A Little Slice of Memory #SOL21

 

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My first college experience was at Butler Univerity, a private Indiana university. I loved my four years there and have some fond memories of living in a sorority house. But I also have some very fond memories of babysitting for a family who lived fairly close to campus.

They had two girls. The baby was six months old and the oldest was preschool age when I first started. I would go to their house while their mother shopped, worked out, or met with friends. I usually did this twice a week during the day, and then one night a week, their parents had a date night. A couple of times, I spent the whole weekend with the girls while their parents went out of town. The summer before my senior year, they took me to Florida with them so I could stay with them while they went to dinner or a movie. I loved this family!

After leaving college, I moved home and lost contact with them. Of course, we didn't have social media back in the late 80s to stay connected.

This morning something triggered a memory of them. I searched on Facebook and found one of the girls. 

I thought to myself, Do I reach out? Will she think I am this crazy person who says she was her babysitter? That just sounds like a creepy stalker!

But I did! I told her who I was, the details of the time I spent with her family, and how much I loved her mother. 

A  few hours later she responded! She told me about her and her sister's lives now and about their parents. She even sent me pictures. They are both successful and have beautiful families. She filled me on her parents and that her mother was touched that I had reached out.

I am not sure what triggered the memory or what made me reach out, but I am so glad I did!

A Slice of Reflection #SOSMagic

I wasn't my best this week. I had two incidents where students were critical of my class and my teaching. I didn't react the way I should have. It felt personal. I took it personally. I was shocked they said it because it was unkind and hurtful. 

Then I remembered they are kids, and looking back on the week, they were probably right. My teaching was sucky -- honestly, for about two weeks. The snow days we had in February and Spring Break next week left our curriculum all caddywampus. We were filling in the gaps like we were plugging a sinking boat. We were scrambling and nothing was coherent. They weren't engaged, and that wasn't their fault.

Friday night stretches out before me, leading into a Spring Break week of reflection. I need this time to remember my teaching beliefs and core values and create a plan to get my teaching back on track.

I want to be my best. My students deserve it.

I’m joining an open community of writers over at Sharing Our Stories: Magic in a Blog. If you write (or want to write) just for the magic of it, consider this your invitation to join us. #sosmagic

Hello There... #SOL21

 

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I came across this image a few years ago on Pintrest, and it has been a great I-don't-know-what-to-write slice. 

i am officially on Spring Break!

i keep a stack of books beside my bed

i wish things were back to normal

i love being able to teach my students face-to-face

i dance - never

i sing when no one else is listening

i think teachers of writing need to write

i really want to go shopping on spring break

i should clean my house instead

i can write "real" slices this week because of "i am"

i like to stay up late and sleep in

i make delicious fruit pies

i always eat pizza on Friday nights!

Why don't I do this more often? #SOL21

 

Join Two Writing Teachers and other teacher-writers as we share a slice of life every single day in the month of March. 

Do you ever do something and then ask yourself, "Why don't I do this more often?"

Like walking, eating better, cleaning, reading, writing, taking time for me, 

or writing positive notes to parents?

Each grading period, we are asked to write positive notes to parents. Today, we had early dismissal for parent conferences. Since I teach middle school, we typically don't have many conferences, but we still stay until 6:00. I took this time to write out my cards.

Looking through my list of students, I chose one who has had a complete turnaround since moving to a different period without his friends. He has worked hard and his effort has been amazing. Another student is a ray of sunshine in my day. She always has a smile and brightens up any room she walks into. The third one was a girl in my co-taught class. She has also worked hard and tries her best on everything, even when it is difficult for her.

After writing out the addresses, I thought about how good that felt to find those positive characteristics in my students. Some days, the students who act up or don't turn in work seem to make their way into my thoughts. But not today. Today those positive thoughts persevered. 

And I found myself asking, "Why don't I do this more often?"

Tuesday Tangibles #SOL21

 

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One day last week while I was reading, commenting, and exploring a new blog, I found a July post called Tuesday Tangibles by Megan McCormick. Here is my day written in Tuesday's tangibles...posted on a Wednesday!

alarm clock

peanut butter toast

student greetings

revision strategies

book stacks

notebooks

spring-like temperatures

spring sprouts sighting

brewed iced tea

Time To Write

chocolate chip cookies

cold milk

bubble bath

light-weight blankets

good night kiss

A Spring Break Advertisement #SOL21

 

Join Two Writing Teachers and other teacher-writers as we share a slice of life every single day in the month of March. 

Spring Break coming: good boat needed.

Old Married Couple #SOL21

 

Join Two Writing Teachers and other teacher-writers as we share a slice of life every single day in the month of March. 

Last week I thought I was reaching a new marital status. We aren't even empty nesters yet, but I thought we were going to rise up to "old married couple"

I woke up, went in to the kitchen to eat breakfast, and said good morning to my husband who had been up hours before me.

"I may have to sleep upstairs tonight," he said.

"Why?"

"You snored all night, and I barely got any sleep. It's been bad the past couple of nights."

I knew it had because I felt the poke of the elbow in the rib cage. One time it was almost a push to turn me over.

I am pretty sure this snoring is due to the pandemic weight I have put on, but I was hoping it was something else. 

The next night I got up in the middle of the night and slept on the couch because of the guilt. But I am a sleep-in-my-own-bed kind of sleeper. I was exhausted, he exhausted, and we knew something had to be done.

That night I went and bought nose strips and used them for a couple of days. I don't know if they really work, but I can now shout...

We are NOT an old married couple...yet!

The Boots #SOL21

 

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I stand

in the 4th grade hallway

as he trudges along

in his work boots

with one pant leg caught.

Many boys are flaunting

their Air Jordans,

but not A.J.

A.J. proudly wore his

work boots.

He was a worker

a helper

a blessing to those in need.

Eight years go by

and I watch

the service

as his life ends

much too soon.

Below the casket

sits a pair of boots

and I remember.

Dream, Dream, Dream #SOL21

 

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Two things happened last night between waking up from my nap and going to bed:  reading Terje's post about weird dreams and talking to my cousin.

Terje shared her midnight slice and her dream about puffins and how she wrestled with her brain while trying to go back to sleep.

My cousin called me to tell on himself. He lives independently but also lives with a disability and is mostly confined to a wheelchair. He called to tell me he went for a ride with my mother. Let's just say this is not a good thing, and we have warned him not to do this. He mentioned that mom only "ran one stop sign and pulled in front of one car." (This is the hard part of loving someone with early dementia. You want them to have their independence, but you also want them and others to be safe.)

Those two events, I am sure, led to my own dream. Many times my craziest dreams happen early morning when I have awakened but have fallen back to sleep. 

I awoke this morning, looked at the clock, and refused to get up. 

And the dream began.

I was riding in the car with my mom, and she pulled out in front of someone driving a jeep. The man drove right up behind us and then quickly drove around us and pulled in front of my mom. 

She got mad and started driving erratically on the sidewalk to pass him back. I remained calm (yes, this would only happen in a dream). I asked her, "Mom, you do know you are driving on the sidewalk." while she was dodging trees and fire hydrants and people.

"Yes I do, but it's okay."

Then I woke up, shook my head, and I knew exactly what led to this strange dream.

It's Friday and... #SOL21

 

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Sometimes you just need a nap.

The Perfect Match #SOL21

 

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Sometimes when I read a book, I think about a certain student and how I know it is the perfect book for him or her. When I finish, I can't wait to run and tell them about it.

A few weeks ago I was reading Hunter's Choice by Trent Reedy. I have become a fan of his writing because he writes stories that I know kids are going to want to read. Hunter's Choice is about hunting; it's an outdoor person kind of book. This is a type of book that fills a much-needed void in my classroom library. 

As I was reading, I kept thinking about Carson, one of my students. Earlier in the year, he wrote a narrative about a fishing trip, so I knew he liked being outdoors. He has also been a difficult student to match with books.

A few weeks ago, his mother, who is a staff member, asked me what she could do to get him reading. I immediately told her about this book and how I had thought about Carson the whole time I was reading it.

Today while we had our reading time, I noticed Carson was reading it! 

Matching kids with books is the most important part of my job and the one that brings me the most joy! I can't wait to see what he thinks because I think it is the perfect match!

We Go Together Like Spaghetti and French Fries #SOL21

 

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Spaghetti and french fries. 

Salmon patties and macaroni and cheese. 

Pork steak and Chef Boyardee spaghetti. 

Ghoulash and creamed corn.

You may be wondering what these foods have in common. 

Growing up, I could always count on certain things: fried chicken Sunday dinner; Bobes pizza on Friday nights; and the house cleaned on Saturday. These were a given, week in and week out.

But my mom had some weird food combinations that we could always count on - like the list above. The only one I still eat is the salmon and mac-and-cheese. 

Mom hasn't cooked for several years, partly because she lives by herself and cooking for one is not easy and certainly no fun, but mostly because I don't think she remembers how. Mom has shown signs of dementia for several years, but we have seen a significant decline in her memory lately.

I will often take her meals so she has something homecooked. One night I called her and told her I was making spaghetti and asked if she wanted some. She thought for several seconds and replied, "No, I don't think I want any. I will just eat something I have here."

"Are you sure? I have plenty."

"No, but don't forget to ask me again."

I thought this was strange as I knew she liked spaghetti. I didn't think any more about it until I was talking to my younger sister. "Hey, I hear Mom turned you down for spaghetti."

"Yes, she did. I don't know why."

"Well, I do. She told me if she took the spaghetti, she would want french fries with it!"

I guess there are some things she just can't forget!

If These Rails Could Talk #SOL21

 

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It is 6:30 PM on day two, and I already at a loss. I have looked for slices all day. I even told my colleagues at lunch that I needed a story, but nothing has been worthy of word-smithing. We were talking about breaking down in front of our assistant principal (who is amazing!). 

Another teacher said, "You farted in front of Nancy?"

We all burst out laughing, and I said, "I think I have my story!"

Well...thank goodness that's really not my slice. But that is how desperate I was.

Tonight during our Time to Write writing time, a new member of the group said she was selling her house and was needed to write about her house and her favorite part. Bingo! I had my slice.

We built our house 30 years ago. I love many things about our house, so it is really difficult to choose just one. But if I had to choose, it would be our porches. We have porches on the front and the back that run the entire length of the house. This is where dreams were made and stories were shared and where we learned how to love.

 I remember the day we moved in:  July 1st, 1992, two years after we were married. I was nine months pregnant and my feet were so swollen I could not wear shoes, and I could hardly walk. I sat on the porch swing while my husband, sister, and mother unpacked my boxes. I just sat and told them where to put everything.

Those porches, with their Cracker Barrell rocking chairs and potted geraniums, have held such special memories. It was my quiet spot with each of my babies where we would rock or swing for hours, singing lullabies and whispering secrets just between the two of us. It also became my time-out from motherhood. I would go out and read and sip iced tea while my husband gave the kids their baths, read them books, or had playtime. I could hear them giggle through the open windows, reminding me the stress of staying home with our children was all worth it.

As they grew up, we would have picnics or snacks on the porch where the lined up the peanut butter jars waited to catch fireflies later in the evening. The years quickly moved forward, and I began watching Megan shoot basket after basket on the court at the end of the driveway, perfecting her three-point shot. Ethan would be skateboarding trying kickflips and ollies over and over until he landed them.

Now, I sit on the back porch with my grown children. Megan and I grading papers together in silence and solving the world's educational problems. We laugh at funny stories about things that happened at school and share the stresses of teaching. Ethan shares about his band, where they are playing next, and what new songs he has learned. He tells me about the skateparks he has been to and the kids in crisis that he met with that week and tried to coach.  

If these log rails could talk, they would have so many stories to tell, so many memories to share.

A lot of life has happened on our front porch, yet I know it also has many dreams left to hold.

Afraid of Failure #SOL21

 

Join Two Writing Teachers and other teacher-writers as we share a slice of life every single day in the month of March. 

For some people, especially for us Hoosiers, March means basketball. But for many bloggers, March means 30 days of slicing, finding those small moments in the day to capture and share with others. 

This is my 8th "first day," and honestly, I wasn't going to participate this year. Most of my writing lately has been professional writing, and I have struggled with writing "for me." I have tried other recent challenges, I have stunk at them all. I didn't want to fail at the one challenge that I have succeeded with for seven years and the one that has connected me to some wonderful people, many of whom I call dear friends.

But here I am on Day One.

One of my goals this year was to help and support teachers in believing they are writers. The slicing community became my support system early on in my blogging experience. I am hoping that not only will I support teacher-writers, but I will once again receive that much-needed support myself.

Fail or not, I can't imagine the month of March without slicing.

When I slice,

    ...I grow as a writer.

    ...I notice the small things, the ordinary.

    ...I am reminded to find the extraordinary.

    ...I find comfort in the predictability of the routine.

    ...I stretch those writing muscles that haven't been used in a while.

    ...I'm inspired by others and use that inspiration to "stack my own words".

    ...I become a better teacher of writing because I know the difficulties that writers face.

    ...my world becomes bigger because I meet so many new writers on the same journey.

With all of these reasons, why wouldn't I participate?

Why would I be afraid of failure - as there really is no failure in this challenge. 

Let's do this!

    

A Little Spring in My Step #SOSMagic

For a short month, February sure has seemed at least two months long.

As I went about my Saturday routine of grocery shopping, laundry, and cleaning, I found a little spring in my step.

The only traces of last week's snowstorm are the snow mountains that dot the parking lots and the clumps of grass and dirt from the roadway that accidentally found their way in front of the snowplows and are now haphazardly laying in people's yards.

Looking in the landscape this morning I saw the heads of the daffodils poking their way through the mulch - a true sign that spring may be on its way.

As I was tidying up my desk in Ethan's-bedroom-turned-my-office, I opened the window a crack to let in the sun rays and the freshness of the spring-like air. 

I heard my husband tinkering with his Jeep, preparing for that riding-with-the-top-down kind of day.

Tonight I plan to grill burgers, hopefully toasting winter's departure. 

I feel it. 

I feel the change of the seasons today. I feel the promise of spring. 

I hope Mother Nature doesn't let me down.

I’m joining an open community of writers over at Sharing Our Stories: Magic in a Blog. If you write (or want to write) just for the magic of it, consider this your invitation to join us. #sosmagic

Is Someone Listening? #SOL21

Thank you to Two Writing Teachers for creating this community to share our stories.

He's listening. He's always listening." 

I hear these words in the back of my mind all the time. Who is listening you ask? Well, I don't really know, but it is quite troublesome.

Last week my husband's toe was hurting, and after researching on the Intenet, he seemed to think it was gout. He wrote beets down on our grocery list. (While searching, he also found that beets would help gout!) He then asked, "Do they make beet juice?"

"I have no idea, but I will look," I said to pacify him.

I "searched" at the store and told him, "Nope didn't see any beat juice."

"He's listening. He's always listening."

The next day as I was scrolling through Facebook, guess what came up in my feed. Yep! Beet juice. I never searched for it on my computer, but there it was. This greatly troubles me. Are people listening to my conversations? Can they hear me through my phone or my computer?

My husband did search for it on his computer, so I guess maybe if the search is at least in our house, it could possibly show up on my computer?

But, I still feel like someone is listening.

This is just one of several advertisements
that popped up on my feed.

A Haircut Mishap

It's less than two weeks before the March Slice of Challenge begins. And I think it has been since last March that I sliced. I thought it might be a good time to build up to that writing marathon! Don't you think?

Tonight I read a post about a COVID haircut from Jennifer Larance. She was a brave wife and gave her husband a "real" haircut. I cut my husband's hair about every three weeks, but I use the clippers with a 1/4 inch guard. In other words, it is merely a shaved head.

But that 1/4 inch guard is a very important part.

He sits in the chair down in the basement with an old crib sheet around him like a cape. I complete my first run-through and check to make sure I didn't miss anything. Shaving his neck is my favorite part, so I take the guard off and carefully pull down the sheet to expose his neck.

Buzz...I finish the haircut and place the clippers down. Looking at my wonderful work, I realize I missed a spot on the bottom of his head near the nape of his neck.

"Oops. It looks like I missed a spot back here," I say as I pick the clippers back up.

But that 1/4 inch guard is a very important part.

I click the button up and the buzzing begins. Just as I make a quick stroke up the back of his head, I suck in my breath. What have I done?

"Oh no."

Yes, that 1/4 inch guard is a very important part.

Thank you to Two Writing Teachers for creating this community to share our stories.

#IMWAYR ~ 2/15

 

In 2021 I'm trying to return to communities that support me as a reader, a writer, and a teacher. Not sure how regular I will be, but I am here today. 

Jen Vincent at Teach Mentor Texts and Kelle and Ricki at Unleashing Readers co-host It's Monday! What Are You Reading? Stop by and see what others are reading this week.

What I Read Last (Two) Weeks:

Finding Langston by Lesa Cline-Ransome

This book, at just 112 pages, was a quick read, which will appeal to many reluctant readers. And any book that connects characters with libraries, poetry, reading, and writing, is a keeper for me. 

Ground Zero by Alan Gratz

Alan Gratz books are always a hit in my classroom, and I believe Ground Zero will be too! My students have a high interest in 9/11 books, so this definitely fits a need. Gratz has become a master at weaving stories of different characters in different time periods and somehow connects them in the end! Brandon, the main character in Ground Zero is nine, however, I would have some concerns about placing this book in the hands of students that age due to some of the graphic scenes.

I know my middle school students are going to love this one!

Enduring Freedom by Trent Reedy and Jawad Arash 

(ARC provided by Netgalley)

Trent Reed, along with Jawad Arash, tells a story of two sides of the War in Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks and two boys caught in the middle. I learned so much about the Afghan people, their culture, and their perspective on the presence of the United States military in their country. I love the way the authors show the importance of education and how education holds such power in overcoming our world's struggles. The authors' notes gave me a deeper appreciation for the book as they tell the real-life connection between the two authors. and how this connection is mirrored in the story of Joe and Baheer. I will have no problems finding readers for this book, which is due out in May. 

Nest. Flight. Sky. by Beth Kephart

After reading Handling the Truth by Kephart, I knew I wanted to read more from her. I found this book on Hoopla, an app that is becoming my new best friend! In this memoir, she writes about the death of her mother, her obsession with birds, and their connection.

On my reading radar for this week:

Untold Stories #SOSMagic

 

I recently finished a new book by Jeff Zentner, In the Wild Light. A line caught my attention where a grandfather in the story said "stories told just become ordinary."

I believe in the power of story and the strength of the ordinary, so what exactly did he mean? As I read on, I realized he meant that some stories are meant to be untold for fear of becoming ordinary. 

One of the characters in the book, Delaney, has a conversation with the main character's dying grandfather. Delaney tells Papaw what is on her heart and never reveals it to Sawyer (until the end!).

This story reminds me when we keep those untold stories tucked inside our hearts, they become extraordinary. Like...

• that first kiss
• when he asks you to marry him
• when you sit and watch her sleeping in your arms
• when he looks up at you and says, "It's a boy."
• when she looks at you with those distant eyes, and you know she remembers who you are

Maybe these stories are meant to be untold.

And maybe they aren't so ordinary after all.

I’m joining an open community of writers over at Sharing Our Stories: Magic in a Blog. If you write (or want to write) just for the magic of it, consider this your invitation to join us. #sosmagic

#IMWAYR ~ 2/1

In 2021 I'm trying to return to communities that support me as a reader, a writer, and a teacher. Not sure how regular I will be, but I am here today. 

Jen Vincent at Teach Mentor Texts and Kelle and Ricki at Unleashing Readers co-host It's Monday! What Are You Reading? Stop by and see what others are reading this week.

I have been taking a break from social media, and I am loving the reading time it is affording me. I've reacquainted myself with Netgalley again, and our library just made Hoopla available, so I am loving my reading life right now.

Here's what I read last week:

In the Wild Light by Jeff Zentner (ARC by Netgalley)

I loved The Serpent King and Goodbye Days from Zentner, and this one is just as amazing. I loved how Cash uses poetry to help him get through his grief and learn about what is important in life. The writing is absolutely beautiful. You will want to put this on your list for August.

Hooper by Geoff Herbach

Adam needed basketball. It saved him, and he knew it. Each year, I have students who need basketball maybe more than basketball needs them. It's books like this that teach kids being part of a team is more than just playing the game. Although this is written for young adults, I would have no problem handing it to my middle school students.

Hunter's Choice by Trent Reedy (ARC by Netgalley)

Hunter's Choice by Trent Reedy is a much-needed book in my classroom library. I have many boys who are outdoorsmen, and I do not have books to fill this need. Plus the female characters add even more appeal. The exploration of human life and our role in wildlife is appropriately done for this age group. It has just enough suspense to keep the reader's attention and keep them turning the page. I can't wait to purchase this one for my classroom library.

On my reading radar for this week:

I am struggling with Everything Sad is Untrue. I want to abandon it but giving it a little more time. If you have read it, please let me know if it's worth plugging away.

Thank you for always welcoming back the prodigal reader!