Today I had my students “translate” the Pledge of Allegiance into fifth-grade language. It was an exercise in: -Using the online dictionary-Simplifying words by thinking, “That’s a fancy way of saying ______”-Learning how syntax (word order) affects the tone of writing-The benefits of simple clear language Oh. And.-We’ve been saying this thing for how manyContinue reading “Slice of Life Challenge Day 4: For Which It Stands”
Tag Archives: elementary education
Slice of Life Story Challenge Day 3: Worse Things
Life…has a LOT going on, in every direction. Today’s post is a moment of gratitude for some big-little things.
Slice of Life Challenge Day 2: If Only
Wasn’t expecting to cut it close with my post this early in the month, but writing is writing. I’ll take it as a win!
Slice of Life: What it Is
I’ve spent some time reviewing Lynda Barry’s book, “What it Is.” Bottom line: it’s amazing! Go get it!
Today’s post features some of the exercises I did while working my way through the book. Give my experiments a peek!
Slice of Life Day 31: Why I Love March
I’ve been racking my brain trying to come up with a good sum-it-up post for the March Slice of Life Writing Challenge. And in true slice-of-life fashion, I had one idea when I stepped in front of my keyboard, but my brain and fingers went another route. It’s one of my favorite things about thisContinue reading “Slice of Life Day 31: Why I Love March”
Slice of Life Day 30: On Ruining Movies
Today’s Slice muses on the difference between my husband and me when it comes to watching TV and movies. He just sits and likes to watch. I, on the other hand, am a classic overthinker. I’m analyzing camera angles, picking apart the holes in the script, looking for patterns, symbolism and the like. I’m theContinue reading “Slice of Life Day 30: On Ruining Movies”
Slice of Life Day 22: A Heart Swells
A few months ago, my good friend and colleague Kurt came to me with an idea. Kurt teaches music at one of my schools, and he’s a guy who likes to take an idea and run with it. And if there’s anything I also like doing, it’s taking ideas and running with them. It is,Continue reading “Slice of Life Day 22: A Heart Swells”
Slice of Life Day 21: That Moment When…
…you realize exactly HOW many sessions you have left with your fifth grade students …you realize your dogs are at home, waiting for you to love on them …you kind of wish you had brought snack with you …you’re perhaps regretting doing alllll those sit-ups yesterday …you’ve messed up your scheduling and you wind upContinue reading “Slice of Life Day 21: That Moment When…”
Slice of Life Day 19: On Identity
Yesterday, I wrote about planning a workshop on identity writing. The goal was to explore: How can I teach young writers about the power of the “default” where it comes to writing? How can I have them realize that characters without identifying traits still get identified – as whatever the mainstream culture would have readers picture? HowContinue reading “Slice of Life Day 19: On Identity”
Slice of Life Day 18: In the Nick of Time
I’m not going to lie…the last several days have been DOOZIES where it comes to getting my writing posted each and every day. So, I’m going to preview a little project I’ve been working on, and I’ll give you an update tomorrow – that is, of course, assuming that some other post doesn’t pull meContinue reading “Slice of Life Day 18: In the Nick of Time”
Soapbox: The Way I see Things 