All posts by onathought

Celebrate giving up

October 16, 2015Celebrate, Family, Reflections on teachingonathought

This post is part of Ruth Ayres Celebrate Link up. Thanks, Ruth for this great opportunity to celebrate!

You are having 
one 
of 
those 
days

Those
Fridays

Rammy kids
you don't blame them 
Such great kids
you make them popcorn, read aloud and
tell them you'll try your best to be patient
ask them to try their best not to try your patience

You have lunch duty
then forget to make calls
get caught in too many conversations
You have bus duty
bus duty is it's own poem one day
You stay after school to grade
you wonder how many times you didn't put your name on papers when you were 11
You text your husband at 5:00
"I'm bringing the rest of my work home." 

At home you straighten up and do dishes and maybe have a little tantrum about the mess and the stress and are you getting a cold, and why is everyone hungry right when you get home does the cat need food right now too and how are you going to do all the laundry and pack all of the moving boxes and do all that work you brought home?

Then your son makes dinner for himself, his brother, his sister

You feel guilty and tell him as much
What kind of parent doesn't have dinner figured out? Grow up!

"Mommy, you make wonderful dinners every night! This is your break." 

You know this is something to celebrate
this sweetness

So you give up
you put your pajamas on 
chill out

You should have given up 2 hours ago!

10474678_1088982864459193_1684130368190575286_n — Found on Single Dad Laughing Facebook page

Celebrate. . . New Beginnings

October 9, 2015Celebrate, Familyonathought

This post is part of Ruth Ayres Celebrate Link up. Thanks, Ruth for this great opportunity to celebrate!

I’m not so good at changes. When I taught centers in second grade, I’d sing “Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes” and then my para would sing “Turn and face the strange!” and the kids would switch. On my very last day of teaching 2nd grade, my alarm woke me up singing “Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes; Turn and face the strange…” and I started sobbing. I also sobbed as the kids left that day, and most likely traumatized all of those 8 year olds! However, the next school year I was snug in my classroom as a 6th grade teacher with the amazing team that I still teach with today. I don’t know what I’d do without them. I try to remind myself of this whenever change is afoot; that celebrations are coming!

There’s not enough wood to knock, Kinehoras to mutter, lucky clovers to find, Buddah bellies to rub for me to start celebrating a move we may be making in the near future. If hoops get jumped through, t’s get crossed, i’s get dotted… I might soon start walking to school, and it’s possible we will need a few pieces of furniture.

Regardless of whether or not I’ve started looking on Pinterest for things like “DIY fireplace redo” and “moving checklists,” I’m simply not ready to celebrate. I am keeping myself in check. If it doesn’t work out (that move we might be doing soon, knock on wood) it wasn’t meant to be, and everything will be okay. It’s not like I love the house or anything. (I’m lying. Knock on wood.)

What I can celebrate is: The people who are about to move into my house. I don’t know if they are anything like what we were like when Mr. Thought and I were in our early twenties, getting ready to move into our first house (this one! this very house!) but I’m going to assume there must be some similarities. I wonder if they drive by with dreams of paint colors and furniture. Are they planting gardens in their mind and boring all their friends with their plans for funky decorations? Are they saving their pennies for closing (wait, that never changes.. we’re doing the same right now!)

What I can celebrate is: All we have done to this house. When we moved here, the paint was peeling, and everything was a very odd shade of green. There were so many little holes in the walls, and the living room ceiling bowed in the middle. There was no split system air conditioner, or newly renovated kitchen. The kitchen in fact, had contact paper countertops. (Which I didn’t notice until we actually moved in!) The wiring was knob and tube! You could feel cold air blowing through the walls and the old wooden windows. There was only one bathroom… and oh…the bathroom! It was purple with crazy wallpaper, a very small claw foot tub, and exposed pipes. No exhaust fan meant that weird bathroom dust was always clinging to the walls, and behind those pipes. The painted wooden floor was quaint until you tried to clean it.

What I can celebrate is: Change. We’ve made guest rooms into craft rooms into offices into nurseries, into bedrooms. We’ve made closets into nurseries and bathrooms. We’ve made bathrooms into laundry rooms and laundry rooms into pantries. We’ve made living room walls into libraries. We’ve made a house a home. Now we are about to make a huge change… (maybe, knock on wood, where’s the four leaf clover?) and I choose to celebrate this crazy time!

Celebrating with Class! And a mentor text to boot

September 25, 2015Celebrate, poetry, Reflections on teachingCelebrate, mentor textsonathought

This post is part of Ruth Ayres Celebrate Link up. Thanks, Ruth for this great opportunity to celebrate!

I have 3 School Celebrations to share with you.

Today I get to celebrate with my students! In fact, in a first ever turn of events, I’m celebrating on my blog while they write their first ever celebration pieces. It’s a double celebration, or maybe triple. We started by reading I’m In Charge of Celebrations by Byrd Baylor/pictures by Peter Parnall. This is a beautiful book, and I am celebrating the way the pictures and words go together to make you feel the celebration. After we read, we brainstormed things we could celebrate:

We talked about all the ways we can celebrate by writing…

paragraph
story
list
poem
pictures

Now we are writing. It’s quiet, which is nice. Some students are watching my writing, which is also nice. I like writing in front of my students, even though it does feel a bit odd. A few students are still settling into the stamina of sitting and quietly writing without distracting themselves or others, which I understand. It’s September. I’m celebrating September writing!

2. This year I teach 2 ELA classes back to back. I’ve just read I’m in Charge of Celebrations for the second time this morning. Before the school year started, I thought I would be bored teaching “the same” thing two times in a row. I’d like to call a celebration for that NOT happening. I’m anything but bored. Today I got to read I’m in Charge of Celebrations TWICE! Today I got to fill my board with even more celebrations with my second class. Today I get to connect with 50 students through the power of reading and writing. I’m lucky.

3. Speaking of I’m in Charge of Celebrations. Reading a book like that 2 times in a row made it an automatic mentor text. As I read it I felt the pull to write about a celebration in the style of Byrd Baylor… Again writing in front of my students, while they write. As students finish writing a celebration, I challenge them to write again, choosing a poem this time, or a list, or a paragraph if they just did a poem. And I start thinking about celebrating my own children and their school:

Celebrating September 
A school year where all 3 children go to the same school!
Thanks to Byrd Baylor's inspiration

Friends, I wish you had been there
to hear
my children,
giddy with anticipation
share the names of 
reading buddies
make plans for
meeting for worship
discuss the rules
for the elevator

All three
of my babies
are not babies anymore, 
I know. 

All three
are in the same school now
with the chance to
be more than siblings
Yes, 
It's possible to 
be more 
than siblings
Now they are 
Schoolmates
Part of a family
and 
a community.

I've decided that September is a celebration 
for school. 
Not just any school celebration.
I don't want a day 
to 
buy 
more 
markers and post its, 
notebooks and pencils
stickers and baskets
I want a day to celebrate 
that my children 
get to spend 
their days
in the same community
they get to 
share common ground. 
They get to 
be more
than siblings.

I hope you have a lot to celebrate this weekend!

A Slice of Letting Go

September 22, 2015Family, Slice of Lifechoices, Slice of Lifeonathought

This is part of Two Writing Teachers’ Slice of Life. Find out more, and join in here!

Home. It’s where the heart is. Home is where your family is. It’s certainly not the big box you keep all your furniture in, right?

Let go. This is my mantra these days, as we have gotten our house ready to sell.

I said it to myself as I boxed up, threw out, gave away stuff. I said it as we staged the house, making it look like we would never in a million years leave legos all over the floor, or crumbs on the counter, or clutter on the dining room table, or laundry in the washer.

Let go. I said it as I stood outside in my green backyard next to my apple tree, painting the last of a few doors that needed to be finished. I repeated it as I looked at the view of mountains and blue sky.

I say it each time I ask my husband to remind me why we decided to move. (We need more space, it’s time to move closer to my school, it’s good for the kids in the long run, it’s best for our family. Repeat after me; We need more space, it’s time to move closer to my school, it’s good for the kids in the long run, it’s best for our family…)

Let go: As we turned on all the lights, put never-used white towels on hooks, never-used tablecloth on the table, never-used throw pillows, for showings and open houses; and as we took all those things off again. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat, each time we ushered kids out of the house.

I remind myself to let go when I tell L that, “Moving is hard. And, we can do hard things.” I also remind myself that deciding to move when your daughter is 12 is maybe not the best decision.

Let go: As we initialed 20 times accepting an offer.

Now I sit in my dining room. It’s pleasant. It’s clean. There’s no clutter. (Well, a little has crept back on shelves and the coffee table, corners…. if you know where to look, to be honest) Our personal pictures are packed away from the staging, and Mr. Thought tells me this is good. We are slowly letting go of this being our home.

So I work to let go. I focus on the positives.We finally made the decision to move after years of debate, and we followed through! We had a fast sale! (Well, knock on wood… still lots of hoops to jump through, t’s to cross, i’s to dot…) We are blessed with the chance to get a house that fits our family better! A new young couple gets to start their life in this great house, in this wonderful neighborhood! It feels good to think about their excitement.

But, I still tear up when I talk about it, and it’s still hard for me to think about this not being our home.

A Slice of numbers

September 15, 2015UncategorizedSlice of Lifeonathought

Part of Slice of Life by Two Writing Teachers . Head over there for info and links to more Slicing!

*I'm not teaching math this year. . . my numbers may be a little fuzzy...* 


It's a new record: A Slice of numbers and gratitude

It's a new record!
2 weeks in, and I'm behind
3 stacks of assignments to assess
12 evaluation domain descriptors to describe
2 workshops; reading & writing to get up and running
I mean, we're up, but we aren't running.
Or maybe, we're running, but we aren't up. . .
1 reading unit to try out
3 writing units of study 
2 read alouds
4 parts to a new Positive Behavior Management System - It's pretty Fancy, so I capitalized it.
2 new iPad minis to set up  
50 kidblog accounts, classroom library accounts, chrome books and their cases, binders, assignment books, pencil pouches. . . 
50 times I've raised my hand for attention..magic!

It's a new record! 
50 kids to get to know
100+ parents too
2 snack coordinators
10 allergies

It's a new record!
1 migraine
5 headaches
20 cups of coffee
10 soda stream seltzers
1,000 ounces of water
14 two-minute bathroom breaks
I'm not going to count the Advil
...or the chocolate

It's a new record!
2 weeks in, and I've needed
2 substitute teachers in a row
5 students exclaim, "You're back!" and "Are your kids feeling better?" 
50 smiles
10 hugs
1,000 "hellos," "have a good nights," "see you in the mornings," giggles and jokes
4 mindfulness practice sessions
20 more books on my To Read List
1 Apple for the teacher, wrapped in a napkin, left on my desk

It's a new record!
2 weeks in 
50 kids I'm getting to know
2 learning communities, starting to grow
1 classroom we are starting to call home

A mid-week Celebration

September 9, 2015Uncategorizedonathought

(late…)

This week is not going how it is supposed to go… My son is sick and home from school. If you have children, you know that this change in routine can really impact a day! All the work that Mr. Thought was planning on doing during the day hasn’t been able to happen, and our house selling schedule had to be pushed back about 4 days.

Yikes.

Breathe in, breathe out.

I know it isn’t the weekend… but I need to celebrate, Ruth Ayres style! So I’m celebrating my kids today, even though I’m late to the party.

If you were a fly on the wall last night, you would have experienced…

My 12 year old daughter painting a miniature gnome with nail polish. Not a picture of a gnome — a little plastic gnome was getting a makeover.
Everyone watching science videos on the iPad (this started with H’s homework research… he was looking up glow sticks.)

Later you would have heard….

My 8 year old do an incredible Steven Wright impression. (He can also do Bob Dylan…)
My kids ask me to tell Steven Wright jokes as part of the night time reading (Yes, I sense the theme here. And I don’t even mind how much explaining these jokes take, especially for the 5 year old. I mean, really, Steven Wright, AKA “Everywhere is within walking distance if you have the time!” and “What’s another word for thesaurus?” oh.. and “I intend to live forever. So far, so good.”) I might do a lot of things wrong, but at least my kids know how to laugh!
My daughter ask us to switch to reading El Deafo, and everyone agreeing. They love this graphic novel… all of them… 5, 8 , 12… Can’t complain about bedtime reading.

This morning you would have heard

My boys waking up and talking about 16+5. Finally E realized why he was getting it wrong, “I forgot that 5 was a 3 and a 2.” Oh. Okay. Awesome. You are in kindergarten! Go you!
After this morning math, H ask E, “Can you pave paradise, so I can put up a parking lot?”
All the kids shout “Goodbye! I love you, Mama!” as I drove away to school… (On time, in fact. Yay!)

Celebrate! Breathe! These are my goals.

Celebrate!

August 30, 2015UncategorizedCelebrateonathought

August is a great time to Celebrate with Ruth Ayres!

Last week I started a blog post called "Why I hate August." 
A letter to my kids
my own kids (That's what I call them. My school kids are my kids)
August is when my own kids start saying things like 
"Are you going to school again?" and
"You're always busy." and
"Mama. Mama. Mama. Mama." 

And I'm sorry. 
I feel sorry. 
I should be squeezing out the last, best parts of summer
weaning us from too much netflix
But instead I'm squeezing in my work. 

But, I love being a teacher.
Luckiest job in the world
Even in August, 
the stress has purpose
and so much of the work is fun
It's no secret that I enjoy setting up my classroom.

Thankfully, Ruth Ayres has way to Celebrate!

So I'm celebrating...
Getting to know my students before school even starts
via emails I asked their families to send me
because I believe that relationships are the building blocks for learning
and also because kids are cool, and it's so neat to get to know them! 

I'm celebrating...
My classroom came together
it's cozy 
full of freshly alphabetized books
twinkle lights
and the softest biggest rug I could afford 
(and beg my husband to help me transport in)

I'm celebrating 
bookaday
and the 73+ books I got to read this summer
Sure, I wish there had been more novels
but I do love picture books!

I'm celebrating
teaching writing again, after a year's break
excited because writing is power
and soon I get to help 
students find their slices

I'm celebrating 
my donors choose project was fully funded!
soon, 2 ipads will arrive

I'm celebrating
all
the
work
because it's such lucky work to have.

A Slice of people watching: Middle Son Edition

July 7, 2015Family, Slice of Life, TeachersWritechildhood, Slice of Life, TeachersWriteonathought

. . . and. . .

Part of Slice of Life by Two Writing Teachers. Head over there for info and links to more Slicing! Today’s slice inspired by today’s prompt on #TeachersWrite

I’m driving and my attention is on the road, but with three kids in the backseat, my rearview mirror glances award me more than a road view. I’m watching you. You are joking with your sister and brother. I hear you. Your laughter is a delight. You are funny, but your words quickly become cutting. I don’t know why. Your little brother is growing a thick skin. I give you reminders to be kind, and tell you to stop. And then I watch as you decide to put your hands out your window. All I see is your hands raised to the sky, and I know that feeling: the air pushing on you, the wind so loud. Your hair is blowing from your face, and I wonder what is happening in your mind. I’m hoping you are feeling peaceful with the white noise, and the chance to let go of impulse control and just breathe. The next time I glance back you have a water bottle hanging out of the window too, and you are experimenting with drops. They are falling out of the bottle directly into the car. You have invented a misting air conditioner, and nobody else in the backseat seems to mind. I wonder about the water since I can’t see it leaving the bottle, but I can see it on your face and hair, and I can hear your brother and sister laugh as you say “Our own rainstorm!” I’m proud of myself. I smile at your antics, and your joy. Checking myself, I don’t feel an urge to have you stop.

We turn down the road that leads to the coffee shop, and suddenly your brother and sister complain loudly, “Ugh!” and “He dumped the rest of his slushy out the window!” and “It’s all over the car!”

I’m annoyed, and I’m sure the drive through barista thought it was weird, but that’s okay. I decided that it’s no big deal. My annoyance is easily forgotten if I just picture you: hands out the window, hair blowing in the breeze.

Slices: Bikes, rides, and getting back on

June 23, 2015Family, Slice of Lifechildhood, Slice of Lifeonathought

Part of Slice of Life by Two Writing Teachers. Head over there for info and links to more Slicing!

It’s a long story, why everyone needed a bike at the same time –Why we ended up at the store even after other, more sustainable, cheaper options were suggested. But that’s where we were. All the other shoppers looked at me like I was crazy – buying 4 bikes at once. I wanted to explain to each evil eye: “My bike was stolen 2 years ago! My daughter’s bike is too small and broken! My 8 year old has been riding my hand me down bike for 2 years! It has no gears! My 5 year old tried a goodwill bike last year and it wouldn’t pedal, and the training wheels bent…” But instead, I smiled and laughed at us… the kids riding their bikes to the checkout, me wheeling mine while I shouted after them.

“Be careful! Slow down!”

Even the woman ringing up our purchase seemed mad. I told her that the Assembler had told us my youngest son’s bike was $50, not $80. Even after her manager gave her the go ahead to charge us $49.95, she scoffed at us, annoyed, I guess, that I was getting a better bargain on my smallest bike purchase.

The next day we strapped our bikes on to the van, and headed to a nearby bike path with my sister, Aunt Awesomeness. After a small mishap of using the bike rack incorrectly (Note: don’t strap it to the window!) we were on our way. Aunt Awesomeness kept up with the big kids while I followed E. He was a trooper for 5 whole miles on his training wheels, and this is the true slice I want to remember: My bike ride with E.

I tried not to bump into him when he slowed down, and I tried to limit my yelling of “Be careful!” as much as possible. I tried to teach him how to use his brakes on the downhills, and how to keep pedaling on the uphills. I tried not to scream as he gained speed going down the steep parts, and not to cry when he fell. I told him it was okay to fall, and that he needed to get back on. (I only took a picture of the fall after he was okay. I promise.)

I breathed it in: the beautiful day and his little voice calling to me from his bike:

“This uses energy!”

“Is this exercise?”

“This isn’t motorized so it didn’t use gas.”

“Doesn’t this feel like we are going across the country? And I’m not even thirsty yet!”

….(5 minutes later…) “I need a break. I’m thirsty.”

“Did you see me going down that hill? It’s as fun as LEGOS! Even funner.”

A Slice of Comment Codes

June 9, 2015Slice of LifeSlice of Lifeonathought

Part of Slice of Life by Two Writing Teachers. Head over there for information and links to more Slicing!

Dear Students,

When you see your report card and it says Comment 07: “Behaves appropriately,” will you know that what I meant is that I see how hard it is for you each day? Will you know I appreciate how you listened to my reminders, even though you wanted to roll your eyes?

When you see Comment C13: “Works well independently,” will you know that I respect your quiet way? That I wish I had sat down next to you more often?

How about Comment C05: “Positively contributes to classroom environment?” Please know that I appreciated your smile, and your kind words, and your positive leadership. Keep choosing happy as much as you can!

Comment C17: “Often requires prompting to focus and stay on task.” I don’t want to put this comment on your final report card. You and I both know that focus isn’t your strength yet. You have taken my prompting, and you have moved on. Sometimes you were annoyed at my prompting, and sometimes you took it in stride. School is hard work, thank you for bringing your best.

Comment C20: “Needs to make better use of work time.” Me too. Comment C28: “Needs to improve organization.” Don’t we all?

Your 6th grade report card will all too soon be a thing of your past, just like your 6th grade year. I want to make new comment codes for you:

I heard you.

I saw you.

I learned something from you.

Thank you.