Author Archives: Lainie Levin

Slice of Life Day 16: Infinite Pedantry*

Pedantry is the quality of being too interested in formal rules and small details that are not important. Given the grudge I’ve held against my math teacher for almost forty years, that might describe me…

Slice of Life, Day 12: On Confidence

Who’s the most confident person I know? I’d name them here, but that wouldn’t be nice. Let me explain. I looked at this daily writing prompt, and the way it asks about confidence, it gives the impression that more is better. Confidence is good. I work to build it in students plagued by perfectionism. IContinue reading “Slice of Life, Day 12: On Confidence”

Slice of Life Day 11: A Story, A Story

The last few days, I’ve shared a draft story, along with my fourth graders’ responses to it. Today, I’ve got my revisions ready to go. The biggest changes I’ve made: Once upon a time there was a family of squirrels. They lived in the black walnut tree nestled at the corner of a backyard ofContinue reading “Slice of Life Day 11: A Story, A Story”

Slice of Life Day 9: Salty

Today was an absolutely gorgeous day. A rare, early-spring holy-cow-this is-what-we’ve-been-waiting-for-all winter-day. A hip-hip-hooray-Daylight-Saving-Time-has-finally-come-and now-we-can-celebrate-the-light day. A play-frisbee-with-the-dogs-in-the-yard kind of day. A find-a-friend-and-go-for-a-long-walk-and-catch-up-session kind of day. A skulk-around-the-corners-of-the-backyard-looking-for-signs-of-spring kind of day. And I, in my infinite wisdom, messed around too much yesterday and forced myself into a Get-Stuff-Done day today. If you see me, andContinue reading “Slice of Life Day 9: Salty”

Slice of Life Day 8: Fiction, Part 2

Yesterday, I posted a fictional story I crafted along with my students in the style of Leo Leonni. I put myself in the hot seat and let the kids do a “table read” of my work. I sat to the side with and zipped my lip while they read and discussed my story. I wasn’tContinue reading “Slice of Life Day 8: Fiction, Part 2”

Slice of Life Day 7: Fiction, Finally

Fiction is not my favorite thing to write. In fact, I avoid it at all costs. But when the time comes for me to set an example for my fourth graders, I suppose it’s time to roll my pride into a ball and get on with it. I’m sharing the story I drafted for their review.