Stress Relief - SOLC #7

Join the Slice of Life Challenge at

Two Writing Teachers

How do you spell relief?  (Remember the old commercial? Maybe I'm showing my age!)

I spell it D-I-N-N-E-R with F-R-I-E-N-D-S.

I went out with two fellow teachers tonight.  We were celebrating the end of our official state testing times, but in reality, we needed social time.

We started with venting about students and parents.   Before you ask, we went to a restaurant far from school and asked for a corner table!  (Can't be too careful!)

Our conversation morphed into our goals, dreams and our families, past and present.  We laughed.  We ranted. We smiled.  We laughed some more.

I left the restaurant feeling lighter than I have in weeks.  I recommend everyone take time this week to catch up with a friend or a few friends - you'll definitely feel better!

Routines - SOLC #6

Join the Slice of Life Challenge

at Two Writing Teachers

I think my thirteen-year-old daughter needs a morning routine.  Our mornings are a bit rough, to say the least.  I'm sprouting new gray hair each day.

We've tried lots of different options over the 9 years she's been attending school.  Nothing works.  She's really hard to motivate and get up in the morning.  We've tried the radio, buzzing alarms, and pulling her out of bed.  This year I spent $80 on a light that gets brighter over 30 minutes and sounds like birds chirping.

She still has to be coaxed, coerced and/or dragged from her bed each weekday.
(Guess who gets up early on her own on the weekend?)

Here's how our mornings have sounded lately:
Me:  "Good morning, A!  It sounds like an enchanted forest in here!  Time to get rolling!"
A:  Grrrrrrrrrrrr!


5 minutes later

Me:  "I already asked you to get out of bed.  It's time to get up.  Let's go!"
A:  Mmmmmppppffffff!

5 minutes later

Me:  "It's time to get UP!  I now have your PHONE in my HAND.  You will GET UP NOW or the phone is GONE for 24 hours!"
A now slides out of her bed, grumbling, and walks to the bathroom.

Hmmm.... now that I've put this in print, I believe we already have a routine.  I think someone has me trained!

Me:  Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Yes, we can? SOLC #5

Join the 2012 Slice of Life Challenge 

at TwoWritingTeachers

From Childwork.com

We're starting to take the state test today.
I just can't bring myself to say, "Hip, hip, hooray!"
I worry that my students who look
To me for help in finding a book
Will find themselves drowning in a sea of text
And think they're under some terrible hex.


So...

I think I'll start the day with a big smile and cheer,
Telling them, "Good to see you!  I'm so glad that you're here!
You've worked hard to learn, to think and you've grown
As readers, so show us all the knowledge you know!"

Wishing all teachers a calm, positive state testing season! 
When your students do well, check the mirror... 
you're one of the reasons!

From United Feature Syndicate

Outside! SOLC #4

Join the 2012 Slice of Life Challenge 

at TwoWritingTeachers.

It's still winter here in northern Illinois, but yesterday I had to get outside for a walk.  We have a moderately hilly neighborhood and a walking path through a nature area, so I can vary my route each time I walk.

As I trudged up the first hill, against the 22 degree, 10 mph winds, I tried to figure out why I didn't take more walks this winter. (Yes, I was being a bit sarcastic with myself!)

We didn't have much snowfall, so the sidewalks were clear.
The temperature rarely got below 20.
I have lots of cold-weather wear:  scarves, hats, mittens.
It's winter. I decided to stay inside.  It was easier!

AHA!  I caught myself!

Today I'm hoping to get outside for another walk, even though it's windy, snowing, and the sky is really gray.  After my quick (it was COLD!) walk yesterday I realized that I like being outside.  I need to get outside.

Now that we are in March, and the First Day of Spring is actually listed on the calendar, I can't wait to get outside and enjoy a walk!

Good Night's Sleep? SOLC #3

Join the 2012 Slice of Life Challenge 

at TwoWritingTeachers.

11:12 p.m.

I crawl into bed

with my copy of Wonder.

Eyes so heavy, I read only 5 pages

Before my soft pillowcase encases my drowsy head.

I fall into a dreamless, heavy sleep.

2:17 a.m.

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnngggggggg!

My husband's cell rings.

After I peel myself off the ceiling,

I demand to talk to the caller.

"Nuh-uh," he grunts.  "It's work."

The phone is turned off.

I roll over.

Crazy dreams ensue:

Trucks, bugs, laughing kids, 

Friends, driving, bathtubs.

6:34 a.m.

I crack one eye open and look at the clock.

I roll over.

I fall into a

Heavy, dreamless sleep.

9:23 a.m.

Huh?  What time is it?

I should get up, I'm hungry.

Lesson learned:  don't eat brownies at bedtime!

Generating Ideas - SOLC #2

Join the 2012 Slice of Life Challenge 

at TwoWritingTeachers.

When my four 5th grade students walked in the door March 1st, I presented them with an empty March calendar and a plea, "I signed up for the Slice of Life writing challenge.  I need your help!"

When my students heard the word writing, I think I saw two of them cringe.  Then they started asking questions.   I explained that my fellow reading teacher had talked me into writing every day, for 31 days. 

“Oh yeah,” said student A, “she LOVES to write.” Then she walked over to the white board, wrote Signup, and wrote her name underneath.  “Who else wants to sign up to write every day?”

Wow.  I think A already knows she’s a writer, and she’s definitely one who will enjoy the challenge! Wait!  Did she just volunteer to write every day? Wow.

For the rest of our 40 minutes together, the three girls worked on filling out their own writing calendars.  K started jotting ideas.  C filled in nearly every day (except for spring break; she’s leaving that open).  A wrote an idea in each box.  J gave lots of ideas, but he didn’t fill out a calendar.  He was more interested in giving me an idea for each and every day of March.

Here’s my completed idea calendar.  I’m considering writing about the ideas they gave me on the random days I noted them.

Our conversation turned to writing, then notebooks.  I showed them my empty Moleskine notebook that I picked at the store years ago to write in.  They decided that they would like little blue notebooks, too.

Perhaps I have four more writers participating in the Slice of Life Challenge with me!

First Slice in the Challenge - #Slice2012

Slice of Life Stories hosted

by the Two Writing Teachers

So... it's my first SLICE of the Slice of Life Challenge 2012.  Whoa.  I'm feeling a bit of pressure because it's the first time I'm trying the challenge.

Gulp!


Then I realized... writing doesn't have to be hard.  It's just a matter of putting thoughts on paper.  Easy, right?

Gulp!

I'm going to get my intermediate students (specifically my very verbal 5th graders) to help me out.  Tomorrow they will help me generate a list of topics I can and/or should write about.

I can only imagine the ideas they will have because I will be the person doing the writing, not them.

They will love the power.  They love to have their ideas heard.

Will they feel the urge to write as well?  Should I challenge them to try?
Will they take a leap, like me?

We shall see!