Looking Back On My Writing

      A comment on yesterday's celebration of my 200th post suggested sharing some popular posts and some favorites.  I did a quick look and chose a few.  I have struggled with what I want my blog to be, and like others, have focused on teaching the language arts, with some personal moments shared, although almost always with teaching connected in some way.  One cannot be a teacher and not connect every part of one's life with that experience.  I wonder if those not in this profession know that?  Those I know who have different professions do not read the newspaper and say things like "I'll cut this article out to share with my class, or colleagues." or "That comic would be terrific to teach about dialogue".  And they do not visit stores ever looking for bargains that would add to the amazing collection of 'stuff' that teachers use: they do not collect egg cartons, two liter pop bottles, cardboard from the shirts at the cleaners, and the netting that holds little potatoes.  Thus, my posts tend always to connect my life's adventures to the teaching.  Here are a few favorites:

      The end of the March Slice of Life challenge at Two Writing Teachers was also the end of my first month.  My post described saying goodbye at the end of the year to my students and I wrote a poem of goodbye to the slicers of that month.

       Poetry plays an important part in my life and I have lately become involved with the Poetry Friday group.  Each day in April I wrote a poem.  William Stafford is known to write a poem every day and when asked how he did it, he said he lowered his standards.  During April, I certainly did that too, but here is one poem I feel is worthy to re-read.

New Blog - with a group of students

On Tuesdays and Thursdays I'll be writing with a group of students on the edublogs platform.  I thought it would be nice to begin a new blog with them to teach them how to manage a blog (many parts) and how to write a Slice of Life per the Two Writing Teachers blog that I've found so inspiring and supportive.  We had our first class Thursday, a whirlwind 60 minutes.  They looked at blogs, chose their titles and filled out information so I could create the blogs. We brainstormed ideas for the first post, which will be due next Tuesday, hard copy, so we can share and talk about comments first, then learn how to post.  They are so excited and I think a little bit disappointed that we all weren't up and publishing immediately.  If you have a class or even a few students that would like to interact and share with my group, I'd love it.  Let me know in the comments, or in the comments at my new blog, Writing Works.