My Three "R's"

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Recharge   Refocus   Reach.

It has been ten days since my last post.  I needed to take some much needed time away from blogging.  Taking this time has given me time to recharge, refocus, and reach.

RECHARGE

Remember when you were in college and the last three weeks of the semester the professors thought they needed to make everything due and test you in every class right before finals?

That is how I feel right now!  Something had to take the back seat and unfortunately, it was blogging.

So many activities happen at the end of the school year:  field trip, talent show, awards, presentations. It is nice to be able to start crossing off items on my list.  Each item marked off my list seems to help keep me going.  I am recharged and ready to spend these last few weeks of school making memories with my students.

REFOCUS

I started my blog a year ago today!  I am amazed at how this decision has added so much to my life, especially my teaching life.  The connections that I have made travel well beyond the walls of my classroom and my school.  Teaching can be a lonely profession, but blogging and Twitter has made my world so much bigger.  Living in southern Indiana, I never dreamed of connecting with teachers all over the world and being a part of this community.

Look at the title of my blog - A Day in the Life...of a teacher, a reader, a writer.  I have always been a reader, but I have also grown as a reader this year.  Sharing books has opened my mind, my heart, and my world of reading.  I have become a better teacher of reading because of it.

Writing on my blog, especially the March Challenge, has literally changed my life as a writer.  It has given me confidence to share my words.  It has given me authentic writing lessons to share with my students.  I have been in the trenches - I now have mentor texts of my own to share with my students.  I have become a better teacher of writing because of it.

But I want more!

My teaching has also improved, but I have not shared much of my life as a teacher on my blog.  I want to become more reflective.  I want to share what I do in my classroom, which is just as scary (if not more!) as sharing my writing.

I am not sure if I have any new ideas, but I just want to inspire teachers to "think differently" about a teaching practice or a new way of doing something.  I want to open the doors of my classroom and let others come in, take a peek, and share ideas. 

I have been asking myself in what direction do I want my blog to go.  Do I need to make a change?  Start another blog?  What do I want to do as a reader, a writer, a teacher?

I am still refocusing, but I a clearer picture is starting to appear.   I look forward to sharing some of this as we move into summer.

REACH

This year I have accomplished things I never dreamed of doing.  

• starting my blog
• blogging in my classroom
• tweeting
• writing for Nerdy Book Club 
• presenting PD sessions for teachers in my corporation
• becoming a Next Chapter Book Club coordinator

But I have things I still want to do.  I want to REACH.  

After this break and some soul searching, I am recharged, refocused, and ready to REACH.

I can't wait to see what year two has in store for me!

Celebrate Good Times, Come On! - 4/19

Each Saturday  Ruth Ayres invites us to share and celebrate events from our week. Looking for small celebrations has certainly improved my outlook on life. For that, I am certainly grateful to Ruth and to all of you who choose to celebrate with us.

I was not going to write a post today because with tomorrow being Easter, I refuse to go into school.  That leaves today to get Saturday and Sunday's work done.  But I just couldn't do it, so here is my short list of celebrations.

1.  Last Saturday I spent a gorgeous day out on the golf course watching my son play 18 holes - long day but beautiful weather!

2.  My favorite produce market opened this week - my sure sign that spring is here.  Can't wait to plant flowers.

3.  My son's band launched their new single this week - I don't know why they have to look so serious!  He is the second one in the pictures.  Check out their first song here.  So proud of him.

4.  I had a conference with one of my struggling readers this week and here is what he said:  "This is the part where I knew my prediction was wrong and I had to change it."  This was completely unprompted which makes it a celebration for me!

Have a Happy Easter and wonderful week!

It Just So Happens...

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The other day I noticed someone made a comment on my very first post - my blog birthday - which just so happens to have been almost a year ago.  Intrigued, I went back to inquire.  Here is the story.

Back when I was a blog stalker, I would travel from one blog to another, losing my way in the process.  Sometimes I felt like I needed to be more like Hansel and Gretel and leave a breadcrumb trail.  Some blogs I would bookmark or remember, others were lost in my memory.  It was during this time I stumbled onto Memoirs from the Belly.  

I left a comment on this blog which just so happened to have been on the day after my first post.  On this particular post, she wrote about how she originally started her blog to promote her writing business.  She received very little traffic and became discouraged, so she stopped writing for almost a year.  For some reason that day, she had come back to her blog and realized she was writing for the wrong reasons, hence the title, "What's the Point?"  She realized she had stories to tell, and that was why she wrote.  It didn't matter if no one read them, because they were written for her son.

I had just started my blog and was of course questioning myself.  Who is going to read this?  Why did I think I could write?  I don't know a thing about blogging.

Here is my comment to her on April 30, 2013:

I just came across your blog, and your writing and story are beautiful! I have cautiously entered the world of blogging and am very unsure of what I am doing. Your words about how who sees my blog is not as important as to the reason why I write. Thank you for your "inadvertent nudge." Maybe I can do this after all.

It just so happens in that one year, she wrote one post, and had one comment - from me!

It just so happens that one year later - in April 2014 - she reads that comment which I wrote in 2013, and finds me.

Of course I returned to her blog to "catch up" on her life.  She has a beautiful little boy and the stories of her journey are about heartache, joy, life, and relationships - true slices of life. 

A year ago, she gave me a nudge, made me think about who I was writing for.  She is back to writing, so now it is my turn.  I encouraged/invited her to write a Slice of Life.  She said she had heard of Two Writing Teachers but had never participated.  I was thrilled when she said she was going to give it a try this week.

I hope that today I will run my eyes down the list of slices and see her name.  If you have the time today, please find her blog, read her stories, and give her a nudge and encourage her to write with us.

Maybe she will then say, "It just so happened..."

Note - she did write her first slice!  Please visit her here.

Poetry Challenge #10 - The Invitation

Each Saturday  Ruth Ayres invites us to share and celebrate events from our week. Looking for small celebrations has certainly improved my outlook on life. For that, I am certainly grateful to Ruth and to all of you who choose to celebrate with us.

Looking back at my week I had many things to celebrate.  But this week, something special happened - a bond was formed, a relationship was strengthened, a memory was made.

Several weeks ago I had a student give me a gift.  When she walked into my class, she nonchalantly tossed a bag on my desk and said, "Here, my mom wanted you to have this."

Wondering what could possibly be in the bag, I opened it and almost cried.  Do you remember back in the fall, the GEICO commercial about the camel walking through an office asking "Guess what day it is?"  My student wore a shirt with this camel and "Hump Day" on the front.  I made a big deal about it, because I loved the commercial and sometimes certain students just need a little positive attention.  She wore it every Wednesday - I made it a big deal every Wednesday.

Inside that bag was a shirt for me.  She emphatically said she did not want us to be "twinkies," but I knew better.  That first Wednesday, we had staff pictures taken, so I told her I really didn't want to wear the shirt for my picture.  The next week I forgot, and even though she would never admit it, I know she was disappointed.  So, this week I remembered, and we both wore our shirts.  It was one of those days as a teacher I will never forget.  

Today I celebrate relationships.

To celebrate National Poetry Month, I have been attempting to write a poem each day in the month of April.  Today, my poem is dedicated to my "twinkie."

The Invitation

Her laughter is contagious

but only shared

with a few

who are invited into

her heart

Today I saw a glimpse

of who she can be

of happy

of hidden smiles

Her gift was a message

of acceptance 

of a relationship

of a bond
between us

which I will always

treasure

Her smile leaves me
with an invitation

to her heart
an invitation
I intend to accept

Poetry challenge #9 - Book Spine Poem

To celebrate National Poetry Month, I have been attempting to write a poem each day in the month of April.  I have been successful for nine days - only missing two when I was so behind with my obligations.  Even though my "behindness" hasn't improved, I still find time to write!

This week has been one of those weeks - temperatures up, days of sunshine, days of rain with indoor recess, two weeks before testing, inconsistent schedule - you know, that end-of-the-school-year-is-almost-here kind of week!

Today while I was straightening up my classroom library, I decided to make a book spine poem that reflected the end of this week.  I don't think of my students as fourth grade nothings, but we are having a difficult time staying focused.  We are all trying to hang in there for the next few weeks.

Tales of a fourth grade nothing,

the underdogs,

among the brave

holding fast

Thank you to my fellow bloggers for letting me come along for the ride on this poetry playground.  It is much more fun when you are writing, sharing, and learning together. For more poetry fun, check out these blogs from Linda, Margaret, Michelle, Julianne, and Cathy.

Poetry Challenge #8 - One

Today I found an unexpected comment on my very first post.  I am still processing the story and will write more about it on Tuesday for my Slice of Life.  But, I was so taken by this story that I needed to write...had to write.  Yesterday I tried a Fib poem, and that structure seemed to fit today also.

one
year
one post
one comment
two new connections
inexplicably intertwined
by sharing writing with someone I have never known

For more on this story of unexpected connections, please come back Tuesday.

Thank you to my fellow bloggers for letting me come along for the ride on this poetry playground.  It is much more fun when you are writing, sharing, and learning together.  For more poetry fun, check out these blogs from Linda, Margaret, Michelle, Julianne, and Cathy.

Poetry Challenge #7 - Moonlight

Margaret and Julianne have both written Fibonacci poems this month.  Today I decided to try one.  A Fibonacci poem is based on a series of numbers where the next number is found by adding up the two numbers before it.  For example, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8...

The

moon

rises

a crescent

casting night shadows 

playing hide-and-seek with the clouds

as I sleepily wait for my dreams to say goodnight.

Thank you to my fellow bloggers for letting me come along for the ride on this poetry playground.  It is much more fun when you are writing, sharing, and learning together.  For more poetry fun, check out these blogs from Linda, Margaret, Michelle, Julianne, and Cathy.

Poetry Challenge #6 - In Time-out

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This month I am challenging myself to write a poem a day.  This has been one of those weeks where I am being suffocated from the demands of this profession I dearly love.  The end of the year pace seems to be going a little too quickly for me and I just can't seem to get caught up.  I know I need to take a step back (and maybe use the word "no") and try to get back to a sense of equilibrium.  I have tried to reduce my time on social media in order to do this...not easy!  So I decided to put myself in time-out.  

I have enjoyed playing with poetry this month, but today's poem was very quick and definitely a rough draft!  

Thank you to my fellow bloggers for letting me come along for the ride on this poetry playground.  It is much more fun when you are writing, sharing, and learning together. For more poetry fun, check out these blogs from Linda, Margaret, Michelle, Julianne, and Cathy.

In Time-out

I put myself

in time-out today

not enough work

too much play

Piles are high

upon my desk

students reply

what a mess

Data to analyze

tests to grade

papers to proof

plans to be made

So, no more writing

or reading too

I'm in time-out

Ive got work to do!

Poetry Challenge #5 - I Celebrate Spring

Each Saturday  Ruth Ayres invites us to share and celebrate events from our week. Looking for small celebrations has certainly improved my outlook on my life. For that, I am certainly grateful to Ruth and to all of you who choose to celebrate with us.

Now that the March Slice of Life Challenge is over, one would think that my weekly Saturday celebration is back to normal.  But no - this month I have challenged myself to write a poem a day.  So, my celebration this week is in the form of a poem.  I am not a poet, I am a teacher, but I must write in order to teach.  

Thank you to my fellow bloggers for letting me come along for the ride on this poetry adventure.  It becomes a richer experience when you are writing, sharing, and learning together.  For more poetry fun, check out these blogs from Linda, Margaret, Michelle, Julianne, and Cathy.

Today I am trying the technique called anaphora which according to Margaret Simon is the repetition of a word or a group of words at the beginning of successive phrases.

I Celebrate Spring

I celebrate the feel of sunny days, warming my face, my heart, my soul

I celebrate the explosion of magnolia buds, watching life burst open

I celebrate the sound of rain, knowing my world will be much greener tomorrow

I celebrate the laughter of my students, releasing their winter blues

I celebrate the birth of spring, awaiting to explore new life.

Poetry Challenge #4 - Night Pilot

This is National Poetry Month.  Yesterday I tried my first riddle-ku.  I have to admit, this was so much fun!

This week we had a visitor in our school and this morning our principal had a picture of this visitor in our weekly newsletter.  When I saw the picture, I just knew I had to do this again.

A pilot by night

Sending high-pitched signals by

Echolocation

A bat!

Yes, these little guys were flying around in our gym.  Our principal caught them and set them free outside.

Thank you to my fellow bloggers for letting me come along for the ride on this poetry adventure.  It is much more fun when you are writing, sharing, and learning together.  

For more poetry fun, check out these blogs from Linda, Margaret, Michelle, Julianne, and Cathy.

Poetry Challenge #3 - Riddle-ku

I am celebrating National Poetry Month by writing a poem every day.  I am not a poet, I am a teacher of writing.  Therefore, I must write so I can teach.

Today I am trying a riddle-ku which has the traditional 5-7-5 syllable count, but is written from the point of view of an object or animal.  The reader tries to guess "what" has written the poem.  Laura Purdie Salas is writing a riddle-ku a day for the month of April.  Check out her site to get ideas and resources for teaching riddle-kus

Getting to the point

while collecting the remnants

of your words to come

A Pencil Sharpener

Poetry Challenge #2 - Poetic License

I am not a poet, but I am challenging myself for the month of April to write a poem a day.  Please consider joining me and many others for National Poetry Month.

This poem is about the freedom of writing poetry.  Not having to follow the rules.  Having a license to be a poet.

Poetic License

No

subjects

predicates

punctuation

capital letters

run-on sentences

exclamatory

interrogatory

declarative

imperative

why bother

poetic

license

Yes!

Poetry Challenge #1 - Mixed Messages

Yesterday as I was reading Cathy's slice on Merely Day By Day, she said she was moving from the Slice of Life March Challenge to the poem-a-day challenge for April. No, I do not claim to be a poet, but I would like to REACH out and expand my writing territories.  I have accepted the challenge - thanks Cathy!

This first poem I wrote a year ago on spring break (hopefully this still counts!) In one day's time we went from sunny to snow to a thunderstorm.  It was certainly a day of mixed messages.

Mixed Messages

Early morning

before the sun

peaks its head from the covers of darkness

birds chirp

assuring me that spring is on its way.

Morning light

shines on the day

as snowflakes start to fall

like balls of cotton

reminding me that winter is not over.

Nightfall comes

turning out the light of the day

thunder and lightning

flashing in Morse Code

sending me mixed messages of...

spring.

Must Read in 2014 Update

Back in January I came across a tweet from Carrie Gelson at There's a Book for That.  A group of readers was making a list of books that must be read in 2014 - because they were not read in 2103.  My list of must read books can be found here.

I have read 8 novels out of my list of 26.  I would have to say for right now, my favorite is A Snicker of Magic by Natalie Lloyd.  But I know there are many great books still to read.  I also have a TBR pile of 2014 books which I have not read yet.  So many books...so little time!

Check out the original lists from those participating here.

Happy Reading!

My March Top Five

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Two Writing Teachers

After concluding the March challenge, I really did not think I would have another slice in me today!  I was going to take a week off from writing, slicing, or blogging, but knowing that it is Tuesday - I just can't!

Then, inspiration in the form of fast and easy was found on Alyson Beecher's blog - Kid Lit Frenzy.  Today I have listed my top five posts for the month of March based on the number of views for each post.

#5 - Let the Testing Season Begin - An equation with differentiation and standardized testing.

#4 - My Super Heroes - Extending our school day to make up for snow days during first round of state testing.

#3 - Continuing the Dream - My training for Next Chapter Book Club - a book club for adults with disabilities.

#2 - Colby Sharp Stole My Slice - A humorous look at a tweet and email conversation.

#1 - Hello There - An idea "borrowed" from two other slicers and they told two slicers and so on... and so on...(anyone remember the Faberge Milk and Honey shampoo ad?)

This was fun to go back and see which ones made the top five.  I know this slice isn't exciting, and it was probably not technically a slice.  I don't expect any comments because it really isn't worth commenting on.  But as Elsie says, it's a new year, and I just couldn't let a Tuesday go by without slicing!

See you next week!

SOLSC #31 - Reflections Part II

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We did it!  My first Slice of Life March Challenge is in the books...or should I say on the blog!  I am so grateful for this experience and the people with whom I have shared it.

I have learned many things about writing and about myself during this month.  That is what I wish to reflect on today in Part II.

• being a writer doesn't mean you have published a book
• I am a better teacher of writing because I write
• I understand when a student says they can't think of anything to write about
• when I have an idea - write it down (You wouldn't believe all the great ideas I forgot!)
• plan ahead
• carry a notebook
• I can write about hot topics
• I can write poetry
• I can laugh at myself
• borrowing someone's idea is called inspiration
• my words matter
• being a writer simply means one who writes

As they say, all good things must come to an end.  I will miss exercising my writing muscles daily, but trying to be reflective, I have questions.  Where does this experience lead me?  Where do I go from here?

I want to continue slicing on Tuesdays and celebrating on Saturdays.  But I want my writing to grow in other ways.  My blog title is A Day in the Life of a teacher, a reader, and a writer.  I feel I write about my life as a reader and a writer, but I want to write more about my life as a teacher.  

Participating in this challenge has given me more confidence and quieted that inner critic that raises its ugly head.  I don't know if I will have much to add to the many conversations out there, but I won't know if I don't REACH. 

So, thank you Two Writing Teachers!  Thank you friends!  It has been a wonderful journey!

SOLSC #30 - Reflections Part I

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It is hard to believe that the month of March is almost over.  This slice today is just a few of my reflections on not only this challenge, but the entire slicing experience.

I think most of us are teachers or have been involved in education in some way. Remember when a new student would arrive in your classroom?  More than likely you paired them up with a "buddy student" who would "show them the ropes" and try to make them feel welcomed.

When I first started slicing last summer, I felt like that new kid in school.  I was going someplace new.  I was nervous and I knew no one.  Katherine at Read, Write, Reflect inspired me to start blogging.  But is was Elsie and Linda who were my "buddy students."  They were regular commenters and welcomed me with open arms...even if they were virtual arms.  

After a few months went by, I began building friendships and connections through weekly slices.  Those new friends were Jaana, Julie, Michelle H., Michelle N. Amy, Julieanne and Terje and so many others. Who would have thought that something as simple as sharing a story could lead to this?

During Christmas I was nominated for a sunshine award.  Most of the bloggers who inspired me were already chosen, so I decided to reach out to new bloggers or new-to-me bloggers.  Making those connections to new slicers was important to me because of the way I felt when I was new.

This March Challenge has been incredible.  The one disappointment I have (which is actually a good thing!) is that there are so many new slicers, and I have not had the time to regularly read and comment on their slices.  I have not had the time to really get to know them.  That is the part of me that wishes it wasn't the end - still so much more to read.

To those of you who started slicing during the March Challenge for the first time, I hope you continue to slice on Tuesdays when the pace is much slower.  I hope you received the encouragement you need to continue writing.  I hope you continue to share your stories and build relationships within this community.  Starting my blog and finding TWT is simply the best.

Thank you Stacey, Tara, Dana, Betsy, Beth and Anna for all you do to make Two Writing Teachers possible.  Thank you to the support team who has helped make the March Challenge possible.

It has been a wonderful journey!

SOLSC #29 - Continuing the Dream

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Celebrate with Ruth Ayres

Today I celebrate a vision, a dream, and an opportunity.

This week I had the opportunity to become part of a wonderful program, the Next Chapter Book Club.  The Next Chapter Book Club (NCBC) was established in 2002 by the Ohio State University Nisonger Center.  NCBC is a community literacy program for adolescents and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  The program provides them with opportunities to be part of a group activity and to build social connections within bookstores, coffee shops, and cafés.  The book clubs consist of five to eight members with disabilities and two volunteer facilitators.  There are over 100 book clubs in North America and Europe.

This week I traveled to Columbus, Ohio to be trained as a NCBC coordinator.  I am now able to begin a book club and train volunteer facilitators here in my hometown.

I have had several people question why I wanted to do this.  After much thought and seeing a book club in action, I have developed an answer, a mantra, a mission statement, a core belief, or whatever else you would like to call it.

I believe literacy experiences should have no boundaries or limits, whether it be age, poverty or a disability.  It should be literacy for life - every life.

I love to read.  I love to share my reading with anyone who will listen.  Many of us have participated in some type of book club.  It is a social experience.  As a teacher,  I am fortunate to share books with my students.  As an adult, I share books with family and friends and through social media.  I am able to use Twitter and my blog as a way to share my passion with others.  Why shouldn't everyone have this opportunity?

I shared a little about my dream in this post and here.  Today I am giving you another glimpse into my dream.  I want to create an organization which promotes and provides literacy experiences within my community.  When I read about NCBC on Jaana's Writing Blog, I knew this fit within my dream, so I went after it.

After seeing this book club in action, I felt it.  That tug at my heart.  That tug which told me I was doing the right thing.  That this was meant to be part of my dream.

Watching these members read, laugh, make connections, and grow socially was an amazing experience.  They meet at a local Barnes and Noble and read literature which ranges from adapted classics to contemporary fiction to newspapers.  The day I observed, they were reading a short story about having a bad hair day - something in which we can all relate.

I left that day with many questions.  Why shouldn't people with disabilities have this opportunity to share a reading experience?  Why shouldn't they be able to make connections with a character?  Why shouldn't they be able to laugh with friends?

This was truly an amazing experience, an experience worth celebrating.

I will continue to share the beginning of our new NCBC here on my blog.  If you are interested in information about starting a NCBC in your community, click here to go to their website.

SOLSC #28 - Currently I'm...

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I was out of town this week for almost two full days.  I made preparations for my family - meals were made and schedules were coordinated.  I made preparations for school - sub plans were made and trust was placed into the hands of my students.  Sounds easy doesn't it?

Why does it seem that leaving is more work than it is worth - both at home and school?

Returning home is exhausting, especially when I have had obligation after obligation after school today.  It is 8:30 and I am just now sitting down to write my slice.

Because I am so late, I am borrowing an idea.  Unfortunately I cannot give credit to where credit is due because I did not write down where I saw it.  So, thank you whoever you are.

Currently I'm...

thanking - Frank Sinatra for the music which was a part of my son's jazz band concert tonight 

needing - to sleep a full eight hours

anticipating - the time to get back to reading and commenting on slices

reading - The Riverman by Aaron Starmer

wishing - someone would go grocery shopping for me

striving - to get my weekend to-do list started 

joining - The Next Chapter Book Club 

loving - watching the NCAA tournament with my family

hoping - to go to bed!

Good night!