Monday, June 11, 2007
Writing to remember...
This blog is a space to leave our Marci stories... As a group of teachers, friends, and colleagues still picking up the pieces after Marci's recent death, we need this space. We need the clicking of the keys on this keyboard as we remember the little details. We look to each other to make her memory fuller, deeper. We hope you will leave a story about a time when... or an idea or a quote that was awakened in you through Marci's life. As we leave these stories and ideas here on this blog, Marci is remembered, fully, deeply, and lovingly.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
14 comments:
Trying something out
Hoping you will leave something in this space before you go! Even a little greeting for the rest of us!
Marci's smile will always remain in my memory. She always seemed happy and inviting. She made me feel like she knew me forever. She knew me, before I knew her. She was complementing and encouraging. She reminds me why PhilWp will always have a place in my heart.
Jennifer (Gee) Hale
I think the blog is beautiful.
I saw a t-shirt today that said, "Je aime chocolat." It would have been perfect for Marci.
Shirley
Miriam said...
When I think of Marci, it seems like she's just not "right here." When I hear or see or say her name I think of her smile, intellect, friendship, leadership and the way she'd agree saying "right, right, right nodding her head up and down. (You know what I mean). I thank God that I've had the opportunity to know Marci in my lifetime. It's with the Marci's in the world that we learn to do things better.
Miriam
Although I'm a "newcomer" to the Philwp family; I had the pleasure of meeting Marci during my Summer Institute I workshop. All I can remember is the way my facilitators lit up when Marci entered the room. With this tribute, it's obvious that Marci had impacted many people's lives while she was here. This tribute speaks volumes of Marci's influence on the PHILADELPHIA WRITING PROJECT!
Marci was a teacher's teacher. Marci was a facilitator's facilitator. Marci was PhilWP.
From the heart, Viva Marci!
Mattie Davis
Marci and I were parents together at C.W.Henry School for many years. We both wanted to be involved with the Home & School, but had limited time due to our own teaching. So we came up with the semiannual Scholastic Book Fair as a project we could both work on. Marci was the best partner ever--she had us organized, computerized and scheduled in no time at all. She delighted in working with the children and teachers who came to the Book Fair, matching them up with the newest releases and "must-have" classics. No child who wanted a book left without one. We almost always ran the Book Fairs during report card conference weeks and Davey and Daniel would come down and hang out with my boys and other friends in the library in the afternoons, "helping out" and watching videos. Marci had the most wonderful way with them--a combination of loving teasing that was perfectly on target. She could focus and concentrate on an issue or problem one minute, then the next get giggly and silly. I never saw her get visibly frustrated or angry--her patience and sense of humor were incredible. I feel so blessed to have known her and had a chance to work with her, both at PhilWP and at Henry.
This site is really lovely.
Marci was a true inspiration to all who knew her. She somehow always managed to make me feel smart and capable of doing things I hadn't considered possible. She had the ability to lift up those around her while also leading them. The way she valued each person's contributions and enabled all the voices in the room to be heard astounded me and is a trait I strive towards. She will be sorely missed but if we can each keep one memory of her alive she will never be forgotten.
Diane Santori
Great job, Christina. My memories of Marci include her love of PhilWP and the encouragement and warmth she extended to TCs. Marci had a way of building confidence in others and I for one, never learned or wanted to say no to anything she asked of me. When I reflect on the positive influences in my life, Marci's smiles, hugs and affirmations will continue to sustain me in and beyond classroom walls.
Annette Sample
My aunt Marci often expressed how much she thoroughly enjoyed her work at the Philadelphia and National Writing Projects, helping to shape the learning process, methods, and experience for children in Philadelphia and later around the country. She always displayed a great love for working with and advocating for the children who needed it the most. And as dedicated and wonderful as she was with her students, she was even more wonderful with the children of her family. I am part of a group of 7 nephews and 1 niece that Marci spent many quality hours with; playing, teaching, doting, engaging, and loving. My aunt gave to her family freely and generously, and I will always remember her genuine and kind way.
Thanks for setting up this site. I knew Marci for almost 30 years and I remember her in personal ways (like holding my granddaughter Avye and celebrating her 50th birthday) and in professional ways (like her leadership of the New Teacher Initiative). As a teacher and a teacher-leader she was careful, thoughtful and although I learned a tremendous amount from her, I find myself, more than once a day, wishing I could hear her voice, feel her warm exuberance, and get her insight on some issue or concern. Marci was always "learning more," and I strive to follow that lead.
Dina Portnoy
The Philadelphia Writing Project sponsored its fifth annual Celebration of Writing and Literacy on this past weekend at the Graduate School of Education where 17 wonderful teachers of all ages, years of experience, race and ethnic backgrounds shared some of their successful teaching practices with other teachers from across the city of Philadelphia. As I walked the halls peering into workshop spaces and listening to the laughter, the applause and even cheers at one point, I couldn't help but think of how Marci would have freely flashed that beautiful smile of hers in delight. "This is what is important", I heard her say in my head and in my heart. "This is why we do this good, but very hard work", she whispered to me.
Even as teacher leaders carried boxes and bags of supplies out to our cars at the end of the day--- still working hard long after the attendees had gone and toiling until the very last detail had been attended to, I saw Marci's infectious smile accompanied by that special glint in her eye, satisfied that teachers had learned from each other in ways that those outside of the writing project might never come to understand.
It was a "Good Job, Marci, a G-O-O-D-J-O-B! GOOD JOB!!!
Marci’s death last spring was such a shock to our family. We knew each other as baseball mothers, Home and School parents, public school teachers. She’s been described here as ‘enthusiastic’ and it’s true: whenever we spoke about the challenges of work --both the professional kind and the parent-volunteer kind-- Marci always expressed a positive outlook and was full of good humor. Marci, we miss you.
Amy L. Cohen
Post a Comment