You need to let little things that would ordinarily bore you suddenly thrill you.
― Andy Warhol
Noticing Distraction
I like to choose the longest checkout line. I size up the options and then go with the slowest, usually choosing a line with a cashier. Then I challenge myself to feel my feet inside of my shoes and simply be present.
The thing is, being present isn’t so simple these days.
Being present is an act of resistance. I resist picking up my phone. I resist the ticker tape of to-do tasks speeding through my mind. I resist the urge to hurry-up-and-move-on-to-the-next-thing.
I breathe and calm the inevitable chaos that comes from being alive, and I open my eyes to notice the present. I watch the way the light is flickering behind the number of the checkout lane. I hear the snort-laugh from an old man reading the tabloids. (Who knew they still published tabloids?) I notice the toddler whose chubby fingers are agilely navigating his momma’s cell phone while his eyes are glued to an endlessly moving screen.
That last one hurts my heart a little, and I am reminded how sensitive I’ve been to noticing distraction. (Is that an oxymoron—noticing distraction?) Distraction can be a sneaky thief. It sweeps in and swipes our attention, leaving addiction in its wake. It’s the very reason why I’m choosing the slowest checkout line. I don’t want my eyes glued to a screen. I don’t want my brain doused in a constant stream of information.
When we fight distraction, we nourish our souls. In moments of boredom, curiosity is naturally unleashed. This week we look at the power of curiosity in unleashing readers and writers—plus more, as always.
Shine on,
Ruth Ayres
Editor in Chief
From our archives, Ruth Shagoury finds her passion for bread baking leads to rethinking how she differentiates instruction for students. Her colleagues then come up with their own metaphors in the study group activity.
Jennifer Schwanke shares nine strategies to use in the midst of days, weeks, and months that seem to be nothing but distractions.
We are meeting next week onThursday, December 14, at noon Eastern for the FREE Coach-to-Coach Zoom Network. Join us and you’ll build professional friendships that will help you strengthen skills and confidence needed to be a changemaker in your school.
Are you looking to engage with a community of instructional influencers? Join me on LinkedIn to continue conversations from the Big Fresh and connect with other educators who are just as smart and funny as you are.
In this Live Event, join Gwen Blumberg, Tammy Mulligan, and Dana Murphy as we dive into the nitty-gritty of analyzing data for small group instruction, making instructional plans, and ensuring that all readers are growing. Get instant access to the keynote presentations and guided reflection. Live Q & A sessions are January 9, January 22, and February 5. Recordings will be posted after the sessions.
Gwen, Tammy, and Dana are in-the-field educators who attend to the needs of all readers by using the five pillars of reading instruction.
New members-only content is added each week to the Choice Literacy website. If you’re not yet a member, click here to explore membership options.
Inspired by Ted Lasso’s mantra, “Stay curious, not judgmental,” Julie Cox provides three questions she asks herself and students to remain innovative.
Stella Villalba leads educators through a process to discover the brilliance and complexity of multilingual learners. Rather than searching for a list of strategies, Stella encourages us to linger with our questions and discover multilingual learners’ beauty.
In this encore video, Katherine Sokolowski shares a wall display from her fifth graders that students build to celebrate who they are and people they love from home.
New members-only content is added each week to the Choice Literacy website. If you’re not yet a member, click here to explore membership options.
Ruth Metcalfe shares four ways to develop shared efficacy and leadership.
This PD2Go focuses on the importance of listening to students, especially when they have different answers. It pairs an article by Dana Murphy and a book club discussion with Gigi McAllister.
Quote It:
Curiosity is one of the great secrets of happiness.
—Bryant H. McGill
That’s all for this week!
