SOLC #10 When A Comment Leads to Revision

The Slice of Life March Challenge is hosted by Two Writing Teachers.  

"As a writing teacher, one of the most important things you can do is practice, practice, practice your own writing. Every time you sit down to write you are gaining insider knowledge about what writers do–so that you can share that knowledge with the kids you teach."

Little did I know when I read Beth's post yesterday on Two Writing Teachers about using our own writing as a teaching tool, I would be putting it to use so soon.  

I had scheduled my post to publish at 6:00 am yesterday morning, but did not get a chance to link to TWT until later on in the day.  Before I linked, Michelle from the Literacy Learning Zone had already read it and posted a comment.  

The way she read my slice and the message I wanted to convey were not the same. She left a comment, and I realized that my writing was unclear.

The revision process began.

I started asking myself questions about my intended message and where the message broke down.  Where was I not clear and concise?  Where did the confusion lie?  What revisions did I need make?

I started with the title and then made some other changes.  I asked her to come back and read it again.  You can read our "comment conversation" here.

I know revision is a key issue for my student writers.  Many don't want to do it; many don't like to do it; and many don't see the need to do it.  But my post needed revising in order for my readers to understand what I wanted to say.  

This is an authentic lesson in which I can share with my students ~ which is exactly what Beth was talking about.

SOLC #9 One Benefit of Reading Widely

The Slice of Life March Challenge is hosted by Two Writing Teachers.

Throughout the year we do formative assessments and writing activities which are similar to our standardized test in the spring.  There is a plethora of these available online which makes it much easier for teachers to find resources.

A common writing activity is to continue writing a story.  For example, for one of the activities, students had to read an excerpt from a novel, and continue writing the story of the characters going down the river.

That was a pretty simple task as most students have background knowledge of being in some type of water or playing with some type of water vessel.  Sounds easy enough.

Another practice activity we completed was a historical fiction piece.  Students had to read a passage about a specific time in history and continue the story. If a student had no background knowledge about this time period, then this one wasn't quite so easy.

After the students were finished, I asked them what they thought about it.

Student:  "It was hard."

Me:  "Why was this one so hard?"

Student:  "Because I didn't know what they were talking about."

Student:  "I couldn't think of anything to write about."

Me:  "This was historical fiction.  So you are saying you had no background knowledge of this time period in which to draw upon or to give you an idea for your writing?"

Student:  "Yeah, I don't read those kinds of books."

Me:  "How many of you think you would have done better had you read at least one book set during this time period?"

Almost every hand went up.  

Me:  "This goes to show you that there is more to reading than the Diary of A Wimpy Kid books.  This is one of the many reasons why you need to read widely and to read many different genres.  Because you never know what you might find on that test."

End of the discussion.

Lesson learned.

Teacher smiling.

Bloggers note:  After reading Michelle's comment, I feel a need to clarify something.  I do not believe that students should read widely for a test.  That was not my intention for writing this post.  When a person reads widely, they have more knowledge on different subjects and genres.  This incident was just one of the many benefits of reading widely that came up in my classroom.  

SOLC #8 Wondering Wrap-up

The Slice of Life March Challenge is hosted by Two Writing Teachers.  

I decided to wrap up my week with a list of wonderings.  None of these are worthy of Wonderopolis, but they left me pondering.

I wonder how birds communicate.  (OK this one may be worthy)  How did they know my husband tore up little pieces of a leftover pancake and placed them on our porch?  I mean, does one bird see it and go tell the others? 

I wonder how weather forecasters can screw up time and time again and still keep their jobs.  I mean, what would happen if I did that?

I wonder how neighbors can keep their dogs outside for long periods of time barking at EVERYTHING.  I mean, can't they hear that?

I wonder why parents yell at and humiliate their kids when they make a mistake on the basketball court.  I mean, don't they realize they are in our feeder program, not the WNBA?  

I wonder why my husband thinks he needed to take a walk when schools were let out early because of the weather?  I mean, he even bothered to call and say, "I bet you don't go to school tomorrow.  These streets are treacherous."

I wonder why my son decided to wait until the last day of the grading period to ask his teacher about his missing assignments.  I mean, doesn't he remember he is a teacher's son?  AND doesn't he remember he graduates high school nine weeks?

Did this week leave you with any wonderings?

SOLC #7 - Snow Day Surprise and Celebrate Turn #6

The Slice of Life March Challenge is hosted by Two Writing Teachers.  

My slice today is serving double duty because I am also celebrating with Ruth Ayres.

Thursday we had another snow day.  By mid afternoon the streets were pretty clear so I decided to venture out, go to school, and get some work done.  

As I was sitting in my room, I received a text message from another teacher who lives across the field from the school.  If I look out my window, I can see his house.

The text said, Emma, his daughter and a former 4th grade student of mine, left you a surprise.  Look out your window.

I opened the blinds and this is what I saw.

I replied, "Tell her thank you and that SHE is an angel."

Celebrating a snow day surprise!

SOLC #6 Spectacles

The Slice of Life March Challenge is hosted by Two Writing Teachers.

Every Thursday Laura Purdie Salas hosts 15 Words or Less Poems.  If you are looking for a slice idea on a Thursday, you might check out her blog and give it a try.  Below are the guidelines from her blog.

"Look at the picture, brainstorm three things the pictures makes you think of or reminds you of, and write a quick poem of 15 words or less (not counting the title). It does not have to describe the picture. It does not have to rhyme. Most importantly, it does not have to be “good.” Don’t put pressure or expectations on yourself. This is just a creative exercise!"

Here is this week's picture prompt, my poem, and the story behind my inspiration.

Spectacles

Perched upon my head

like a bird guarding her nest

Waiting to see the world

I have been wearing reading glasses for several years, and I cannot see a thing close up without them.  The first year I had the glasses I would lose them constantly at school because I would set them down and not remember where they were.  The next few years, I was still able to see with my older glasses, so I kept several pairs of glasses at school.  This allowed me to have a pair in the back of the room and in the front of the room.  

But this was still frustrating, because I was still asking, "Has anyone seen my glasses?"  Or I would be searching for something and the kids would say, "Are you looking for your glasses again Mrs. Eck?"

Then I got smart.  I bought frames that were sturdier, and I was able to keep them on my head...and that is where they stay.  I wake up and put the glasses on my head.  I take the glasses off and go to bed.  They are always perched upon my head. 

Last year during the first week of school, we had the students draw a picture of the teachers for a get-to-know-you activity.  I taught 4th grade then, and one of my students drew the glasses on my head.  (She even drew my dimples - those green things on my cheeks!)  She knew me better than she thought she did!

SOLC #5 The Power of Teenage Friendships

The Slice of Life March Challenge is hosted by Two Writing Teachers.

Yesterday I wrote about the notes I had saved from high school.  Today, I introduce you to the authors of those notes.

When I was growing up, our town had six elementary schools which fed into one junior high school.  It was during those junior high years when friendships started to change.  It was a scary time because we could easily fall in with the "wrong crowd." My group evolved throughout the next several years, some friends leaving and new ones joining.  The summer between my freshman and sophomore years, I found my group and the eight of us have been friends since.  

We call ourselves The Eight Jelly Donuts, also known as the EJD's.  Our name came from mischievous pranks we did with jelly donuts, but that is another slice.

Junior/Senior Basketball game - I am the third from the top.

We graduated from high school in 1982, and our lives took different paths. Some of us went away to college, while others shared those college years in our hometown.  Some married and started families.  Some moved away to different points across the country - California, Texas, Virginia, Illinois, while others stayed in Indiana. One (me!) even married another one's brother!

Our Senior Prom - I am the third from the right.
And I have no idea why we have our
garters below our knees.

Then...

life happened, and time between gatherings stretched out, just like the miles which separated the eight of us.  We went through a period of time where some of us lost contact with each other.

The year 2000 was approaching, and we decided to celebrate the millennium together that summer.  Seven of us reunited for the first time in close to 15 years.  That weekend was like a two day slumber party - you know, the kind where slumber isn't even thought about.  We had years worth of catching up and lots of reminiscing to do.  Our time together felt like time had stood still, and we were back in our bedrooms, basements, family rooms, and cars sharing secrets and laughing until our stomachs hurt and tears streamed down our faces.  And of course there were jelly donuts!

The EJD's celebrating together 50 years of life.

The last time all of us were together was the fall of 2013 to celebrate the year we turned 50. We went back to all of our teenage hangouts and took pictures like this one in front of the doors of our high school.

There are times when I wonder if we would have become friends had we met for the first time as adults.  I don't think so.  We are different now than who we were as kids, but that is the power of teenage friendship.  I have had many friends throughout my life, but none like the ones I had when I was 13.  Once those friends are in your heart, they have a forever place.

Those are my EJD's.

And that's the power of teenage friendships. 

As teenagers we shared
first loves and heartbreaks, coming of age and becoming young women.

As adults we have shared
weddings and divorces, childbirth and infertility, life and death.

And through it all we have shared
love, laughter and friendship.

To my EJD'S - I know you are reading this, and I want you to remember...

SOLC #4 Social Media ~ 80's Style

The Slice of Life March Challenge is hosted by Two Writing Teachers.  

Today, kids are inundated with the pressures of growing up with social media.  They have texting, email, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat.  With the click of a button, they give the entire world access to 

their words, 

their thoughts,

their pictures,      

their life,

and they have access to the entire world.

Flashback 35 years ago...

A bag of notes from my high school years.  

Back in the 80's we had social media too.

We had notes.  With the meticulous folding, creasing, and tucking of notebook paper, our friends had access to 

our words,

our thoughts,

our pictures,

our life,

and we had access to our own little world.

 the only world that mattered
when we were teenagers.

Here is our text talk - we would use the first letter of a word
to write messages and see if our friends could decode them.

Unlike today's kids, we didn't have to worry about our notes being exploited in the hands of the world ~ only the hands of our teachers or the person who we were writing about...and we were usually writing about someone.

I am still friends with the seven authors of these notes, and that is tomorrow's slice.

SOLC #3 Cool Kids

The Slice of Life March Challenge is hosted by Two Writing Teachers.  

The other day I got into my son's Blazer and of course his radio was not on the station I listen to, and the volume was much louder than what I prefer.  I turned it down a bit, but continued listening to the song.  The song kept repeating the same line over and over.  

"I wish that I could be like the cool kids,

Cause all the cool kids, they seem to fit in."

I stopped and thought, "Did they just say what I think they said?"

Being a middle school teacher, I just shook my head.  Everyday I see kids who want to be like the cool kids, and yes, who want to fit in.  It is a constant struggle for many kids this age.  Fitting in is so difficult when you are still trying to understand who you really are and who you want to be.

But what makes a kid cool?  Is it being an athlete, being smart, wearing the brand name clothes, being rich, or being popular?  Who defines what is cool and what isn't?

A few days later, I decided to Google this song, hoping that the lyrics were actually something inspiring.  I found an article written on Radio.com about the four siblings who make up the group Echosmith and who sing this song.  Here is what they said:

Jamie says the message of the song is simple: the coolest thing you can be is yourself. But more often than not, fans tell the band that they relate to the kids they’re singing about. That they feel like the outsider looking in.

“This cry to be like the cool kids… it’s something that everyone kind of goes through whether you want to act like it or not,” Jamie said. “There’s always somebody out there that you kind of wish, ‘If only I could do this, or do that.’ I think that’s why it connects with people so well.”

I would agree that everyone at some time in their life wishes they could be like someone else.  I don't have a problem with that, because I do the same thing as an adult.  I read slices and want to be like that writer or want to teach like some of the teachers I see on Twitter or on blogs.  

I do have a problem with "the cool kid" part.  They say the message of the song is simple - the coolest thing is to be yourself.  That is a great message.  I may be wrong, but I don't clearly hear that message because it gets lost in the repeated refrain.  (Trust me ~ listen to it once and you will be singing the refrain.)  The message I hear is the coolest thing is to be like someone else so you can fit in.

And to me, that is sending the wrong the message.  

SOLC #2 My Daughter Doesn't Cry

The Slice of Life March Challenge is hosted by Two Writing Teachers.  

"How lucky I am to have something that makes saying Goodbye so hard."

-Winnie the Pooh

My daughter doesn't cry.

Megan lost three grandparents within a year and a half.   

But my daughter doesn't cry.

As an athlete, she has lost countless basketball games.

But my daughter doesn't cry.

As a college senior, she has had many "lasts."

But my daughter doesn't cry.

Megan is student teaching, and she just finished her first assignment in a special education classroom working with k-2 students.  She became very attached to her students. Last Friday Megan picked me up from school, and knowing this was her last day with these students and with Julie, her cooperating teacher, I asked,

"So how did it go?"

"Fine."

"Just fine?"

"Yes and I don't want to talk about it."

"Why?"

"Because I will start crying."

As a mom, I knew not to push,

Because my daughter doesn't cry.

SOLC #1 My Second First Day

The Slice of Life March Challenge is hosted by Two Writing Teachers.  

It is hard to believe that another March has come around, and here I am participating in my second Slice of Life March Challenge.  Participating in the challenge last year was very intimidating.  I had doubts on whether or not I could write 31 straight days ~ but I did and I became a changed person.

I became a better writer because I wrote.

I became a better teacher because I understood the difficulties and challenges writers face.

I became a better listener because I was listened to.

I became a better commenter because I knew the power of a comment.

My world became bigger because I "met" you.

My world became brighter because your stories made me laugh.

My world became insightful because your stories made me think.

Today...

I am not afraid to write because I know words matter.

I write because writing brings about change.

I thank you for being a part of my writing world.

Celebrate Turn #5

I am ever so grateful to Ruth Ayres for inviting us to share and celebrate events, big or small, from our week.

This week I celebrate through the creation of list.  Too many wonderful celebrations and not enough time to write about all of them.

I celebrate:

1. My daughter finishing up her first student teaching assignment - almost done!
2. Watching a high school basketball in our old gym with a 1 million dollar make-over.
3. Finishing our "practice" tests and being ready for the "real" one.
4. Having our standardized testing decreased by 3 hours.
5. Receiving four out of my 16 books won in a contest.
6. Receiving a hug from a former student who guards her heart.
7. Seeing students at a basketball game and having them tell me how another teacher stole my Blake Shelton signature move.
8. Getting ready for my first slice in the Slice of Life March Challenge.
9. Watching my son play Lynyrd Skynyrd's Free Bird with his band for the last time at a high school basketball game.  Watch the video below. (My son is the one on the left in the hat.)
10. Laughing with teachers and having the best job in the world.

Have great week and may you find many celebrations!

Snow Day Fun

Thank you to Two Writing Teachers for creating a place to share our Slice of Life.  Read more slices or add you own here.

We have gone most of the winter without snow and then...

BAM!

It hit us last week.  We went to school one day last week, and in all honesty there was not much difference between Thursday and Friday, the one day we did go.

My son has been in heaven.  He loves winter and loves to snowboard on a hill by our house which has been the sledding hill for over 100 years.  He has watched skateboarders and snowboarders on TV since he was a little kid.  We traveled to several skateparks in the midwest when he was little, but he has only snowboarded on "real" slopes a few times.  

The first talk of snow and Ethan and his friends are out building and rebuilding ramps. Each year their endeavors seem to get more creative and interesting than the previous one.  They have used a door, a desk, a doghouse, an old water fountain, PVC pipe, logs, and any piece of wood that is not nailed down to build their ramps.

This year, they took the top of a picnic table to make their ramp.  This ramp was high enough to give Ethan enough air to try a 360.  After many attempts, he finally landed it.  Here is the video.  His friend put the turn in slow motion which makes it really neat to watch.  I know it is not the X-Games, but for my son, it was snow day fun!

Celebrate Turn #4

I am ever so grateful to Ruth Ayres for inviting us to share and celebrate events, big or small, from our week.

This week was a very lucky week for me.  

Several days ago, I saw a couple of tweets about a Valentine's Day giveaway provided by a group of middle grade authors, spearheaded by Lynda Mullaly Hunt.  I went to her website and saw all of the teachers who were already signed up.  I knew I didn't have a chance but thought, "Oh, what the heck" and submitted my entry.

Thursday I went to lunch with a colleague because we had a snow day, and when I returned I had a rather large amount of emails.  (I have a dumb phone so my I don't get dings for emails and Twitter notifications.)  I knew something was up.

The first one I saw was from Elsie and then Terje, both congratulating me on winning the giveaway.  I thought no way - out of all those teachers, I was picked!  Yep!  Me!  Sixteen signed copies of the books in the first annual Middle Grade Authors Love Teachers Giveaway!

So today I celebrate authors who are so graciously willing to share books with teachers and our students.  They are my rockstars, and I am so thankful for the gift they have given my students.  The best part is that each author is sending the books individually, so going to the office to get my mail will each day will hold the possibility of a new celebration.

Now I need to find a way to pay it forward and extend the celebration.

The Slicing Community - A Field of Beans

Thank you to Two Writing Teachers for creating a place to share our Slice of Life.  Read more slices or add you own here.

My original thought for a post today was irony - the irony of getting President's Day off because we have had no snow days and looking out the window to see 8+ inches of the lovely white stuff.

Then, last night happened - the Slice of Life Challenge Twitter Chat.

Participating in this chat reminded me just how special this community was.  It is one thing to read slices, share stories, and write comments once a week, but having a "live" conversation took it to a new level for me.  There were old seasoned slicers and new slicers all with a common goal - to share tips, ask questions, and encourage each other.  The chat had the feel of a reunion.

There are other communities in which I participate in conversations and chats, but they are not like this one.  Last night, I felt like I belonged there.  I felt like I had truly become part of this community.

It wasn't always like this.  I remember last March thinking there was no way I could write something for 31 days.  Listening to the new slicers last night, I could feel their fear along with their excitement.  I remember it well.

When I first began slicing it was like this bean field, a field full of slicers.  I was quite intimidated.  There were days when I felt like the corn stalk in the middle of the bean field.  I felt I was in a place where I didn't belong, way out of my comfort zone.  Could I write stories like the other slicers?  Would anyone find my writing interesting?  Who would read it?

I passed by this field many times last summer,
and I have waited for the perfect slice to use it.

It didn't take long to realize that I was among a group of wonderful people.  People who wanted me to grow right along side of them.  It didn't matter who was a bean plant or who was a corn stalk.  We were all growing writers, thriving in a field together.  Our harvest is in the month of March where we reap what we have sown all year.  We share stories, we share smiles, and yes, we even share tears...every single day.  But that is the wonderful bounty in it all.  That is this community, and I am so blessed to be a part of it.

I hope those of you who are reading today and are considering the March challenge, will just jump in and join.  I became a better teacher, a better writer, and a better person because of it.  And I don't even mind being that cornstalk anymore.

Celebrate Turn #3

I am ever so grateful to Ruth Ayres for inviting us to share and celebrate events, big or small, from our week.

Thank you all for your words of support and encouragement  last week.  When a person has so many stressful events coming from different angles, life can be so overwhelming.  I celebrate your words. 

I live in Indiana, and if you have read news reports, tweets, or blog posts about our state testing, you know it has been a mess.  For the next three weeks we will stop instruction and begin our first round of testing, including a week of practice testing.

As bad as it has been, our teachers have continued teaching and being positive for our students.  The students know we have adopted new standards and the new test will be much different, longer, and more rigorous than any other test they have taken before.  Teachers, principals, coaches, and students have been flexible by adapting to changes that have been thrown at us, even days before testing begins.  We have all worked hard, and today I celebrate my colleagues, my administration, and most importantly, my students.

I celebrate no snow days...so far.  We have Monday off for President's Day which is the first time we have had it off for several years.  If we continue to have this no-snow-day pattern, we will also have off the Fridays in May which I love, love, love!

I celebrate my Grandma!  Yes, I am 50 years old and still have my grandma.  I had lunch with her today because my mom and my aunts went out of town, and they needed someone to look in on her.  I hate the fact that her mind is slipping, but we had a great time together eating lunch and sorting cards.  To keep her mind active, my aunts tells her the playing cards got mixed up and she needs someone to sort them.  

For those of you who have read my first slice - It was March on the milk carton today! Celebrate!

I hope all of you have a great week and have many celebrations along the way!

Monday, Monday - A New Perspective

Thank you to Two Writing Teachers for creating a place to share our Slice of Life.  Read more slices or add you own here.

How many of you have a different attitude about Fridays than you do about Mondays?  I know I usually do.  By Friday, I am usually ready for the weekend, ready for a much needed break.  Mondays roll around, and I hit the snooze too many times and want to pull the covers back over my head.  I get to school and teachers talk about how tired they are or what all they have to do this week.

But how many students feel just the opposite?  How many dread going home on Friday and look forward to coming back to school on Monday?  How many feel that coming to school is the best part of their day, let alone their week?

How many of them long for a place where it is warm.

A place with hot food and fresh fruits and vegetables.

A place where someone says hi with a smile.

A place where someone says, "I am glad you are here today."

I think about this from time to time, but I can't say I think about it on a regular basis.  This weekend I saw a tweet that really gave me a new perspective and changed my attitude about Mondays.

This tweet was from Steph Frosch @steph_frosch.

Yesterday I had students come in and say things like "I didn't want to come to school today."

I smiled and said with new enthusiasm, "I love Mondays!"

Of course they looked at me like I was crazy, but I just smiled and replied, "I get to see all of you."

I want to make every Monday matter in my classroom, because it might just be the best part of someone's week.

Celebrate Turn #2

I am ever so grateful to Ruth Ayres for inviting us to share and celebrate events, big or small, from our week.

January was a tough month for me, and I was happy to be able to turn the calendar page.  I have not written a celebration post since early January.  

Today I celebrate hard things, because through hard things I become stronger.

I celebrate rainy days and my husband's wisdom for planning and knowing there will always be one...someday.  

I celebrate mentors and the rekindling of relationships with students...even those separated by a period of absence.

I celebrate short evenings alone with my husband...knowing in our hearts and dreading the day when these evenings become days or weeks or months.

I celebrate my daughter's smile and the feeling in her heart...knowing she has made the right decision.

I celebrate a sweet message from a friend...I have missed your celebrations.

I hope you have a week filled with celebrations.