My Slices of Cake

Join us on Tuesdays with the Two Writing Teachers and others who post. 

 

       I haven't written a post to share on Tuesday since November. Life, meaning the holidays, other writing and reading took me away, and then it seemed as if every Tuesday I still had no good idea to write. I just wrote my 1600th post a few days ago. Then, I realized that many (maybe most) of those posts were slices of my life, parts of my days I wanted to be sure I didn't forget. 

       I haven't been idle. I'm writing more on the side, working on poetry for myself, posting haiku on Facebook and Twitter and working on a picture book story that's important to me. It takes time to focus and think and create. Sometimes I am thrilled with a new word or phrase; sometimes I want to stomp away, frustrated that I know I am "telling" but feel helpless in the "showing".  

        I have been reading, loving other authors' words and illustrators' art. It informs my own writing to see the beauty of the books I read. And I review most, wanting to do my best to reflect back to those creators what I love about their work.

        I have family to spend time with, much time with the granddaughters, and savoring the visit from my out-of-state son, daughter-in-law, and grandson. I feel blessed that one family is near and the other comes to visit often. We all had a terrific holiday together, over too soon!

       A piece of my cake that has become larger is my work at the used bookstore. I am still the volunteer coordinator (the store, a non-profit, runs entirely on volunteers) but through need because of illness of one of the managers, I am now on the management team and on the board. I feel obligated to do more. I do love the store, the people with whom I work, the customers, too, but it is taking more time.

And I miss all of you, discovering what you are writing, the how and when and where of your words. So here I am beginning the year with a "slice of cake", chocolate for me with creamy icing, perhaps a scoop of ice cream on the side. Happy 2018 to all. May it be a year of good things despite the worries in the news!

A Backseat Slice

      I'm slicing with the Two Writing Teachers community today.  It's the final Tuesday slice before next Tuesday, the MARCH SLICE OF LIFE CHALLENGE. Are you ready? Thank you Stacey, Tara, Anna, Betsy, Dana, Kathleen, Beth, and Deb.  

     Those of you who read my slices know that I have favorite topics. Family, teaching, writing, and nature take most of the room. Those are the topics that fill up my life, so they are the slices of the cake, or pie, however you imagine slices. 
      Here's a backseat slice, and those of you who have children or grandchildren, or other children who sometimes ride in the back of your car will understand. You will have similar moments. I've even written a poem about it, and that might be another post. 

Reprise-with Footnotes

             Slicing with the Two Writing Teachers community is a pleasure each week.  Thank you Stacey, Tara, Anna, Betsy, Dana, Kathleen, Beth, and Deb.

     Last week I asked a question, and many of you--marvelous teachers all--responded. Here is the  paragraph of my "wonder" repeated.

           Yet, I wonder things, and this has nothing to do with the person with whom I'm now working, but it's a "generic" wonder. How does one teach another to teach? Don't we all have our specific and unique character as a teacher? Is this part of what makes a teacher good, figuring things out through doing, down "in the trenches"?  What is one important thing that you believe helps you, and others, be good teachers? Of course, knowledge of content and procedure is a given. Yet there's more, both elusive and personal.     

When does a teacher figure out that holding an insect is an
important thing to do in front of students? Or is it?

A Regular Habit - Hopeful

          Slicing with the Two Writing Teachers community is a pleasure every week.  Thank you Stacey, Tara, Anna, Betsy, Dana, Kathleen, Beth, and Deb.

          Wallace Stevens wrote: "Perhaps the truth depends on a walk around the lake." I'm happy to say that I've started a new habit, morning walks. I'm not a morning person, so when I worked, I never found that getting up in the dark to exercise was particularly thrilling. These morning walks are usually about 9am or after. I tried to stay mobile at school, walked around the building, parked a long way away in any parking lot, and "sometimes" walked after work. It wasn't fun since I was tired, and certainly irregular. 

A Slice of a Lesson

          Slicing with the Two Writing Teachers community is a pleasure every week.  Thanks to Stacey, Tara, Dana, Betsy, Beth and Anna! 

           As many of you know, I am officially retired, won't be returning for more coaching or teaching, but I will be visiting Ingrid's class. That will be my pleasure at school this year. I hope to travel to visit my grandson this fall, too. He'll be a freshman in high school, hard to believe! I don't imagine he will wish for me to visit his classes, but perhaps I can make it for a music concert? 
           So, as I read about many of you talking about the next year, I wonder how I will feel in September? Will it be okay to tell people I'm retired? The slices will be different, may only be what I used to do? I feel like it's going to be fine. I'm looking forward to venturing into some different kinds of life's slices, and hoping they will be just as sweet.

Savoring My OLW

          Slicing with the Two Writing Teachers community is a pleasure every week.  Thanks for all you do Stacey, Tara, Dana, Betsy, Beth and Anna!

         I noticed that a few days ago, the Two Writing Teachers asked about our One Little Word. In these busy, busy final weeks of school, the special slice of life that means I'm living my OLW-paint, is when I get out the paints and take a little while for something I love to do. It refreshes, takes away all the worries of THE LIST that grows longer every week. Here's a sample of one I've done of a favorite spring flower, those beautiful bleeding hearts. Hope your days are all going as well as they can, and your OLW is a treasure to you. For those of you who are finished with your school years, Happy Summer!

A Slice of Sunshine

created by Leigh Anne Eck
at A Day In The Life 

            Visit Two Writing Teachers every Tuesday to read everyone's posts! Thanks to Stacey, Tara, Dana, Betsy, Beth and Anna, we keep going!
          I'm continuing to write haiku and haiku-related poetry this month. See my latest below. 
           I'm also happy that some of us are sharing on twitter with the hashtag #DigiPoetry, created by Margaret Simon, of Reflections on The Teche.You're welcome to join us. Find the many Poetry Month offerings rounded up by Jama Rattigan at Jama's Alphabet Soup.  

Condensed Soup - Conference Highlights

            Thanks to Stacey, Tara, Dana, Beth, Anna and Betsy and all this blogging community for the Tuesday Slice of Life!  Looking forward to the March SOL Challenge!

             Here's a quick summary of some sessions I experienced at my conference. Because it includes hours of talk and listening, observing and participating, I can't "tell all".  I'm going to share some highlights, hence "condensed soup" and perhaps that will be enough, at least today. 

Examining Reading Habits - Great Conversations

Thanks to Stacey, Tara, Dana, Beth, Anna and Betsy and all this blogging community for the Tuesday Slice of Life!  

Tweet at #sol15

 My Reading Habits – Wondering What Students Do, Too

Sometime early in the year, I’ve always liked to have students write about their reading habits, what they’re currently reading, what kinds of things they read besides books, what they love and what they don’t.  I write too, to let students know how diverse reading habits can be.  Those who are avid readers will see that I’m usually reading several books at a time, as they do, and those who are less enthusiastic will see that reading behavior doesn’t just mean books. 
This time because I have a new class, I want to find out more about the habits of these new students. I already know some by the books they're choosing and the research they've finished, but I need more so I can give them a big nudge for the rest of the year.

Here’s a sample of my reading during a regular day:

Slicing and Seeing

Thanks to Stacey, Tara, Dana, Beth, Anna and Betsy for this Tuesday Slice of Life!  

Tweet at #sol15

        Whenever I discover the chance, I like to emphasize that writing and reading involves lots, LOTS, of visualizing. Sometimes I find that students don't exactly understand. Some students through the years have been surprised to learn that when others read, they imagine the scenes, the characters, the action. They plod along, understanding much of a plot, but really don't appear to have the facility (or have never developed) the making of pictures in one's mind. I "imagine" that many of you have lessons in your repertoire that you use to help students visualize what they're reading, which also aids them in improved comprehension, prediction, and connections. I have a few, too. 

Our Light Bouquet

Time for the weekly Slice of Life at the Two Writing Teachers blog.  Tweet at #SOL14  

       Thanks to Stacey, Tara, Dana, Beth, Anna and Betsy for the spectacular year of posts at Two Writing teachers. Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to everyone!

        I posted last Saturday about a special ending we have before my school departs for our winter break, and here is part of what I said:
          There are a variety of special days that our families celebrate this time of year, and some do not celebrate any holiday; however, we do believe that light is important in all of our lives. Every year, each class and other groups (like the trip teachers, math and music teachers, etc.) creates a display of some kind that shows ways that something or someone lights up our lives. 

          This time I've added more photos of different ways some of the classes shared who or what brought light into their lives. I wanted this 'repeat' because it feels like an important part of including everyone in celebrations especially during this time of year.  I found a quote of Muslim origin that speaks to this: “A lot of different flowers make a bouquet.”  My hope for all is that you find light in numerous ways in your lives.

Click for full screen to read the captions!

Slicing and Putting Things Away

Time for the weekly Slice of Life at the Two Writing Teachers blog.  Tweet at #SOL14  

       Thanks Stacey, Tara, Dana, Beth, Anna and Betsy!

         I introduced the Slice of Life with students yesterday. They wrote, broke into groups, and shared. From my observations in one group, it seems that they "got it", and were willing to try describing a piece of their lives. I kept it low-key, and we'll write again tomorrow. This group does have good writing experience, but now the challenge is to get them to narrow the focus, revise in all the different ways to revise to make the writing good. Step one, step two... and on! Exciting!

And I wrote too:

            There are those who say that messy desks open up paths to creativity, but I'm wondering. My desk at school is not messy, but is piled high, and no, I'm not going to show you a picture of it, but I am going to discuss one tiny slice of my life that occurs about twice a week. 

A Surprise in the Early Dark

This is the weekly Slice of Life at the Two Writing Teachers blog.  Tweet at #SOL14  

               Thanks Stacey, Tara, Dana, Beth, Anna and Betsy!  

Wishing everyone a marvelous time at NCTE!

                 One slice of my life each Monday evening or Tuesday morning is the time where I take the trash out. Every other week I also roll out the re-cycle cart. I realize this isn't the most exciting thing that anyone does, but I am grateful that I do have a reliable trash service. Some days, like last week's crazy cold, I think of the trash people and what a long, tough day working outside will be.  I've been rising earlier because of my new classroom job, so I took the trash barrel out this morning instead of doing it last night. Thus, I'm sharing that because of that change in my habits, I was greeted by more shivery air, but a gorgeous sky, and a clear sight of Orion's Belt. You may see this constellation more often, but I don't often go out into the dark early in the morning. Here's that word "mundane" I wrote about a few weeks ago. Trash: mundane, a weekly chore, challenging mostly in cold and snow. The gift: a sight to savor.

Click to enlarge.

photo credit: Cayusa via photopin cc

Slicing In Writing Workshop

Time for the weekly Slice of Life at the Two Writing Teachers blog.  Tweet at #SOL14  

       Thanks Stacey, Tara, Dana, Beth, Anna and Betsy!

         I told a little bit of my recent life's slices last week, but not all. I'm back in the classroom again, amazingly my original classroom when we moved to this building, and my Advanced School students, 6th, 7th and 8th graders. Through some need, I've become the core teacher in this class for the rest of the year. I had conferences last Thursday and Friday, twenty-one, student-led, and they were fine, just long, long days, but good talk. Whew, as I said earlier, my mind is swirling.

         Today was day number two. Starting a class in the 11th week is strange. I have some set lessons that I usually use to begin, some favorite poems, special readings, etc., but this time I knew it needed to be different, a start, but not exactly. Do any of you focus on the "art", the "visual", when working with writers? It seems to me that it's an important, sometimes overlooked, aspect of thinking about writing. I want students to believe that no matter what kind of writing they are doing, one goal of beautiful communication is not only to tell a story, but to create a "picture" for their readers. Today I read and gave each a copy of the following poem, Autobiography In Five Chapters, by Portia Nelson. 

It begins:                    

1) I walk down the street. 

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. 
I fall in. 
I am lost... I am hopeless. 
It isn't my fault. 
It takes forever to find a way out. 

2) I walk down the same street. 
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. 
I pretend I don't see it. 

You can find the whole text here.

            We read and discussed the poem briefly, then the students and I illustrated it, quick sketches with stick figures if they chose. We were rather amazed at the varied ways each chose to "draw" the poem, and then the different ways each interpreted the poem. What were my goals? To open eyes to respecting and appreciating different viewpoints, to begin to include the visual in their repertoires of thinking about writing, and to feel satisfied with something they created. I knew the poem, have used it in other ways with early adolescents, too, and am happy with this, our first time as a writing group.

             More to come!

It Really Is The Little Things

              Time for the weekly Slice of Life at the Two Writing Teachers blog.  Tweet at #SOL14  Thanks Stacey, Tara, Dana, Beth, Anna and Betsy!

BEFORE THE SLICE: My Must Read In 2014 update (see page above, & button on the right) is dismal. I'm not even sure when I last read one from the list! Too many books out lately keep me from reading the older ones. So-Carrie, Maria & everyone: I've completed 13 of 26. Will.try.harder!

          My granddaughter Ingrid spent most of Saturday and part of Sunday with me. We stayed home most of the time, reading, doing a puzzle, drawing and playing. But one thing she asked to do was to go to the grocery store. She had a few things to get, like 'yellow' string cheese, since I only had mozzarella sticks. Now, I love my very close grocery, but it doesn't have the variety of things to see that a nearby large Safeway does. And I knew Ingrid had not been to this particular store because she and her mom usually shop at Sprouts. So off we went. I needed coffee and a loaf of bread. This isn't the "rush in with a basket on your arm spree" to grab and go, but a slow-moving "examine everything that looks good" expedition. 

Tuesday Sharing-Slices of Beginnings

   Time for our Tuesday Slice of Life Sharing at the Two Writing Teachers blog. It's a wonderful place to share what's going on in your life, whatever you may be doing.

  Life is all memory, except for the one present moment that goes by you so quickly you hardly catch it going.
                                       Tennessee Williams

           I love taking pictures, and do try to capture different moments in my life, but sometimes it's nice just to "be" and that's what I'm sharing today, plus only one photo. My son, daughter-in-law and grandson arrived late Friday night. It was wonderful to have them around for a couple of days; the cliché "short, but sweet' fits perfectly. 

Time for Clean Slates

          Time for our Tuesday Slice of Life Sharing at theTwo Writing Teachers blog. It's a wonderful place to share. Last night, even more sharing happened on Twitter, at the #TWTBlog chat. Thanks for a great conversation!

          It was quite a day yesterday, one that was cut into tiny, tiny slices;  I'm actually happy it is over. As I said above, I enjoyed the twitter chat from everyone here, but the day itself was filled to the brim. I hoped to write a long post about the first days of school, but it will be brief today, sharing only one thing that became so important to me in the first days of school. 

          While even from the first day, I wanted my class to know that this would be a reading and writing year, even more I wanted them to realize that they were the ones that would be driving the year. I taught a mix of 6th, 7th and 8th graders and many of you know that personal choice is a top priority for all of our students, K through 8. One of the things I did on the first day was to share a poem or a poetic quote to help us leap into the year. I gave each student a copy, they taped it into their writers' notebooks, and then responded to it. In that response, I asked them to make one secret and very personal goal for the year.  Although I never knew what those particular goals were, I would re-visit students once in a while to ask how they were doing with it, and if there was something I could provide that would help reach the goal? Obviously, it involved a lot of trust. There were other times that students created goals that I did know about, but I always felt that trusting that they could work to reach a goal secretly was inspiring and empowering. 

Slice of My School Life - Non-Fiction for Older Students

           It's Tuesday, time for a slice of life at the Two Writing Teachers blog. Thanks to Stacey, Tara, Dana, Anna, Beth and Betsy, this community thrives. Please come visit for lots of interesting topics!

          Many blog posts and tweets are buzzing with plans for the school year. My mind is swirling, I have piles of work all over my dining table, trying to create a way to organize what I hope to do this year. Maybe I’ll never be done, but I’m beginning!

         There are numerous professional books that help with ideas about getting started in the school year, and blogs are lately filling up with ideas for starting reading workshop, writing workshop, writers’ notebooks (see Two Writing Teachers’ blog series this week! The first one is by Tara Smith, workshop routines).        

              I just enjoyed a NEW twitter chat with Ruth Ayres (@ruth_ayres) and Christy Levine (@rushlevine) on Sunday evening that will happen every first Sunday of the month at 8 eastern time, hashtag #TandCWriters. This time Katherine Sokolowski (@Katsok) was the host and questions were asked about the use of writers’ notebooks. How does one start them, etc.?

All-Write - Around and Around

Time for Tuesday's Slice of Life Sharing at Two Writing Teachers
       Thanks to Stacey, Tara, Dana, Betsy, Anna and Beth and to the bloggers who share. It's a pleasure to read your writing. 
        I really celebrated last Saturday about my trip to All-Write last week, but only shared the verbs, not the incredible experience every.single.minute. Even the hotel room provided a respite before going out again with friends to talk about education. What an inspiration to be there at the start of summer when we read and talk and tweet and plan--for next year! Remember that these are my words, my takeaways. Others may bring differing ideas, the speakers may have intended different messages. This is Day One!

Pictures and Why They're Here:

Ruth Ayres gave an amazing keynote address, starting, as is her mantra, with a story. She spoke of her children and the challenges they, with the family, face. Yet, Ruth, through much thought and advice, finally figured out that there was hope in Celebration With GRIT!  My Takeaway: Instead of working in our lives for ourselves, for our students, seeing what is NOT right, look for the nugget that is right, and CELEBRATE! It may be dusted with grit, but it is worthy. She referenced the beautiful "Man In The Arena" quote from a speech by Teddy Roosevelt, which you can find here. And shared "You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them" by Maya Angelou. I believe I do this in my own life, but perhaps forget when I'm teaching some students that I also can look through that grit & find the celebration!

Changes Still

     Thanks to those who write for the Two Writing Teachers blog, we have the Tuesday Slice of Life Sharing.
     Since I last wrote two weeks ago, school has ended, my daughter and family are still with me, (although it may be the final night), I've been to Texas to stay with a grandson to help out while he recuperated from a baseball hit to the eye, and now I'm on my way tomorrow to the All-Write Conference in Warsaw Indiana. When I return, I'll have five days, and my daughter, two grand-daughters, and that same grandson are taking a road trip to Mid-Missouri to visit my brother and family, back on the 2nd. June will be over... Wow!  So, what have I learned anew in these days since I said goodbye to school? (Pictures were posted on FB, but wanted to share again.)