Musings from a middle school reading specialist. I encourage my students to read, talk, write, and have fun!
I parent two amazing young-adult daughters with my husband of 30+ years.

May 29, 2012

FOCUS

Read other Slice of Life stories at
Two Writing Teachers
FOCUS
It's the word
my youngest daughter
used to call
the f word.

FOCUS
is hard for
someone like me trying to keep
developing readers with lots of energy
reading and
writing and
thinking
as the classrooms around them
become
placed in boxes

FOCUS
is hard for students
when the weather turns
VERY warm
and the pool opened
during the three day weekend

FOCUS
for me
is hard
when I still want to teach
and the paperwork says
"Pay attention to ME"

while

on the counter
the papers
and books
and games
and book bags
and tape players
demand
to be put away


FOCUS
can I keep my brain on target
while the school year
w i n d s
d   o   w   n ?

10 comments:

  1. How well you captured it!

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  2. Sparse and powerful. Loved the bold letters.
    f
    pool
    ME
    demand
    a poem within a poem
    Almost there.

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  3. Oh, you said it so perfectly!!! Love what you created here and love how Pamela noticed your poem within a poem. Hang in there. Do what you can in these final days.

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  4. My thoughts EXACTLY! So many things wanting - needing - our attention right now. Hang in there, and I will, too, knowing I'm not alone!

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  5. I can only imagine how difficult it is for teachers and children to focus at this time of the school year. So many things calling out to each of you. I know how hard it is for me to focus especially on things I don't really want to do. Hang in there - do what you can and enjoy what lies ahead.

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  6. Very nicely done. The end of the school year is always a struggle. How can we really expect the students to sit there and learn when the tests are over, grades are in, and everyone is just tired? For me, it is all about survival. I love your style.

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  7. Lovely words - eactly tells the story of these last frantic days (altho we here in Ontario have to go to June 29!)

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  8. Thank you for all the "Hang in there" support! I need it so much this week! I'm being hard on myself for not being the perfect mom, teacher, wife and human, yet I tell my students all the time, "Nobody's perfect!"

    May we all have a calm and smooth end of the school year!!!

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  9. Love your poem! Can so relate! I am struggling to focus on finishing report cards. Only another 2 and a half weeks to go!

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