Dear Dawn and Trixie,

Confession: This is not my original reflection letter that was included when I
sent my portfolio to Dawn. As I was driving home after our time together
signing each others yearbooks and enjoying lunch at The State Room, I
had the opportunity to
truly
reflect on the past four weeks -- free of
deadlines, free of distractions. So, here I am, rewriting my letter a bit,
because I want to better express how significantly SI has impacted me. And,
in true RCWP fashion, my original draft is available upon request. ;)
I am an ENFP according to the Meyers-Briggs scale, which means I am
creative, not great with deadlines (ha!), optimistic, and a dreamer who often
struggles with the detail-oriented planning aspect of putting dreams into
action. However, thanks to the summer institute, Ive had the opportunity to
be creative, to tackle bigger issues in education and our society
optimistically, to
dream
of new ideas for my classroom and my career,
but
Ive also received great models and resources I will need to put those dreams
into action
. That, my friends, is so, so crucial.
One of the most significant resources Ive gained is nine passionate,
experienced, creative colleagues I have the privilege to also call friends. We
have laughed, cried, cheered, vented, and everything in between, and Ive
witness the power of writing to bring people together. I know that if Im
ever stuck in a rut in either my teaching or writing, I can call any of these
women, and I will leave that conversation feeling rejuvenated and ready to
tackle the world! ; )
Another resource Ive gained is the reassurance that yes, I
am
a writer, and
no, saying I dont have time is
not
a good excuse to not write. At the
beginning of SI, I was struggling getting back into the flow of writing. It
felt like a current I was constantly pushing against, struggling to keep
moving but falling in the process. With the persistence of Sacred Writing
Time, the models of some fabulous writers, and the encouragement of my
writing group, I finally was able to turn around in the right direction. The
writing waters are warm now, and Im not getting back out into the cold,
writing-less life from before. One of my dreams has always been to write a
book. I dont even know what kind of book yet, but I have faith now that that
dream could actually become a reality.

As I mentioned, my writing group was a huge source of encouragement for

me. I dont often share my writing, and I appreciated the time and space to
do so during summer institute. I found myself reassured in my writing
ability, challenged constructively in my pieces, and motivated by the
examples of passionate writers around me. I hope to continue that writing
community in the days to come. I dont want to lose that writing fire, and
Ive seen how community is key.
The four books I read for this institute will linger with me for the rest of my
career. They have in some way or form shaped my mindset as an educator.
Ive taken bits and pieces that I appreciated from those texts, as well as from
our conversations around that literature, and intermingled it both with my
experience and my personality/teaching style. Because of
Bird by Bird
, I see
the importance of characters in the stories I write and read, and I also see the
importance of others stories around me. Because of
In the Best Interest of
Students
, Ive shifted from When can I fit writing instruction in with
everything else? to When can I fit everything else in with my writing
instruction? Because of
Activist Learner
, Im going to completely
restructure many of my units, aiming to base each one on an existential
question and leading to a meaningful outcome and audience. Because of
Mechanically Inclined
, I see how my love for reading (and sharing that with
my students) and grammar intersect; they are not opposing forces, because
mentor texts from quality literature are the best grammar teachers. I
appreciated that each text was purposeful and practical, and our discussions
led me to consider others insights on the text and its implementation. The
best books shape you and spur on engaging discussion. These four books
would be considered in that best books category.
Reflecting on the habits of mind, I see how you both have seamlessly
modelled those habits and provided opportunities to develop those habits in
us. I am naturally curious, creative, and engaged, especially in discussions
about teaching, literature, and writing, but I especially appreciated the time
and space to grow in those habits of mind through Sacred Writing Time,
Teaching Demos, and group discussions. I practiced openness in considering
others opinions, as I am in the minority regarding some opinions and
mindsets in the group, but I so valued the mutual respect and listening to
others voices. I practiced persistence in tackling writing challenges,
especially the writers block I experienced the second week -- and I saw the
rewards you glean when you persevere! I practiced responsibility for my

actions and words, as is necessary when you are living and working so closely
with the same group of women for 6 hours a day, 4 days a week, for 4 weeks!
Words have the power to build up or tear down, and I strived to use my words
-- written and aural -- to edify my colleagues and friends. Finally, I
practiced metacognition
daily
in the summer institute through our log
reports, my reflection on the drives to and from campus, and our group and
individual discussions. After this month, I feel I have grown stronger in
these habits of mind, and I hope I will always continue to grow!
One of my favorite quotes by aviator and author Anne Lindbergh states,
Good communication is as stimulating as black coffee, and just as hard to
sleep after.
That
is how I would describe RCWP Summer Institute 2016. Our
conversations were stimulating. I left each day feeling that rush of
excitement and motivation and ideas, much like a caffeine buzz. And now,
after our time together, it will be near impossible to go back to sleep, to go
back to the old mindset and methods of teaching writing. I have been forever
impacted and changed by this summer institute, and Im excited to see how I
can then impact my students and my field in the future.
Its not goodbye; its talk to you later! : )
Much love,

Alecia