Tackling a Classroom Library #SOLC17

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This week I've assisted our new-to-teaching third grade teacher, Sarah, administer the PARCC assessment.  (Why yes, my legs and feet are sore!  How did you know?)

It's been neat to be part of a classroom community for three days.  Today I decided to spend the entire day with the class and help out Sarah organize her classroom library.

"Do you mind if I cause some chaos?" I asked Sarah.  She was game because she has LOTS of books and wasn't sure where to start.

With an hour between testing and lunch, I invited the class to grab a stack of books and divide them between fiction and non fiction.  After a few minutes of struggle and confusion, I clarified the difference.  We then organized fiction into chapter books, picture books and series.

Next came non fiction.
"Is that real or fake?" someone piped up.

We clarified non fiction and decided to have three big categories:  people, science and animals.

Lunch time and specials came and went.

The kids returned to class and started another PARCC session.  I moved a few books and made more of a mess in non fiction (sorry, Sarah!) 

Today's reflection on our work:  It wasn't very quiet.  It wasn't totally productive, but it was a great effort.  I am seriously impressed by the size of Sarah's library.  She is quite the book finder!

Put your butt in the chair #SOLC17

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Two Writing Teachers

I think I have found the key.

The key to finishing homework, assessments, lesson plans, emails, slices and other paperwork:

Put your butt in the chair.  Then do it.

It isn't as easy as it sounds.

I'd rather be doing anything than sit and work for longer than 15 minutes.  My brain races and spins and tries to come up with an excuse to get up and move.

Dishes?  Laundry?  I'll take care of both and then I'll get back to work.

Copies?  Chocolate?  I think I'll go print and grab a snack before I start on that paperwork.

Friends?  Coworkers?  I just go ask her in person.

Phone ping?  Chocolate craving?  I'll start that homework later.

Yup.  It's true.

I have comfy chairs and rolling chairs.

I have an office, a big table, a clear desk and a laptop.

But I don't have

stamina

perserverance

motivation

the ability to prioritize.

Huh.  Makes me feel for the kiddos who feel the same way, day in and day out, at school.

Fuzzy buddies #SOLC17

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Maybe you prefer sticky notes?
Two Writing Teachers

My shoulders and elbows are a little bit stiff today.  Nope, I didn't play tennis or work out yesterday.  I spent the afternoon gluing googly eyes to pom poms.

Yes,  you read that correctly.

Last year I was wandering the aisles of Hobby Lobby, looking for something to make for my students about to take the PARCC assessments.  I considered...

• stress balls (too bouncy)
• balloons with flour (too messy)
• candy (too much sugar)
• erasers (too small)

Then I remembered a little fuzz ball with feet and antennae that I got from the fun fair in elementary school.  That was it!  I would make a fuzzy buddy!

Allison (my youngest) helped me glue eyeballs on pom poms last year.  Then I gifted them to the intermediate students at school.

"See, they don't have a mouth, so they are quiet!" I explained.

By the end of the week, some of the students had built little houses for their buddies, and even the "coolest" 4th grade guys were being protective of their new fuzzy pet.

This weekend I bought supplies and received help from Mikayla, a friend of Lindsey's on spring break.  We crafted over 200 fuzzy buddies.  Today I slipped into the 3rd-5th grade classrooms.  I started in 5th grade with kiddos who had a buddy last year.

I showed them a pencil kit from the principal, and then I held out the bag of buddies.  

"Hooray!  Cool!  Oh, yeah!" resounded through the room.

My sore shoulders are worth it.  My heart is full!

Hanging with the Hawkeye #SOLC17

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Write every day in March.
Try your best - I missed a day - it's OK.
Two Writing Teachers

On Friday night, we hopped in the car and headed to Iowa City, home of my oldest, Lindsey.  She's in her junior year as a Communications Studies/Political Science major at the U of Iowa.

It was really great to spend time with this kid.  We ate well, and we shopped.  We discussed the full gamut:  politics, her campus involvement, her classes, her possibilities for a summer internship, and her plans for the alternate spring break trip she's facilitating.

When we tried to get a word in edgewise or talk about other things, she pointedly changed the subject, "Let's get back to discussing me!"

Now some would think she was rude, but she wasn't. I get this kid.  I may be wrong, but it was her way of saying,

I am feeling a bit stressed, please let me vent and strategize.

I haven't seen you in person for awhile, and I need to get you all caught up.

I need you to validate (in a small way) all the things I am involved with as well as all my plans.

We did leave after lunch on Saturday because it is midterm week.  Lindsey had lots of papers due on Monday, and we didn't want to be in her way of completing anything.

There's nothing like seeing your kid at college, especially after their first two years are behind them.  My daughter has become an individual (see, Lindsey - I got the message!) who is capable, empowered, involved and insistent on making her mark on the world.  We parents get to ask questions and hear the details, but she makes all the decisions.  

Sloth Love #SOLC17

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Doesn't that sound like fun?
Two Writing Teachers

Hubby Jeff started working in San Diego last week.  It's been a little bit of transtion to a quiet house for me because he was working locally since December.

Last night he returned with a bag.  Inside the bag was some fur and something rectangular.

"When I landed in San Diego on Sunday, he was sitting in the window of the store," explained Jeff.

"I had to bring him home."

Such sloth cuteness!  I've got some jealous friends at school who are big sloth fans!

And the book!?  Hooray for nonfiction!  I can't wait to spend some quality time reading about sloths with my new fuzzy friend.

Thanks, darling husband!

Grocery shopping #SOLC17

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Write every day in March
You know you want to try!
Two Writing Teachers

(Button art by Sandra Boynton)

Yup, I'm a foodie.
I love to eat, but
I really don't like to cook.
I leave that super power to my husband, Jeff
We call him Cheffrey (get it!?)

Unfortunately Jeff travels each week to his consulting job,
so I'm left to be
creative?      brave?    desperate.

Frozen pasta + frozen cooked chicken + pesto in a jar = tonight's dinner  YES!

Allison eating out with friends?
I'm on my own for dinner?

Scrambled eggs + English muffin + fruit ... for the WIN!

Tonight I must hunt, forage and collect food at the grocery store.
I'm overwhelmed by the choices.
Even though I can more easily walk through the bakery
(my sweet tooth is tuned to dark chocolate)
and I can choose healthy veggies, fish and chicken,
it's still a challenge.

I'm all set to go.
Wrote my list, gathered my reusable bags,
laced up my gym shoes.

Off I go to the grocery store
a place that should be fun, but to me
it's just a place
where I overthink
the daily BIG QUESTION

What's for dinner?

Here We Go (YEAR 6 ?!?!) #SOLC17

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Write every day in March!
YOU CAN DO IT!
Two Writing Teachers

Holy moly, guacamole!

I just zipped to the SOLC data form and had to count on my fingers
 (HEY - it's a strategy)
to figure out this is year six for me.

Huh.  I didn't realize how time has FLOWN by!

Because I have not been a weekly slicer for a while
(you did see the name of my blog, right?  The subheading should be Life of a Super Procrastinator)
theres LOTS of topics to write about!

Here's a sneak peek for March, friends:

• The Sherwood Lane Little Free Library is O P E N  (*throws confetti*)
• I will have Spring Break all to myself
• I {heart} chocolate, books, and coffee
• Grad school (halfway through 2nd masters)
• college-aged daughters
• stress, ramblings, silliness
• making vacation plans (San Diego in May)
• anything my brain churns up

So welcome to the chaos, the stress and the F U N of slicing!!

So glad you're here, and I made it in time to write!