People Like Candy, Right?
I have just completed my first week of being a Schoolwide Project Coordinator. aka. Literacy Leader.
It was kind of cool. At first I was very, very lonely. My room was exceedingly quiet and I was a little depressed. I turned on my ipod dock and listened to some music as I worked to keep my ears busy. You know your ears are always busy in the classroom, and this was sad and silent. It helped a little. I had a lot to do, but I didn’t feel very useful. In the classroom, there is always some little person in your face who needs you right now! But this was different. I was preparing things for much later and I felt not very helpful.
But then teachers started to schedule meetings to plan with me and I set up a daily schedule for myself. I said things like, “Sure, I think I’m available on Wednesday at 1:45” and “I can put that together for you – no problem!” and “I have some sample anchor charts up in my room if you’d like to check them out,” and I feel useful again.
Tomorrow is my first official planning day with teachers. They have a modified schedule every Tuesday to allow for a 90-minute planning period instead of their usual 45-minute-scramble. And I’m the one who’s supposed to help them plan!
I’m excited and nervous at the same time. I hope I’m helpful enough. Because I’ve had a lot of my time wasted by people who intended to be helpful to us during planning……. but not so much. I’m trying to be very well prepared by breaking down our curriculum and having a planning document ready. I’ll share those with you in the next couple days.
More important than all my instructional preparation, though, is the candy. I think candy is a pretty essential component of a successful planning meeting. I mean, it doesn’t always have to be candy. It can be a variety of other sweet or salty snacks, but in my opinion, the tastier, the better.
I mean, people like candy, right? So I’ll be like, “Here’s some candy! See? I’m nice!” and I’ll make through friends through the subtle art of coercion. I’m not above it.
A while back, I saw this absolutely precious idea on pinterest and it has really stuck in my mind.

These are adorable! I'm sure the faculty loved them. Best wishes on a new school year!
Krista
stellar-students
I'm sure your teachers will really love and appreciate these adorable treats, and I know you'll do an awesome job as a literacy specialist… simply because you WANT to be useful and be successful in your role! Good luck!
~ Sarah
Write On, Fourth Grade!
I sure love candy. Thanks for the inspiration! Your pencils came out adorable!,,,
;0) Melissa
http://Www.moretime2teach.blogspot.com