic of reading is shaping others lives.”

“I am an underdog author.” – meaning he is the type of author that sees the underdog through every time, he likes to see the character save the day.

“They (his main characters) retain a sense of dignity, that  is who I am as an author.”

Talks about his Book – Homeboyz (addressing gang violence).

“I see students  all the time that never read a whole book.”

He wrote The secret Story of Sonia Rodriguez – latina integrated theme into classroom, he listened to the stories from illegal parent backgrounds, they are first generation individuals, they write about 7 people in their family – for their familia.  Their situations speak to him as a writer.

Culture and stereotypes – from his approach to books he began to receive letters which he shared.

Tapping into the power of Hip Hop , he created a book on this music genre.

His website is very accessible (see at the top of this post).

 “I am a dad , 2 children writing to write for his own children, Daddies do it Different”

He never met his illustrator – the editor dictated the illustrations for his books.

Wrote Nerd Girls, – wrote books about what he saw his girls would be in a positive light.

“Mean, nasty girls as role models trouble me.”

His facebook is very accessible and very active to his audience.

“Books can be amazing tools to help students deal with issues.”

We are already seeing an assault on YA lit as if it’s not “credible enough” or “deserving enough.”

“I fear we’re going to see an assault on fiction from those who don’t realize or understand.”

“Book didn’t just save me, they’ve saved many many others.”

“Own your professionalism and Fight the good fight.” – regarding promoting YA literature and reading among children.

Alan Sitomer site

www.alansitomer.com

TwitterL@alansitomer

The AlanSitomer Book Jam

WOW!  Kristen Dixie and I are here!  Las Vegas!

I spent Wednesday morning up at 2:00(yes, AM) spent 2 hours planning my NCTE schedule, then packed.  I still felt bad about giving Kinah to the dog care, but I was assured by many she was in good hands…:)  I wish she could talk about her experience…:)

The flight was long, there was a supermodel from Mexico (I know, I should have snapped a picture) that was on our flight, but it seemed the 4 hours were forever!  It was amazing to see the landscape change below, but I was so glad to be off the plane – I was starved!

We ate at the buffet in the MGM/Hotel/casino – my stomach rebelled a bit in the change in food styles ( I forgot that might happen) talked to my friend Greg! (Guido!) – and fell asleep for a “nap” but never woke up until 11:00 PM, and yes, I am a little messed up with the time change, lol.

Wild things, the hotel – MGM Grand is a city in itself – Hooters has a hotel?!  – I love the glitz and glamour of the town, but could not ever want to live here, it seems it is a temporary get a way for sure….:)

I am contemplating the registration tomorrow for The National Writing Project, the day before NCTE officially starts, but we laughed at a funny photo booth  Mrs Dixie and I found, and the amazing size of this hotel….CRRRRRazy!  🙂

I am excited for the adventure of so many educators, and friends attending NCTE this week!  YAHOOOOO!

On the cusp of leaving for Las Vegas tomorrow for NCTE (excited!) I am participating in the Global Education Conference Now – you need to check this out….amazing how many resources, advice, and contacts you can pick up at  short notice!

AMAZING!

Check out these keynotes!

I love meeting people around the world, but as an educator, just TALKING with these individuals is amazing!

Looking forward to catching up with info on my blog in the next few days readying for NCTE as well!  🙂

More to come!  (Updates on the last 2 weeks, personal professional and more!)

In a blink of an eye things change and happen – I know this after 40 years of life, I am still NOT amazed at all of how fast things can occur. It is important for me to record the smallest of details, so I can remember how great life is because of the contributions each of you make on a daily basis. Usually, you get attached after a long relationship of fun – in Delaware, it felt like I was ripping my arm out of the socket leaving so many investments – investments in creating a running series, establish a strong network of students in my XC(Cross Country) program where we sat down, ate, celebrated wins, celebrated wins despite losses to stronger teams but not stronger individuals than my girls and guys on the XC team, we ate dinner together, we preserved memories forever in creating unique yearbooks, I laughed so hard thanks to the quiet moments I was able to share with these students. We worked community service for individuals that needed help through Key Club, we raised money and made people aware of how deadly cancer is by being a huge force in Relay for Life every year we travelled to Washington D.C. to participate in the Cherry Blossom Kite Festival for the Aquarium, this is just the tip of the iceberg of what we did in 6 years, students. So you can imagine the tears I shed when I left and left them and this history behind. Then I decided, a very hard decision personally (not academically) to move to Mexico…

I found myself in a strange situation. I shed tears at the beginning, somehow, someway, I felt this connection I had worked SIX years to establish in Delaware, immediately around each of you. This was difficult for me, I felt I was betraying my students in DE, how could I feel this way, so quickly without getting to know you over a long period of time? Somehow it snapped so quickly, and now I do not want it to let it go or pass. Yet, passing it is, here we are in November, and the time I will be able to reflect on these daily occurrences will be passing and then poof! – gone, you will be off to share these amazing talents with the world? Talents? What talents? Well let me show you….Camila – the ability to smile and change everything with your strength and contain dreams that ultimately become Repentino. yet more than that, Repentino. has become the dance floor where we have all been able to take a part, did Camila plan that? In her smile is the answer. – Clau – being not afraid to show strength and being there when needed without anyone knowing at all, and that smile that can change anything!, Sara Herrera, again, a smile that removes all the bad, yet, an energy you bring to everything that is contagious, Salomon – a dry humor sometimes, yet sharp as a knife and talented as a trapeze artist with technology, and yes a smile that when appears, makes everyone feel good about what they are doing, Alia – her self-confident smile that always sneaks up around one side of her face then spreads to her whole face in a matter of seconds a to, she wow’s everyone within her reach, and a smile that tells you one thing “I am confident, successful and I will wow you” in short- this ability to just not take anything but success as an answer, being so confident you are able to take charge in any situation and a smile that you know there is a laughing coming next (priceless), Kim – always playing the role of roadie to Repentino. until making it “official” and adding her title as a staff member after already being a valuable contribution, you can see her heart in the efforts she puts forth, and her smile contains this “I know this is going to be a success” persona, which spreads to those around her, Rosario – I truly can see her smile and laugh and also her creativity that expels itself into so many parts of the magazine, your support at Open Mic is an amazing PR itself, Sofia V., this artist in hiding, packed scheduled yet willing to sacrifice her time for Repentino. she promises to be there and she follows through letting you see into her heart of commitment to Repentino. then that unique smile she has that doesn’t give you the full 100% smile, yet tells you there is more to come to her than you first perceived, Alexa – few people can put their heat on paper in illustrations, yet you make this sacrifice over and over and we benefit from your selflessness, and a smile that just assures you we will be surprised at the next image you create, Natalia C. – can you imagine anyone else carrying the creativity, laughter, ingenuity, and spontaneous energy than Natalia? I am waiting for the net practical joke when Natalia smiles yet, I feel weird asking for another smile as you just want another after seeing one, Sophia M.- I love her smile because you instantly get a shot of confidence and calmness that is so often needed in crazy moments – she is the strength that does not have to be explained, Alice – Alice is so diverse with her brash statements, positive energy and excitement and energy that matches my own, her smile tells you there is going to be something coming up that you will not want to miss, Tau Tau, her ability to smile amid the roughest of times is impossible to not be contagious, and her energy to capture and record with Alice the moments that make Repentino. Repentino. is priceless, Sophie I., a ball of energy that sometimes comes out in a MAJOR rush all at once and then sometimes pulls back and waits then comes out in a flurry of ideas, she always represents someone young in heart and energy, yet mature in sticking with things even when she is disappointed at the outcome, she is an amazing source for a smile that makes you just want to smile back and say “I agree” although you might not have anything at the moment to agree upon, you want to say it because her smile says so, Miguel – a boldness in statements and actions that are needed for a reaction from others on staff, his smile changes the landscape of all plans and is a must need for the ongoing adventures we find ourselves in – Maddie and Elizabeth – one is calm at the outset and almost withdrawn it seems until you see her in action, the ability to turn everything around with plans and action that gets things done, the other not knowing what the word “can’t” means and just asking in quick snippets what needs done, doing it, and all of us sitting back wondering, how was that done so quickly?, when both smile you know you are in good hands because they did already what you were going to ask them to do that needed done…:) (exactly) – Eva – hidden talents pour out of her STILL and her smile just makes you want to jump and say, “What next?!” – Ana – have you ever met someone technically not supposedly “official” staff yet so supportive? She has never been anything BUT staff as her smile exudes patience, calmness in the middle of any storm, and just pushing ahead to what is next, knowing there is a NEXT :), Camille M. that just has a 100% all or nothing smile and is willing to give any advice you would desire, l you need to ask, her inviting personality and creative style aren’t evident at first, but that is the awesomeness of knowing Camille, Michelle, a smile that is reserved yet quiet, call her a part of the “brat pack” (Camille, Miranda, Michelle) yet behind her quietness is a wisdom and poll of ideas that you simply do not want to ignore and you see it, “You’re Stephanie’s sister” comes out and there it is a again, a smile that you can connect to!, Miranda contains this quietness that trips you into thinking she has a small amount to contribute yet, you see her put her ideas and suggestions together with others and then she cracks a smile and you know, there is much more depth to her than a quiet demeanor, a smile that says, I am capable and a constant”, Natalie C. – this quiet and humble staffer appears in and out – without the hint of a trace, and yet moves things forward somehow without you knowing it, and her smile screams, “Wasn’t that GREAT?!” and you walk away asking, “How did we get so lucky to have her?”
And my dilemma has always been, I have always wanted lots of kids, (I come from a family of 16, so, you get the idea….) but I certainly could not justify being with someone for the sake of a)just wanting children and b)not being single, you know how that comes out when you force a relationship, or think it is correct and well, not even close….and then I realized, I am THE LUCKIEST person on this earth to be surrounded by all of you, the tears you might spy out of the corner of your eye, and in mine? Yeah – I am trying to be a tough guy and not think about the time when I see you travel on that road to success away from me but again, as I have said before, I have you right now for this amazing ride we call Repentino., and I am indeed the luckiest person in the world because of it. 🙂 Keep that smile, it is what keeps Repentino. afloat and alive – all of you are just AMAZING.

A little after 7:00 PM on a Saturday night – splitting headache, the aftermath of a Friday of playing mascot for the semifinals, (a human incubator that mascot is),  all day Art Fair – Saturday – of promoting Repentino., my body at this point is in crash mode – yet some things needs to be said…

When I agreed to do the bear mascot for ASF – I thought, wow, I know I am getting into a human incubator after the experience of being a Blue Jay mascot for only 1 hour at Kate’s wedding….yet – once I slipped the suit on, I had the challenge of getting children to not be afraid of the bear, as well as promoting the crowd into the action…mission accomplished…despite the tragic loss in the semifinals last night, the boys played bravely in a 40-something score to an even higher 60 something opponent, and the ASF troops hung in there every step of the way.  I had to give it to the football team,  they fought valiantly and did not roll over at any point, this was an amazing season to watch.

During the course of this semifinal night, a freshman from the stands who I had remembered vaguely asked if he could “be the bear.”  I was reluctant due to the amount of sweat building up in the suit, and to be honest, I liked the fun of being the bear, but I thought, why shouldn’t he have a shot at it?….sure enough, after the first period we met at the stands, and we switched places….slowly the legs of the suit, arms, then feet and hands… and I was off in the stands and he was the bear, no one knew the wiser…yet…it is a gradual learning curve to be the bear and this I knew… the bear didn’t dance, he didn’t do funny things, he just occasionally moved, waving,  and after the second quarter he was ready to switch out.  Being the bear is more difficult than it obviously looks, when he took the suit off, his face was BLOOD red from the heat, and I had to agree on all counts, this was not an easy gig!

The point of this is, many of us can be the dancing bear, fully running around when a song comes on you like, yes it is hot, “UNBEARABLE” at times, yet the funny antics I could do in it and interacting with children, this was/is one of the most memorable aspects that will either keep you coming back or not.  “Being the bear” is like anything we do in life – with practice, you realize, there is a cost,  yet, is that cost worth it?

Some people are the bear, others are not.  I feel that people have a choice be the bear in life and others just go the easy route and sit back and let others experience something different.  Others look at me and say, “Wow, you are being used!” by being the mascot.  Truly this was voluntary, but being able to be the mascot and have fun with the crowd, friends, I have come to know, and more, I loved it.  No, I did not love the sweat, the difficulty of the suit after the first 20 minutes, yet push those away, and the fun arises to the occasion.  

I love the fact that even though this student, who asked to be the bear, was more than after about 15-20 minutes to say he was out of the suit, HE AT LEAST TRIED.  He attempted and did realize he incredibly hot it gets, YET, he tried it and realized how awesome it was in the time to try.  How often do you get to be a mascot?

Not that it is a magical suit, but seriously, being a mascot is more than just putting on a suit, it can transform a game if the mascot is attentive to the plays , the players, the action of the game, it can certainly add to the game no doubt.

It is exciting to see the potential of so many of our students as ASF – perhaps it was walking home and seeing the usual monkey bars in front if the hospital, being used as a pinata and children were singing as they took turns at knocking the pinata, yet seeing the children at this spot turn a Saturday afternoon as a pinata hitting contest, this was just exciting and brilliant to see.  This very simply is a different look on things I took for granted.  Same with the mascot.  The art that I witnessed at the art fait, I mean, I do not even see this kind of talent in museums half the time, this is amazing, and I am grateful to be surrounded by it.
I have to say, being alongside an army of creative students this year known as Repentino., (Now in the states called The Riff)–BUT- Repentino. lives on in Mexico City – here! – I have been sucked into admiration of the creativity, strength, and go to this group has – their comments can be missed in the blink of an eye if you don’t listen carefully, yet, they command respect from their commitment and ability to reach all groups of people, and their moral stand on promoting art and the talents of people all round us in this adventure called, Life.  I am taken aback from how quickly I have become attached to his group – and am amazed and what they have the power to do…

When I went into the Art Fair, a parent pulled me aside and thanked me for being the bear, she said it made the games sensational.  It was funny, I was still coming off of recovering from the night before – but thanked her and realized, anyone can put on the suit.  Once that occurs then what?  What will you do with that?  THAT makes all the difference in the world…

By the way, check this out and be changed forever…:)

Friendly Stray Dog Waits Every Day In The Same Place For Someone To Save Him

..I have enough to fill 20 posts!  Students needs have taken priority the last two weeks but trust me the stories I have to tell…(if I live that long!)

Nano is on!  (I am hanging in there!)

Open Mic Night tonight with over 15 people presenting!

Check Repentino. out, our international magazine!  WOW!

http://repentinomagazine.tumblr.com

We need you to submit!   Please do!  AT:    Submit

OR      asflitmag@gmail.com as a backup!

Give me a few days and I will tell you stories that will make your head spin!

Art Fair this weekend!  🙂

Whew – November 1st is here, meaning the FIRST day of National Writing Month, the first day and have I thought of a start?  Not one moment – and what a moment to jump right in – perfect! These younger students are raring to go today!

Here is a good blog pertaining to Nano and the first day too!

http://pbackwriter.blogspot.mx

Without a clear path or thought – I think it is the PERFECT setting for starting a novel!  Here I go – in 30 minutes – I will be typing for 10, then jumping into the shower (maybe) check this water schedule out due to the holiday:

• Thursday (beginning at 00:00 hours), NO WATER at all during the whole day
• Friday and Saturday: service will be working at 40% (so, we will have some water but little pressure)
• Sunday: service will be restored at 100%

I knew there was a reason I went camping last year without a shower for a week, it makes it so easy from there out!

Today we are preparing a breakfast for the participants of NANO, as well as continuing to finish TODAY, the remaining lingering assignments needed for the Mansfield Program due, and then Friday!   No School and a day open for…..(LOTS OF POSSIBILITIES!)  I have a few in mind..update restaurant on here from a cafe in Mexico, NANO, begin to see some museums, eat well, organize my apartment with the random papers, NANO,   wash the truck, NANO, 🙂

One thing I neglected to add to this blog, was the last two appearances I made at the football games, yes I admit, as the bear.  The ASF bear does dance, does yell, does shake his tail, and does run around like a nut with the suit on but once taken off, wow – normalcy (as normal as I can get I suppose).  I loved Stephanie Vondell being the bear for last week’s pep rally, and then people seeing me and asking, “What the heck?!” – she was great too!  Something about being a mascot in a suit, that is, well, you can have a good day, a bad day, any day and yet the bear lives for the crowd.  

HOT – did I mention how incredibly hot the suit was/is?  Yet, the workout I receive is more than 3 alternate days of running in 80 degree heat routines, lol.  It’s a win/win.  The little kids, the big kids, slapping high fives, jumping, yelling, following the game, being crazy being funny, dancing to the music chosen by the football staff, it’s all good and relative, and honestly, hysterically FUN.  🙂  Hmmmm, Nano about a mascot who goes on to change the world?  Could be….:)   

Sigh, time to go back into the world, but you have seen a glimpse of just one crazy activity that has consumed me lately, so hang on for the next few revelations of the funny, absurd, and   wildly time-consuming for your enjoyment – 🙂   Life is good, this is true, but it all depends on the person behind the view.  🙂   

 

Followup to the first day of Nano!  

Dear Writer,

When I was 30 years old, I moved to Minneapolis and got a job in a book warehouse. My official job title was “Picker.” This meant that I went around the third floor of the warehouse holding a computerized print order in one hand and pulling books off the shelf with the other hand. I put all the books into a grocery cart and I took the grocery cart and wheeled it into an ancient, crabby freight elevator and went downstairs to deliver the order to the shipping department. Then I took the stairs back up to the third floor and started over again.

It wasn’t a challenging job. It didn’t pay much. I was on my feet all day long. My back hurt. My hands hurt. But I was happy. I was surrounded by books and by people who loved to read them. Also, for the first time in my life, I was writing.

I got up every morning before work (the alarm was set for 4:30) and wrote two pages before I went into the warehouse. And then, when I arrived at work at 7:00 to punch the time clock, I received my daily so-you-want-to-be-a-writer pep talk from a coworker.

Let’s call him Bob. (Even though his real name is Gary).

Bob wanted to be a writer, too. But he wasn’t writing. Every morning we had the same exchange.

Bob: “How did the writing go?”

Me: “Fine.”

Bob: “How many pages did you write?”

Me: “Two.”

Bob: “Do you think Dickens wrote two pages a day?”

Me: “I don’t know how many pages Dickens wrote a day.”

Bob: “Yeah, well let me tell you something, you’re no Dickens. So what’s Plan B, babe? What’s Plan B for when the writing doesn’t work out?”

For this question, I had no answer.

I turned my back on Bob, pulse pounding, fists clenched, and climbed the stairs to the third floor and started picking books.

When the alarm went off at 4:30 the next morning, I thought about Bob and that is part of the reason I got out of bed.

It is a truly excellent to have someone to believe in you and your ability to write.

But I think it is just as helpful to have people who don’t believe in you, people who mock you, people who doubt you, people who enrage you. Fortunately, there is never a shortage of this type of person in the world.

So as you enter this month of writing, write for yourself. Write for the story. And write, also, for all of the people who doubt you. Write for all of those people who are not brave enough to try to do this grand and wondrous thing themselves. Let them motivate you.

In other words, do it for Bob!

Your friend in writing,

Kate DiCamillo

 

Kate DiCamillo is the author of The Tale of Despereaux (Newbery Medal), Because of Winn-Dixie(Newbery Honor), and a The Tiger Rising (National Book Award finalist). She lives in Minneapolis, MN with her dog Henry.