Friday, September 18, 2015

diamond shiners & Cybils news

I missed Poetry Friday last week while I was out communing with nature at my congregational retreat, but behind the scenes I was awaiting news.  I had applied for the first time to serve as a panelist/judge for the Cybils Awards--the Children's and Young Adult Bloggers Literary Awards--and now I can announce, with a frisson of excitement, that I won!

Well, I didn't literally win anything, but it feels like I've won some kind of prize myself, having the opportunity to participate in the process and to work with poetry-bloggin' friends old and new.  See the illustrious list below.  Once the nominations for poetry books come in--and this year the Poetry Category includes verse novels--we'll be reading and discussing and conferring and eventually selecting an outstanding poetry book published in the last year for children and young adults.  Whoo-hoo!
 
ROUND 1 PANELISTS:  Nancy Bo Flood, Irene Latham, Jone Rush MacCulloch, Margaret Simon,
                                          Tricia Stohr-Hunt, Carol Wilcox, Sylvia Vardell
ROUND 2 JUDGES:  Linda Baie, Rosemary Marotta, Diane Mayr, Heidi Mordhorst, Laura Shovan
 

Meanwhile (which I have just this moment realized is one of my favorite words ever, my favorite concepts ever), in Room 203, we have succeeded in naming ourselves!  It was a multiday process involving lots of voting and yes, a fair bit of teacher spin, but it's worked out well.  We are not Ms. Mordhorst's Magic Pebbles (although that name was nominated), but Ms. Mordhorst's...
Diamond Miners!

And here is the poem I wrote to commemorate this effort, which is designed to communicate to 7-year-olds what the hard work of second grade is all about.  We're using it during Morning Meeting for a "passing greeting," using a glass diamond very conveniently discarded last week by my spouse, who had long ago received it as a volunteer award.  (Thanks, Fiona!)


Diamond Miners,
       diamond diggers,
finding all the precious rocks.
Diamond Miners,
       diamond shiners--
lock them in your treasure box.

~ HM 2015 (c)
 

We pass the diamond around the circle in rhythm with the poem (which instantly became a chant).  Whomever it lands on is greeted by the whole class and then sits down as the diamond continues around the circle.  The last person standing has the hilarious job of passing the diamond back and forth to him- or herself!  They love it.  And I promise that as the year goes by we'll address this idea of mining and make sure that we understand the environmental implications as well as we can in 2nd grade.  They already are beginning to understand that their brains and hearts are both internal treasure boxes.

The roundup this week is with Michelle at Today's Little Ditty...I bet there are some poetry treasures to mine over there too!


19 comments:

  1. "Meanwhile" is excellent, also "naming." Yay for poetry treasures and you named as a Cybils judge!

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  2. Diamond miners--I love it! Good luck with the explanation of conflict-free diamonds to those little princesses and princes! Although, at their age, they have a great deal more empathy than some adults! I'm looking forward to our Cybils discussions!

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  3. Congratulations on your judgeship! Such fun to get to read all of those books in community. And your studetns have a treasure of a teacher too. xo

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  4. Love this happy post, Heidi! I can imagine your Miners with their diamond. Adorable.

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  5. This is so sweet! Love it from the naming, the poem, the diamond, the passing of the diamond ritual, to the "last miner standing" process!

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  6. I didn't know we could announce this yet. I loved judging last year and look forward to it again. The name and the attitude of your class is inspiring. Go Diamond Miners! This year is going to turn to gold!

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  7. What fun to be judging again - I admire you all so much, such a lot of work!

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  8. I'm looking forward to working with you, Heidi. Love your 'diamond miners' chant. Making your class special is what it's always about, isn't it? There are many beautiful 'rock' books out in these recent years, which I imagine you know. Happy times!

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  9. Hooray for your diamond miners....and your judgeship!

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  10. Love that they've chosen diamond miners. And I can't wait to pass along some amazing books for you to judge!

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  11. Congratulations on both accounts, Heidi! You and your class are well on your way to achieving greatness together. :)

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  12. Wonderful all the way around. I love the whole metaphor and of course, the chanting of the poem. Bet they would love to recite poetry. A lot. Ask Jone M. about her Poetry Rocks experience!! Have the best week ahead. Janet F.

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  13. Aww, just thinking about you and your little miners makes me happy. Great name! Excited for your Cybils experience-to-come. I've learned so much by participating as a judge. So fun to share with others!

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  14. Love "Diamond Miners" and your chant, and congratulations on being named a Cybils judge! Looking forward to hearing about your choices!

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  15. It sounds like Room 203 ROCKS! You have the Cybils 'prize' and the Diamond Miners have you. Fabulous!

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  16. Thanks, everyone, for stopping by. I'm glad my energy is showing!

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  17. Hi, Heidi. How wonderful to have a metaphor like "diamond miners" to guide your students' school year. Looking forward to working together on CYBILS!

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    1. P.S. That comment was from me! Your good friend Laura Shovan. Blogger is being weird.

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Thanks for joining in the wild rumpus!