Story Challenge Day 14: On Letting Things Marinate

I’ve had a lot more writing time with my kids, and it’s one of the things I’m proudest of this year.

It’s something kids look forward to, because they get to spend time writing whatever it is they choose. It’s a class session I really look forward to, because I get to be eyeball-deep in my kids’ work. That, and I get to see a bunch of kids all jazzed up about things.

There is, of course, a catch. I review work each week, keeping tabs on how the students are progressing towards their goals and what skills and strategies I think should be in their pipeline.

Most of the time, I can get a pretty clear direction about how help a kid move their writing forward. Perhaps we can work on punctuating dialogue, fleshing out a story, or keeping a balance of narration so a story makes sense.

Yet each week, there are one or two pieces of writing I just can’t get a feel for. For one reason or another, I just can’t think which direction I’d like to push a writer. Usually, it’s either because the writer has demonstrated exceptional skill, or because there are so many areas that need improvement that the whole thing seems overwhelming.

In those cases, I have sometimes just…not done anything with that writing. I’ve not written down any notes for further instruction or improvement. Just let it pass of until our next session, where I can see what develops further.

Until now, I’ve beaten myself up for letting that writing go. I’ve held the mindset that I owe it to my students to give them feedback or something to work on with every turn.

But what if that’s simply not true?

What if a bit of separation and time would make things clearer?

What if I let that piece of writing go one more week to see what develops, and look at it anew? Would I be letting my kids down?

Judging by how that strategy has done so far? Surprisingly, no.

Surprisingly, it feels good to relieve myself of that pressure.

It’s not an every-kid-every-week sort of situation, but it’s nice to know sometimes that a bit of patience pays off from time to time. And payoffs in this time of year? I’ll gladly take what I can get.

Interested in learning more about the March Slice of Life Challenge, or wanting to read more great posts? Head over to the Two Writing Teachers site!

Story Challenge Day 13: Two Years

Two years.

It’s been two years since we packed up our loveys for a couple of weeks of online learning before spring break.

Two years since kids, backpacks stuffed to the brink with textbooks and worksheet packets and iPads and school supplies, flooded the hallway with the same kind of excitement and anticipation that usually greets winter break or summer vacation.

If only we knew how lasting this would be, we might have insisted on more closure. We might have brought our children together for one last circle time, lingered extra long in the hug-and-handshake line.

For the rest of that year, the only student contact I had came by way of a few work check-ins, and some optional game times on Fridays.

But I did post lots of videos for my students. Here was my very first one, encouraging students to “find their cozy place and write.”

Strangely enough, the second location is still where I go to work…

Story Challenge Day 12: How to Get Around Tough Stuff

In case you are wondering, I am providing – for YOUR experience and benefit, and not at all for my own perverse need for procrastination, this here following:

Guide to Letting Yourself Put Off Tasks that are Difficult, Uncomfortable, and a General Pain in the Patoot

  1. Get yourself a dog. The needier, the better.
  2. Pet that dog. Even if they’re asleep and calm. They still need you.
  3. Hop on Facebook. Maybe there’s something good.
  4. Pour yourself a Diet Coke. You could use the caffeine.
  5. Bring up the document you need to work on.
  6. Close up all your other browser windows.
  7. Work on the document until your brain wanders.
  8. Make yourself a snack.
  9. Hop on Facebook again. What did you miss?
  10. Do the Wordle.
  11. Do the Quordle.
  12. Do the Octordle.
  13. Do the Jewdle.
  14. Click back on the tab you really need.
  15. Promise yourself you’re going to work this time.
  16. Open up Spotify and get some good work music going.
  17. Work on the document until you want to trash it and start over.
  18. Go to the other room and watch TV. You need something else to look at.
  19. Pet the dog again. Poor neglected thing.
  20. Make some lunch. You can’t work on an empty stomach.
  21. Open the computer again.
  22. Hop on Facebook. Still boring and dumb? Yep.
  23. Get back to that tab and start writing.
  24. Start over with what you REALLY want to say.
  25. Cut and paste it with what you started before.
  26. Erase it.
  27. How’s the dog? Better check.
  28. Make some boba. Throw some instant coffee in there. You need FOCUS.
  29. Hey. It’s been a while since you’ve checked email.
  30. Pet the dog again.
  31. Click back on the tab. Type.
  32. Nope. Don’t click away. Keep going.
  33. Keep going.
  34. Keep going.
  35. Finish your draft.
  36. FINISH it already.
  37. Make sure Facebook hasn’t self-destructed while you were away.
  38. Read your draft again.
  39. Shrug your shoulders and know that it’s probably good enough.
  40. More than.

Story Challenge Day 11: The Important Thing

Note: Inspired by Margaret Wise Brown’s The Important Book, I’m working on these alongside my students. Enjoy!

FRIENDS
The important thing about friends is that they are friendly.
They talk to you,
And they go for coffee.
They give you things
And go on walks with you,
And they show you the good and not-so-good
Parts of yourself
You hide from yourself,
And they make you a better person,
And they tell you the truth,
But the important thing about friends is that they are friendly.

SONS
The important thing about sons is that they are tall.
They are messy,
And they eat everything in the fridge.
They make you laugh til your cheeks hurt
And smile til your heart bursts
And worry til your hair turns gray.
They park their cars on the street
And spend lots of time on their phones,
But the important thing about sons is that they are tall.

HUSBANDS
The important thing about husbands is that they are strong.
They take naps on the couch
And clear the driveway of snow
And mow the lawn.
They hold your puzzle pieces together
When they fall apart.
They remind you that you are human
And wonderful
And awful
And amazing
All at once.
They watch boring TV with you and listen to your work stories.
But the important thing about husbands is that they are strong.

Interested in learning more about the March Slice of Life Challenge, or wanting to read more great posts? Head over to the Two Writing Teachers site!

Story Challenge Day 9: Signs of Spring

As a teacher, I can pretty much count on there being a day in February or March when I look at a group of kids and realize, “Oh! They’re not third graders anymore. They’re fourth graders waiting to happen.” Or, “Yesterday I was looking at fifth graders. Now I’m looking at middle schoolers.” Really. It happens in a day. They just…turn, transform, evolve.

I haven’t had that experience this year. Maybe it’s the masks. Maybe it’s the lack of interaction. Maybe it’s the sum total of all the trauma that we’ve been through. But I’ve yet to look at any of my ten groups and say, “Wow. These kids look like they’re _____ graders.”

In the meantime, I’m catching signs of growth that make my heart smile, some proverbial crocuses poking their heads up from the earth.

This week, I’ve seen my kids…

talking about how word pairs might be cousins, twins, older brothers or sisters, parents, grandparents of one another

deliberately trying craft moves for their readers – and being happy when others notice

reading other comments on a blog post, then forming their own response and incorporating others’ ideas

highlighting one another’s work, showcasing and building upon it

engaging in conversations about how this world and the people in it need to be better

And these things I will gather in a bouquet, place in a makeshift vase, set on my counter, and admire each time I pass by.

Interested in learning more about the March Slice of Life Challenge, or wanting to read more great posts? Head over to the Two Writing Teachers site!

Story Challenge Day 8: Broken Brain Blues

My thoughts are jumbly,
Tumbled around. I can’t
Pin them down, and
My brain hurts…

My hair is pulled back,
To help me think better,
And it usually works, but
My brain hurts.

I’ve scheduled and rescheduled,
Checked and re-checked,
Emailed and emailed, and
My brain HURTS.

I’ve played whack-a-mole
With all my to-do lists,
Trying to get through but
My brain HURTS!

Story Challenge Day 7: Class Assignment

My fourth graders are experimenting around with poetry. We started out by journaling how we were feeling. I joined them in the writing (and no, I didn’t get distracted this time).

Here’s what I wrote:

The green lines are the line and stanza breaks I added when I demonstrated / modeled how to think about line breaks.

Then I demonstrated my thought process for how I might choose which words go on which line. (More on that during poetry month.)

Here’s what I came up with. I’m pretty proud of it, to be honest. Prouder still of my brave students, who joined me in this exercise without reservation or fear.

3-2-22
Today
I feel strong
(confident maybe)
though
Confidence
is Knowing,
Being Sure -  
A Leap.
It’s uncomfortable,
All that leap-taking.
What do I know?
Where do I step,
Sure of my feet?
                           Where do I leap, hoping 
                           Feet
                           Body
                           Heart
                           Land safely?
Confidence,
                           Faith
Confidence,
                           Faith
Confidence,
                           Faith.

Story Challenge Day 6: School Chores

I’ve been thinking about chores lately.

Maybe it’s because the dog hair dust bunnies have officially turned into tumbleweeds down the hallway. Maybe it’s because I could take time to clean under the couch, but let’s just not go there. Maybe it’s because I know (but would rather not tell you) what’s in my junk drawer.

All of these jobs I do around the house…they’ve got me thinking about all of the tasks I do as a teacher. Some I relish and look forward to, others I dread. So, just for fun, I present to you my very official SCAT: My School Chore Analogy Table. (Rolls up sleeves) Here goes!

House ChoreSchool EquivalentNotes
Tidying upClassroom organizationAhhh…my preferred form of procrastination. Nothing shouts productivity more loudly than a tidy space.
DishesCatching up on emailsThis. I have to do this every day. Every day I sift through my piles before they get too big. Every day. Several times a day. In, out. In, out. I think they multiply in there.
LaundryLesson planningBecause any time it isn’t done, any time it’s ignored for too long, things are just not going to end well. 
VacuumingResponding to student writingYet another chore that I sometimes procrastinate, but it’s actually quite meditative. Once I get in the swing of things, time goes away and I enjoy what I do.
Cleaning the bathroomGrading papersThere’s something to be said for the kind of chore you resist with all your might, that you put off just because you dread it, and then feel like it was never that big of a deal to begin with once you’ve done it.

How about you? What school chores or house chores are your most and least favorites? Let’s hear ’em!

Interested in learning more about the March Slice of Life Challenge, or wanting to read more great posts? Head over to the Two Writing Teachers site!

Story Challenge, Day 5: There Are Worse Things

Sometimes, words are great.

Sometimes, pictures do just as well.

Today, despite the uproar and chaos that still envelop our world, I was able to carve out some moments of joy.

So I’ll just share those.

My first bike ride of the new season:

This becomes my way of commuting to work when the weather warms, and I cannot WAIT.

Homemade ramen (hot soup on a warm day? why not!):

The trick is the soft-boiled egg. I kinda live for those.

The feeling, when you go to the store, that there are finally more masks out in circulation than we’re going to need and maybe there’s some hope in that:

And lookie! Hand sanitizer a-go-go!

A brief shining moment in which I’m caught up on feedback to my students on their writing:

Too much student writing to handle. It’s…a good problem to have.

A walk in the forest with an all-too-eager doggo:

Think this’ll wear her out? Think again, my friends!

Making some new friends on said walk with doggo:

There were actually a half-dozen of these deer. I always find it interesting that both they and I freeze upon seeing one another.

And a random find that says it all (I love me a heart-shaped rock!):

I have a good friend who collects these. Can’t wait to pass it on.

Interested in learning more about the March Slice of Life Challenge, or wanting to read more great posts? Head over to the Two Writing Teachers site!