Hosted a Total Alien Invasion of the Novelist Yesterday as the Little Labbers Hosted a Spaceship Fiesta with Finger Lazer Lights

Lois what right. I spend so much money on simply being silly. I knew that Thermosphere Thursday was going to go beyond northern lights into outer space so we could enjoy communicating with other beings. I found these cool lasers to put on your fingers that I thought shot out beams...nope...in the dark, they actually shout out alien images, rockets, planets, and galaxies. How could we not impede on the writing of the novelists to share our joy? How could we not have several 30-second dance parties to energize their afternoon? 

Today ends week 3 of CWP-Summer programs, and the completion of working with our youngest writers. We move to Ubuntu Academy for the next two weeks and have changing goals with language, building confidence, and establishing literacy leadership in high school students.

Still, today is the day of promenades, finishing video productions, and polishing writing for publication this Fall. As I was writing to National Writing Project colleagues across the United States last night (especially those in States banning books, tearing apart curriculum, and destroying teacher expertise), I couldn't imagine working in a location that saw literacy excellence, student joy, diverse texts, and democratic thinking as purposeful, useful, and solidly necessary for the future. My soul would be destroyed to work in such environments, and yet that is what is happening all over the country. 

As long as I have kids to teach, the Brown School way will stay with me. The National Writing Project is now in my DNA. Listen to teachers. They know what they are doing.

There needs to be a massive overhaul of politicians who destroy the future of such beautiful children.