tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86923812275187150812024-03-18T22:50:55.561-04:00A Day in the LifeLeigh Anne Eckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558611848583070310noreply@blogger.comBlogger945125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8692381227518715081.post-25820331651272417722024-03-18T17:27:00.003-04:002024-03-18T17:27:24.574-04:00A Mixed-Up Kind of Day 18/31<p style="text-align: center;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-99045fd2-7fff-289f-abfb-a63ebbea56fa"><img height="324" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/f6Jm4NIAj25NCZIcyJbwPrvqRwaYCXs0XrPwmHkRrrX1pR3hjk5XoBSQB623Pq0L0-r6dg8O_ermho0edScMZKL6LYiCxahlqedZ5XRc17z3SHWXhduu3jFXfux09h-lJSOo-9K8PqypcwYVVMFRVI_o=w400-h324" width="400" /></span></p><p>For the past 32 years, I could count on two hands the number of times my husband and I have NOT eaten pizza on a Friday night. Before teaching and when I was a stay-at-home mom, I could always count on not having to cook on a Friday. And even when I started teaching 17 years ago, I would come home from a long week knowing that pizza was on the menu.</p><p>My spring break started on Friday, and my daughter and I went to Tennessee for a long weekend to visit my sister. On our way home today, Megan asked, "Think Dad would want pizza tonight? I know it's not Friday, but pizza just sounds good."</p><p>"It sounds good to me too because I sure don't want to cook when we get home."</p><p>I texted him, and it was settled--pizza it was.</p><p>Isn't it funny how getting out of a routine can mix us up? Sitting down to write this slice, it feels like Friday. Pizza and a fire in the fireplace all add up to a Friday. It certainly feels like a mixed-up kind of day, and I know with six days left of break, this mixed-up feeling will continue. </p><p>But I'll take it!</p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioVlPqpOVGqTsEu294y_pVyDo3JzHs9hSeROcZIJHPe9OKZslNL4LNfgpatjPp4gA-KdMrCuAbhK-xKo5f0ZvdcS7diVn3YGwOi3_CCWaks0r49vuvyKa216J-wGXuX4AHgf6EzXxvkqdlX1vaeeuwGfr17fJuvnj6YG7lHmx3b2YFPHsFY4fsIPuw=s300" style="color: #0e7bde; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioVlPqpOVGqTsEu294y_pVyDo3JzHs9hSeROcZIJHPe9OKZslNL4LNfgpatjPp4gA-KdMrCuAbhK-xKo5f0ZvdcS7diVn3YGwOi3_CCWaks0r49vuvyKa216J-wGXuX4AHgf6EzXxvkqdlX1vaeeuwGfr17fJuvnj6YG7lHmx3b2YFPHsFY4fsIPuw=w200-h200" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;">Join </span><a href="https://twowritingteachers.org/" style="color: #0e7bde; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration-line: none;">Two Writing Teachers</a><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"> and other teacher-writers as we <br /></span><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif">share a slice of life during the month of March.</span><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </span></p>Leigh Anne Eckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558611848583070310noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8692381227518715081.post-58650517783487713292024-03-15T20:49:00.004-04:002024-03-15T20:49:31.886-04:00Spring Break Has Arrived! 15/31<p>I gave myself permission to miss slicing today. My spring break started at 1:30 this afternoon I walked out the door with my students, and my daughter and I were on the road by 2:00. We are spending the weekend with my sister down by Nashville.</p><p>We arrived, went out to eat dinner, and now are getting ready to play cards. We have a whole weekend of shopping for items to go into my daughter's new house--still a slice to come!</p><p>But I just can't not slice.</p><p>So here I am with a late-night slice and hoping I hold good cards!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioVlPqpOVGqTsEu294y_pVyDo3JzHs9hSeROcZIJHPe9OKZslNL4LNfgpatjPp4gA-KdMrCuAbhK-xKo5f0ZvdcS7diVn3YGwOi3_CCWaks0r49vuvyKa216J-wGXuX4AHgf6EzXxvkqdlX1vaeeuwGfr17fJuvnj6YG7lHmx3b2YFPHsFY4fsIPuw=s300" style="color: #0e7bde; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioVlPqpOVGqTsEu294y_pVyDo3JzHs9hSeROcZIJHPe9OKZslNL4LNfgpatjPp4gA-KdMrCuAbhK-xKo5f0ZvdcS7diVn3YGwOi3_CCWaks0r49vuvyKa216J-wGXuX4AHgf6EzXxvkqdlX1vaeeuwGfr17fJuvnj6YG7lHmx3b2YFPHsFY4fsIPuw=w200-h200" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;">Join </span><a href="https://twowritingteachers.org/" style="color: #0e7bde; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration-line: none;">Two Writing Teachers</a><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"> and other teacher-writers as we <br /></span><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif">share a slice of life during the month of March.</span><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: start;" /></p><p></p><p><span face="Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: 15px;"></span></p>Leigh Anne Eckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558611848583070310noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8692381227518715081.post-5873986326974707912024-03-14T00:30:00.004-04:002024-03-18T17:59:06.581-04:00A Word Buffet 14/31<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfDP8xolIh9AnP2L5-Mg0V_jOk0SU3Bj2RIVvFyrOY1sZuW2fdf3IvMcDJ2__6yOUCr3K8kQY-B1lNaBC3NXEoWz0g81KII8xwXLXWfkvSRc_Jd_7fb2nIxsmtau7lQgZkYZXRIWWmp_U0myYvDzd5X3MHWV5_LIvHDWuQa1_m8bHgvN47Vl1r5MPG4vs/s1280/word%20buffet.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfDP8xolIh9AnP2L5-Mg0V_jOk0SU3Bj2RIVvFyrOY1sZuW2fdf3IvMcDJ2__6yOUCr3K8kQY-B1lNaBC3NXEoWz0g81KII8xwXLXWfkvSRc_Jd_7fb2nIxsmtau7lQgZkYZXRIWWmp_U0myYvDzd5X3MHWV5_LIvHDWuQa1_m8bHgvN47Vl1r5MPG4vs/w640-h360/word%20buffet.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Since 2017, with the exception of 2019, I have held a March slicer party. To try and make it fun and different each year, I would ask my guests to bring something different to the party. This ranged from favorite things to favorite quotes to things in their best color. One year we even had to bring a special ID.</p><p>I have already been asked to host another party, and I think this one might just be my favorite yet, thanks to my writing friend Heather at <a href="https://camashmorr.blogspot.com/">Writing My Way</a>!</p><p>A word buffet!</p><p>I hang out online with some amazing writing friends who love to play with words. I am a word nerd! I love finding, learning, and exploring new words. Imagine all of us slicers sitting together with our favorite notebooks and pens in hand and sharing our favorite words. What better way to do this than with other word nerds and writers!</p><p><span face="Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;">So, grab a notebook and pen and let's get started! Here is my addition to the word buffet:</span></p><p><span face="Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;"><b>serendipity</b>--<i>the occurrence of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way</i>. I believe in serendipity, and I love to use this word in poems. Especially in a haiku (check out that syllable count!).</span></p><p><span face="Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;"><b>petrichor</b>--<i>the scent of rain. </i>There is nothing like going outside and breathing deeply after a rain. I learned of this word while I participated in a poetry challenge a few years ago. It was nice to know this scent had a name.</span></p><p><span face="Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;"><b>incredulous</b>--<i>unable or unwilling to believe something</i>. Have you ever had a word that kept popping up in books you were reading, like the bad penny? This is now I learned about this word and how it made my favorites list.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>kaleidoscope</b>--<i> </i></span><span style="background-color: white;"><i>a tube containing mirrors and pieces of colored glass or paper, whose reflections produce changing patterns. </i>I love finding kaleidoscope-like images in nature. Sometimes it might take a twist, but they are there.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>dandelion</b>--<i>a widely distributed weed in the daisy family. </i>I love the strength of a dandelion, it's will to survive in hard times. But I mostly love this word because it is my favorite color of crayon. I was devasted when Crayola discontinued it, so I try to keep it alive in my <a href="https://adayinthelifeof19b.blogspot.com/search?q=ode+to+dandelion">writing</a>.</span></span></p><p><span face="Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;">I hope you consider joining me this month. When you have a day when ideas just aren't coming (and you KNOW you will), accept my invitation to the word buffet and write a slice sharing five of your favorite words. Just let me know you have joined, and I will include you on the guest list down below. I can't wait to see who else is coming!</span></p><p><span face="Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: 15px;">Past Slicer Parties</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://adayinthelifeof19b.blogspot.com/2023/03/its-party-time-sol23.html">2023<br /></a><a href="https://adayinthelifeof19b.blogspot.com/2022/03/a-slicer-party-sol22.html">2022<br /></a><a href="https://adayinthelifeof19b.blogspot.com/2021/03/its-party-id-required-sol21.html">2021<br /></a><a href="https://adayinthelifeof19b.blogspot.com/2020/03/youre-invited-to-spring-fling-sol20.html">2020<br /></a><a href="https://adayinthelifeof19b.blogspot.com/2018/03/its-party-sol18.html">2018<br /></a><a href="https://adayinthelifeof19b.blogspot.com/2017/03/youre-invited-sol17.html">2017</a></div><p>2024 Guest List</p><div style="text-align: left;">Heather at <a href="https://camashmorr.blogspot.com/2024/03/a-word-party-i-am-in-solsc-sol24.html">Writing My Way<br /></a>Donnetta at <a href="https://teacherreaderwriter.blogspot.com/2024/03/my-word-buffet-march-15-2024-solsc24.html">Teacher, Reader, Writer</a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Juliette at <a href="https://justgiftslife.gift/2024/03/18/at-the-slicer-party/">Gifts</a></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioVlPqpOVGqTsEu294y_pVyDo3JzHs9hSeROcZIJHPe9OKZslNL4LNfgpatjPp4gA-KdMrCuAbhK-xKo5f0ZvdcS7diVn3YGwOi3_CCWaks0r49vuvyKa216J-wGXuX4AHgf6EzXxvkqdlX1vaeeuwGfr17fJuvnj6YG7lHmx3b2YFPHsFY4fsIPuw=s300" style="color: #0e7bde; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioVlPqpOVGqTsEu294y_pVyDo3JzHs9hSeROcZIJHPe9OKZslNL4LNfgpatjPp4gA-KdMrCuAbhK-xKo5f0ZvdcS7diVn3YGwOi3_CCWaks0r49vuvyKa216J-wGXuX4AHgf6EzXxvkqdlX1vaeeuwGfr17fJuvnj6YG7lHmx3b2YFPHsFY4fsIPuw=w200-h200" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;">Join </span><a href="https://twowritingteachers.org/" style="color: #0e7bde; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration-line: none;">Two Writing Teachers</a><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"> and other teacher-writers as we <br /></span><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif">share a slice of life during the month of March.</span><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: start;" /></p><p></p><p><span face="Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: 15px;"></span></p>Leigh Anne Eckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558611848583070310noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8692381227518715081.post-26582150816856282942024-03-13T19:39:00.000-04:002024-03-13T19:39:26.219-04:00March 13th--100 Word Slice 13/31<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Four years ago today, our world turned upside down. The rumors about places shutting down and events getting canceled started early in the morning. The more the day went on, the louder the buzz. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">By mid-afternoon, we were told our spring break was extended for two weeks. The kids were excited; the teachers were concerned. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We left and never returned that school year.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-643cd3b5-7fff-44f8-6254-6f1a49ba2de3"></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I have written very little about the pandemic and want to keep it that way. But for me, March 13th is a date that will always be tethered to a memory, an end, and a different beginning.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioVlPqpOVGqTsEu294y_pVyDo3JzHs9hSeROcZIJHPe9OKZslNL4LNfgpatjPp4gA-KdMrCuAbhK-xKo5f0ZvdcS7diVn3YGwOi3_CCWaks0r49vuvyKa216J-wGXuX4AHgf6EzXxvkqdlX1vaeeuwGfr17fJuvnj6YG7lHmx3b2YFPHsFY4fsIPuw=s300" style="color: #0e7bde; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioVlPqpOVGqTsEu294y_pVyDo3JzHs9hSeROcZIJHPe9OKZslNL4LNfgpatjPp4gA-KdMrCuAbhK-xKo5f0ZvdcS7diVn3YGwOi3_CCWaks0r49vuvyKa216J-wGXuX4AHgf6EzXxvkqdlX1vaeeuwGfr17fJuvnj6YG7lHmx3b2YFPHsFY4fsIPuw=w200-h200" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;">Join </span><a href="https://twowritingteachers.org/" style="color: #0e7bde; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration-line: none;">Two Writing Teachers</a><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"> and other teacher-writers as we <br /></span><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif">share a slice of life during the month of March.</span><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: start;" /></p><p></p><p><span face="Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: 15px;"></span></p>Leigh Anne Eckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558611848583070310noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8692381227518715081.post-82726859380021678302024-03-12T17:44:00.004-04:002024-03-12T17:44:30.490-04:00Writing about Reading 12/31<p>Writing about reading. I have been thinking about these words a lot lately. My relationship with them has been rocky. Definitely not a stable one for my students' reading lives nor with my own.</p><p>I move back forth between these two thoughts: </p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>I want my students to think deeper about what they read.</li><li>I want my students to just read and enjoy the book without having a task attached to the reading.</li></ol><div>The past three weeks, we read The Watsons Go to Birmingham as a whole class novel. I taught specific standards and did not assess their reading through comprehension questions. We had rich whole class discussions about racism, life in the south, and the Civil Rights Movement. </div><div><br /></div><div>However, I did assign a one-pager during these last few days leading up to spring break. It was a way to spark creativity yet keep them on task...if you know what I mean!</div><div><br /></div><div>I was pleased with my students' work, but I am not sure if this is an effective teaching practice or assessment. My students enjoyed creating them and they enjoyed the book and conversations we had. But I am still left with more "writing about reading" questions than answers, and I would love to hear what you do in your classroom!</div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBvDx0ZNu8ATXolPyObUa0Stw413nii_XXdrAVFDuc6todJhlIP4Q4st4_4hkOMS_JYj0vK78LE3B_GNbYPR0BD-VxVK_zMq5YLyE10L_XmY8MtgkHAWg4PPUH_uVCWXQbpz9HARJ0LXJVuw2U4U3wKzFyTXD3iFiKREcuIaU2L116NnDy1TghVglha9k/s4032/IMG_8041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBvDx0ZNu8ATXolPyObUa0Stw413nii_XXdrAVFDuc6todJhlIP4Q4st4_4hkOMS_JYj0vK78LE3B_GNbYPR0BD-VxVK_zMq5YLyE10L_XmY8MtgkHAWg4PPUH_uVCWXQbpz9HARJ0LXJVuw2U4U3wKzFyTXD3iFiKREcuIaU2L116NnDy1TghVglha9k/w300-h400/IMG_8041.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9JYl-iDeDAPxTMA2nQJMwoxM14kv3JZa1R1a_Mre7RrzNno7rfYVFAqmWXb8MpXknBvoleu9GFziEIt60X93_itIPTrGbUoWc6gpZR0h1k36Dp8HQ8JTD_a7fWJO9zaItwTcb1f_gcD8l26-M450JMpVPKaZdTkmkjUIuPyO0GckAXUBazFZLPXWMTM0/s4032/IMG_8042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9JYl-iDeDAPxTMA2nQJMwoxM14kv3JZa1R1a_Mre7RrzNno7rfYVFAqmWXb8MpXknBvoleu9GFziEIt60X93_itIPTrGbUoWc6gpZR0h1k36Dp8HQ8JTD_a7fWJO9zaItwTcb1f_gcD8l26-M450JMpVPKaZdTkmkjUIuPyO0GckAXUBazFZLPXWMTM0/w300-h400/IMG_8042.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx35vSngwlZ6qvUOk3tt3SXhSNvCTKXgY8fMvZbTRTB20tmNAZdogWN8yG3bHKAwte_-t-Hk5KLc5uA8YxqD_j223r5-Q5_FdA0zctmMKdH74FPmK2zAxvWOxH9UkB7c9oHTI0KqAUCwTZWOTWdO8Y3hRkXC1LBu5CsDopjj1XrpEIGlvMjLD_Xdk8IeI/s4032/IMG_8043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx35vSngwlZ6qvUOk3tt3SXhSNvCTKXgY8fMvZbTRTB20tmNAZdogWN8yG3bHKAwte_-t-Hk5KLc5uA8YxqD_j223r5-Q5_FdA0zctmMKdH74FPmK2zAxvWOxH9UkB7c9oHTI0KqAUCwTZWOTWdO8Y3hRkXC1LBu5CsDopjj1XrpEIGlvMjLD_Xdk8IeI/w300-h400/IMG_8043.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioVlPqpOVGqTsEu294y_pVyDo3JzHs9hSeROcZIJHPe9OKZslNL4LNfgpatjPp4gA-KdMrCuAbhK-xKo5f0ZvdcS7diVn3YGwOi3_CCWaks0r49vuvyKa216J-wGXuX4AHgf6EzXxvkqdlX1vaeeuwGfr17fJuvnj6YG7lHmx3b2YFPHsFY4fsIPuw=s300" style="color: #0e7bde; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioVlPqpOVGqTsEu294y_pVyDo3JzHs9hSeROcZIJHPe9OKZslNL4LNfgpatjPp4gA-KdMrCuAbhK-xKo5f0ZvdcS7diVn3YGwOi3_CCWaks0r49vuvyKa216J-wGXuX4AHgf6EzXxvkqdlX1vaeeuwGfr17fJuvnj6YG7lHmx3b2YFPHsFY4fsIPuw=w200-h200" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;">Join </span><a href="https://twowritingteachers.org/" style="color: #0e7bde; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration-line: none;">Two Writing Teachers</a><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"> and other teacher-writers as we <br /></span><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif">share a slice of life during the month of March.</span><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: start;" /></p><p></p><p><span face="Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: 15px;"></span></p>Leigh Anne Eckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558611848583070310noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8692381227518715081.post-58877386700694113442024-03-11T21:26:00.001-04:002024-03-11T21:34:16.335-04:00A Teacher's Heart 11/31<p>There is a lot of talk about teacher shortages across the nation. Here in my little town in southwestern Indiana, we have had a year of juggling teachers and placing non-certified teachers in classrooms, especially in my middle school.</p><p>Tonight, I attended our monthly school board meeting, and I think we might be seeing some positive changes. We hired teachers for positions we don't even have open, hoping to hire the best candidates before they are taken by other schools. </p><p>I love seeing former students making their way into the education field, and I wonder if people ask them the same question that was asked of my daughter, "Why would you want to become a teacher?"</p><p>I think about this a lot, but especially these last few years. My daughter graduated with a 4.0 and received a full scholarship at our local university. Many people questioned her decision to be "just a teacher."</p><p>It takes a special person to go into the educational field, especially in our world today. I am a firm believer in "you either have it or you don't." You have to have a big heart because it seems each year, we give a little bit away. As I looked around the room tonight, I could see those hearts full of hope and excitement that belonged to these new teachers. And I am confident that we are heading in the right direction. </p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioVlPqpOVGqTsEu294y_pVyDo3JzHs9hSeROcZIJHPe9OKZslNL4LNfgpatjPp4gA-KdMrCuAbhK-xKo5f0ZvdcS7diVn3YGwOi3_CCWaks0r49vuvyKa216J-wGXuX4AHgf6EzXxvkqdlX1vaeeuwGfr17fJuvnj6YG7lHmx3b2YFPHsFY4fsIPuw=s300" style="color: #0e7bde; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioVlPqpOVGqTsEu294y_pVyDo3JzHs9hSeROcZIJHPe9OKZslNL4LNfgpatjPp4gA-KdMrCuAbhK-xKo5f0ZvdcS7diVn3YGwOi3_CCWaks0r49vuvyKa216J-wGXuX4AHgf6EzXxvkqdlX1vaeeuwGfr17fJuvnj6YG7lHmx3b2YFPHsFY4fsIPuw=w200-h200" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;">Join </span><a href="https://twowritingteachers.org/" style="color: #0e7bde; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration-line: none;">Two Writing Teachers</a><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"> and other teacher-writers as we <br /></span><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif">share a slice of life during the month of March.</span><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: start;" /></p><p></p><p><span face="Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: 15px;"></span></p>Leigh Anne Eckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558611848583070310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8692381227518715081.post-23773746797140739192024-03-10T18:09:00.004-04:002024-03-10T18:10:13.550-04:00A New Season Part One 10/31<p>My one little word this year is "season." I spent the day helping my daughter move into my mother's house--that is another slice yet to come!</p><p>For now, because I am exhausted, I will share a little bit of the spring explosion from this week. I hope Mother Nature isn't teasing this year, and spring really is on the way!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJwwA-pDp5BCRfMIYnuiHxYFYtVAVrp7aPm0RSQS-oAxrT436YIheQgSr2Bh4qEnZbbzlHPlnKi29XYXLBaDDyJ0VhTmUXAZkxSLiwTANbW5XnlFVXk7iMqJjgTM3a4ZP8B99JwXxw16sygxqJnuN0uuhhykKnmk1Q-vvMgTewgYkXOPWJhev1djLxw0/s4032/IMG_8026.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJwwA-pDp5BCRfMIYnuiHxYFYtVAVrp7aPm0RSQS-oAxrT436YIheQgSr2Bh4qEnZbbzlHPlnKi29XYXLBaDDyJ0VhTmUXAZkxSLiwTANbW5XnlFVXk7iMqJjgTM3a4ZP8B99JwXxw16sygxqJnuN0uuhhykKnmk1Q-vvMgTewgYkXOPWJhev1djLxw0/w400-h300/IMG_8026.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhncW6Aq5ivgn2sGzbwZCjCFWSJt-93a_XmyzrvAfpLMIbJ5tLcU9tdS9XrZ84zwEA_v0dNTWMOPne287p7ss5Sh8YPpSp5yD10zC8lhCZVjYZO0uDtW-wDhzhZJvqtyN98P9gQC3ylT1xu4xC79Skoa-jYeSLBliu7x-zQyv4lhXbYCCBua62ufjf4EAQ/s4032/IMG_8027.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhncW6Aq5ivgn2sGzbwZCjCFWSJt-93a_XmyzrvAfpLMIbJ5tLcU9tdS9XrZ84zwEA_v0dNTWMOPne287p7ss5Sh8YPpSp5yD10zC8lhCZVjYZO0uDtW-wDhzhZJvqtyN98P9gQC3ylT1xu4xC79Skoa-jYeSLBliu7x-zQyv4lhXbYCCBua62ufjf4EAQ/w300-h400/IMG_8027.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisRKcSFA_Ks2oW-KOdGTXEngNM3XPB2Mp75weKLGoxLXWZgUWxFYjmM9e8HMNzEAkElMUfHy5-mBZEKVVC1XoXsKmJK7PAgd2YyXtCYEX4Ym1urHbkebt6chhfgOqyDhwyIHAfLEE8tWpMxSG3lgKFFYymwFklCqkbTzoe65_J8m_LJ4ULE9cNm6l0zn4/s4032/IMG_8028.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisRKcSFA_Ks2oW-KOdGTXEngNM3XPB2Mp75weKLGoxLXWZgUWxFYjmM9e8HMNzEAkElMUfHy5-mBZEKVVC1XoXsKmJK7PAgd2YyXtCYEX4Ym1urHbkebt6chhfgOqyDhwyIHAfLEE8tWpMxSG3lgKFFYymwFklCqkbTzoe65_J8m_LJ4ULE9cNm6l0zn4/w400-h300/IMG_8028.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioVlPqpOVGqTsEu294y_pVyDo3JzHs9hSeROcZIJHPe9OKZslNL4LNfgpatjPp4gA-KdMrCuAbhK-xKo5f0ZvdcS7diVn3YGwOi3_CCWaks0r49vuvyKa216J-wGXuX4AHgf6EzXxvkqdlX1vaeeuwGfr17fJuvnj6YG7lHmx3b2YFPHsFY4fsIPuw=s300" style="color: #0e7bde; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioVlPqpOVGqTsEu294y_pVyDo3JzHs9hSeROcZIJHPe9OKZslNL4LNfgpatjPp4gA-KdMrCuAbhK-xKo5f0ZvdcS7diVn3YGwOi3_CCWaks0r49vuvyKa216J-wGXuX4AHgf6EzXxvkqdlX1vaeeuwGfr17fJuvnj6YG7lHmx3b2YFPHsFY4fsIPuw=w200-h200" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;">Join </span><a href="https://twowritingteachers.org/" style="color: #0e7bde; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration-line: none;">Two Writing Teachers</a><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"> and other teacher-writers as we <br /></span><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif">share a slice of life during the month of March.</span><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: start;" /></p><p></p><p><span face="Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: 15px;"></span></p>Leigh Anne Eckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558611848583070310noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8692381227518715081.post-89305140416066278622024-03-09T09:56:00.007-05:002024-03-09T09:59:03.073-05:005-4-3-2-1 Weekly Reflection 9/31<p>Sometimes I like to end my week with a 5-4-3-2-1 Friday reflection in my notebook. It gives me a chance to look back and count the blessings in my week and to look forward to the weekend. This is also a great way to find slice possibilities!</p><p><b>5 things that made me smile:</b></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>reading aloud to students</li><li>connecting with former slicers</li><li>listening to Elvis with Mom</li><li>buying house stuff with Megan</li><li>reading a book</li></ul><p></p><p><b>4 words to describe my week:</b></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>deadline</li><li>rainy</li><li>book-ish</li><li>spring-like</li></ul><p></p><p><b>3 plans for the weekend:</b></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>spend time with Ethan</li><li>move Megan in to Mom's house</li><li>Gena's surprise party</li></ul><p></p><p><b>2 things I learned:</b></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>middle schoolers still like to be read to</li><li>it's ok to ask for help</li></ul><p></p><p><b>1 goal for next week:</b></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>survive the week before Spring Break</li></ul><p></p><p>Here is a picture of my notebook page--minus two of the words to describe my week that I forgot to finish before I took the picture! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt8Xed_75OLIxRosUQZd-4iIkjimM1mT4CbXfD8Ad6AXPIFoFbPAxL4awLsnhwTHLXu5KjB3RC7yn5bBQfkQ1dnTC2mTYljqz4yrXyfb5Dc8eImsuUl0hMviZECgcT5OhMQxTXNhSCnXPW6WwAvI3LB7H_B2sMVFGlVwjvJ0r8lnFFW_UktUBASH41-vM/s4032/54321.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt8Xed_75OLIxRosUQZd-4iIkjimM1mT4CbXfD8Ad6AXPIFoFbPAxL4awLsnhwTHLXu5KjB3RC7yn5bBQfkQ1dnTC2mTYljqz4yrXyfb5Dc8eImsuUl0hMviZECgcT5OhMQxTXNhSCnXPW6WwAvI3LB7H_B2sMVFGlVwjvJ0r8lnFFW_UktUBASH41-vM/w480-h640/54321.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>For those of you who focus on counting your blessings, have you heard this song? I listen to this song every day at school before my day begins.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aZjWYgq9QfM" width="320" youtube-src-id="aZjWYgq9QfM"></iframe></div><div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioVlPqpOVGqTsEu294y_pVyDo3JzHs9hSeROcZIJHPe9OKZslNL4LNfgpatjPp4gA-KdMrCuAbhK-xKo5f0ZvdcS7diVn3YGwOi3_CCWaks0r49vuvyKa216J-wGXuX4AHgf6EzXxvkqdlX1vaeeuwGfr17fJuvnj6YG7lHmx3b2YFPHsFY4fsIPuw=s300" style="color: #0e7bde; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioVlPqpOVGqTsEu294y_pVyDo3JzHs9hSeROcZIJHPe9OKZslNL4LNfgpatjPp4gA-KdMrCuAbhK-xKo5f0ZvdcS7diVn3YGwOi3_CCWaks0r49vuvyKa216J-wGXuX4AHgf6EzXxvkqdlX1vaeeuwGfr17fJuvnj6YG7lHmx3b2YFPHsFY4fsIPuw=w200-h200" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;">Join </span><a href="https://twowritingteachers.org/" style="color: #0e7bde; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration-line: none;">Two Writing Teachers</a><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"> and other teacher-writers as we <br /></span><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif">share a slice of life during the month of March.</span><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: start;" /></p><p></p><p><span face="Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: 15px;"></span></p></div>Leigh Anne Eckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558611848583070310noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8692381227518715081.post-55603819713219679752024-03-08T07:58:00.001-05:002024-03-08T07:58:11.982-05:00A Radio Chuckle 8/31<p>Have you ever done this? Have you and someone else ever looked up and pointed at something in the sky or on the ceiling that really wasn't there? You know what happens. Anyone who walks by or sees you from a distance looks up to see what you are looking at. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZC1wpqvw_WdLuwywLn_UO8b8h6EZYoOO7T1phvmcCujsAPcI9yNDlfg5eBpd_vKt1czRvLNEjrBK3b7P5OYg5DckqjpCtVOS0cmWcglG0gYQyHWhuoemCzN06THk_6mLU4wzQiZOpuJnMDxTTjUG4DpSfxp6ZdSDgIN_GkJ_aDpMISsKL3OJY17JKXg/s1280/feet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="903" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZC1wpqvw_WdLuwywLn_UO8b8h6EZYoOO7T1phvmcCujsAPcI9yNDlfg5eBpd_vKt1czRvLNEjrBK3b7P5OYg5DckqjpCtVOS0cmWcglG0gYQyHWhuoemCzN06THk_6mLU4wzQiZOpuJnMDxTTjUG4DpSfxp6ZdSDgIN_GkJ_aDpMISsKL3OJY17JKXg/w226-h320/feet.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>This morning on my way to school, I was listening to the radio. They were talking about "Happy Dance Friday" and taking calls from listeners. <p></p><p>A woman called in and talked about her foot surgery. She was happy because she actually moved her toes for the first time since her surgery in August.</p><p>"You haven't been able to move your toes since August?"</p><p>"No. You know how you can move your toes up and down and spread them apart? I was finally able to do that for the first time this week."</p><p>The radio host says while laughing, "Oh my goodness. I am sitting here moving my toes. And I bet all of our listeners are doing the same!</p><p>Guess what I was doing? Yes, moving my toes up and down and spreading them apart.</p><p>Did you get caught wiggling your toes just now?</p><p>What's making you dance on this "Happy Dance Friday"?</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioVlPqpOVGqTsEu294y_pVyDo3JzHs9hSeROcZIJHPe9OKZslNL4LNfgpatjPp4gA-KdMrCuAbhK-xKo5f0ZvdcS7diVn3YGwOi3_CCWaks0r49vuvyKa216J-wGXuX4AHgf6EzXxvkqdlX1vaeeuwGfr17fJuvnj6YG7lHmx3b2YFPHsFY4fsIPuw=s300" style="color: #0e7bde; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioVlPqpOVGqTsEu294y_pVyDo3JzHs9hSeROcZIJHPe9OKZslNL4LNfgpatjPp4gA-KdMrCuAbhK-xKo5f0ZvdcS7diVn3YGwOi3_CCWaks0r49vuvyKa216J-wGXuX4AHgf6EzXxvkqdlX1vaeeuwGfr17fJuvnj6YG7lHmx3b2YFPHsFY4fsIPuw=w200-h200" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;">Join </span><a href="https://twowritingteachers.org/" style="color: #0e7bde; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration-line: none;">Two Writing Teachers</a><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"> and other teacher-writers as we <br /></span><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif">share a slice of life during the month of March.</span><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: start;" /></p><p></p><p><span face="Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: 15px;"></span></p>Leigh Anne Eckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558611848583070310noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8692381227518715081.post-62141350300231738042024-03-07T07:44:00.003-05:002024-03-07T12:55:24.601-05:00A Gathering of Grandkid Goodness 7/31<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjhIriyZZ0xH3QvB6h_NdvDEz-Wn2Eid3XKYIYcw0sw3O0C08JXrINJFJnmPE91tBgB19H9aStiP8l9kRYistCgsMLydjw09ZnE-pZgcTM1-M2MiBkjqRgC4AJuIQXSkTbdKhCdMFbLO3E-uByuNCzVJIOXGwpis32sLZiT_N2gOOf_NUSSyniuBBUYgNs" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjhIriyZZ0xH3QvB6h_NdvDEz-Wn2Eid3XKYIYcw0sw3O0C08JXrINJFJnmPE91tBgB19H9aStiP8l9kRYistCgsMLydjw09ZnE-pZgcTM1-M2MiBkjqRgC4AJuIQXSkTbdKhCdMFbLO3E-uByuNCzVJIOXGwpis32sLZiT_N2gOOf_NUSSyniuBBUYgNs" width="240" /></a></div><p><br /><i>I am delighted to once again be joining other bloggers for Spiritual Journey Thursday. I missed February (this post is part of the reason why) but I am glad to be back this month. Today's journey is hosted by <a href="https://pleasuresfromthepage.blogspot.com/2024/03/sol-731-and-sjt-gathering-goodness.html">Ramona at Pleasure from the Page</a>. Please feel free to join us!</i></p><p>Before I became a teacher, I was a stay-at-home and a quilter. I quilted with my husband's grandmother and sister. We spent hours laughing and talking at the quilting frame while my daughter Megan played underneath. </p><p>About 25 years ago, we began making picture quilts where we had pictures transferred onto fabric and then sewn into quilt blocks. Our first one was for the 50th wedding anniversary of my in-laws. It was beautiful.</p><p>We also made one for my grandma. This one featured a baby picture and a current picture of each one of her 18 grandchildren. That was such a special Christmas as no one had ever seen a quilt like this before.</p><p>Many years later, dementia took over my grandma's life, and she moved in with my aunt. I assumed she took the quilt with her. Sometime after she died, I asked about the quilt, and the search began.</p><p>My aunt looked all through Grandma's things. </p><p>Nothing. </p><p>My aunt looked all through her closets and drawers in her house. </p><p>Nothing.</p><p>The quilt could not be found. We assumed that sometime during the move to my aunt's house, the quilt must have been accidently thrown away. It was probably stored safely in a box or bag, and someone had mistaken it for trash or a donation. </p><p>After many years now, I have come to accept that it was gone.</p><p>Over President's Day weekend, my siblings and I packed up my mom's house because we had just recently put her in a nursing home. We each took a room, and I was in the back bedroom with my nephew. Going through a closet that had extra bedding in it, I looked down and I saw corner of a blanket.</p><p>"No, this can't be!"</p><p>I pulled it out and started screaming. The quilt was at my mom's house all these years. My mom now has dementia, so I will never know how or when she got it. I am assuming that since my mom is the oldest of her siblings, she took it and didn't remember.</p><p>I now have the quilt, but what a day it was: <b>a gathering of grandkid goodness!</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrnr6G4DNNByMDpyDUAcwUT7gcnSjmtpwCHvD8tmFJMr57CbEd42-2ib8eq7zq04XG07CgQzX2WCcQMnG1yAO1bKrAXsHLWR7ZR-mfmCLgRAGkAgYrm2xHDE_ZBVh7ZGJb_LUKApB8Az1Nbtbq7M6iFG4nBgAeDHfCDfFFa2MBww2wTwvqF7nM8gmKaZ4/s4032/quilt.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrnr6G4DNNByMDpyDUAcwUT7gcnSjmtpwCHvD8tmFJMr57CbEd42-2ib8eq7zq04XG07CgQzX2WCcQMnG1yAO1bKrAXsHLWR7ZR-mfmCLgRAGkAgYrm2xHDE_ZBVh7ZGJb_LUKApB8Az1Nbtbq7M6iFG4nBgAeDHfCDfFFa2MBww2wTwvqF7nM8gmKaZ4/w480-h640/quilt.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioVlPqpOVGqTsEu294y_pVyDo3JzHs9hSeROcZIJHPe9OKZslNL4LNfgpatjPp4gA-KdMrCuAbhK-xKo5f0ZvdcS7diVn3YGwOi3_CCWaks0r49vuvyKa216J-wGXuX4AHgf6EzXxvkqdlX1vaeeuwGfr17fJuvnj6YG7lHmx3b2YFPHsFY4fsIPuw=s300" style="color: #0e7bde; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioVlPqpOVGqTsEu294y_pVyDo3JzHs9hSeROcZIJHPe9OKZslNL4LNfgpatjPp4gA-KdMrCuAbhK-xKo5f0ZvdcS7diVn3YGwOi3_CCWaks0r49vuvyKa216J-wGXuX4AHgf6EzXxvkqdlX1vaeeuwGfr17fJuvnj6YG7lHmx3b2YFPHsFY4fsIPuw=w200-h200" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;">Join </span><a href="https://twowritingteachers.org/" style="color: #0e7bde; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration-line: none;">Two Writing Teachers</a><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"> and other teacher-writers as we <br /></span><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif">share a slice of life during the month of March.</span><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </span></p><p><span face="Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: 15px;"></span></p><p><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;" /></p><p style="text-align: center;"> </p>Leigh Anne Eckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558611848583070310noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8692381227518715081.post-76277876036777950742024-03-06T06:00:00.001-05:002024-03-06T06:00:00.154-05:00Reading Hope 6/31<p>"Oh, Mrs. Eck! You have to keep going!"</p><p>These words are music to a reading teacher's ears.</p><p>We have been reading whole class novels these past three weeks. One class is reading Grenade by Alan Gratz, and the other five classes are reading The Watsons Go to Birmingham. I read selected chapters through the book study, and I always read aloud the last few chapters. </p><p>As I read today about the bomb in Birmingham, you could hear a pin drop. Every set of eyes were either on me or were in their own copy of the book. And when I read about Hideki, a young boy in the Japanese army about to surrender to the Americans, students begged me to continue reading.</p><p>Today gave me back some of the hope that has slowly been dwindling this year. The hope that books can capture their attention. That books can stand up to the distractions of the world around them. That even middle schoolers still enjoy being read to.</p><p>It may just be one day, but I'll take it.</p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioVlPqpOVGqTsEu294y_pVyDo3JzHs9hSeROcZIJHPe9OKZslNL4LNfgpatjPp4gA-KdMrCuAbhK-xKo5f0ZvdcS7diVn3YGwOi3_CCWaks0r49vuvyKa216J-wGXuX4AHgf6EzXxvkqdlX1vaeeuwGfr17fJuvnj6YG7lHmx3b2YFPHsFY4fsIPuw=s300" style="color: #0e7bde; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioVlPqpOVGqTsEu294y_pVyDo3JzHs9hSeROcZIJHPe9OKZslNL4LNfgpatjPp4gA-KdMrCuAbhK-xKo5f0ZvdcS7diVn3YGwOi3_CCWaks0r49vuvyKa216J-wGXuX4AHgf6EzXxvkqdlX1vaeeuwGfr17fJuvnj6YG7lHmx3b2YFPHsFY4fsIPuw=w200-h200" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;">Join </span><a href="https://twowritingteachers.org/" style="color: #0e7bde; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration-line: none;">Two Writing Teachers</a><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"> and other teacher-writers as we <br /></span><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif">share a slice of life during the month of March.</span><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: start;" /></p><p></p><p><span face="Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: 15px;"></span></p>Leigh Anne Eckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558611848583070310noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8692381227518715081.post-75119687186194241872024-03-05T07:56:00.004-05:002024-03-05T07:58:07.838-05:00Getting My Groove Back 5/31<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0ECA3PbHLKRNkPKFa2zjAI2AmajV8stTGTKnOxd_i-XLuN6FSL2ewzZX4M52DNkDwUSXbisDADtF9rzDlei7qqUOWcbDphd_z4bADTqvkgWZPG6trVOXiBAumjjUjx8DAX8W4EYKRHA4LqzixyiBnUf2Hx9V6IbY0KlI-ck2jDiIBCpPD1-xdEIdq3Qc" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1280" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0ECA3PbHLKRNkPKFa2zjAI2AmajV8stTGTKnOxd_i-XLuN6FSL2ewzZX4M52DNkDwUSXbisDADtF9rzDlei7qqUOWcbDphd_z4bADTqvkgWZPG6trVOXiBAumjjUjx8DAX8W4EYKRHA4LqzixyiBnUf2Hx9V6IbY0KlI-ck2jDiIBCpPD1-xdEIdq3Qc" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image by Pixaby</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>I sit this morning in my classroom with the dim light of my computer glowing in the darkness. It's quiet, as it always is being the first person to arrive in my wing. I like it this way. It gives me time to think about my day and to spend a few minutes with myself and to listen to uplifting music.</p><p>I have yet to find that rhythm and routine of slicing this year. I typically have a slice ready the day before, and I spend this morning time at school reading and commenting.</p><p>But that hasn't happened...yet.</p><p>Maybe it's because March started on a Friday. Maybe it's the sinus infection or the looming yearbook deadline. Or maybe it is the added stress of taking care of my elderly mother or helping my daughter move out of our nest.</p><p>Life is complex, but so full of stories. I am hoping this is the start of getting my groove back and sharing those stories waiting to be told. </p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioVlPqpOVGqTsEu294y_pVyDo3JzHs9hSeROcZIJHPe9OKZslNL4LNfgpatjPp4gA-KdMrCuAbhK-xKo5f0ZvdcS7diVn3YGwOi3_CCWaks0r49vuvyKa216J-wGXuX4AHgf6EzXxvkqdlX1vaeeuwGfr17fJuvnj6YG7lHmx3b2YFPHsFY4fsIPuw=s300" style="color: #0e7bde; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioVlPqpOVGqTsEu294y_pVyDo3JzHs9hSeROcZIJHPe9OKZslNL4LNfgpatjPp4gA-KdMrCuAbhK-xKo5f0ZvdcS7diVn3YGwOi3_CCWaks0r49vuvyKa216J-wGXuX4AHgf6EzXxvkqdlX1vaeeuwGfr17fJuvnj6YG7lHmx3b2YFPHsFY4fsIPuw=w200-h200" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;">Join </span><a href="https://twowritingteachers.org/" style="color: #0e7bde; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration-line: none;">Two Writing Teachers</a><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"> and other teacher-writers as we <br /></span><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif">share a slice of life during the month of March.</span><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: start;" /></p><p></p><p><span face="Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: 15px;"></span></p>Leigh Anne Eckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558611848583070310noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8692381227518715081.post-77423056543924268812024-03-04T19:21:00.001-05:002024-03-04T19:34:25.802-05:00Stop and Enjoy a Spring Day 4/31<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2wAlE6JlvsDo6vgmChTezLZGhnu3sv9E7DJAK4owFGV12z5txuWxNONAEMjZ_OWz3iWAer7r3-Yviw080zRdcA2vOBwNBIhRK2vOzb-fQSbB1b6kJkAv77hDEVgPZmAQexAaDmSg9-QAAK-IFyBB_jjq37883F6_W49orvw4M7wUlBAicENIedfNYlaI/s1280/flowers-7014589_1280.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="905" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2wAlE6JlvsDo6vgmChTezLZGhnu3sv9E7DJAK4owFGV12z5txuWxNONAEMjZ_OWz3iWAer7r3-Yviw080zRdcA2vOBwNBIhRK2vOzb-fQSbB1b6kJkAv77hDEVgPZmAQexAaDmSg9-QAAK-IFyBB_jjq37883F6_W49orvw4M7wUlBAicENIedfNYlaI/w283-h400/flowers-7014589_1280.png" width="283" /></a></div><p>Don't you love when you read a slice and it sets you off onto a path of new discovery? That is what happened when I read Jill Bless' post, <a href="https://oneblessedblock.wordpress.com/2024/03/02/a-saturday-treat-sol24-day-2/">"A Saturday Treat."</a></p><p>She shared how she is reading a new book<span style="font-family: inherit;">, <span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year,</span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> taking time on Saturday mornings to savor this writer's essays. After I searched the book on Amazon and read the sample, I realized the first essay was a great mentor text. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Here in Indiana, the weekend weather was spring-like, so I took advantage of it and sat outside and noticed my surroundings to create my little slice for today.</span></span></p><p><i>"Wherever you are, stop what you're doing."</i></p><p>Stop and look at the daffodils forming buds at the end of their long leaves.</p><p>Stop and ponder the warmth of the spring-like temperatures.</p><p>Stop and listen to the little neighbor girl as she squeals with delight at riding her bike with training wheels.</p><p>Stop and consider your dinner choices of grilled burgers or pork chops.</p><p>Stop and peer into the landscape to see which perennials are poking their heads through the soil.</p><p>Stop and notice the dirt on the car left over from last week's weird winter mix.</p><p>Stop and contemplate the idiosyncrasies of Mother Nature.</p><p>Stop and think how lucky I am to have this beautiful day to enjoy.</p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioVlPqpOVGqTsEu294y_pVyDo3JzHs9hSeROcZIJHPe9OKZslNL4LNfgpatjPp4gA-KdMrCuAbhK-xKo5f0ZvdcS7diVn3YGwOi3_CCWaks0r49vuvyKa216J-wGXuX4AHgf6EzXxvkqdlX1vaeeuwGfr17fJuvnj6YG7lHmx3b2YFPHsFY4fsIPuw=s300" style="color: #0e7bde; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioVlPqpOVGqTsEu294y_pVyDo3JzHs9hSeROcZIJHPe9OKZslNL4LNfgpatjPp4gA-KdMrCuAbhK-xKo5f0ZvdcS7diVn3YGwOi3_CCWaks0r49vuvyKa216J-wGXuX4AHgf6EzXxvkqdlX1vaeeuwGfr17fJuvnj6YG7lHmx3b2YFPHsFY4fsIPuw=w200-h200" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;">Join </span><a href="https://twowritingteachers.org/" style="color: #0e7bde; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration-line: none;">Two Writing Teachers</a><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"> and other teacher-writers as we <br /></span><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif">share a slice of life during the month of March.</span><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: start;" /></p><p></p><p><span face="Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: 15px;"></span></p>Leigh Anne Eckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558611848583070310noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8692381227518715081.post-6663706427331978582024-03-03T19:04:00.003-05:002024-03-03T19:04:30.196-05:00Life Equation 3/31<p> Sometimes a slice is nothing more than a life equation.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">sinus infection + yearbook deadline > a well-written slice</span></p><p>That's all I have for today.</p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioVlPqpOVGqTsEu294y_pVyDo3JzHs9hSeROcZIJHPe9OKZslNL4LNfgpatjPp4gA-KdMrCuAbhK-xKo5f0ZvdcS7diVn3YGwOi3_CCWaks0r49vuvyKa216J-wGXuX4AHgf6EzXxvkqdlX1vaeeuwGfr17fJuvnj6YG7lHmx3b2YFPHsFY4fsIPuw=s300" style="color: #0e7bde; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioVlPqpOVGqTsEu294y_pVyDo3JzHs9hSeROcZIJHPe9OKZslNL4LNfgpatjPp4gA-KdMrCuAbhK-xKo5f0ZvdcS7diVn3YGwOi3_CCWaks0r49vuvyKa216J-wGXuX4AHgf6EzXxvkqdlX1vaeeuwGfr17fJuvnj6YG7lHmx3b2YFPHsFY4fsIPuw=w200-h200" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;">Join </span><a href="https://twowritingteachers.org/" style="color: #0e7bde; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration-line: none;">Two Writing Teachers</a><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"> and other teacher-writers as we <br /></span><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif">share a slice of life during the month of March.</span><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: start;" /></p><p></p><p><span face="Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: 15px;"></span></p>Leigh Anne Eckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558611848583070310noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8692381227518715081.post-10801808609535184102024-03-02T06:00:00.041-05:002024-03-02T06:00:00.134-05:00Space, Space 2/31<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span face="Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif" style="color: #666666; font-size: 15.4px;">Surely, I didn't do that! </span></div><p>No, I really couldn't have.</p><p>Did I?</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibCt4WXt3Un6k5cjuTUFbn8Cg1pomFXQqaSNW2hboHSzgvfltPDPVUlIicXsCyCguengAu-3Rob2Q8miBiX9cXkoL4hPOgJpUpPxIWYkqeXsKK4nOAjTkm6DVfXOa5JTs7p7wkdLBa5vySeI-iLhzt5lg4oslT2fZUZoI_u2ZtrlFfFyxwZvvU4jT51Kk/s4297/typewriter.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2864" data-original-width="4297" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibCt4WXt3Un6k5cjuTUFbn8Cg1pomFXQqaSNW2hboHSzgvfltPDPVUlIicXsCyCguengAu-3Rob2Q8miBiX9cXkoL4hPOgJpUpPxIWYkqeXsKK4nOAjTkm6DVfXOa5JTs7p7wkdLBa5vySeI-iLhzt5lg4oslT2fZUZoI_u2ZtrlFfFyxwZvvU4jT51Kk/s320/typewriter.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@julesea?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash">jules a.</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/grayscale-photography-of-brother-typewriter-NvFkYV2ngOk?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash">Unsplash</a></td></tr></tbody></table>I read a slice yesterday from <a href="https://alotalot.wordpress.com/2024/03/01/slice-of-flashback-life/">Lisa Corbett</a> who was searching for her very first slice from 17 years ago. I had remembered what my very first slice was about but not my first March Challenge slice. So off I went to find and reread it.<p></p><p>It was March of 2014. Ten years ago. The minute I clicked on the post, I became horrified! </p><p>I have been teaching for 17 years, 10 of those years teaching middle school language arts.</p><p>...and I was still double spacing between sentences!</p><p>Surely, I didn't do that! Did you?</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioVlPqpOVGqTsEu294y_pVyDo3JzHs9hSeROcZIJHPe9OKZslNL4LNfgpatjPp4gA-KdMrCuAbhK-xKo5f0ZvdcS7diVn3YGwOi3_CCWaks0r49vuvyKa216J-wGXuX4AHgf6EzXxvkqdlX1vaeeuwGfr17fJuvnj6YG7lHmx3b2YFPHsFY4fsIPuw=s300" style="color: #0e7bde; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioVlPqpOVGqTsEu294y_pVyDo3JzHs9hSeROcZIJHPe9OKZslNL4LNfgpatjPp4gA-KdMrCuAbhK-xKo5f0ZvdcS7diVn3YGwOi3_CCWaks0r49vuvyKa216J-wGXuX4AHgf6EzXxvkqdlX1vaeeuwGfr17fJuvnj6YG7lHmx3b2YFPHsFY4fsIPuw=w200-h200" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;">Join </span><a href="https://twowritingteachers.org/" style="color: #0e7bde; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration-line: none;">Two Writing Teachers</a><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"> and other teacher-writers as we <br /></span><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif">share a slice of life during the month of March.</span><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </span></p><p></p><p></p><p><span face="Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: 15px;"></span></p>Leigh Anne Eckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558611848583070310noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8692381227518715081.post-44571642410668073152024-03-01T05:00:00.010-05:002024-03-01T05:00:00.133-05:00Wishes: A Golden Shovel 1/31<p>I know it is March 1st, but I can't let February go by without writing something about leap year. </p><p>In my writing group we have a monthly writing challenge. Some months it is a daily challenge, while others may be a weekly or a one-time challenge. We have written fiction, memoirs, all types of poetry, and even riddles.</p><p>For February we chose to write a Golden Shovel but added a little twist for leap year--the line had to come from Shakespear's Sonnet 29. We called the challenge <i>A Golden Leap</i>. And it was definitely a leap for me! </p><p>Here is the line I used: <span face="adobe-garamond-pro, Garamond, Baskerville, "Baskerville Old Face", "Hoefler Text", "Times New Roman", serif" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; text-indent: -20px;"><i>Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,</i></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1-mw3j3X3NCPbOdsmcXRJc3hFuD_1zY8rjE02bjAI_RQpXwa6fkbK9TidmUflfwW4jwdKC0MZJiNXB3PzCusn5fifS9DsxtqJcR_D3LN9PPc-L_Gdh1k54VYwLeQFE_b1PlRQIFTAPVEZFMOGTd9ttKMwrVFzcJ4_SQ5mbIXCQEZIdgYDhqHu4dLeS5k/s3504/john-wilson-nQtuv9JTzYs-unsplash.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3504" data-original-width="2332" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1-mw3j3X3NCPbOdsmcXRJc3hFuD_1zY8rjE02bjAI_RQpXwa6fkbK9TidmUflfwW4jwdKC0MZJiNXB3PzCusn5fifS9DsxtqJcR_D3LN9PPc-L_Gdh1k54VYwLeQFE_b1PlRQIFTAPVEZFMOGTd9ttKMwrVFzcJ4_SQ5mbIXCQEZIdgYDhqHu4dLeS5k/w266-h400/john-wilson-nQtuv9JTzYs-unsplash.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Wishes</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I threw a penny in the fountain, <strong>wishing</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: medium;">for love to find <strong>me</strong>.</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Instead of love, grace falls <strong>like</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: medium;">rain from the sky <strong>to</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: medium;">the ground--protecting my heart, <strong>one</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: medium;">beat, two beats, three times <strong>more</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Showing me how <strong>rich</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> I am, not in love, but <strong>in</strong></span></div><strong><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>hope</strong>.</span></div></strong></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Here's to 31 days of writing! Here's to wishing for words to find me!</p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioVlPqpOVGqTsEu294y_pVyDo3JzHs9hSeROcZIJHPe9OKZslNL4LNfgpatjPp4gA-KdMrCuAbhK-xKo5f0ZvdcS7diVn3YGwOi3_CCWaks0r49vuvyKa216J-wGXuX4AHgf6EzXxvkqdlX1vaeeuwGfr17fJuvnj6YG7lHmx3b2YFPHsFY4fsIPuw=s300" style="color: #0e7bde; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioVlPqpOVGqTsEu294y_pVyDo3JzHs9hSeROcZIJHPe9OKZslNL4LNfgpatjPp4gA-KdMrCuAbhK-xKo5f0ZvdcS7diVn3YGwOi3_CCWaks0r49vuvyKa216J-wGXuX4AHgf6EzXxvkqdlX1vaeeuwGfr17fJuvnj6YG7lHmx3b2YFPHsFY4fsIPuw=w200-h200" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;">Join </span><a href="https://twowritingteachers.org/" style="color: #0e7bde; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration-line: none;">Two Writing Teachers</a><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"> and other teacher-writers as we <br /></span><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif">share a slice of life during the month of March.</span><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"> </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: start;" /></p><p></p><p><span face="Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: 15px;"></span></p>Leigh Anne Eckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558611848583070310noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8692381227518715081.post-4870883540402666762024-02-13T18:49:00.005-05:002024-02-13T18:51:15.384-05:00Stories That Start with a Kitten<p style="text-align: left;"><i style="background-color: white;"><span face="Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 15px;">"Sometimes stories start with a bang, and sometimes stories start with a whisper, and sometimes stories start with a car chase or a fist fight or someone being born or someone dying. Sometimes stories start with a kitten. I mean, the funny thing about stories is that they don't really start or stop at all...It's just the telling that starts or stops."</span></span></i></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsmMVoaz69bu0vh-bfEl3-EjoAy_loKdbd5YKRjYtrGuqJXFt_o4gHdPpp2rDVcTUfucQ0Fjqrf9q7PF6H706B3jSiov3g-y_gdxJj6-fCKUVBKXZnp0gkKwb9sCQtKHvMhYdNzfAKsbE2Ll2lVdo5rt8hCDpAfVCICjDS_CUrP6TF7TPXvY8KqUYrCK0/s400/coyote.jpg" style="color: #0e7bde; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="259" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsmMVoaz69bu0vh-bfEl3-EjoAy_loKdbd5YKRjYtrGuqJXFt_o4gHdPpp2rDVcTUfucQ0Fjqrf9q7PF6H706B3jSiov3g-y_gdxJj6-fCKUVBKXZnp0gkKwb9sCQtKHvMhYdNzfAKsbE2Ll2lVdo5rt8hCDpAfVCICjDS_CUrP6TF7TPXvY8KqUYrCK0/w258-h400/coyote.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="258" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is the opening paragraph in the new book, Coyote Lost and Found, by Dan Gemeinhart, which is due out March 5th. I feel this is not only a great opening paragraph, but it also describes my relationship with slicing. </div><p style="text-align: left;">As I get ready to jump into the March challenge in just a few weeks, I realize another year has gone by, and I have let my practice of slicing fall away. I always make a goal to continue slicing after I turn the page on my calendar, but for several years, I have fallen short.</p><p style="text-align: left;">But do my stories really start on March 1st and end on March 31st? If Coyote is right, then my stories haven't stopped...only my telling of them has.</p><p style="text-align: left;">My life right now is full of stories, but stories that are hard to share, and honestly, are quite depressing. I need to find those stories that "start with a kitten," that start with a little happiness.</p><p style="text-align: left;">It's time to find those stories hiding in my ordinary; it's time to start slicing again.</p><p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioVlPqpOVGqTsEu294y_pVyDo3JzHs9hSeROcZIJHPe9OKZslNL4LNfgpatjPp4gA-KdMrCuAbhK-xKo5f0ZvdcS7diVn3YGwOi3_CCWaks0r49vuvyKa216J-wGXuX4AHgf6EzXxvkqdlX1vaeeuwGfr17fJuvnj6YG7lHmx3b2YFPHsFY4fsIPuw=s300" style="color: #0e7bde; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioVlPqpOVGqTsEu294y_pVyDo3JzHs9hSeROcZIJHPe9OKZslNL4LNfgpatjPp4gA-KdMrCuAbhK-xKo5f0ZvdcS7diVn3YGwOi3_CCWaks0r49vuvyKa216J-wGXuX4AHgf6EzXxvkqdlX1vaeeuwGfr17fJuvnj6YG7lHmx3b2YFPHsFY4fsIPuw=w200-h200" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><p style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><span face="Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15.4px;"> Thank you<span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"> </span><a href="https://twowritingteachers.org/" style="color: #0e7bde; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration-line: none;">Two Writing Teachers</a> for creating a space to </span><span face="Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;">share our stories.</span></p></div></div>Leigh Anne Eckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558611848583070310noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8692381227518715081.post-77385585446302750532024-01-19T20:54:00.004-05:002024-02-02T07:35:20.137-05:00I Missed It Reading Challenge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLr07yK-J5i4GFMXdOUEaTyav7A0v1TfnHv8oLDG9JvqJ-x0wzEUTufNa7025kl5X8sEVPJV1kyvzmealgFyfc7U5Fssgaox4zA_mGv1-5X6SUG2VfMLPgxVtHo5PkAbdUg8RDdNCGxMaU1Z_ybM3qU-_E3LW149MW73bvx1B13QY7ySzVx59PJrQNiPM/s940/In%20Case%20You%20Missed%20It%20Middle%20Grade%20Reading%20Challenge.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLr07yK-J5i4GFMXdOUEaTyav7A0v1TfnHv8oLDG9JvqJ-x0wzEUTufNa7025kl5X8sEVPJV1kyvzmealgFyfc7U5Fssgaox4zA_mGv1-5X6SUG2VfMLPgxVtHo5PkAbdUg8RDdNCGxMaU1Z_ybM3qU-_E3LW149MW73bvx1B13QY7ySzVx59PJrQNiPM/s320/In%20Case%20You%20Missed%20It%20Middle%20Grade%20Reading%20Challenge.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>A few years ago, I participated in a #MustRead book challenge. We created a list of books that we missed reading the previous year and wanted to read in the new year. I loved this challenge because it was fun to read and see everyone's list plus it inspired me to pull those books from my endless TBR pile.</p><p>I recently stumbled upon a similar reading challenge from The Book Girls" Guide. It is called the <a href="https://bookgirlsguide.com/backlist-reading-challenge/">In Case You Missed It: Backlist Reading Challenge.</a> Each month the reader chooses a book that they missed reading the year it was published starting with 2013. I thought about this challenge because I hardly read adult books, but then I realized I have many middle grade books that I have also missed reading.</p><p>I decided to create my own middle grade #IMissedIt reading list challenge. My only requirement was that I have to currently own the book (not difficult to do!). I began making list by looking at my "Want to Read" list on Goodreads and the past Nerdy Book Club's Middle Grade Fiction Nerdies Award. (All of the books starting in 2018 came from that list.)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgI5Uo9f1OwLaNqBhAUaYvSYIKpMssU3nMLsJoGSu1InpN9ZuJV1NoBbaDIxngl_OEHfXeewa7UZCKDQYYLYzRKo5a_ZTksc9i1xZF3l2REn1pxRTPW3KVrCqVC8kfd0thh4rsP9bbvU9mWutsGwOl-hBsD0EeBazed50s3_Sw0F88lr8wRteU8ipfii5A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="377" data-original-width="255" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgI5Uo9f1OwLaNqBhAUaYvSYIKpMssU3nMLsJoGSu1InpN9ZuJV1NoBbaDIxngl_OEHfXeewa7UZCKDQYYLYzRKo5a_ZTksc9i1xZF3l2REn1pxRTPW3KVrCqVC8kfd0thh4rsP9bbvU9mWutsGwOl-hBsD0EeBazed50s3_Sw0F88lr8wRteU8ipfii5A" width="162" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>January</u></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strike><i>Prisoner B-3087</i> by Alan Gratz (2013)</strike></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiZZdXauf00VkEYGPlpGwnhaYC6sqMDMwrrE8R99AlRiFSmDsbGRrQNtRWYhbHepOfio-nWjYlEF8GIXB15kMreI9HIxz4TRLFkQl9BP0fOHNF7u-2eIY0n7DrYuu06KwLEd1nm0kATyyW33qvVHRXYba8z5Y-3zeIyVVom4oGR9kshM9BhiZP7lv77nfM" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiZZdXauf00VkEYGPlpGwnhaYC6sqMDMwrrE8R99AlRiFSmDsbGRrQNtRWYhbHepOfio-nWjYlEF8GIXB15kMreI9HIxz4TRLFkQl9BP0fOHNF7u-2eIY0n7DrYuu06KwLEd1nm0kATyyW33qvVHRXYba8z5Y-3zeIyVVom4oGR9kshM9BhiZP7lv77nfM" width="159" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><u style="font-weight: bold;">February</u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strike><i>Dash</i> by Kirby Larson (2014)</strike></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhnbJkL1847B0jWEczsD5i1L5melEwx2dzTSPJ-G0O4P8plq96C8dN5037zN8d9jbB7WLQWsZhVLLnqhVIOPqtIp29u-NW1MAm3CvcRPiV5ZzmxsJHQZkBlTzsP_3P3cy0M_U3HEVQEPwo57B_weJCr4G6XKq0hQVrrgDAam5fLuS1lyis58pmb_ifg1cQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="482" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhnbJkL1847B0jWEczsD5i1L5melEwx2dzTSPJ-G0O4P8plq96C8dN5037zN8d9jbB7WLQWsZhVLLnqhVIOPqtIp29u-NW1MAm3CvcRPiV5ZzmxsJHQZkBlTzsP_3P3cy0M_U3HEVQEPwo57B_weJCr4G6XKq0hQVrrgDAam5fLuS1lyis58pmb_ifg1cQ" width="165" /></a></div><br /><b><u>March</u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>The Last Kids on Earth</i> by Max Brallier (2015)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj83p_EPic6NPzphIYOqiiEQVD972rbZjZi9Vv1Dc2d9sWAVLxwBDq5BR3iS3i75WmMN7ugJRrzDra6HkecYhKZD8y9qgGwAQsT2hZSyq99ezf6DR5TvySna47gk8-lKaoNSqABg3ty2Rhae2obo1uQl7OSheKIsS77QV9SCRXgIb7KoVZpjQFKV0jLGro" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="349" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj83p_EPic6NPzphIYOqiiEQVD972rbZjZi9Vv1Dc2d9sWAVLxwBDq5BR3iS3i75WmMN7ugJRrzDra6HkecYhKZD8y9qgGwAQsT2hZSyq99ezf6DR5TvySna47gk8-lKaoNSqABg3ty2Rhae2obo1uQl7OSheKIsS77QV9SCRXgIb7KoVZpjQFKV0jLGro" width="168" /></a></div><br /><b><u>April</u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook</i> by Leslie Connor (2016)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigwt0Va3ZgzFT2fjQeRrRuOkQzqW4S7SdCfixGK2OxOGIWGVcL3ss-sPIOXjMFNBVjmQp66nNx2ZLFMmYK_fIdX9KiPpyU3nXylTjO3g4T7TJIlhB3zMblyZtOW8M7rgtGZ9WKBQ3H8aVFzHd5eiuIFAlo_av5cpONm_f4H_aAJ6g0Wx6-sMLF9NHq164" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="318" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigwt0Va3ZgzFT2fjQeRrRuOkQzqW4S7SdCfixGK2OxOGIWGVcL3ss-sPIOXjMFNBVjmQp66nNx2ZLFMmYK_fIdX9KiPpyU3nXylTjO3g4T7TJIlhB3zMblyZtOW8M7rgtGZ9WKBQ3H8aVFzHd5eiuIFAlo_av5cpONm_f4H_aAJ6g0Wx6-sMLF9NHq164" width="162" /></a></div><br /><b><u>May</u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus</i> by Dusti Bowling (2017)</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhCtm6LoKYCCXHheDOV0wR03BRCWVpChj8vmJ7WPh_JjEP5vONhrpCjVhd9fLGcHZUHfTV_FJSlhfZX5mey9Zqnvz7P89syiPSfsGGbldpJCUJTBsIzFBizS5Jw6xGLkSEsLDN_Mek8kmA6KM1BJDr4hJ-izs_sgZAp866KIbtMAW-h8KijfZz28xsxcig" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="316" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhCtm6LoKYCCXHheDOV0wR03BRCWVpChj8vmJ7WPh_JjEP5vONhrpCjVhd9fLGcHZUHfTV_FJSlhfZX5mey9Zqnvz7P89syiPSfsGGbldpJCUJTBsIzFBizS5Jw6xGLkSEsLDN_Mek8kmA6KM1BJDr4hJ-izs_sgZAp866KIbtMAW-h8KijfZz28xsxcig" width="160" /></a></div><b><u><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div>June</u></b><br /></div><i>You Go First</i> by Erin Entrada Kelly (2018)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjk9sS1dmIaNHWPziICEAn51j_NvlqFDGn9I8dKKPpiy-xTexn8RfQNaZGb_CLMk7MaT3lyX5hc2oDNHbT-_THYoxrUnXbud0vzjUsNh8PffaTfjjpfmGtEJoiBfnSub6Y4jBAjz8AXkzhssqAhqCa9nCtRpYCXrMzqTFKQ8qcCIOdBWTizu4RYH3M2hMQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjk9sS1dmIaNHWPziICEAn51j_NvlqFDGn9I8dKKPpiy-xTexn8RfQNaZGb_CLMk7MaT3lyX5hc2oDNHbT-_THYoxrUnXbud0vzjUsNh8PffaTfjjpfmGtEJoiBfnSub6Y4jBAjz8AXkzhssqAhqCa9nCtRpYCXrMzqTFKQ8qcCIOdBWTizu4RYH3M2hMQ" width="159" /></a></div><br /><b><u>July</u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Shouting at the Rain</i> by Lynda Mullaly Hunt (2019)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh52WMP2NSr73xlEnj9vDhsfrerMr09WEoy1HstG_dnXMIalIaMh9T_uENjwF_AngIGAT8CF22B8y6p24xvyyktw9ZyEtUj18WRHh4yVl40ojnfjKilxg3k0el-YYeaZY3UyTXqaXq7nUHkrW0GV1z7tLUM8Trr7nuK8PsJq3wZZcxOcSj7CqbOLpRqQpo" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="267" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh52WMP2NSr73xlEnj9vDhsfrerMr09WEoy1HstG_dnXMIalIaMh9T_uENjwF_AngIGAT8CF22B8y6p24xvyyktw9ZyEtUj18WRHh4yVl40ojnfjKilxg3k0el-YYeaZY3UyTXqaXq7nUHkrW0GV1z7tLUM8Trr7nuK8PsJq3wZZcxOcSj7CqbOLpRqQpo" width="160" /></a></div><br /><b><u>August</u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Echo Mountain</i> by Lauren Wolk (2020)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHTBO6_vHYV7QIZ2HxQXnfmg6Of_GoJ-tkbgN3aVRSMR37tTlFHQjNFcGg71trJSQqQG-xhhE8lmxXxoNgRIj_qk1ljug1OuQSqBcOnrKZlWE1WBZ829pF09TlH4COKuuvhmPlFM2w09ahDssolmk5qZ4QLqWfRKUd9JqBea5CuLXc4YqdIL6p35RiFPg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="273" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHTBO6_vHYV7QIZ2HxQXnfmg6Of_GoJ-tkbgN3aVRSMR37tTlFHQjNFcGg71trJSQqQG-xhhE8lmxXxoNgRIj_qk1ljug1OuQSqBcOnrKZlWE1WBZ829pF09TlH4COKuuvhmPlFM2w09ahDssolmk5qZ4QLqWfRKUd9JqBea5CuLXc4YqdIL6p35RiFPg" width="164" /></a></div><br /><b><u>September</u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Pony</i> by R.J. Palacio (2021)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEidFZhbeI6tWWYNZs0LH1K7CwlWIkjkceUW7__DBpcY1TzL0YwSKOhyjgD4MjvkuSPaxDD_fnEdjH3w8bK9Jnyno9mkjvdJmv1lY2hC76WgMur3d61PfZLwH-tLtz5LymA41nWT6W4QDOoDinaaN0_tJsZpaHMZH6Y-mz98WnLAlQ0smX954WZBEWpMH0M" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="298" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEidFZhbeI6tWWYNZs0LH1K7CwlWIkjkceUW7__DBpcY1TzL0YwSKOhyjgD4MjvkuSPaxDD_fnEdjH3w8bK9Jnyno9mkjvdJmv1lY2hC76WgMur3d61PfZLwH-tLtz5LymA41nWT6W4QDOoDinaaN0_tJsZpaHMZH6Y-mz98WnLAlQ0smX954WZBEWpMH0M" width="158" /></a></div><br /><u><b>October</b></u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Two Degrees</i> by Alan Gratz (2022)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjy3Q2EhhZPsZlLbWkfSlOIsX8fjDm02klEz2Pc_hiMmee29DjrRXSEN3v_r-1HXCRUuVlK3Amx3x1NGYusEV6GLUqfHzlV1hT7UDgvNx93Jq79NtaDmln_RcHzPt4w6hIuVI2gmQ3XJI0TyeXZys5LT8yQIVX6Fv8GOtB4-Rpgstv0EAG1fmwlUowwVWk" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="284" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjy3Q2EhhZPsZlLbWkfSlOIsX8fjDm02klEz2Pc_hiMmee29DjrRXSEN3v_r-1HXCRUuVlK3Amx3x1NGYusEV6GLUqfHzlV1hT7UDgvNx93Jq79NtaDmln_RcHzPt4w6hIuVI2gmQ3XJI0TyeXZys5LT8yQIVX6Fv8GOtB4-Rpgstv0EAG1fmwlUowwVWk" width="170" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u>November</u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>The Lost Library</i> by Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass (2023)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u>December</u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">To be determined!</div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I have no idea how successful I will be, but it is always fun to create reading lists! I invite you to create your own backlist reading challenge and share with me here in the comments or on social media. If you are like me, I am sure you have books you have missed too!</div></div></div><br /><p></p>Leigh Anne Eckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558611848583070310noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8692381227518715081.post-14284127334652671212024-01-15T10:34:00.002-05:002024-01-15T12:13:03.186-05:00It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 1/15/24<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://www.unleashingreaders.com/27328" style="color: #0e7bde; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEixSezJS0WZ_UQX3yKpv-9hJuete2ea3iVxH9picxtd2VqP8rVhov2I3j_Qmw_TdWqOcux8qYIwPx-ZKPhHjLIeKrQVddvauGy_04RksUKItnnlwBR1rB4CFRHYrTa4m11DLDoj7ZKUlA3vQxwvgS-yEi7ZFc0lkA4CtV99NJ_S2q45L8nIK43n2QzdseI=w400-h400" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></p><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;">Thank you to <a href="https://www.unleashingreaders.com/27344">Unleashing Readers</a> for continuing to promote reading and great book titles and especially for letting us wayward readers find our way back here.</i><div><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></i></div><div><span face="Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: medium;"><u><b>What I Read Last Week</b></u></span></div><div><span face="Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span face="Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #1e1915;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsmMVoaz69bu0vh-bfEl3-EjoAy_loKdbd5YKRjYtrGuqJXFt_o4gHdPpp2rDVcTUfucQ0Fjqrf9q7PF6H706B3jSiov3g-y_gdxJj6-fCKUVBKXZnp0gkKwb9sCQtKHvMhYdNzfAKsbE2Ll2lVdo5rt8hCDpAfVCICjDS_CUrP6TF7TPXvY8KqUYrCK0/s400/coyote.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="259" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsmMVoaz69bu0vh-bfEl3-EjoAy_loKdbd5YKRjYtrGuqJXFt_o4gHdPpp2rDVcTUfucQ0Fjqrf9q7PF6H706B3jSiov3g-y_gdxJj6-fCKUVBKXZnp0gkKwb9sCQtKHvMhYdNzfAKsbE2Ll2lVdo5rt8hCDpAfVCICjDS_CUrP6TF7TPXvY8KqUYrCK0/w258-h400/coyote.jpg" width="258" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; font-size: medium; text-align: left;"><i>Coyote Lost and Found </i>by Dan Gemeinhart is the sequel to <i>The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise</i>. I don't often say this, but as much I loved the first book, I liked the second one much better.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; font-size: medium; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; font-size: medium; text-align: left;">I know my love for this book is based on my current life experiences. In the first book Coyote and her father take a cross-country road trip to run away from accepting the death of Coyote's mother and sisters. In this second book, Coyote is finally ready to say goodbye after finding her mother's ashes in a hidden box. Another road trip to scatter her ashes leads Coyote, and me, to discover some hidden truths about the way we let go of those we love and an appreciation for the life we have.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; font-size: medium; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; font-size: medium; text-align: left;">This book is due out in Early March, and I highly recommend it...along with a box of tissues!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; font-size: medium; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; font-size: medium; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><span face="Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #1e1915;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC6xF4twVK8CQ9QU0uI_2E3D_rdQx4vMixtSMst6e28nN8zqX-dJ8p7f6TePxNvNhCkgiFnhp3fVj62c7AhA1V0Y4jnfTuHTQQcs6HOBxdMkDvMz7aX4R74G2ZcL1q8_-WuAcpStM_bniaeHQo75dSW7KMHG3bP6nJc9gmrJ2tT4MxAm1C7bvk5lhy1Ns/s500/Goal.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="324" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC6xF4twVK8CQ9QU0uI_2E3D_rdQx4vMixtSMst6e28nN8zqX-dJ8p7f6TePxNvNhCkgiFnhp3fVj62c7AhA1V0Y4jnfTuHTQQcs6HOBxdMkDvMz7aX4R74G2ZcL1q8_-WuAcpStM_bniaeHQo75dSW7KMHG3bP6nJc9gmrJ2tT4MxAm1C7bvk5lhy1Ns/w258-h400/Goal.jpg" width="258" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium; text-align: left;">I am slow reading <i>All It Takes Is a Goa</i>l for a Teach Write book club. We have read and discussed the first section, which is about making a Best Moments List. Acuff states that instead of looking forward to plotting our future such as vision boards, we need to look back at the best moments of our life. A best moment is when our vision and our reality overlap; it's "when you hoped life could be actually matches how life is" (p. 54).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium; text-align: left;">This list becomes a snapshot of who we really are, and four categories emerge from studying the list: experiences, accomplishments, relationships, and objects. He states that when we understand these categories, "your list transforms from a task about the past into a tool for the future. It's like finally seeing the individual ingredients for your favorite meal and realizing you can cook it again and again" (p. 48). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium; text-align: left;">I am not sure where he is going with the list as we move into the next part, but I did learn a lot about myself from doing this activity. It brought gratitude to the forefront and made me look at what is really important to me. I find myself keeping a running list of my best moments in my notebook. Even if you don't read this book, creating your own list just might surprise you about what you find in your own categories.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><u><span style="font-size: medium;">Currently Reading</span></u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium; text-align: left;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium; text-align: left;">I am vicariously participating in the "In Case You Missed It Book Challenge." In this challenge, I choose a book that I missed reading the year it was published, starting with 2012 and ending with 2023. I chose A Man Called Ove, which I know was a favorite among many of reading friends, BUT I missed reading it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Yqxt8JRNWD6Qm2dyFaQ_iNSH6AIge17T3eLVz2_1bfzPjETmfVByg11WBMt7n5VIPE4dZJZN3DpgM7Bpd7J7coYrY42jYDz2p86SS_-nv0ix_6i_qTEj0IjOVON59U6XlGr2ZIgG5CAXz8F2gElShpaGob6rlBk4Y6gVHrLRWo3w2TjwNWi-_n8o11I/s475/ove.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="309" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Yqxt8JRNWD6Qm2dyFaQ_iNSH6AIge17T3eLVz2_1bfzPjETmfVByg11WBMt7n5VIPE4dZJZN3DpgM7Bpd7J7coYrY42jYDz2p86SS_-nv0ix_6i_qTEj0IjOVON59U6XlGr2ZIgG5CAXz8F2gElShpaGob6rlBk4Y6gVHrLRWo3w2TjwNWi-_n8o11I/s320/ove.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium; text-align: left;">After being named Indiana Rural Teacher of the Year for 2023, I am trying to be more cognizant of rurality in my reading life and in my classroom, so I hope to finish this collection of voices from rural America.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQEpnQUC5hSVExcP22S3D5HuXIQGurQrCM0CEi_VsTeCjs4QE1eiO-XrkaM-o0cMtTb3xOe41r_gEmxOMFxtwMmD3f2IsQltcvKsk2nNJ_5V0TsGGFvkAiVHkirlvgeNTPdREkvC62sppfC5LhRB1NbmK7cMg54CSk2bFHkcWgiIRBtooGD-2iFJ6Aics/s1024/rural%20voice.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="678" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQEpnQUC5hSVExcP22S3D5HuXIQGurQrCM0CEi_VsTeCjs4QE1eiO-XrkaM-o0cMtTb3xOe41r_gEmxOMFxtwMmD3f2IsQltcvKsk2nNJ_5V0TsGGFvkAiVHkirlvgeNTPdREkvC62sppfC5LhRB1NbmK7cMg54CSk2bFHkcWgiIRBtooGD-2iFJ6Aics/s320/rural%20voice.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium; text-align: left;"><br /></div><span><span style="font-size: large;">Reading more in '24!</span><br /></span></span><br /></span></div></span></div>Leigh Anne Eckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558611848583070310noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8692381227518715081.post-6068035273136833132024-01-09T16:09:00.003-05:002024-01-09T16:10:10.537-05:00Will we get snow?<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioVlPqpOVGqTsEu294y_pVyDo3JzHs9hSeROcZIJHPe9OKZslNL4LNfgpatjPp4gA-KdMrCuAbhK-xKo5f0ZvdcS7diVn3YGwOi3_CCWaks0r49vuvyKa216J-wGXuX4AHgf6EzXxvkqdlX1vaeeuwGfr17fJuvnj6YG7lHmx3b2YFPHsFY4fsIPuw=s300" style="color: #0e7bde; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioVlPqpOVGqTsEu294y_pVyDo3JzHs9hSeROcZIJHPe9OKZslNL4LNfgpatjPp4gA-KdMrCuAbhK-xKo5f0ZvdcS7diVn3YGwOi3_CCWaks0r49vuvyKa216J-wGXuX4AHgf6EzXxvkqdlX1vaeeuwGfr17fJuvnj6YG7lHmx3b2YFPHsFY4fsIPuw=w200-h200" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;"><p><span face="Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15.4px;"> Thank you<span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"> </span><a href="https://twowritingteachers.org/" style="color: #0e7bde; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration-line: none;">Two Writing Teachers</a> for creating a space to </span><span face="Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;">share our stories.</span></p></div><p style="text-align: left;">We began hearing whispers of potential snow a few days ago. My husband has been glued to the weather app and sends us updates regularly...many more than we need. I think sending them helps him to believe that we really might get some. He is just like a kid anticipating that first big snow of the year.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><i>"Looks like some snow next weekend."</i></p><p style="text-align: left;"><i>"1-3" Monday and dropping to around 10 degrees that night."</i></p><p style="text-align: left;"><i>"Maybe 1-3 on Sunday too."</i></p><p style="text-align: left;"><i>"Now they are calling for up to 8 inches."</i></p><p style="text-align: left;"><i>"Now it's all rain."</i></p><p style="text-align: left;"><i>"Negative 4 on Tuesday morning now."</i></p><p style="text-align: left;"><i>"1-3 back in play Friday night winds up to 40mph."</i><i> </i></p><p style="text-align: left;"><i>"Who knows...apparently they don't."</i></p><p style="text-align: left;">I think I will just wait and wake up and let my own eyes be my weather forecaster while my husband dreams of a snow like the one we had a few years ago!</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMyfrVrhcjDOIjIRY5giEaHXum1s-44vcx1mHE49Ff8TgIGJjqLfqz6IFK7gVf5Nlop_JXy6GypzjXTO1jNPcAyv3UZEz5uNxYtrlxt6WfQpdxYo497VySK_YblgQwWs40i-NCDUyZuPNUF3cgiSoAO4G0kvUTIUHNnNTchOCOMsFYZhUu3XGOwRFtt-8/s800/photo-SNOW.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMyfrVrhcjDOIjIRY5giEaHXum1s-44vcx1mHE49Ff8TgIGJjqLfqz6IFK7gVf5Nlop_JXy6GypzjXTO1jNPcAyv3UZEz5uNxYtrlxt6WfQpdxYo497VySK_YblgQwWs40i-NCDUyZuPNUF3cgiSoAO4G0kvUTIUHNnNTchOCOMsFYZhUu3XGOwRFtt-8/s320/photo-SNOW.gif" width="320" /></a></div>Leigh Anne Eckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558611848583070310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8692381227518715081.post-56995766962892943102024-01-07T21:24:00.001-05:002024-01-07T21:26:12.372-05:00It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 1/8/24<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://www.unleashingreaders.com/27328" style="color: #0e7bde; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEixSezJS0WZ_UQX3yKpv-9hJuete2ea3iVxH9picxtd2VqP8rVhov2I3j_Qmw_TdWqOcux8qYIwPx-ZKPhHjLIeKrQVddvauGy_04RksUKItnnlwBR1rB4CFRHYrTa4m11DLDoj7ZKUlA3vQxwvgS-yEi7ZFc0lkA4CtV99NJ_S2q45L8nIK43n2QzdseI=w400-h400" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></p><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;">Thank you to <a href="https://www.unleashingreaders.com/27328" style="color: #0e7bde; text-decoration-line: none;">Unleashing Readers</a> for continuing to promote reading and great book titles and especially for letting us wayward readers find our way back here.</i><div><span face="Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 15.4px;">One of my goals this year is to "read more in "24." I know technically, this is not a goal because it is not measurable, but I like the way it sounds!</span></div><div><span face="Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 15.4px;">This week I completed one book and started several others.</span></div><div><span face="Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi-0oL0_qj4t-1pymvgNRI50NCNYvpKvuH8nj5sDpBg6GjvZAzocu6z_EjqQ1xfYDSfcA11APjJLX3nPZ9oqOS7u-oVBOZzH6FFSg5YgQ49ZqXkiPg8cx7Xy6sFyy8lLxBBQnDYwfcL81DRAheWdm5OU9WkJievgrApMCNy_k8xjEB-opfb0Y85rJOJ18/s400/Running.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="269" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi-0oL0_qj4t-1pymvgNRI50NCNYvpKvuH8nj5sDpBg6GjvZAzocu6z_EjqQ1xfYDSfcA11APjJLX3nPZ9oqOS7u-oVBOZzH6FFSg5YgQ49ZqXkiPg8cx7Xy6sFyy8lLxBBQnDYwfcL81DRAheWdm5OU9WkJievgrApMCNy_k8xjEB-opfb0Y85rJOJ18/s320/Running.jpg" width="215" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>Running Out of Time</i> by Margaret Peterson Haddix</div><br /><br /></div><span><span style="color: #1e1915; font-family: inherit;">Running Out of Time was first published 30 years ago but now has a new cover! I grabbed it because of its cover appeal and because it takes place in Indiana, my home state. It is a dystopian story about a group of people who have chosen to live in a history museum. The children think it is 1840, but it is really 1996. When </span><span style="color: #1e1915;">diphtheria</span><span style="color: #1e1915; font-family: inherit;"> makes its way into the compound, Jessie is sent out to the future to bring back a modern vaccine, but she is running out of time. It is what we would expect from Margaret Peterson Haddix. If your students read and enjoyed Among the Hidden by her or Masterminds by Gordon Korman, then they would love this one!</span></span></span></div><div><span face="Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><span><span style="color: #1e1915; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span face="Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #1e1915;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span face="Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #1e1915;"><b><u>Currently Reading</u></b></span></span></div><div><span face="Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #1e1915;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></span></div><div><span face="Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #1e1915;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC6xF4twVK8CQ9QU0uI_2E3D_rdQx4vMixtSMst6e28nN8zqX-dJ8p7f6TePxNvNhCkgiFnhp3fVj62c7AhA1V0Y4jnfTuHTQQcs6HOBxdMkDvMz7aX4R74G2ZcL1q8_-WuAcpStM_bniaeHQo75dSW7KMHG3bP6nJc9gmrJ2tT4MxAm1C7bvk5lhy1Ns/s500/Goal.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="324" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC6xF4twVK8CQ9QU0uI_2E3D_rdQx4vMixtSMst6e28nN8zqX-dJ8p7f6TePxNvNhCkgiFnhp3fVj62c7AhA1V0Y4jnfTuHTQQcs6HOBxdMkDvMz7aX4R74G2ZcL1q8_-WuAcpStM_bniaeHQo75dSW7KMHG3bP6nJc9gmrJ2tT4MxAm1C7bvk5lhy1Ns/w129-h200/Goal.jpg" width="129" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am reading <i>All It Takes Is a Goa</i>l for a Teach Write book club.</div><u style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></u></span><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsmMVoaz69bu0vh-bfEl3-EjoAy_loKdbd5YKRjYtrGuqJXFt_o4gHdPpp2rDVcTUfucQ0Fjqrf9q7PF6H706B3jSiov3g-y_gdxJj6-fCKUVBKXZnp0gkKwb9sCQtKHvMhYdNzfAKsbE2Ll2lVdo5rt8hCDpAfVCICjDS_CUrP6TF7TPXvY8KqUYrCK0/s400/coyote.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="259" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsmMVoaz69bu0vh-bfEl3-EjoAy_loKdbd5YKRjYtrGuqJXFt_o4gHdPpp2rDVcTUfucQ0Fjqrf9q7PF6H706B3jSiov3g-y_gdxJj6-fCKUVBKXZnp0gkKwb9sCQtKHvMhYdNzfAKsbE2Ll2lVdo5rt8hCDpAfVCICjDS_CUrP6TF7TPXvY8KqUYrCK0/w129-h200/coyote.jpg" width="129" /></a></div><br /></div><div><span face="Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;"><span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I can't wait to continue Coyote's adventure.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;"><span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Reading more in '24!</span></span></div></span></div>Leigh Anne Eckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558611848583070310noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8692381227518715081.post-54608003754654620712024-01-04T07:26:00.006-05:002024-01-04T13:21:39.310-05:00One Little Word 2024: Spiritual Journey Thursday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrGohEHnFDOmwzv616bhfeTohJNA_UBYUi-Ohrs65Z78fD-rQpwkXy-gVR3qm-82PP02oyyk_1xOMd2TUwCuJKj6d97LNT3meanyuks-gn_E3FdnrDFHMlu2hz3XamcYN-y6CxZaHzUwebwlicmrCak67a_1I4kLrnj3eNKY0ftNZeBaKF8gJiz2vjke0/s940/Seasons%20(3).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrGohEHnFDOmwzv616bhfeTohJNA_UBYUi-Ohrs65Z78fD-rQpwkXy-gVR3qm-82PP02oyyk_1xOMd2TUwCuJKj6d97LNT3meanyuks-gn_E3FdnrDFHMlu2hz3XamcYN-y6CxZaHzUwebwlicmrCak67a_1I4kLrnj3eNKY0ftNZeBaKF8gJiz2vjke0/w400-h335/Seasons%20(3).png" width="400" /></a></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: left;">I consider myself lucky to live in an area of our country where I get to experience the four seasons. Although I have my favorite seasons of the year, I am typically happy to move on to the next one and to the beauty that each one brings.</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: left;">Seasons are a constant reminder of change. But sometimes I don't like change. I find comfort in the familiar. I know that we find rest in the winter, rebirth in the spring, growth in the summer, and transformation in the fall. There is comfort in that continuous cycle of seasons.<span style="font-size: 15.4px; text-align: right;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: left;">In a few weeks, I will celebrate my 60th birthday and be gifted with a brand-new season. If I said I wasn't a little anxious about this one, I would be lying.</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: left;">I am now one of the oldest teachers in my building, and I struggle with being labeled by students.</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: left;">The word retirement has been coming up in conversations with friends, family, and colleagues, and the question is being asked more and more. </p><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">Just last week, we placed my mother in a memory care facility. This was one of the hardest decisions I have ever made.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: left;">I feel like I am being bombarded with new seasons. </p><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: left;">I know that each new season brings many moments of joy: winter landscapes of frosted windows and snow-laden tree branches; flowers in pinks and purples popping up, and tree filled with new life buds; the orange glow of summer sunsets; and the warm palette of fall leaves. I find joy in each new day.</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: left;">For this new year, I need to find the joy in my own seasons of life. <span style="font-size: 15.4px;">The purpose of my life is changing just like the seasons do, yet I struggle to find comfort in them right now. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">I know I must embrace them with my whole heart because God tells us...</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1</i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjhIriyZZ0xH3QvB6h_NdvDEz-Wn2Eid3XKYIYcw0sw3O0C08JXrINJFJnmPE91tBgB19H9aStiP8l9kRYistCgsMLydjw09ZnE-pZgcTM1-M2MiBkjqRgC4AJuIQXSkTbdKhCdMFbLO3E-uByuNCzVJIOXGwpis32sLZiT_N2gOOf_NUSSyniuBBUYgNs" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjhIriyZZ0xH3QvB6h_NdvDEz-Wn2Eid3XKYIYcw0sw3O0C08JXrINJFJnmPE91tBgB19H9aStiP8l9kRYistCgsMLydjw09ZnE-pZgcTM1-M2MiBkjqRgC4AJuIQXSkTbdKhCdMFbLO3E-uByuNCzVJIOXGwpis32sLZiT_N2gOOf_NUSSyniuBBUYgNs" width="240" /></a></div><br />I am delighted to once again be joining other bloggers for Spiritual Journey Thursday. Today's journey is hosted by <a href="https://reflectionsontheteche.com/2024/01/04/spiritual-journey-one-little-word/">Margaret Simon.</a><p></p>Leigh Anne Eckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558611848583070310noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8692381227518715081.post-34134980815342687522024-01-02T00:00:00.000-05:002024-01-02T00:00:32.535-05:00The Plan<p style="text-align: left;">We had the perfect plan. All our Ts were crossed and Is were dotted. My sister took Mom and her caregiver out for lunch while my brother, husband, daughter, and I quickly packed. We had very little time to move Mom's things to the memory care unit before she unknowingly arrived.</p><p style="text-align: left;">The men loaded the love seat and tables, while Megan and I packed pictures and a few personal items. Her clothes were already moved the day before. In under 30 minutes we were packed and ready. The plan was on schedule.</p><p style="text-align: left;">As I looked back before shutting the door, I saw the opened can of diet coke and the honey bun wrapper from the morning's breakfast still sitting on the counter.</p><p style="text-align: left;">And then it hit me. The realization that she was never coming back home.</p><p style="text-align: left;">I wasn't quite ready for that part of the plan.</p><p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioVlPqpOVGqTsEu294y_pVyDo3JzHs9hSeROcZIJHPe9OKZslNL4LNfgpatjPp4gA-KdMrCuAbhK-xKo5f0ZvdcS7diVn3YGwOi3_CCWaks0r49vuvyKa216J-wGXuX4AHgf6EzXxvkqdlX1vaeeuwGfr17fJuvnj6YG7lHmx3b2YFPHsFY4fsIPuw=s300" style="color: #0e7bde; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioVlPqpOVGqTsEu294y_pVyDo3JzHs9hSeROcZIJHPe9OKZslNL4LNfgpatjPp4gA-KdMrCuAbhK-xKo5f0ZvdcS7diVn3YGwOi3_CCWaks0r49vuvyKa216J-wGXuX4AHgf6EzXxvkqdlX1vaeeuwGfr17fJuvnj6YG7lHmx3b2YFPHsFY4fsIPuw=w200-h200" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;"><p><span face="Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15.4px;"> Thank you<span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"> </span><a href="https://twowritingteachers.org/" style="color: #0e7bde; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration-line: none;">Two Writing Teachers</a> for creating a space to </span><span face="Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;">share our stories.</span></p></div>Leigh Anne Eckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558611848583070310noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8692381227518715081.post-24985257015953517122024-01-01T00:10:00.001-05:002024-01-01T09:35:07.575-05:002023: The Year of the Reading Slump #IMWAYR<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.unleashingreaders.com/27328" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEixSezJS0WZ_UQX3yKpv-9hJuete2ea3iVxH9picxtd2VqP8rVhov2I3j_Qmw_TdWqOcux8qYIwPx-ZKPhHjLIeKrQVddvauGy_04RksUKItnnlwBR1rB4CFRHYrTa4m11DLDoj7ZKUlA3vQxwvgS-yEi7ZFc0lkA4CtV99NJ_S2q45L8nIK43n2QzdseI=w400-h400" width="400" /></a></div><br /><i>Thank you to <a href="https://www.unleashingreaders.com/27328">Unleashing Readers</a> for continuing to promote reading and great book titles and especially for letting us wayward readers find our way back here.</i><p></p><p>The year 2023 has been my year of the reading slump. I did not meet my Goodreads goal: 49/60. For whatever reason, I could not find a rhythm to my reading life. This not only affected my personal life but also my teaching life. </p><p>I feel my students have also not been reading as much as they have in the past. Upon reflection, I feel my reading life, of a lack thereof, has bled into theirs. I know when I bless a book, the likelihood of my students picking it up and reading it increases. When I am excited about a book, they become excited about a book.</p><p>I know how this works!</p><p>But that just hasn't happened this year. Which is why I am posting here today. I am hoping that being a regular part of this community will help to motivate me and reignite my passion for middle grade books.</p><p>I have included my top 10 reads for 2023 and what I have learned from reading them.</p><p><b><i>When Stars Are Scattered </i></b>was my last book read in 2023 and made me realize how lucky I am to have the freedoms that I do.</p><p><i style="font-weight: bold;">Wand </i>had just enough fantasy to keep me going and left me appreciating the fact that <i>"The more people you love, the bigger your heart gets."</i></p><p><b style="font-style: italic;">Slacker</b> taught me that even gamers have big hearts, and that when we open them, we never know what we might get in return.</p><p><i style="font-weight: bold;">The One and Only Ruby </i>showed me that family, no matter what it looks like, is important.</p><p><i style="font-weight: bold;">A Work in Progress...</i>well, we all really are a work in progress.</p><p><i style="font-weight: bold;">The Do More Club</i> opened my eyes to what it is like to be Jewish in our country and we should all strive do "more good" in our world.</p><p><i style="font-weight: bold;">Dust </i>shows the importance of when you see something, say something.</p><p><i style="font-weight: bold;">Finding Perfect </i>shows that people may not always be what they seem on the outside and taught me even more about people with anxiety. </p><p><i style="font-weight: bold;">Rivals </i>reinforces my belief that there is more to being athlete than winning and losing.</p><p><i style="font-weight: bold;">City Spies </i>is an espionage/thriller series that lets me get wrapped up in great adventures and helps me appreciate that it is ok to lean on others to help us work through our problems.</p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-02f9f778-7fff-1fa4-cf3f-8a7e232d9033"><img height="200px;" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/op1cDJICki5LsNe6fATG6L_mODAPof5vV3e8viNHXuTenKy1H8tCUiR0HHi3KUdUC9A7BtuyxoLzmB1VeOMwr0HI6v3v4mkrDNNsNplhBE9mpxN5gQBjRqHfrahWAcx5FNDT6I-QRmUaiBrQXVKzvMTPag=s2048" width="136px;" /> </span><img height="200px;" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/QJ_OVxPTGIJjcQeHbql0pkzNkskvGuH_9Oe9dhVndTeNUzJ8z1UkpdFhtZclFM58_qz-Jh6VOqOnI2aZlIDWuL1IM6X6Vyn6Bn8_e0i5SepW5wl0nu5JV-BvPXU8mt6cQX2EKretBGJwrQwn93YTL92sbQ=s2048" width="133px;" /> <img height="200px;" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/hzxLciGhVbfJAwaXIUssANWJHDblm856zLYlqJOTQuek2C52Jh-5_B92eq10m6TC_GL4mlGOvNg4hXIAmSSm1_ZNK7bCKG6yMcdlSmE8lUXpiZ1AkH54zlF-EjpRCdsfkfZddhNWfDovaiCBH9opqJJIVw=s2048" width="132px;" /> <img height="200px;" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/hh9x9BS-ME6lqxDn02IDJMbrkNh-clPsYzJVNNL4nyfplALXWiwYQ059-5qsMo0650kzxgpZ5z9LXuTpkVb--3jhexkIf7v_6rYFlGy8fkB7viX5qeHO3IFbv583RnOoFcg8W5nw6sCPa296s0I77PY0Eg=s2048" width="141px;" /> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-31d2fa1f-7fff-01b7-8def-6d882eebc166"><img height="201px;" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/RbX1DZN-OuxOIhE9hyCoEuIt8dxg-zQ9IQF9z3CsDSxdIDAaXB5usBbYJ4MhmcMP0hFwMxP95TItMKz9lZlYS2RI4ieYGCo1Vfzu_dNObqKsbUgNfA-4T1Wiplthoih6nPejJqO9PWW3DW0X8ILyhohLyw=s2048" width="133px;" /> </span><img height="200px;" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/gavUbre7NiL-x0_v7p30wgdjnyIVJrVFeeZQIe5o1Q-11VFmeOc9Iua4s3dDxZyfCV35p8xCk_bHtY79ynQWIqpci3jOXiG3ucy8I44ApBr4IjA72sSR6rbBNPmUNEdx7Upf68Ekjr8LdAl_jF00DQWxrQ=s2048" width="127px;" /> <img height="198px;" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/uXNQJe4VpB0xTcdLXjzL1mWFCfeqbfgNk4mIwC2YqOKY6a8F3btOYIp7-NKwS8W8Za_hRljIsT0wHfG6bDIVdReDRd5xL7Aq2KqFrMEY3UI0lCNzvT2A0__SWB55TNzZujtp7_1QAQhF5jb9R68e0p5dSw=s2048" width="136px;" /> <img height="192px;" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/SGb-MNiUTev1hfp2LyaEHpniCa6dSQfisZfDS8wh0ong1rwyOwmMbGiD1w9D6bFjqb04iKZE6ysvuWj_WhMxesga3zK0jXPx3BD_CzdYdHOqzNSHfTU8AFTvWwtHzkQQ29iu_VEdqKA4-2bOkIIhCMTVeA=s2048" width="127px;" /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-59131ff3-7fff-a997-9d95-f24a0639eefd"><img height="199px;" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/Q-d7ErM2I3LhlSD6DrCGmJENtX0P62yfRoqlFRiuuy6dEwSJFnEwQ03IF83rEjsq9R6pEX4iuWZh9CI6ylXiPkHphs2wTKzpOU962YS9cg1nKUg-KBqihsoKKRds9u-2xYBBXvBq-PZqbW76X_ryJKVlIA=s2048" style="text-align: left;" width="136px;" /> </span><img height="200px;" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/O-KYmtS55oGkAnmXaK1suoDCw0xSTuHYceoVazKNpq6ny9Abl0PLPOxYu-aqo61JtJfQj1rFL6o9rjOka9ltBmfkzlbxv_5yCblaFTxyYLHTA30jCaKGmDXBzbCHTgi72STrRlP0O_AEabjGAFHIjrRt3A=s2048" width="132px;" /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Looking forward to reading more in 2024!</span></p>Leigh Anne Eckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558611848583070310noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8692381227518715081.post-87540387885090586092023-12-19T19:16:00.003-05:002023-12-19T19:31:41.620-05:00Writing Reflection<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG4LK-cxDAC6dOKSAjGfWQC5HxVmZr98OzUHb0rJUy0r4viNe9z-J3_DOJUulig8sGsFo4ZqOrKDVlH37gw4LtMPLw_OPCqe4_tF4ts_dXX7YXaelHMYLcrkide7hdn-CY-XTwOnPao4F2YskXn83ZyVeaa7Yyk2RlpAuSzii54Pnb6xa1TK9qOfsf4Uk/s1280/notebook-1939358_1280.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG4LK-cxDAC6dOKSAjGfWQC5HxVmZr98OzUHb0rJUy0r4viNe9z-J3_DOJUulig8sGsFo4ZqOrKDVlH37gw4LtMPLw_OPCqe4_tF4ts_dXX7YXaelHMYLcrkide7hdn-CY-XTwOnPao4F2YskXn83ZyVeaa7Yyk2RlpAuSzii54Pnb6xa1TK9qOfsf4Uk/w400-h266/notebook-1939358_1280.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>As the year makes its way to the home stretch, I took some time to reflect on my writing habit. Or maybe I should say my lack of a writing habit.</p><p>I am almost to the end of a notebook, which has taken me much too long to fill. Running my fingers over the slight indentation of the ink on the pages, I reread some entries tonight. The poems, reflections, and memories came flooding back, and I realized how much I miss regular writing in my notebook. I have written a lot this year, but it has been more professional writing. But writing in a notebook is just...well it's just different.</p><p>I made a list of what kept me from writing this year. Three things bubbled up: my phone, not creating a habit, and making excuses. These are three areas I intend to improve on in the coming year, and I know these will be the catalyst for my writing goals for 2024. </p><p>My next decision: Do I abandon a notebook that has taken too long to fill, or do I plug away and finish it before starting a new one in 2024. This is hard for me, as I am one who likes "fresh beginnings." </p><p>What about you? Do you like new notebooks at the beginning of the year? Or are you a start-to-finish kind of notebooker?</p><p>Here's to writing in 2024! May my words return and find a home on the page.</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioVlPqpOVGqTsEu294y_pVyDo3JzHs9hSeROcZIJHPe9OKZslNL4LNfgpatjPp4gA-KdMrCuAbhK-xKo5f0ZvdcS7diVn3YGwOi3_CCWaks0r49vuvyKa216J-wGXuX4AHgf6EzXxvkqdlX1vaeeuwGfr17fJuvnj6YG7lHmx3b2YFPHsFY4fsIPuw=s300" style="color: #0e7bde; font-size: 15.4px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioVlPqpOVGqTsEu294y_pVyDo3JzHs9hSeROcZIJHPe9OKZslNL4LNfgpatjPp4gA-KdMrCuAbhK-xKo5f0ZvdcS7diVn3YGwOi3_CCWaks0r49vuvyKa216J-wGXuX4AHgf6EzXxvkqdlX1vaeeuwGfr17fJuvnj6YG7lHmx3b2YFPHsFY4fsIPuw=w200-h200" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p><span face="Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif" style="color: #666666; font-size: 15.4px;"> Thank you<span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-size: 15px;"> </span><a href="https://twowritingteachers.org/" style="color: #0e7bde; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration-line: none;">Two Writing Teachers</a> for creating a space to </span><span face="Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif" style="color: #666666; font-size: 15px;">share our stories.</span></p></div>Leigh Anne Eckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03558611848583070310noreply@blogger.com5