Being What Counts -- A Truly "Found" Poem

It's been a dry spell with this blog, but perhaps I'm making my way back today.

I scheduled a personal day off for some thinking and writing time, and so far, so good.

I found the following poem while pulling together another poem.  I wrote it during the National Writing Project Summer Institute on June 28, 2012.  It was prompted by a reading from Lucy Calkin's book The Art of Teaching Writing.  She addresses this idea of being joyfully literate and how as teachers we must teach the writer, not the writing; teach the reader, not the reading.

Obviously this inspired me, and my personal teaching philosophy poured out on the page. Now that I have found this poem again, I am inspired once more.  What follows is what I've learned is the best way to teach, and represents my best days in the classroom -- when I remember. When I don't get sidetracked -- which is all too easy.

Today I made the decision that JOYFUL LITERACY is forever the premier goal in my classroom.  It will be posted for all to see.  I am determined this time not to forget!

Joyful orchids on Useppa Island

Being What Counts

Joyfully literate

Conversation and intention

Moving through the spirals

of structure, the structure

of meaning, the art of

conversation

 Vocabulary

Joyfully literate -- able

to talk easily, to find a 

way in, any way in,

the mark on the page,

framed and signed for all

to see.

We rush

this text, that text,

interruptions

"no time" becomes a mantra

let's see it as an excuse

Slow down.

Join the conversation.

Be vulnerable.

Okay not to know

Okay to simply ask

"What do you think?"

Can we see this as a strength?

Must we be know-it-alls?

Is that joyful?

Do we write, revise, model

for our students?

Do we actively read and 

share what we read?

Are we joyful?

Imagine...

Being with text

What emerges?

Where is the way in,

the opening?

It all counts.

Do we take time to

contemplate

or do we expect

easy quick answers?

Do we only think about

what "counts?"

Can we re-imagine what

"counts" means

Does it "count" toward

greater ability to

THINK?

Does it count toward

greater creativity?

Does it count toward

greater communication?

Isn't it true that these

things that count are

hard to quantify in

an A, B, C, D, or F?

Conversation

matters.

Expression 

matters.

Openness

matters.

If we teach our children well,

if we teach them basic safety, 

we usually use these words:

STOP

LOOK 

LISTEN

These words will form 

the basis of everything

I do.  

STOP            Take time

LOOK          Really "see"

LISTEN      For the next step

The way in

to Joyful Literacy.

hms  9:30 a.m. 6/28/12