I am participating in the March Slice of Life Challenge: A slice a day for all of March. You should do it too! Thank you, Two Writing Teachers! Readers, check out their site, and start slicing!
I tried out the Super App, from the inspiration on day 7. Kevin Hodgson does it here in this blog post. I can’t seem to get the app to share the picture with me in the right way, but I worked around it… Here’s my quick slice for the day, experimenting with the digital writing genre.
I am participating in the March Slice of Life Challenge: A slice a day for all of March. You should do it too! Thank you, Two Writing Teachers! Readers, check out their site, and start slicing!
Run. Think.
Before I argue with myself I want to go it will be so cold running is hard running is good I gear up plan think fresh air sun accomplishment coffee shop at finish First step out the door a cold blast I walk wait to begin try to stretch Music starts I run Ugh I'm slow Why do I start up a hill? dumb It is cold My toes are cold My fingers too I should have worn gloves Maybe I’ll just run one mile it's better than nothing, right? I round the corner to a slight downhill then straight I settle in Now I have to decide Straight to more decisions the possibility of a short run Or turn left, run farther from home where my only decisions are 2 miles or more I turn left with an immediate sense of regret running is hard now I'm hot I wrestle my jacket off tie it on my waist spend a few minutes distracted by tangled headphones Down a hill my app tells me its been a mile I feel good! If I can do 1 mile, I can do my Saturday 3 I remember this how running is good not easy -- but fun free with loud music a helpful beat Up a hill I tell myself that even 2 miles would be admirable after all, I ran yesterday the kids are waiting for me to come home I am going to run again tomorrow I hit my stride on a long stretch of straight and then down I know it's because it's downhill so I lengthen my gait I push it The bottom of the hill has more decisions straight and I can run to the track finish up a 3.1 and walk the mile home right and I will run all the way to the hill of doom where I will certainly stop around 2.7 but I will be so close to home the finish I'm thirsty I'm a little bit bored. But that hill I always stop on that hill Mind over matter hasn’t worked -- yet I go straight, right left stop at the l o n g traffic light left all the way to the track 2.74 is what my map tells me when I see that the track is covered with snow I take that as an excuse to stop.I walk home with coffee I think Running is good I wonder how much I'll run tomorrow.
I am participating in the March Slice of Life Challenge: A slice a day for all of March. You should do it too! Thank you, Two Writing Teachers! Readers, check out their site, and start slicing!
Yesterday Tomorrow it will feel so good to do laundry clean the bathroom and the kitchen I will help kids straighten up their rooms fill bags for goodwill get groceries go on a run Today What a nice day to let kids play read blogs and comment for the commenting challenge Maybe I'll take the kids to a movie I'll still fit in the run How much longer can I ignore the laundry? This is why being a grown up isn't really working out for me. I tell my students to make a to do list color code it start with priority one check things off, It will feel so good! I tell my children to clean up after themselves do their chores first I sit at my dining room table the sun is pouring in the window the mess is all around me I'm trying to motivate myself To take my own advice. Wish me luck.
I am participating in the March Slice of Life Challenge: A slice a day for all of March. You should do it too! Thank you, Two Writing Teachers! Readers, check out their site, and start slicing!
Today I am a 6th grade teacher. I plan lessons, I love learning. I attempt to listen to my students more than I talk to them. I enjoy my school day and I try to balance my life as a teacher and a mom.
28 years ago, I was a fifth grader (I think I did that math correctly…) and I did not enjoy school. I was not having a good year. I cried myself to sleep every night. I missed my best friend, my old house, the way things used to be. I lived middle school in a daze. I moved from classroom to classroom. With so many teachers, I tried to learn, I think. But learning wasn’t my priority. Practicing math facts and spelling words were things people told me to do, not things I cared about. I had a headache every day. My teachers didn’t believe me. It was not a good year.
Today I sit with a student and his mom, 2 other teachers, and a guidance counselor. We are talking about organization and writing things in the assignment book. We discuss zoning out vs. paying attention to what is being said, and how to know what work needs to be done. It feels respectful, it feels like a team. My student is calm as he answers questions, and he listens as we explain. We tell him things like, “We know it’s hard” and “We’re here to help you.”
28 years ago, I was the student with my mom, in a room with my teachers, counselor and I think my principal too. I don’t remember why we were there exactly — a combination of my poor grades and my headaches that most of the teachers thought I was faking. I do not remember feeling calm. I remember feeling attacked and nervous. I remember my chin shaking as I stuck up for myself. I remember telling them that it wasn’t okay that Mr. R played music while we took quizzes, that I couldn’t concentrate. I remember Mrs. M joining my side, sticking up for me. I remember my mom telling them that I did indeed have headaches, that I was trying my best. I remember her telling me that I did a good job sticking up for myself in front of all of my teachers and the other adults.
Today I sit in a meeting and I find myself transported back to my meeting 28 years ago.
I hope my student feels it, the reason we are here. I hope he knows that we are trying to help him. I hope he knows this is a team.
As he leaves I say, “You did a great job talking to all of these adults! Thank you.”
I am participating in the March Slice of Life Challenge: A slice a day for all of March. You should do it too! Thank you, Two Writing Teachers! Readers, check out their site, and start slicing!
I’ve said goodnight and “I’ll check on you.” to L, and I snuggle in with E. He’s 5 and so tired. I know he’ll fall asleep soon. He talks himself to sleep these days. These late night dark chats are some of my favorites. He talks about the state facts he’s learned from his state book. He talks about his dreams, remembers fun and scary things from the past and tries to think through complex thoughts. Luckily, I have been able to record a few of his deep thoughts as he gets tangled up in circles:
I hope you have sweet dreams. No I hope you have sweet nightmares. I’m not saying that to you, I’m just saying what if like… wait. When you say… wait…Pretend that bad words don’t exist, and pretend this is a bad word… um… that nightmare is a bad word… um… and then think that… Mom? Then think that it’s an expression. You don’t say it, well don’t think it, you just don’t say ‘It’s like another words I want to say.’ Like when I said to you right now that you want to have happy nightmares.. you don’t have to say it’s another word… Why am I talking to you so much? You know why? It’s because I’m so awake! Mommy! I don’t need any blanket. I just need to love you. A few breaths later he is out like a light.
Meanwhile Mr. Thought is in a deep conversation with H.
“What’s your favorite part of your brain?” He asks our 8 year old.
H isn’t sure. “I don’t know.”
So Mr. Thought probes a bit more. “Is it how you can just learn something so fast like that magic trick you learned tonight?”
“Yea. I guess that’s my favorite.”
Feeling profound, Mr. Thought asks, “What’s your least favorite part of your brain?”
H thinks for a moment and then answers, “Oh. . . It’s how when I’m writing in cursive. You know how you are supposed to slant the page away to help you slant your writing when you write in cursive? Well, my brain always makes me write it straight. I can’t make the letters slanted, even though I’m trying to force my brain to make the letters follow the slant of the page.”
The specifics of an 8 year old. . . deep thoughts of my preschooler, what a night.
I check on my daughter one more time, and head downstairs.
I am participating in the March Slice of Life Challenge: A slice a day for all of March. You should do it too! Thank you, Two Writing Teachers! Readers, check out their site, and start slicing!
I’m lying down in yoga class, and I’m thinking of something I want to write about. It is almost articulated in my mind.
It is not that I am so excited to wear my yoga pants for actual yoga. (Even though I am!)
It is not that this peaceful class, so quiet and calm with all its breathing, will be over and the welcome into the real world will be harsh and cold and loud. (Even though it will be.)
Thoughts are supposed to come without judgement during yoga. I am supposed to notice them and move on. But this is March, so I analyze and reflect and try to put into words… What is this slice that is flittering around my brain?
I’m twisted, my arms out in a T. My left leg is bent on top of my right leg. I am told to keep my shoulders pressed and grounded and I think I am. I feel twisted and I’m breathing my “complete breaths.” My teacher comes over to ask me how I’m doing. I nod and say “I’m good.”
She says “I’m just going to check your shoulder.” Her hand is able to go completely under my shoulder, which means my shoulder wasn’t where it was supposed to be. She gently pulls my arm into the correct position, and it is startling to me how different it feels. I thought I was twisted correctly, and doing fine. But then she corrects me. We switch to the other side, and I try to use what I learned, and let my shoulders fall into the floor. My teacher comes again, asking how I am doing. “I’m good.” I say. “I think.” I add. She checks, and I am better, but still need help putting my arms in the best spot. She gently leans on my shoulders pushing them farther down.
I continue to notice my shoulders and how they try to trick me throughout my yoga. They hold tension I don’t quite understand, and I often think I’ve relaxed into a position, only to notice that my shoulders are braced and tight.
I’m thinking about honesty. I’m thinking about yoga, and also writing. As my slicing muscles flex and bend again this March, I feel my writing so far, is like my yoga tonight. I think I am being authentic as I write. But when I reflect on my words, I am left feeling like there are words between my lines. They are waiting with tension: braced and tight. I’ll need to push myself, ground myself in this writing practice in order to relax — into honesty.
I am participating in the March Slice of Life Challenge: A slice a day for all of March. You should do it too! Thank you, Two Writing Teachers! Readers, check out their site, and start slicing!
The silent countdown has begun at school. It’s a shift in the air, imperceptible to some. But, I feel it.
I feel it in the hushed conversations, “Did you do that?” “Do your kids know that?”
I feel it in the paperwork I find in my “To File” pile, and take out to scrutinize.
I feel it in the student data I look at just to check one more time.
I feel it in the way I try to assure myself by listing things I have done.
And in the way I don’t believe my own list.
I feel it in the questions I ask myself: “Did you explicitly teach ‘dynamic character’ as a literary term? How about bias? Epic? Conflict? Exaggeration?” “Did you do enough close reading with this class?”
I feel it in all the things I have left that I want to teach.
And most of all, I feel it in my big yearly question: “Was the decision to teach the kids and not the test the right one?”
And, in my big answer: “Well, it’s too late now anyway!”
In about 5 weeks, our state testing begins.
Teachers aren’t allowed to opt out, you know.
I am participating in the March Slice of Life Challenge: A slice a day for all of March. You should do it too! Thank you, Two Writing Teachers! Readers, check out their site, and start slicing!
It’s loud in here. I should wait to slice, but I’m afraid I’ll fall asleep and miss my chance.
Kids are wandering over to try to sit on my lap where my laptop is. L and Mr. Thought are laughing and playing hangman. My son is fake-reading my words and tickling me. I don’t need to tell you how messy my house is. People are climbing over and and leaning in. They are underfoot.
Not exactly a writer’s retreat. I can’t get a thought to finish in my head.
I try to think, I hear instead.
“What’s the one that’s famous for it’s spelling? The state?” (H asks me as he lounges on the back of the couch.
“No! I don’t want you to fight me!” (Pretend dinosaurs talking with E)
I think H might be falling asleep as he curls around the couch – marker on his hands, glasses still on. Teeth not yet brushed.
The dinosaurs aren’t fighting anymore, but the hangman game is in full swing.
“It’s not fair! I want to guess! It’s not fair! I want to guess! It’s not fair! I want to guess!” E yells.
It’s bedtime, and I’m hoping for quiet dreams after just a little bit of time to think.
I am participating in the March Slice of Life Challenge: A slice a day for all of March. You should do it too! Thank you, Two Writing Teachers! Readers, check out their site, and start slicing! Can I Celebrate too? It's the weekend, and really I've been looking forward to March Slice of Life Challenge for awhile. I'm so happy to be slicing again! A streak of writing is just what my brain needs! A streak of connection and reflection... I also need a running streak. . . Maybe April! Thanks Ruth Ayres for this wonderful link up!
March comes in like a lion. AGAIN!It’s March. March! I sit at my dining room table watching snow fall. I am trite and boring: Last March seems like a decade ago, but also yesterday. Time flies. You can’t go back in time. The years are short but the days are long. Was it really a year ago that I did the slice challenge? March better leave like a lamb. I’m tired of snow. Was March always like this? It must be. I checked my own blog. I found this. So, Yes.
I’m worried this month, that my second March Slice a day challenge will be tougher than last year. I’m worried I have nothing new to say, that I will accidentally rewrite things I’ve already written. I’m trying to rein in my expectations. Is this your first time with the March challenge? What do you expect?
I expect blank screens, I expect to hit delete try new formats enjoy the poetry of words I will google words I should know to make sure I'm spelling them right using them right and basically not sounding like an idiot. I will sometimes bore myself: select all, delete. I will make typos, I will go back and edit -- From my phone Which will be annoying. I will think about slices all day, I will be closely reading my day and weeding for appropriate meaningful tiny tales to tell. I will submit way too many slices at 11:57 pm, and just a few in the middle of the day. Hurray! (in advance for those successful days) I will get excited to see comments, and I will reply. I will read other bloggers' slices and be inspired, and more often than I care to admit, I will be jealous of their articulation. I will annoy you, I'm sure with my line breaks and, my commas (and my dogmas) I expect I will grow as a writer I will be fired up about the connections The new blogs The routine The slices all around.
Happy March, Slicers!
Part of Slice of Life by Two Writing Teachers. Head over there for information and links to more Slicing!
Last weekend was the Karate test. Both of my “big kids” were up for their second yellow stripe. My husband, my 4 year old and I sat squished among all the other parents watching the test. At first I was mostly just nervous for my kids, hoping they didn’t mess up…wondering what would happen if one of them passed the test and the other didn’t. I reminded myself that the class was testing because their teacher thought they were ready to test.
Then I started noticing the slices of assessment…
Before the test, I saw the Karate Teacher, Master Y kneel next to the group of students and give what I’ll call “The Mistakes Talk.” He told them, “You’ll make mistakes. That’s okay. That’s how you learn. Nobody’s going to fail the test because they make mistakes. Try not to make the same mistake over and over again. The judges will take notes so you can learn from today.” Even though it was a test, they knew it was okay if they made mistakes, and that they should continue to learn.
As the students tested, Master Y gave them reminders about their forms that were direct and to the point. Just because it was a test, their teacher was not silent. “K’ihaps can be stronger.” He reminded them.
Master Y told his students what was next. Before he called out directions, he said, “I’ll call them in order so you won’t be confused.” Just because it was a test, it didn’t need to be tricky. In fact, as some of the students were testing for their yellow belt, Master Y told the watching yellow stripe students, “What you see is what you’ll be doing in your next test –something to aspire to.”
Each student had a judge watching them. Black belts watched as these beginning karate students worked their way through forms and then sparred with them. A person to evaluate each student, give each student personalized advice! After the first sparring round, Master Y asked the black belts to tell the students a number to redo. They had a chance to redo something they hadn’t done as well on in the first place!
At the end of the test, the judges and Master Y went to the back room. As he left, he addressed the students: “I’m going back to discuss what I saw. Sit quietly and think about how you did today and what you saw. And think if it inspired you at all.
It inspired me. I have been thinking about what elements of this kind of assessment I have or can have in my classroom. I don’t teach karate, and I’m certainly not in charge of the capital A Assessments that my students have to take… but what lessons can I learn about testing? Rolling around in my head are thoughts of individualized assessment, conferring, the power of mistake making, helping students with their confidence, choosing specific goals with students, giving students the chance to redo when possible…
I’d love to hear from you, reader. What lessons can you learn from what I noticed at Karate. Or, what assessment lessons have you recently learned?
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erratic thoughts too loud for lines
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Celebrating the Randomness of Life
On a Thought 