This is the last week to celebrate 2014. I have enjoyed reading celebration posts all year. Thank you to all who share and thank you Ruth, for hosting this rejuvenating ritual. Read more Celebrate posts here.
First: When everyone is home, life is slow and lazy and loud. We eat, talk, read, watch movies, and sleep in. Today, I celebrate a home that is filled up and lived in.
Secondly: It is wonderful to watch someone open a gift and knowing, just by the expression on their face, it is a perfect match. My daughter is an expert at this kind of matchmaking. Most importantly she loves doing it. I celebrate her loving and gift-giving spirit.
Being the last Celebration Saturday of 2014, I thought I’d dig in to my blog, as a personal retrospective. As a rather unscientific way of culling through my thoughts in 2014, I searched posts for key words. There is some cross over, but still interesting. Listed in order of frequency of mention, highest being 146, lowest 20:
- Writing
- Reading
- Writing about reading
- Wonder
- Colleagues
- Read Aloud
- Listening
- TCRWP
- Student Blogging
- Poetry
- Reading Logs
- Genius Hour
- Common Core
Blogging is, in part a tool for reflection. Reflecting on my reflecting, I’m pleased, to a degree, and not totally surprised. Some items that didn’t score as highly as I would have liked were “student engagement” receiving only seven mentions, and “growth mindset” mentioned only three times. Something to think about as I enter the new year.
Another thing I spent time with this week was this compilation of TED talks: a year in ideas. It is a wonderful taste of TED in 2014 — informative and inspirational. Find a few that intrigue you and enjoy!
Of the ones I’ve watched so far these two hit me hardest. Funny and tragic and something that lingers with me as I think about the year to come.
Happy 2014!
To Read To Write To Be 