"We get to PICK a book?" #SOL18

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I made a point to order books from Scholastic this fall, collecting as many bonus points as I could.
I was on a mission.  A mission to get books in the hands of our 4th and 5th grade intervention students.  Books they got to choose!

My colleague, Elisa, and I handed the students book order forms back in November.  We set some rules:  less than $10, must contain a book.  The conversations with our students went something like this:
"Can I pick the origami book if it comes with paper?"
"This book has a necklace.  Is that ok?"
"Do we get to keep the book?"
"Should we bring you money?"

We let the students know that we would get an email from the company when the books got shipped.  For every school day in December, I fielded questions about "the books."
I thought the kiddos would explode from excitement.

TODAY our 4th and 5th grade intervention students (40 kids!) received their books.  There were lots of smiles and "thank you's."  Kids shared their books with each other.  They understood that they shouldn't brag to their classmates. 

It was a good day!  Now I have to make a plan to get books to 2nd and 3rd graders!

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Dear Chris #SOL18

Dear Chris,

It's been awhile since you've typed on the blog.  I like the new layout.  Sure, the original orange background was snappy, but the new blue is soothing.

Source

It's December, and you know what that means.  Undue stress for you as you manage your expectations compared to reality.  Luckily over the years you have learned to accept and appreciate help with decor, baking and events.  You are making lists and getting started on your shopping and card writing (Thank YOU, early Thanksgiving!).  The holidays will be magical if you let them.

As far as work, your students are gems this year, even though you have thirty-five and you are using a cart to visit them in class.  You will figure out ways to share Flashlight Friday and Hot Chocolate Snowy Day Reading with the classrooms you visit.  In fact, the teachers may love the extra fun that you bring.  Be patient with them and yourself.

Dearest Chris, center yourself, collect your markers and cards as you participate in 12 Days of Love Letter Writing.  Some of the stories are heartbreaking, but you have the power to send positive messages to people who need them.  You'll also write to two acquaintances who have lost loved ones, and a family member or two.  May lots of comfort pour from your cards into their hearts, even if it's just a small gesture.

Now go and do your best.  Make sure you take time to relax and laugh and enjoy this month.

From your friend, yourself,
Chris

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Desert Botanic Garden #SOL

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We entered the Desert Botanic Garden.  Cactus everywhere

barrel

saguaro

prickly pear.

The hummingbirds hovered over the blooms.  More birds

chirped 

scurried

waddled.

The monarch butterflies sunned on plants.  Other butterflies flitted by

black swallowtails

zebra longwings

painted ladies.

We enjoyed walking amid the desert flora and fauna.  The sun

glimmered

heated

glowed.

Finale #SOLC

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What?  Today is March 31st?
Already?

This year I sliced many days, but not all.  I gave myself grace and realized that this challenge 
(for me) is more about...

• a yearly "dusting off" of my blog
• reigniting my love of writing
• reconnecting with Slice of Life e-friends
• making new e-friends
• reading LOTS of inspiring slices

...than writing every day.

I'm returning home from an amazing trip to Arizona to see my best friend, Beth, and her family.

There's so many ideas swirling in my head, and so many photos to share.

But today I will just write a little post about writing.

Writing can be as easy or as hard as you make it.  I've learned to not worry (too much) about what others think of my writing, and if my slices will be "good enough" to post.

I hope you feel the same way about your writing.  If you don't feel as confident yet, know that this feeling will eventually come as you keep writing and sharing your ideas.

Thanks to Stacey and her team at Two Writing Teachers for making March all about writing, connecting and stretching.  You are appreciated!

Thanks to all the slicers who wrote and commented and grew as writers.  

Wasn't March fun??

A Playlist for Flying #SOLC

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I am not a mellow flyer.  When I was younger, I helped co-workers find courage to fly on their first business trip.  Then when my girls were young, we took a flight home from Orlando with terrible turbulence, and my fear of flying kicked in.

I have worked hard to be a better flyer, and some cognitive behavior therapy for anxiety has helped, too.  Last year my best friend encouraged me to get noise canceling earbuds.  "Maybe the noise of the plane is making you more anxious?" she pondered.

The earbuds and a grand variety of music on my phone have become essential parts of my flight plan.

Yesterday I flew to Phoenix, AZ with my husband.  I weathered the turbulence pretty well, but I'm still working on managing my anxiety during the gradual descent before landing.  My music app was on shuffle, and some interesting titles kept popping up.  I decided to create a playlist focused on flying (and my mix of feelings) to distract me from feeling anxious.

Part of my playlist

My favorite on this first list was "Hold On!" I have to give a big shout out to Shawn Mendes for keeping my nerves calm with his sweet voice and acoustic guitar.  

I'm hoping to download some new music for our two flights home.  I'm glad I've found some coping strategies to deal with the ups and downs of flying.  Any other suggestions are welcome!

Up and At 'Em #SOLC

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Last week a small miracle occurred on Thursday morning.

I got out of the shower and my younger daughter (19 years old) was dressed and packing a bag.

I had to take a double-take.

She is taking the first course in the early childhood track at our community college.  It's an online course, but it still requires 15 hours of observation.  Our preK teacher (a wonderful person) generously invited Allison to hang out in her classroom.  She went on Valentine's Day and had a blast, but she hasn't been back since for a number of reasons.

Back to Thursday, and I was excited to see Allison getting ready in enough time to join our Party Bus carpool.

The PreK class is known for some kiddos with spunk.  Allison's day went well, and she was proud of how much she could help out the teacher compared to a teacher assistant that was assigned as a sub.

I'm hoping this dose of fun and productivity will help Allison stay on track with school.  I would hate for her to try this class, not finish, and then be back at square one.  She has to figure out what she is good at and what she is passionate about (maybe it's the same thing, if she's lucky) and then decide how she will follow a path to employment.

For now, I'm happy she was up with the birds for TWO days last week, and she had some fun and PreK love.

March for Our Lives #SOLC

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Your voice matters.

When I sat with my coffee to watch the news this morning, I found out that my town planned to host a March for Our Lives march and rally.  

I felt immediate anxiety.  It didn't matter.  I felt compelled to go.

I wanted to go to the Chicago march, but I hadn't made plans with anyone.  This local march was my opportunity to stand up for my students, for all students.  I could march for children and teachers who fear going to school because of all the gun violence we have been experiencing.

I hopped into the shower, prepared a sign, and bundled up.  

I wasn't sure I would know anyone.  It didn't matter.  I felt compelled to go.

As I began to drive to the starting place of the march, I was met with the sight of a long line of people already walking to our village hall.  I entered the turn lane to park.  I waited through two lights for people to march by.  Tears filled my eyes.

I would not be alone, even if I knew no one.  These people shared my feelings, and I joined them.

Luckily I did find a friend, a fellow educator, to stand with.  The anxiety diminished.  I took a deep breath.

The young people who led the rally inspired me with their words.  They are poised to make history.

The Party Bus #SOLC

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(beep beep!)

When I started working at my current school, I wasn't sure how many people would share my westward commute.  Once I got to know my co-workers, I discovered one drove past my house to get to school.  Then another co-worker and I realized we live just down the road from each other.

This year, the three of us decided to carpool once per week, and The Party Bus was born.

There are a few Party Bus rules:

1. What is said in The Party Bus stays in The Party Bus.
2. If you're driving, you choose where we stop for coffee.
3. No one keeps track of who drove or bought coffee.  
4. We try to leave at 6:45 a.m., but there is no penalty for lateness.
5. No apologizing.

The Party Bus has been a safe place for us to vent, strategize and just laugh.  The ride goes so much faster when you're discussing how to improve your classroom management, inspire a co-worker, or win an argument with a pre-schooler.

I highly recommend carpooling with a co-worker, or two, to help manage your teacher stress and feel supported in this rewarding (yet exhausting) job.

Hop on The Party Bus!  (Beep beep!)

Image from Clipart Panda

Furniture transition #SOLC

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Old couch to a new friend.

Upstairs couch to downstairs.

Up the stairs.  Down the stairs.

Music to the basement.

Bookshelves to the hallway.

Up the stairs.  Down the stairs.

Family room tables to the front room.

More music to the basement.

Up the stairs. Down the stairs.

New furniture and carpeting will be beautiful.

Lots of steps on the FitBit!

Skipping #SOLC

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Today I took a reprieve from administering our state standardized tests.  Two of my co-workers took make-up test duty so I could meet with my intervention groups.

When I picked up my first group of students, one had to take a make-up test, so that left me with two third graders.  (If you had my six third graders, you'd also split them into two groups of three!)

These two are not the easiest students to work with first thing in the morning.  She likes to tell long, elaborate stories that could be labeled tall tales.  He is not an early riser, having spent long hours on his computer the night before, looking up scientific facts that his classmates prefer not to hear.

Since this is my first group of the day, I make a decision on my way to pick them up that I'm there to help and coach and not lose my temper.  It's not easy.

Today, the two walked ahead of me, as usual.  I could already feel the tension build up in my neck as I could only imagine the competition that would ensue when they got to my room.  Would the drama be over a certain chair?  Scientific fact disagreement?  Pointing out that a story couldn't be true?

Then I saw it.  You could have knocked me over with a feather.

She started skipping.  He looked over, and then began skipping along with her.  In unison.

They skipped all the way to my classroom.

Unbelievable!

Fish Fun #SOLC

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Two years ago I struggled to find Christmas gifts for my nephews.  The boys are in 6th and 4th grade, so they have numerous Lego sets, Nerf guns and other toys.  Clothes only fit so long, and my younger nephew is really picky.

We decided that experiences were the way to go.  

Last year we purchased a membership to the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago (we live in the 'burbs).  It's my husband's favorite museum, so that was a no-brainer.  We spent New Year's Day 2018 on a WOW! tour of the museum behind the scenes.  It was a super cool experience.  The boys even went home and put sticky notes around the house, noting which rooms were "WOW! Tour only" and "Authorized Personnel."

This year I chose to get a membership to the Shedd Aquarium.  (I especially love the dolphins, belugas and penguins).  We purchased the Wild Reef experience for my nephews and my sister-in-law.  I thought I would go, too, but my youngest daughter got out of bed early enough to snag my ticket!

Overall they learned a bunch about sharks and other swimming animals (fish, stingrays, etc.) and they got to feed some shrimp to a tank full of big fish.

They said they enjoyed the experience, but they are boys of few words, especially my oldest nephew.  I know they like to go new places and explore, and I'm wondering where we will go in 2019.  

Lucky #SOLC

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I'm lucky!

• We survived the vortex of state testing in the resource room.  
• We wrapped up my oldest daughter's spring break with a fun family meal.
• My parents drove my oldest daughter back to school.
• I spent Friday night with work friends, rocking the trivia contest (2nd place!)
• We won the 50/50 raffle (and donated it back)
• I slept in later than usual this morning.
• The sun is shining and I'm ready for a relaxing weekend!

Crazy for origami #SOLC

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My fellow reading interventionist, Elisa, and I are hosting a group of fourth graders for standardized testing this week.  Congratulate us - they've completed 4 of 7 assessments and we are all still friends.

I realized today that I have a pet peeve.  I didn't realize how much the sound of folding paper can unnerve me during testing.  Especially when the friends keep getting up to get more paper.

These kids have gone crazy for folding origami shapes.

They just. can't. stop.

I tried to encourage them to read or even draw quietly.  It didn't work.

They have made boats, swans, hats and "creative" items (can't call them mistakes).

This afternoon I finally gave in once all students had completed their tests...

I connected my computer to the SmartBoard and found an origami for kids website.

The kids were so excited!

Guess we will need more paper in our room.

Dishes #SOLC

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You can tell who is home based on the dishes on the counter.

Coffee cups + Salad bowls + Sriracha sauce on plates + avocado knife in the sink = Lindsey

Cereal bowl with milk + lemonade in glass + chip dust on plate = Allison

Chocolate milk in cup + mac and cheese pan + water glasses (3 or more) = Jeff

Where are my dishes?
In the dishwasher. ;)


(P.S.  I don't mind the dishes.  It's always my "domain."  I'm definitely NOT the main cook,
I feel like I've checked an item off my list when the dishes are done.)

Homework soundtrack #SOLC18

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music to your ears!

As I finish up my final LBS1 endorsement class (my masters is nearly complete!  Hooray!!)

I have turned to music for inspiration.

I find that I get WAY more done when there is a compelling melody.  I'm especially fond of string quartets, movie soundtracks and piano solos.

Yes, when I'm in my car, I screech along with all the latest pop hits, but nothing helps me get my homework done like my "classical for studying radio" on Pandora.

What is it about my brain that it needs so much input to be productive?  Maybe the tapping of the keyboard (especially the backspace key) isn't enough.  The music helps me keep my thoughts in order.  Maybe the teacher who told me that music = math was right?

If you have any musical suggestions for me, I'd appreciate them!  I'll be in classes until June.  My action research project is going to need an inspiring soundtrack for sure!!

Breathe in, breathe out #SOLC18

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It's coming

We can't stop it

Teachers are worried

The emails keep coming.

Schedules in disarray

"I'll see you when it's over"

Resources stretched thin

How many students make a small group?

It's important to assess

It's important for planning,

for setting goals,

for knowing they are growing.

But yet

I wonder

How sitting in front of a computer screen

for 3 days in a row

Can help "them"

decide how much our students have

learned and grown and changed

into who they will be

some day.

Breathe in,

breathe out.

It will be over soon.

Sunshine #SOL18

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Sunshine

Essential and bright energy source

warming the Earth

coaxing the plants from their winter slumber.

Center of our universe

encourages outdoor activity

even when temperatures are frigid.

Largely motivating,

ever present behind the clouds,

a force to reckon with.

Sunshine

One little word

It's hard to choose a word, especially my One Little Word.  I usually take a while, but it's nearly the end of March!

This year I'm looking to make slight changes (ok, I also need to lose a boatload of weight, as if...)

How can I put into words that I'm doing ok with food, exercise, stress, work and relationships.  I just want to choose better food, exercise more often, keep my stress level down at work, and continue to nurture my relationships.

Better?  I'm not doing too badly.  Improve?  I've already been trying.

Next stop?  The thesaurus.

I try many different words on for size:  grow, thrive, rise, persist, uplift.  Nothing fits right.

I click synonyms, avoid antonyms... until I find it.  The word I need right now.

peace

I'm always looking to find peaceful moments to calm my spinning brain.
I strive for my family to get along and be kind and calm.
I hope the world will work together to reduce violence towards one another.
I want to give myself peaceful grace for doing my best and being enough.

There. I found my word.  Now I get to work towards achieving it.

Click here for more information at Two Writing Teachers and here for info from Alli Edwards 
about One Little Word (OLW).

https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/mother_teresa_107846?src=t_peace

Meeting Ruth #SOLC18

Life is like an orange...
it has so many slices!
Join the fun at Two Writing Teachers

Michelle sent me a text a few months back, "Ruth is coming to Judson University!"

You better believe I wasted no time as I requested a personal day and registered to learn from a guru of helping kids and teachers write.

Ruth co-founded Two Writing Teachers with Stacey.  They also wrote a book together, and Ruth has written a few books on her own, including Enticing Hard-to-Reach Writers.

Why was this a special day?  I'm glad you asked!

I met some new people from other schools and other grade levels. 

Michelle and I got to hang out and be learners instead of teachers at different schools.

My brain was working and thinking and caring about how I was going to get more writing time for my students, and how I could be a better teacher for kids who need the most.

I spent the day tweeting out Ruth's message and gems of knowledge (look on Twitter for #ADAJ18).

(Today my oldest daughter sent me a text, "Mom - your Twitter was LIT yesterday!)

By far my favorite moments of the day were speaking with Ruth and Michelle during breaks and at the end of the seminar.  I am sort of a fangirl when it comes to meeting authors.  I know they are humans, but they've done something amazing.... write a book!  

Thanks to Ruth for sharing her thinking with the crowd, and for letting me know she appreciates my "playful spirit."  (Even if I do think that's code for I was a bit silly at times) :) 

Fangirl selfie

Thanks for your patience, Ruth!

Sack lunches #SOLC18

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**I wrote this slice during a workshop with Ruth Ayres, one of the co-founders of Two Writing Teachers.  What an exciting day of learning!  Come back this week to hear all about it!***

Making my lunch is something I do every work day.  Monday's lunch was turkey and honey mustard on half of a whole wheat pita, a handful of blueberries, a low fat/low sugar yogurt (Siggi's) and a red pear.

I'm working to remove some food, replace others and health-ify my lunches.  I love fruit, I eat bread & carbs, and I need more veggies.  I started thinking back to my lunches in elementary school.

Lunch contained a sandwich.  This sandwich was on white bread, smeared with Miracle Whip.  (Yes, friends, I still don't like mayonnaise.) On the sandwich you would find veal bologna from the deli.  Sometimes there would be sliced American cheese on the sandwich, but not always.

Along with the sandwich, I'd have a baggie full of chips, crunchy Cheetos, or Doritos.  There would be a packaged dessert, perhaps a Hostess cupcake with smooth chocolate frosting and a swirl of vanilla icing.  Maybe a Nutty Bar or a Twinkie. (Mom shopped at the Hostess outlet store).

Last, a piece of fruit was found at the bottom of the bag.  Usually it was a red delicious apple.  On rare occasions I might have a pear or plum, but it was always a piece of whole fruit that could survive the day with minimal bruising or getting smushed.

I bought milk at school.  For many years it came in a triangular package that you would stick a straw into.  I remember milk being less than 25 cents, and at no time was chocolate milk available.  (Bummer!)

Looking back, I can see where my idea of what lunch should look like began.  I still carry some sort of sandwich and fruit.  I hope to be more creative with my lunches, but Pinterest pictures do more to discourage some new lunch ideas.

Do you have some healthy lunch suggestions?

The Couch is on the way out #SOLC18

It's been the hangout at our house for years.  I have lots some a little guilt about sending this iconic piece of furniture out of the basement and on to greener pastures.

It's the family room couch.

I wrote about the couch back in 2015.  The teenagers heard me talk about replacing the couch, and they really wanted me to reconsider.

This year we are updating our family room upstairs, so we will be moving that furniture downstairs to the family room and moving the couch out of the house.

There are plans for the couch to live at a new home.  It's fulfilled it's purpose here at our house.  I gave fair warning to the young adults who have spent many an hour sleeping, gossiping, lounging and laughing on this couch.  They are wistful, but they understand that the removal of the couch gets us closer to media chairs.

This month we will be soaking up the emotional and physical comfort of the couch.
Next month we will be sinking into the living room furniture here in the basement.
It's softer, more manageably sized and still comfortable.

Thank you, Couch, for giving my family a place to relax.

This week #SOLC18

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This week

• I will teach for three days out of five
• I get to spend a whole day learning with my friend, Michelle.  Where...
• I will meet Ruth Ayers IN PERSON at Judson University!
• I have to make a bunch of doctor appointments, which means...
• I must find my planner (on my desk, I'm guessing)

This week

• I will try to exercise on my own
• I will go to yoga and personal training
• I will probably shovel snow, according to the weather, but...
• I understand it's March and it's still winter.

This week

• I will make plans for my trip to Arizona at the end of the month
• I will pick up my oldest daughter from college for spring break
• I may finish the YA book I'm reading, Speed of Light or
• I will spend my reading time on writing and reading lots of slices

This week

• I will do my best to be organized, be on time, and stay out of the chocolate, or...
• I will be myself.

We bring the fun #SOLC18

All month we are writing slices of life!
Read some at Two Writing Teachers

Today we visited my uncle and his family.  My uncle (just four years older than me) has been in treatment for colon cancer over the past two years.  It's been an uphill battle and really crappy at times (yes, we are all about the puns).  Last week he battled an infection as well as the side of effects of chemo.  No. Fun. At. All.

My husband Jeff and I wanted to bring a care package to our visit.  We researched and thought about all the "appropriate" and "caring" things we could bring.  We walked around Target for inspiration.

What did we pick?  A remote control helicopter, a mini basketball and door-hanging hoop, and a Play-Dough ice cream kit.

In our family, we bring the fun.

Were the presents really necessary?  Nope, not at all.  Were they appreciated?  You betcha.

We were happy to visit, share some quality time with the family (we haven't connected in awhile) and enjoy some smiles and laughs.

Purge? Keep? Sigh. #SOL18

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In a few months, my oldest daughter will graduate from college.  (WOW, time flies!)

Her plan is to stay at home until she finds a full-time job and a city apartment with friends.

In the mean time, I'm working on purging the basement, family room and garage of all non-essential items.  Unfortunately, this means I'm pretty emotional each time I work on this never-ending project.

As I dig out Christmas decor, unused appliances and stuffed animals, I must come to terms that my one-little girls are now young adults.  I also have to decide what stuff has true sentimental value, and what stuff can move on to others who can use it.

We are shifting and donating furniture, assessing what DVDs and CDs we need ("None! We have streaming video & audio!" claims dear husband.) and just dealing with 20 years of accumulation.

My strategy for keeping my sanity is to only work on this purging project on Saturday mornings.  Once I've put in a couple of hours, I stop and move to homework, writing! or fun outside of the house.

One bright spot through all this organizing?  I'm less likely to bring anything home that isn't clothing, food or something to read!

Sharing my writing with students #SOL18

Do you want to write a Sliiiiice?
(Sung to the tune of "Do You Want to Build a Snowman?")
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Today I decided to bring my intermediate intervention students (grades 3-5) into the world of Slice of Life.  No, I'm not ready to host a group of student slicers... yet, but boy was I pleasantly surprised at how my day went!

First I explained that I had participated in the Slice of Life writing challenge for the past 6 years.  I received the following questions:

"Why?" asked Ruby (3rd grade)

"Do you win a prize?" asked Erick (4th grade)

"What is a slice of life?" asked Isabel (5th grade)

"Can we try?" asked a few students!

I read my 2012 slice about chocolate chips to each group.  (My students are well aware that I'm a chocoholic.) Then we talked about why I would write about chocolate (see previous statement.) 

Next I had them draw a pizza with eight slices.  Ivan (5th grade) noticed that my pizza looked more like an orange slice.  (Hmmmm.  Maybe I should have done that instead!).  We all brainstormed what people, places, FOOD, gadgets and animals they could write on their pizza.

Finally each student chose a "slice" of pizza a wrote for a few minutes.  I didn't have a chance to capture all the topics, but they ranged from friends, phones, teachers to candy, Takis and tamales.

I'm glad I felt brave enough to read one of my slices.  I'm super pleased that each student filled a pizza with lots of ideas, and EVERY student tried writing a slice.

Year SEVEN of slicing? Can't be! #SOLC18

Visit TwoWritingTeachers to get the scoop on the
Slice of Life Challenge!

After getting my yearly nudge from Michelle at Literacy Learning Zone, I clicked on the Two Writing Teachers site and registered to slice in this year's challenge.

When I came to the question regarding how many years I had been slicing... I had to click back on my blog and then count on my fingers. :)

2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017

Holy guacamole!  It really is year seven.  You know what that means?  Everyone, even those of us who slice by the seat-of-our-pants, can do this challenge!

Now I have to take a minute to compare the chaos of 2012 to the current chaos of 2018.

Had some fun in Google Draw!

It was fun to go back and look over my first set of March slices. I also realized there's a bunch of slices just ready for writing because they didn't fit on my Venn diagram! :)

Best wishes to all slicers!  Don't overthink, write from your heart, visit LOTS of other blogs.
Let's have a blast!