Spring Cleaning My Attitude #sol18

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Signs of spring are popping up in shades of green, yellow, and purple. The birds are beginning to greet me in the morning, and the days are getting longer.

This time of year also brings thoughts of purging, cleaning, and airing out. Yes, spring cleaning.

As I mopped my floors and sorted through piles this weekend, I realized that I needed to spring clean my attitude. This has been a difficult year of teaching. I have not built the relationships like I typically do. Their behaviors are challenging, and student (and maybe teacher) effort is lacking. My lessons seem flat, and my students are not as engaged as I would like for them to be.

I am tired.

The sad part is that I know exactly how many days of school I have left (40-just in case you want to know), and I am typically not a counter.

Yes, I need to spring clean my attitude.

I know I cannot continue on with this attitude for the remainder of the school year. I need change and that change has to begin with me. So with spring cleaning in mind, I hope to:

Air out the attitude. It starts with me, and I know that. Airing out my attitude will help me to focus on these next 40 days - not the past 140 days. 

Sweep out the negative. I need to make a commitment to myself to not get sucked into the negative attitudes of others. I know negativity breeds more negativity, and I must be strong enough to refuse to be a part of that. 

Polish the positive. I know my students have good qualities. I must take the time to sift through the challenges and find the good qualities in my students. After all, isn't polish suppose to bring out the shine?

Dust the lesson plans. Engaged students are better behaved students. Dusting lesson plans that do not lead to engagement and adding lessons that build creativity, curiosity, and critical thinking will help to make my classroom thrive again.

I have several days to put all of this into perspective and get my attitude in order. Maybe, just maybe, I'll "see the daffodils" and "hear the birds singing" in the hallways next Monday

with my sparkling clean attitude.

They'd see - but wouldn't know #sol18

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I saw this form on a round-up by Elana at Fall Hugs.  During the weekend comment challenge, she curated a list of forms for her students. Although I borrowed it from Elana, she does not cite where she found it. So, thank you to the original slicer.

If someone would walk into your house, what would they see but wouldn't know.  This was a fun way to share just a little bit more about me and my quirky family.

If someone walked into my home at this moment...

They's see freshly baked snicker doodles, just waiting for a cold glass of milk,
But wouldn't know my husband was the baker.

They'd see me watching The Voice, just waiting for Blake's team in the Battle Rounds,
But wouldn't know it is the ONLY television show I watch.

They'd see a child's table and chair in the dining room, just waiting for a tea party,
But wouldn't know my children are now 25 and 21.

They's see a real Mr. Potato Head in the kitchen window, just waiting for me someone to throw him away,

But wouldn't know it has been there for over three months and now has wrinkles, a tail, and "eyes" for ears.

   

They'd see that I wrote a slice,
But wouldn't know that this was NOT what I intended to write!

Ode to My Paring Knife #sol18

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Do you have a kitchen tool or gadget you couldn't live without?  For me, it is my paring knife. I have had this knife forever, and I am not being hyperbolic. I know I have had this knife for as long as I have been married, if not longer.

I can peel paper-thin potato skins; peel an apple in one long curly piece; and dice vegetables in a wink of an eye.  But only with this paring knife.  I have tried the ones with the plastic handles and the little blades, and I have bought Pampered Chef knives. But I cannot use any of these. I am all thumbs when I do.

So you can imagine how panicked I was when I woke up this morning and my husband asks, "Have you seen the paring knife?  I have looked everywhere and can't find it."

"No, did you look in the drawer?" I ask while opening the drawer where it always is. "Hmm, not in there. Did you look in the other drawer?"

"Yes, it is not in any of them."

All of sudden I panic as I remember the last time I had the knife. My heart starts racing and I feel sick to my stomach. I made pepper salsa and cut a large number of peppers and onions with it one night this week for a faculty carry-in.

"Oh no! What night did I make that salsa? Oh, it was Wednesday, after trash day, The knife must still be in there," and I go out to the porch to the trash can.

I hear him say behind me, "You are going to look for it in there?  More power to you!"

I hold my nose and dive into the bag full of...well, it is a trash bag.  Deep down in the bottom, in the middle of wet paper-towel-wrapped green, yellow, red, and orange pepper guts,

...is my knife!

Today, in its honor, I write an ode.

Ode to My Paring Knife

Oh, paring knife,

I gracefully place your wooden handle in my hands

and together we waltz to the rhythm

of the chopping,

the peeling,

the slicing.

I lead the way;

you follow my lead,

without stepping on my fingers.

Oh, paring knife, 

you are the perfect partner.

Currently I'm... #sol18

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The time always comes in the March challenge when you rely on the tried and true.  Right now on this Saturday evening, I am going back to an old favorite...

Currently, I'm...

thinking about assessing writing with some brilliant educators

thinking (some more) about how I want to make my thinking about assessing writing visible (maybe a series of blog posts?)

enjoying one of our last fires in the fireplace with my daughter and husband

anticipating a quick visit from my college-student-son 

eating a cinnamon coffee cake

listening to the NCAA basketball games

loving Cinderella teams!

feeling lazy on this first day of spring break

needing to start a healthier lifestyle (we have a district challenge coming up!)

reading What Waits in the Water by Kieran Scott and Reimagining Writing Assessment by Maja Wilson

hoping that this rainy, cloudy, cold weather changes soon

I Am Lucky #sol18

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In honor of St. Patrick's Day, I am listing 17 reasons, in no particular order, why I am lucky!

1. I have been married to my best friend for 27 years
2. I have a daughter who feels the joy of teaching on days when it is not joyous
3. I have a son who has discovered the magic of music
4. I have children who have made parenting way too easy
5. I have two sisters who make being the middle child a blessing
6. I have a mother who continues to be independent and strong
7. I have a brother who can still be...a typical little brother
8. I have 7 high school friends who believe that distance apart brings us closer together
9. I am on spring break
10. I have piles and piles of books to read this week
11. I have great colleagues who put the laughter in teaching 
12. I have supportive administrators who help me to see the teacher I want to become
13. I have a PLN who nudges when needed and pushes when wanted
14. I don't have to set an alarm for nine glorious days
15. I have a roof over my head even if the inside is in need of cleaning
16. I have the opportunity to continue learning 
17. I have another slice written!

Ordinary Lives #sol18

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Today's date means we are half-way finished with the Slice of Life Challenge. There have been days when I thought I wasn't going to make it this far.

This year has been different.

It has been difficult.

My plate is full.

Today, I think about these words from Ralph Fletcher, and I carry on

in search of a story.

Writers aren't people 

who have had amazing lives. 

Writers are people 

who find powerful stories 

in their ordinary lives.

Real Authors Use Semicolons #sol18

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This week we have been learning about and using semicolons in our writing.

One student asked, "Do real authors use these?"

"Absolutely!"

"I don't remember seeing semicolons in any book I have ever read," said another student.

"It's because you haven't noticed them; you weren't looking for them.  I bet if you look now, you will find them."

And the chase was on to see who could find one first.  Throughout the room I heard, "Oh, I found one. Here's one. Have you found one yet?"

Finally, they conceded, "I guess you were right, Mrs. Eck. Real authors do use semicolons."

Next up are colons, and I thought this one might take a little more convincing.  Until I found this graphic after school:

What do you think?

Like a Mom #sol18

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I live in Indiana, and if you know anything about living in Indiana this time of year, then you know that it is basketball tournament time.  Basketball is king...or in my case queen.

My daughter and I were watching the girls state finals on TV a couple of weeks ago. The team who had beat them in the tournament was playing. We were both talking and commenting on the game. You know, the good plays and the bad moments and the players/teams we did or didn't like.

My daughter Megan and sister Janis
coached high school basketball together
for the first time this year.

She looked at me and said, "You watch basketball like a mom."

Thinking that I didn't hear her right, I asked her to repeat it.

"You watch basketball like a mom."

"What does that mean?"

She shook her head and said, "You just do."

Although I have never played basketball, it has been a huge part of my life and has been a connection between my daughter and my sister. 

I started adding up the years that I have watched girls basketball:

Megan - 10 years as a player
Megan -  7 years as a coach
Sister -    4 years as a player (played college ball but I didn't get to see many of those)
Sister -  10 years as a coach here in our hometown

Total years - 31 years collectively.

Yeah, I think I have earned the right to watch like a mom!

The Lemonade Stand #sol18

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My husband has saved some unusual things from our children's childhood. Many are tucked away here and there, and some hang from his workbench. Many are endearing and bring back such special memories.  This is all of those.

It was far from freshly squeezed!

Where Have All the Readers Gone? #sol18

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Last week our high school newspaper shared this survey.

This is alarming.

This is scary.

This is so, so wrong.

As someone who is a literacy advocate and who promotes independent reading, I am confounded. I don't see how this (no matter how unscientific and unreliable the results may be) can be acceptable to any English teacher.

This survey led me to reflect on my own beliefs about independent reading and how those beliefs affect my students. It also makes me wonder where have all the readers gone?

I believe...

• if we talk about books, students will read
• if we have well-stocked classroom libraries, students will read
• if we place independent reading at the center of our classrooms, students will read
• if we give students choice, students will read
• if we limit whole class novels, students will read
• if we make reading a social activity, students will read
• if we, as teachers, read what our students read, students will read

Usually, what we expect, is what we get. 

Since Last March... #sol18

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A popular slice has been one where the slicer shares things that have happened since last March. I thought I would use this idea today.

Since last March...

• I have written 51 ones blog posts (that's about 25 behind the previous year)
• My son left for college
• My daughter began her 3rd year of teaching
• I celebrated 27 years of marriage
• My sister became a cancer survivor
• I lost my 92 year old grandmother
• I organized a one book, one district, one community reading of the book Wonder
• I began working toward my Master's degree
• I presented at two conferences
• I co-created a Twitter chat, a Facebook group, and a supportive tribe of teacher-writers
• I was asked to help submit a proposal for NCTE this fall (if accepted, it will be my first one!)
• I chose STEP as my one little word

because every journey begins with a single step.

Capture the Moment #sol18

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"Being in the moment is becoming more important 

than capturing the moment."

I heard this quote in the middle of a discussion on K-LOVE radio today. The woman was talking about how technology, specifically the use of cameras on our phones, has changed the way we capture moments.

She went on to discuss a wedding she attended and how the guests were using cell phones to take pictures of the bride walking down the aisle.  People had pictures out on social media before the bride even said, "I do."

Are we becoming a society who is placing too much importance on being in the moment? Are we becoming a society who wants to be first to let the world know about something?  Is our desire to be part of the moment over stretching our boundaries and preventing us from capturing it?

Maybe.

This quote had me thinking about my writing life. As writers, I think we do both. I find myself (especially during the month of March) being more in tune with the moments of my day and paying attention to my world. 

I walk around with a metaphorical butterfly net, just watching and waiting.

To use the words from Andy Schoenborn, we "freeze-frame" those moments and stack words to capture them. It's what we do as writers.

We capture the moment while being present in the moment.

Today, go out into the world, 

                   

                                       be in the moment, 

                                                            and capture it.

A Buzz #sol18

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It's been awhile since I've had a buzz...and I don't mean the adult beverage kind. I'm talking about the language arts buzz in the hallway.

We read an Article of the Week on a regular basis in our classroom. I try to find articles that will appeal to 6th graders or ones that feature current events that I feel my students need to know about and understand.  This week I chose one about Logan Paul and his You Tube video about the suicide forrest.  It was an opinion article, and I felt like it would create some interesting conversations in our classroom.  I found out they had some very strong opinions of their own.

Kids came in asking, "Are we really reading about Logan Paul?"

"Yes, we are."

After class they ran to their friends telling them about the article.  Students in the math class next door overheard me and asked the math teacher, "Did Mrs. Eck just say Logan Paul?  Does she know who he is?"

Actually, I didn't before I heard about the video on social media.  But they don't need to know that!

I'll just let them keep thinking that they have a pretty cool language arts teacher!

I'd rather... #sol18

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The other day I read a post by Michelle Haseltine at One grateful Teacher about her love for mornings.  I am not a morning person, and her post inspired me to think about personal preferences.  

I'd rather stay up late than get up early.  I prefer to reflect on the day instead of anticipate a new one.  I like listening to the stillness of the night instead of the noisiness of the morning.  Although I do not sleep late, I am at my best at night.

I'd rather read a paper book than a digital book.  I prefer to turn the pages with my fingers and breathe in the smell of a new book. I like using my special bookmarks instead of a ribbon icon to mark my place. Buying books and organizing them on my shelves makes me smile.

I'd rather pile things up than put them away.  I prefer to be a "piler" and I admit it. Piling occurs in my home, my classroom, and even my desktop on my computer. But I can usually tell you which pile something is in.

I'd rather eat something salty than something sweet. I prefer chips and crunch as a snack. Now, I won't turn down a sweet offered to me, but I would typically reach for the chips.  

I'd rather slice in the morning than wait unil the evening.  I prefer to have my slices written the day before posting...although I AM a procrastinator.  Unfortunately, these past few days, that hasn't happened.

Thank you, Michelle, for inspiring this quick slice for today! Now, I am off to write my post for tomorrow!

What's on your happy list? #sol18

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I keep a draft in my blog file for slice ideas. Sometimes I remember where I got the idea or who inspired it.

and sometimes I don't - as in the case of this slice.

Do you notice those smalls things that make you happy?  I don't mean the blissfully content kind of happy.  But the little things that make you smile and tickle your heart.

Check out this video on keeping a happy list. (If nothing else, just listen to his voice; its mesmerizing.)

"What if happiness is the practice of the slow calligraphy of these small gestures?"

    Here is the beginning of my happy list.

• all my socks matching in a load of laundry
• waking up in the middle of the night and realizing I still have hours of sleep left
• the sound of a book spine cracking for the first time
• the smell of a book
• a new box of crayons
• stopping on an even dollar amount at the gas pump
• grabbing a stack of papers to pass out and having the exact amount I needed
• my grocery bill totaling an even amount
• the smell of rain
• just enough ketchup for my french fries
• today's slice
• meeting deadlines - see yesterday's post!

What would be on your happy list?  I think I will keep adding to this list as I think more about what makes me happy.

Twenty-Four Hours in a Day #sol18

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Today is one of those days where I told myself, "I don't have time to write a slice. I have a yearbook with a deadline.  I need sleep. I don't have time."

And then I remembered this quote and told myself, "We all have the same twenty-four hours in a day."

"Get over it."

A Tale of Two Skies #sol18

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As I drove to school today I had two different views. I think God was sending me a message.

Positive

negative

lightness

darkness

you are given both

you decide

What sky are you going to choose today?

Stages of Procrastination! #sol18

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I knew today would happen.  But I didn't expect it on Day 4 of the challenge.

You see, I am a procrastinator.  I try to write my slice a day ahead. Or at least plan a few slices ahead for those days when I have been caught behind a deadline or a due date or just flat out behind.

Yesterday was that day.

I am our school's yearbook sponsor, which means I create the entire book by myself. The due date is March 12th.  But knowing that I am a procrastinator, I gave myself the due date of Monday.

Now, I know you're thinking that isn't procrastinating, right? I gave myself eight extra days, right?

But I hadn't even started yet!

And that is for another slice....

Graphic found on Pinterest

Yes, I am in the crisis stage!

Signs of Spring #sol18

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I am also celebrating my week with Ruth Ayres.  Here's what I am celebrating today!

Today my daughter and I pull up to the school, and she lets out a faint gasp.

"What?" I ask her.

"Look at how light it is today!  I hadn't really noticed it until today. Right this minute. But look!"

I pick up my bag and look around.  I, too, notice the difference in the 7:00 am light and say, "This must be a sign that spring is near."

After school, I look around and notice things are a-changing.

Red maples open their doors, 

greeting us with hello.

Daffodils stick out their tongues, mocking Ole Man Winter.

Tulips hint at planting a kiss, leaving behind their red lipstick stain.

Yes, spring is coming!

How Silly of Me! #sol18

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At the end of the school day, teachers stand in the hall, say good-bye to students, and talk about our day. Yesterday I was standing with the teacher from the room beside me, and we were waiting on her son to arrive from the elementary school.

As Landon runs down the hall to greet his mom with a kiss, he announces with the excitement of a six year old, "Mommy, if we get 100 leaves on our tree, we get donuts!"

His mom, wanting to know more about this tree, asks, "Well, how do you get the leaves on the tree?"

I quietly say with much just a little sarcasm, "It's probably for stupid AR points."

Landon looks at me a little puzzled and explains how any first grader would, "Uh...you glue 'em."

How silly of me!