Choosing topics from memory lane #SOLC21

 

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I was inspired by some other slicers to look back to my first year of participating in this challenge.  I reread my post, Generating Ideas, from 2012.  My plans for one of my reading groups that day was two-fold.  I would pique their interest in writing and get some authentic ideas for what I would write about all month.

This group was one that brought me joy and frustration each week.  Out of the five students, J & A were sharp students with great attitudes, but oh my were they in competition with each other!  They constantly announced when they had exceeded the other in fluency, answering questions, who was faster at recess, and on and on and on...

J especially enjoyed brainstorming ideas for me to write about.  He did not feel the need to get a notebook or attempt writing.  Nope, not for him. Conversely, A and two other students got excited to receive little notebooks of their own to write in during the month.  They were determined to fill each little box on their calendars with writing ideas.

I often wonder how that group of students did once they got to high school (and maybe even beyond.  How old are they now?  😆).  I tried my best to meet their needs and not get frustrated by their antics.  Now that I'm in my 20th year (!) of teaching and it's mostly online, I've realized that working with actively engaged students is always more interesting than quieter groups.

During this month, I'll be exploring that calendar of ideas from 2012.  Some don't really fit anymore (there's no recess <sigh> in middle school) but there's a lot more to write about and see where the slice goes.