I have enjoyed this book immensely...have recommended it to everyone. Now that we are finished, we should start again and report on our implementation...or not and why not...as we progress through the first semester. Now that I have completed it, I am ready to utilize it, work it. Anyone else with me? Thanks, Penny, for sharing your life with me. It was a blessing! Truly.

Thanks, Tammy. I appreciate your comments so much. It is hard to send a teaching life out into the world. Teaching can feel isolating. It has been nice to have colleagues online to respond to my stories and thinking. Now off to the new year... such opportunity lies in our hands.

I completely agree...Penny, I am so inspired by you and your work. Thank you!
We started school last Monday and I have already implemented some of your ideas; kids are quickly getting used to using colored pencils and they are already sharing their lives with me. I used George Ella Lyon's poem Where I'm From as an introductory activity and have already been blown away by some of the lines they have written. I also gave my parents homework...this will be something that I do every year, throughout the remainder of my teaching career. I have received such insight into my students, and nearly every parent has thanked me for giving them the opportunity.

Not sure if anyone is still getting updates when a comment is posted...but, thought I'd ask if anyone is attending NCTE this weekend? If so, I'd love to meet you in person.

I am, Jodi. So is Penny.

I'm jealous. Dana--we'll expect blog posts with photos of you all with accompanying stories!

I met Penny Kittle last night and have NO FREAKING CAMERA! She asked about you!

I am so jealous. Is Penny still here? I'll even bring a camera!

Yeah, she's still @ the conference.