The Beginning - A Tribute to Katherine #sol17

I believe being a writer is one of the biggest gifts you can give to your students. ~ Stacey Shubitz

This month I am participating in the Slice of Life Story Challenge.  Thanks to Two Writing Teachers for creating a space for me to share my corner of the world.

This is NOT the post I had written and ready to publish today.  But yesterday when I saw that Katherine at Read, Write, Reflect, was back to slicing this month, I knew I had to change my plans.

My one little word this year is RISE, and I have made it a point to lift others, especially those who have played a part in my writing life.  I celebrated and honored Margaret here, and Terje here.  

Today, I celebrate Katherine.  It is because of Katherine that my little space, A Day in the Life, was born.  

Her blog introduced me to the blogosphere.  It was the first one I faithfully read every day.  It is probably the only one in which I have read the entire blog more than once! 

In the early days of my teaching career, Katherine was the teacher I wanted to be.  I was teaching on that deserted island by myself and desperately needed some validation of my teaching practices.  Katherine was that validation, even if it was online.  I needed to know that what I was doing in my classroom made sense.  I needed her encouragement to create those reading relationships with my own students like she had with hers.  I needed to read her slices, her stories that she so bravely and beautifully shared.  But most importantly, I needed her inspiration to create my own writing life.  I had no idea that a supportive community of writing teachers even existed out there, a place called Two Writing Teachers.

After reading every blog post she wrote, especially her slices in March, the idea of creating my own blog started permeating my thoughts, but I had so many doubts.  Could I do this?  Did I want to do this?  Would anyone read what I had to say?  Who would care?

I took the plunge, created this blog, and have been writing ever since.  But I know if it wasn't for Katherine, my writing life would not be what it is today.  

Over the last couple of years, Katherine has taken a little bit of a break due to family and other obligations.  I understand that, but I will be honest, I have missed her presence in my teaching and writing and reading life.  Her last Slice of Life March Challenge was my first.  She has so much to share with other educators, and it has certainly been our loss.

So when I read Katherine's post, "You'll Be Back" I knew who I would be lifting next.  Thank you Katherine for being my inspiration.  

Welcome back!