Soapbox: The Way I see Things

Slice of Life Day 2: Mish-Mosh

I love Yiddish. The vocabulary captures an emotional flavor that English just doesn’t have the kishkes for.

Take the title of today’s post, for instance. I’m feeling all sorts of tumbled-up ways…mish-mosh is the perfect description. Basically, I’m an everything bagel today.

I’m in awe and wonder at the beautiful weather today, awe and wonder at miraculous signs of spring everywhere around me. I’m in awe and wonder that the sun has the chutzpah to shine on the day I mourn a close friend, gone too soon.

I’m farklemt that Being a Grownup means Doing Hard Things, like the burden of participating in a funeral service. Full of nachas to recognize that burden for what it really is: the honor of experiencing a deep, abiding friendship. A heart sad and full, all at the same time.

All of which is to say, I’d rather be a mish-mosh than a plain bagel any day. Now pass the cream cheese, I need a nosh…

Slice of Life Day 1: Here We Go!

Happy Slice of Life Day! (Do you think Congress would make it a national holiday?)

I love the Slice of Life challenge. Writing and sharing for a full month: it takes a bravery and persistence I’m never quite sure I have when I pull up to my keyboard each March.

Certainly, I have a lot of reasons to pass up the opportunity: I’m tired, there’s too much going on, school is bananas…LIFE.

Yet here I am, back at it for another year. What keeps me going?

I like doing hard things. It puts me in the space of being a learner, and it’s uncomfortable. I’ve actually grown to relish that discomfort. And being in that space of discomfort? It gives me admiration and respect for everything I ask my students to do every. Darn. Day.
The community. I’ve met so many amazing writers and humans through Two Writing Teachers. I’m lucky to know so many insightful, wise folks that I call colleagues and friends.
Nothing – NOTHING – has done more to make me a better teacher of writing than to actually be a writer myself. And if for no other reason than I can speak to the kids honestly about the successes and challenges we both face in our quest for creative expression.

Write on, my friends! Let’s make this a wonderful March.

Slice of Life Tuesday: One Little Word for 2024

Ever since joining up with the Two Writing Teachers community, I have a really enjoyed the “One Little Word” posts that I see each January. As someone who doesn’t really believe in New Year’s resolutions, I find it comforting to commemorate the transition to a new year by setting a simple intention.

Last year, I chose quiet as my word. In that post, I wrote all about how my one little word often changes throughout the year, as life brings me in one direction or another. And honestly, had I really been focused on it, I probably would have changed my word a couple of times. Or at least…I don’t know. Maybe I’d have focused on it more?

But here’s the thing. Last year, at least January through June, had me over my head. So many of the things I enjoy, such as daily writing during March’s Slice of Life Challenge, or even my daily workouts, just fell to the side as I managed one thing after the next.

And you know what? I kind of feel sorry for last year‘s one little word. Quiet. I don’t think I ever gave that idea enough time to sink in. I don’t think I offered myself enough moments of quiet, or peace, or meditation. I don’t believe I allowed myself enough chances to think about things beyond my customary rituals of listing, planning, and mental problem-solving.

So this year, I’m going to give it another go.

Quiet.

I’m hoping to find myself more time to be still, to create space physically, mentally, and spiritually.

And you? What’s your One Little Word? I’d love to know!

Rambling Autobiography, Vol. 2

A little while ago, I started a teacher writing circle at school. I had a friend join me, which was a relief. I was a bit worried I’d be out there on my lonesome, just me and the snacks I brought.

We both decided we wanted a prompt, and I happened upon an idea I’d done before. It’s a series of sentence starters that reveal an autobiography of sorts. I thought it might cool to compare my entry to what I wrote last time. Here goes!

I was born lickety-split, showing up for this world in the delivery room while my dad parked the car. Guess I was ready for this world. Hopefully it was ready for me?

I adore my sweet, sweet dogs Lilah and Winnie. It’s deeply encouraging to coming home to someone so happy to see me. Lilah is new to the karmic ride: young and dumb in the most charming sense. Winnie’s had a few go-arounds. You can tell there’s wisdom behind those eyes.

I bought a new book for my class (really, for myself) last week. It’s an adaptation of Beowulf that’s composed as a graphic novel. It gave me the delightful problem of reading an amazing book but having no one to talk about it with. It’s going straight into my “class read-aloud” pile!

I have a hard time handling traffic, especially when I’m anxious about getting somewhere. From my shoulders to my knuckles, and despite my best effort, my irritation crackles and sparks.

I never want to burn out of teaching. I’ve come dangerously close a couple of times, but I fear not knowing when it’s my time to walk away.

One of my talents is picking the exact right .gif to text to a friend or family member. What’s that about a picture being worth a thousand words? Or, at least…a thousand giggles?

When I was 40, I was amazed by how much I knew. So much about my worldview clicked and solidified. And then a friend, hearing my musings, said, “Yeah…just wait ’til 50.” Friends, I’m here to tell her she’s absolutely RIGHT. And I absolutely expect 60 to follow suit. (70? 80?)

My favorite place shifts and changes. Deep in the woods? By the beach, toes anchored in sand? Fortified by a snuggly blanket with a book? On the miniature golf course with my guys? I guess it’s wherever I feel peace, joy, or fulfillment.

I can still hear my brother’s laugh. I miss that guy.

I dated a few klunkers in my time. I don’t recommend the experience.

I gave up ice hockey after trying it for a while. Flying on the ice was liberating. But I was a terrible skater, and it felt frustrating to know how much better I was on feet than on skates. I’d like to think I did my teammates a favor.

I once had the need for people to like me, especially at the expense of my own self-image. Now (perhaps thanks to that “turning 50” stuff above), I figure I’ll just be myself and let folks decide for themselves. If they like me, great. If they don’t want what I’m selling, it’s not mine to own.

I am an early riser. If you had told me in high school that I’d be the kind of gal to pop out of bed at the crack of dawn, I would have laughed. But here I am, poppin’ and crackin’ – literally – in the early morning.

I want to find a balance between self-acceptance and self-improvement. Has anyone figured that out? Let me know. I’ll pay you a WHOLE DOLLAR for it.

Slice of Life Tuesday: Give it a Go

This week on the Two Writing Teachers site, I posted about a strategy I tried with my students: Give it a Go. Basically, we look for amazing skill or strategy with writing, then try it out for ourselves to see what will happen.

I introduced the idea to one of my groups of fourth-graders today, so I thought I’d share what I wrote alongside them. After reading a passage from Natalie Babbitt’s Tuck Everlasting, we all focused on creating descriptive writing. Here’s my (admittedly autobiographical) contribution:

She lowered her backpack to the floor, the muffled thud reflecting her general discouragement. Shuffling to the back bedroom, she let her bare feet slide across the wood, picking up the dust and dog hair she meant to vacuum up the day before.

√ Work clothes: OFF
√ Pajamas: ON
√ Fuzzy heart rainbow socks: ON

Over on the nightstand, and on the dusty window-seat behind it, lay an array of books and magazines. Some were arranged neatly like soldiers – spines out, one next to another. Others (the current selections) lay strewn about on the nightstand, sticky notes and gift cards in place of the bookmarks she had a wealth of, but could never seem to find in her time of need.

Casually, she reached down and picked up a cloth-bound novel whose dust jacket (and upper left corner) were gored by Winnie, the wiry-haired Chocolate Labradoodle with an affinity for head scratches and an anxious disposition.

After making herself a steaming mug of chamomile tea and snapping off a few squares of dark chocolate, she brought herself to the worn, sandy-brown sofa in the living room.

That’s as far as I got today. My inspiration was actually the sensation of being snuggled under my favorite blanket while reading, but the writing pulled me elsewhere. Perhaps I’ll get to it, perhaps I won’t. But it WAS fun to give it a try.

Floating the Boat

Here I am, eyeball-deep in school and life and whatnot.

What’s keeping me happy, sane, and grounded?

Here’s what I’ve got…

Two adorable doggos — These sweet, sweet girlies

Smiling couple — This great guy (aren’t we the cutest?)

Sunrise on a street with trees — Mornings like these, made even better by the company of a friend

A woman lifting a barbell — The chance to pick things up and put things down again

A sample web design for writing — A sneak preview of the resource page I’m designing. Squee!

Baked challah bread — A challah that finally, finally, FINALLY turned out exactly right…

Sticky note with kind words from a student — I keep this up on the board behind me. Sometimes I need a reminder!

…and you? What joys, big and small, carry YOU along today? I’d love to hear about them!

Slice of Life Tuesday: Sharing the Wealth

I’m on a mission.

I believe that kids really aren’t going to care about essay structure, or grammar, or spelling, or mechanics, or writer’s craft, if they don’t see a point to writing.

Because I believe that if kids don’t think they have something to say, or that nobody is going to listen, there really isn’t a point to writing.

And I believe that the way to convince kids they have something to say, and that someone is going to listen, is to allow them to WRITE stuff. And READ other kids’ stuff.

And while they’re writing and reading all of that stuff, they may as well have fun doing it.

Enter Choice Writing Time. It’s 15 minutes of time dedicated each week to letting kids write whatever they want, however they want. Our district started this practice last year, and we’re building on it this year with more support for teachers and students. And goodies. LOTS of goodies. Together as a cohort this summer, my colleagues and I developed a supply list for classroom writing kits.

Yes, each classroom teacher now has their own kit, full of supplies like kid-sized journals, fun paper and pens, and folders to store their writing stuff. Will it change the world? Probably not. Will it single-handedly create writers out of all of our students? Hmmm. But will it at some fun and novelty to the writing experience? You betcha.

And don’t we deserve to have fun? Don’t students deserve to feel successful as writers? Don’t teachers deserve to remember what it’s like to experience teaching as an art form? Yes, yes, and YES.

A few photos from the process:

Boxes ready to open — Well…happy birthday to ME! Whee!

Empty packing boxes - LOTS of them! — Holy packing boxes, Batman!

Writing kits set out on tables — Getting all organized and ready to go!

Writing kit shown up close — Writing kit, ready for its close-up shot!

Photo of a writing kit brochure — A quick user’s guide. Bottom line? Use these materials how YOU see fit, teachers! Trust your intuition!

Slice of Life Day 12: Time Capsule

Here we are at Day 12 of the Slice of Life Challenge. We’re almost halfway through, friends!

I’m not much of a Facebooker anymore. I used to be on there often, commenting and posting and what-not. Now, I’m there to do two things: 1) lurk around a little bit, and 2) look back over at my memories from years past.

It was while looking over my memories that I saw a post from seven years ago. It’s almost like I had sat down to write a letter to me today. It resonates, resounds, holds true and truer:

Slice of Life Day 11: On Days Off

Today’s Day 11 of the Slice of Life Challenge. Thought I’d use today’s post to catch a mood.

Why no, I’m not spending my Saturday…

skipping my workout
checking my work email
making to-do lists
eating cookies
reading student work
ignoring my to-do lists
re-checking my work email
glued to the couch

…why do you ask?

Slice of Life Day 10: Challenge Accepted!

There I was yesterday, cruising around and commenting on some great blogs during the Slice of Life Challenge, when I came across GirlGriot’s musings about the noises she was hearing from under a grate by her apartment building. I thought…now THIS is a great story prompt, and I told her so. Before I knew it, she challenged me to write, and before I knew it, I accepted.

‘Round about this afternoon, I was fretting over my 5th grade language arts class. I had my standard lesson planned, but I could tell from their energy this morning that I was NOT going to have them engaged with Business As Usual.

I read the original post to my students and issued a challenge: can WE write those monster stories? And, just to make the challenge even more fun, can we do it with 100-word stories? Lo and behold, we all jumped into the opportunity fully and excitedly. My work is shared below. And…hop over to GirlGriot. She’s got some good stuff going on!

There’s some full-on mischief happening here. And I LOVE it.

Stacie prayed it was over when the construction crews came. She hoped the monster, with its phlegmy grumbles, was silenced. GONE.

Until she ran the disposal.

Up reached a gelatinous hand, followed by an arm, head, torso, into full corpulent, schlubby splendor.

“Who are YOU?”

“Yeah, it’s me. Morrie. Morrie Fatberg. Looks like they flushed me out downstairs, so I’ll be crashing on your couch.”

Morrie coughed, a familiar, liquid rumble that rattled Stacie’s teeth. “Ya got a Ricola?”

Stacey handed Morrie a dishwasher tab instead.

Try as she might, Stacie never COULD get that grease stain from the rug…

Want to read my kids’ work for yourself? I’ve offered them up in the comment section of GirlGriot’s post. =))