Round 2: #nerdlution

#NERDLUTION
Ding.  Into the ring we go for round two of #nerdlution.  I took a few hits in round one, but managed to stay on my feet.  I read 50 minutes of fiction most nights.  Each evening I tried to be done with school work as well as day to day chores by 9 p.m. so I could begin reading.  The first few nights I would watch the clock for my 50 minutes to be done; not because I wasn't enjoying the time, but because I felt like the clock owned me.  I didn't really enjoy this feeling and thought about how our students must feel when we give them "assigned times" to read.  After I realized #nerdlution was a bit flexible, I decided to quit clock watching and just read each night.  Before I knew it I was reading for much longer periods of time.

What I Learned
I'd consider myself more of a nonfiction reader, but I was reminded during the challenge how much I miss getting lost in a story.  I had missed meeting new characters and making them a part of my life for a few days.  Reading fiction also gave me a chance to catch up with all my #nerdybookclub friends who manage to read for hours each day and keep up on all the latest books.  Without Karen Terlecky, Katherine Sokolowski, Katie Strawser and Stephanie Shouldis I would have been lost.

During the event I created a "tissue book rating scale."  It seemed every book I read somehow had me in tears before the end of the story.  Here are a few examples:

• The Center of Everything:  4 tissues out of 5 (grandma stories get me every time)
• Counting by 7s:  4 tissues out of 5 (tears for sadness and joy in this one)
• The First Phone Call from Heaven:  2 tissues out of 5 (who wouldn't want to get a call from someone they miss, but….)
• The Book Thief :  5 tissues (I had to leave the room as I was worried I'd wake my husband I was crying so much.)

What's Next
During round one I was enjoying reading fiction, but I was also not entirely happy with my #nerdlution.  While I was getting to know characters, my nonfiction reading pile was growing.  I wanted to read The Power of Quiet, Thinking Fast and Slow, and Becoming Scientists.  I was also missing spending time with the blogs I enjoy stopping by to read and comment.  There are only so many hours in a day and deciding how to use them is a trick.

This time around I want to be able to diversify my reading a bit.  I want to keep growing the number of fiction books I read, but I also need to have time for nonfiction and blog posts.  I'm going to find time to read each day and will continue to work toward being done with everything by 9 so I can curl up to read.  However, some days just don't work like that so I may have to find my time in a different part of my day.  Each week at the #nerdlution round-up Michele is hosting on Thursdays, in keeping with my #olw DISCOVER, I'll share a book and a blog post I discovered in the previous week.  We'll call it my #BooksandBlogsDiscoveryTour.

The Community
Most of all, I look forward to laughing and learning with everyone tweeting about their triumphs and road blocks.  If you'd like to join, stop by Colby's blog to link to the event.  

One Little Word Community

It's 1-11!  The perfect day to round up all the One Little Word posts to see if we can build a few connections.

The new year is full of new hope as we move into 2014.  Right now gyms are crowded, everyone is eating better, and for a short time we're all working to improve.  In the last few years the One Little Word movement has caught my attention.  Some bloggers attribute it to Ali Edwards and others to the book One Little Word That Will Change Your Life Forever (Get One Word website via Monica Taggart).  I honestly can't tell you.  One day a couple of years ago I just started reading words from blog to blog and jumped into the fun.  

This year as I traveled from blog to blog I noticed friends choosing the same word.  I thought it would be fun to group them a bit so we could support one another.  I thought today would be the perfect day since it is January 11... or 1/11 (that's for you, Mandy).  Here are the words I've received on a previous post and from Twitter.  If you would like your word add, just leave it in the comments below with a link.  I'll add them into this post between today and tomorrow (1/12).  

Aloha

Deb Day:  Coffee with Chloe   "There's a spirit to Aloha that I think you have to find (kind of like looking for JOY). I think it means to appreciate what you have and share with others. It means to be content and in the now, not worrying about what you cannot change."

Balance
Bark Keister:  Balance

Katherine Sokolowski:  Read, Write, Reflect  "I need to regain the balance, and I'm hoping my word will serve as a reminder for me this year." 

Be
Mindi Rench:  Mindi's Musings  "I need to BE present.  I need to BE open.  I need to BE calm.  I need to BE mindful."

Believe
Kimberley:  First in Maine  "This year, after much thought, I have chosen a word that can be open to interpretation, but generally fills me with joy and wonder when thinking about what it can bring."

Breathe
Jodi Samsinak:  The Writer's Block, "My life is so blessed, but this year, I am going to take time to slow down and enjoy every minute of it."

Mary Lee Hahn:  A Year of Reading  " I need a year of slowing down and focusing on the moment at hand, not getting myself all worked up about what's ahead, or all wrought up about how the things behind me played out."

Choice
Maria Caplin:  Teaching in the 21st Century  "I am thankful for the opportunities when I have a choice.  I have learned the littlest choice can make a huge impact on my life."

Commitment

Mindy Reid:  Principal's Pensieve  "In 2014, I look forward to all of the ways I can show my commitment.  First and foremost, I am committing to this word!  It is my word, and I'm going to own it."

Courage
Cathy Sankey:  Every Student, Every Day "As an educator and as a leader, I feel that vision, faith and courage not only guide our work but make the difference between what Richard DuFour calls in On Common Ground the Knowing-Doing Gap."

Discover
Julie Johnson:  Raising Readers and Writers  "At this point in my life, I now understand the importance of giving myself permission to not be perfect."  

Jaana:  Jaana's Writing Blog  Stop by to read her discovery poem.  

Cathy Mere:  right here  "Though there are some things I'd like to find out more about, I think DISCOVERY, at least for me, will also be about those random surprises I find that make me want to dig a little deeper; the things that unexpectedly surprise and fascinate me. "
  
Embrace
Mandy Robek:  Enjoy and Embrace Learning  "I know I'm ready to straighten out that pitch and make some necessary changes in what I do and how I think so my heart is happier."

Encourage
Michele Knott:  Mrs. Knott's Book Nook  "But in 2014 I want to encourage myself:  reading is fun, it's enjoyable, it's what I love."

Float
Dana Murphy:  Two Writing Teachers  "This year will be the year that I learn to float.  To me, floating implies a certain steadiness, a calmness.  I picture myself floating in crystal blue waters, breathing in and breathing out.  Moving gently with the breeze.  Calm and steady" 

Focus
Cathryn Petticrew:  Learning Journeys  "Focus, for me, is about being intentional with my time and my attention."

Grit
Clare:  Assessment in Perspective  "I want to open myself up to thinking about different types of GRIT and how GRIT can help me in a variety of situations in my life."

Ignite
Monica Taggart  "For me, IGNITE also means to create and launch ideas myself. I also hope to IGNITE sparks in my family, friends, and fellow teachers simply through encouragement and support."

Intentional
Jennifer Hogan:  The Compelled Educator  "Professionally, my focus areas are growing teachers and leaders, increasing collaboration, finding a mentor, creating a tribe, and taking chances. Those may seem vague, but I am working on the specifics so that I can sharpen my focus. Intentional."

Kindness
Melanie Meehan:  Two Reflective Teachers  "Sometimes in the rush and pressures of daily life, I do forget that kindness is a daily gift that is available to dole out to the people around me."

Listen
Amy Rudd:  The "Rudd"er  "I need to listen to my own heart too-what are my needs and wishes-what is my heart telling me?"

Make  

Kevin Hodgson:  Kevin's Meandering Mind  "It’s digital, physical and internal, and I am going to “make” 2014 a year of diving in as deep as I can."

Open
Margaret Simon:  Reflections on the Teche   Margaret has a beautiful poem on her blog about OPEN.  Stop by to read it.   

Patient
Jen Vincent:  Patient

Play

Jill MacDonald:  Play

Promise
Stacey Shubitz:  Two Writing Teachers  "I look forward to 2014 being a promising year for my family, and to the promise of a bright, loquacious future for my daughter."  (Stacey also has listed her promises as well as some new maxims she lives by.  Stop by to read more.)

Reach

Leigh Anne Eck:  A Day in the Life:  "Now I know that living my life upside down will help me to REACH out and become a better me...that ME I searched for and found last year."

Re-imagine
Rose:  Mentor Texts with Lynne & Rose  "2013 brought a number of changes for me both personally and professionally, and I have had to re-imagine my role as teacher, mother, and writer. Since I am continuing this journey of “re-imagining” as I head into 2014, I think it will serve me well."

Remember

Kelsey Empfield  Kelsey plans to use her writer's notebook to help her "remember all the awesome epic-ness that is happening" to her.  


Risk
Michelle Haseltine:  One Grateful Teacher "Risk.  It scares me.  It scares the crap out of me!  And that's why I need this word." 

Savor

Maria Selke:  Maria's Melange "So - my "word" is more of a theme this year. Breathe... slow down... enjoy each moment instead of always looking for the next thing to complete."

Ramona:  Pleasures from the Page  Ramona has an interesting story - and some beautiful images - of finding her word so stop by.  

Jennifer  (hoping to find a link for Twitter or a blog)

Spark
Jennifer M:  I Hablo Espanglish  "In all of this, I want to shine like a SPARK: emitting rays of delight and energy while spreading positive change."

Strawberry
Terje:  Just for a Month or So "My quest should have been for a word that would help me to remember "What kind of a person am I striving to be?" in different situations."

Strength/Strong

Kendra Limback:  Simply Learning Together "Strong covers and helps define a lot of what I hope to achieve this year. "

Annie Orsini:  Simply Learning Together  "I want to be strong and handle challenges with grace."

Michelle Nero:  Literacy Learning  "Strength in my balance of life and finding time to balance all that I need and want to do and accepting that I can't do it all!"

Today
Franki Sibberson:  A Year of Reading " I am going to try really really really hard to not stress about all that is coming my way and enjoy each day whether it is a day full of work, rest, friends, exercise, whatever."

Time

Tammy:  Assessment in Perspective  Over the past few weeks, I have noticed the word TIME again and again.   It actually feels like this word is choosing me instead of the reverse.

Wander
Linda Baie:  TeacherDance  Linda reminds us to choose wisely, " days hold only so many hours."  

Do You Wonder Who Chose Your OLW?

"[People] changed because they were embedded in social groups that made change easier. (p. 88)" Duhigg, Power off Habit

As I've been catching up on blog reading in the last week I've noticed many people posting about their One Little Word which I believe was started by Ali Edwards. I've also started to realize that often bloggers have the same word as someone on another blog. For example, I have chosen the word DISCOVER and, as luck would have it, so has my friend Julie.

I'd love to put together a post that groups bloggers with like words so they can support and inspire one another. If you're interested in joining this round-up, please leave your link to OLW post here or send it to me in a tweet by Saturday, January 10th. My hope is to have it posted on 1-11 ---- seems to make sense to post about the ONE word on 1-11.

Hope to share your word soon!