Category Archives: Uncategorized

A slice of complaining

October 18, 2016Family, Uncategorizedonathought

Part of Slice of Life by Two Writing Teachers.

There's a lot to celebrate - that's true
pumpkin spice, red leaves fall, sweater weather - 
just to name a few.

But the air is still -- slightly sticky.
I'm feeling annoyed and more than 
a little bit picky. 

My complaints vary -- and that's the truth
From the bear in my neighborhood
to the mistreatment of youth.

I can't keep quiet, for instance
about a certain adult who 
can't see my child's brilliance.

She tells him his art is a mistake
And he gets sent out of the room
if he speaks up to that flake.

I know I'm sounding brutal
but my kindness -- thus far
it just seems so futile. 

So I'm done being nice -- for now
I need to speak up
and get my points across somehow.

And there are more complaints to be spoken 
About grading, and time, and ---
Listen, I'm rhyming not joking.

I know my next complaint -- it isn't proper
It deals with Data, and how 
we need to put in the stopper!

"Too much data!" -- I want to scream
Let's stop the madness and wake up
from this rigorous dream. 

The children in my classroom aren't data points for you
Their each and every word and action
aren't plots or lines or graphs to do.

Please let them be - let them read!
Let them write, and make mistakes too, 
work and play is what they need!

Now, of course I know - I hope you understand
That there are things I have to do 
things the state has planned.

And obviously I must be sure to mention
That assessments help me check in with kids
and give the proper things attention. 

But data for data, is a pet peeve of mine
If it isn't friendly and useful then,
It was a waste of our time.

Worst complaint of all? --I can't finish this piece
I'm complaining too slowly 
because I keep falling asleep.

I think it's because I'm busy, you see
Teaching, parenting, parenting, teaching
leaves little time for sleeping for me.

I hear your thoughts, dear reader of mine
Maybe she should shush down, go to sleep 
and then all will be fine. 

Fine. 
Goodnight.

Slices of the second day of school.

August 31, 2016Family, Slice of Life, Uncategorizedonathought

Part of Slice of Life by Two Writing Teachers.

I’m glad Slice of Life is on Tuesdays. I’m glad my school year started yesterday, not on a Tuesday . . . I wouldn’t have wanted to write a slice of life yesterday. It would have gone something like this:

Can’t sleep, wake up, tired. Coffee. Coffee. Coffee. Greet kids, help with lockers, answer a million questions with “I’m not sure. I’ll try to find out.” Over-planned, no time, focus on community. Talk at kids, bore myself. Comfort the overwhelmed, read aloud. Expectations, presentations, rules, rules, rules. Meeting, walk, walk, walk…”

But today I have slices. Slices that remind me why I love teaching.

I asked this question:

Got great answers:

Let me zoom in on one my favorite questions.

Version 2

Later. . .

We had student council elections where the following campaign occurred:

Student A: Vote for me. I’m going to make this classroom great again!

Student B: Hey! This classroom is already great!

During reading my classroom library lit up with students taking books, and it made my heart fill. A group of girls came over to me to ask, “Can we take out more than one book? We have books but we want to read this as a book club.”

Then in writing we did some quick 6 word memoirs, and that’s when I truly remembered how much I love my job.

I needed those 6 word memoirs…

Tomorrow’s To do list:

Finish learning everyone’s name
Read
Write

Start slow. Take breaths. Work hard.

Celebrating Mistakes

August 28, 2016Celebrate, Uncategorizedonathought


So happy to Celebrate with Ruth Ayres this weekend! 

I've taught 6th grade more than a dozen times before
I just did the fuzzy math, subtracting 
maternity leaves
coaching leave
and my year in second grade 
That's over 500 kids
And thousands of mistakes

Like when I forced kids (well, their parents)
to make a model of a boat for homework
A boat.
For homework.  

And all the times I took away recess when kids needed
you know, 
a break. 
Recess.
When kids needed a break. 

I used to make all the kids
read the same books
and answer comprehension questions
to prove they read the assignment
and write vocabulary sentences
that let them pretend they were learning vocabulary. 
To prove
and pretend. 

So. 
Many.
Mistakes.

I have to celebrate these mistakes, 
because I have learned so much
in this lucky lucky job
that starts over every August. 

I have to celebrate these mistakes, 
because when I made them 
I was doing the best I could
at the time. 

I have to celebrate these mistakes, 
because now I know better
which means now I'm doing the best I can
at the time. 

Which logically means
I'm making more mistakes
to learn from.

#sol16 March 25 A Slice, A sliver.

March 25, 2016Family, Slice of Life, Uncategorizedonathought

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 been looking for my slice all day. I’ve had a lot of slivers.

I set up to journal this morning while everyone was still asleep, only to be called upstairs to help with some coin counting with E.

I did errands (by myself!) while my kids were at school. I met my parents for coffee!

I booked a last minute appointment at a salt spa for the first time. I rested in the salt room, did a detox foot soak, and bought some vegan body lotion. Then heading to walmart for a quick errand and thinking: how different can you get? Salt spa and Walmart…

I snuggled in with the kids for a night of down time and netflix.

I watched as H got bored with the down time, and made his own up-time science experiments. We went outside to see a vinegar explosion.

Then later there was the mess of a hole in a water bottle as H swung it around.

[Insert favorite parent strategies here.]

Hearing H say. “I just don’t think I’m getting enough attention!”

Thanks for using your words, buddy.

All day I looked for slices, and I found slivers.

#sol16 March 19 A Slice of Who knows?

March 19, 2016Uncategorizedonathought

Slice of LIfe
Woke up in NYC with a few friends.
We have our 1st choices mapped out for a day of learning – but if the last time I went is any indication, we are in for some pleasant surprises. I have a memory of running up 5 flights of steps, only to find a session full with the door closed. So we made a quick change, and that’s how we ended up seeing Cornelius Minor. What a stroke of luck!
Who knows what the day will hold! A million slices of learning. I can’t wait!

#sol16 March 10 A Slice of a Sick Day

March 10, 2016Family, Slice of Life, Uncategorizedonathought

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!

Sick Days

Sick Days when I was a kid
Mom took care of me
I rested on the couch, on my bed
I read books
Watched TV
The Price is Right
Little House on the Prairie. 
I slept off and on
My mom brought me water and saltines
I watched People's Court
Read another book
Went to bed 

Sick Days now
I am awakened at 6:30 
head downstairs
I fill the dishwasher
Wash pots and pans
Clean the stove
Wipe down the fridge 
Clear and clean the counters
Step over legos
Mediate bickering
Go to Target for essentials
Stop at Trader Joes 
Come home to more dishes
Sit for a minute, open a book
Console a crying 6 year old
Go outside on this blustery, grey windy day
Listen to children make a fort
Wait for after bedtime
to rest, to sleep

#sol16 March 5 A slice of sleep

March 5, 2016Uncategorizedonathought

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!

We were going to watch a movie,
"after the kids fall asleep"
You know how that goes, 
well, all the reasons it doesn't.
A 6 year old's shower isn't "quick"
The Weird School book is pretty funny
The tween finishes just "one more" Fixer Upper on Netflix
But mostly, 3 kids want to snuggle

I know, I know
there will always be movies to watch
but there won't always be
sweet babies to snuggle

I drifted to sleep 
during the third snuggle
Keeping her company
the room, dark
the music, soft

49 hours of PD! Jennifer Serravallo Reflection 1

March 4, 2016Reflections on coaching, Reflections on teaching, Uncategorizedonathought

Jennifer Serravallo asked us, a conference audience of over 400 educators, to think back on our experiences as reading students. As teachers chatted for a minute about their memories, Jennifer walked around, listening in before she brought our conversations together. We laughed as we collectively remembered. There were SRA kits and trying to get to the aqua card.

Who can forget round robin reading when we counted lines so we could practice our part instead of listening to anyone else read? I know there were reading groups in elementary school, but I don’t remember if I was in the red robins, cardinals or blue jays. I was a fluent reader early, and I do remember being bored. I read ahead because I was either just reading at my quicker pace to lessen the boredom, or to make sure there weren’t any tricky words or names that would be stressful to read aloud. (Michael vs. Michelle, for example was a huge stressor for me!) Reading practices have grown since we were in school as students, and looking back feels like a good reflection as we examine our instructional practices.

According to research cited by Jennifer, “When things are challenging (And what could be more challenging than teaching in today’s educational climate?) we are more likely to revert back to how we were taught, than how we were taught to teach.” Take a moment with that idea. I did. (It probably applies to how we parent too!)

Now reflect on Jennifer’s next point: It takes 49 hours of professional development to outgrow your current practice, before you are trying new things that impact students. 49 hours! This number put me in immediate reflection mode: Is there enough time for teachers to learn? What slice of that 49 hours of time have I helped with as a coach?

As a new instructional coach these past several weeks, I have have been immersed in differentiating reader’s workshop professional development for teachers. Teachers choose a selected component to learn about and work on. They may want to learn more about conferring, small strategy groups, assessment or mini lessons, for example. As I plan for sessions centered on reader’s workshop, I spend hours learning more about the components. I read, listen to podcasts, watch example videos, take notes, etc. I know I’ve spent over 49 hours immersed in these workshop topics.

Teachers want varying levels of change — to tweak or to try something completely new. One thing seems consistent with all the teachers I’ve been lucky to work with: They always want to do what’s best for their students and what makes sense to them as teachers. As I spend 2 half days with teachers, along with their other grade level inservice time, I wonder about how quickly we can expect any tweaks or changes to happen. I know when I’m teaching, I often think I should be able to do something new right away — my coach would remind me to chill out when things weren’t working exactly how we envisioned it the first time. We need to be patient, coaches and teachers together. Learning is a journey, right? It’s going to take us at least 49 hours to get where we want to be –so let’s buckle in and enjoy the ride!

I learned so much at the conference with Jennifer Serravallo, and I hope to reflect on many parts of that learning in the days to come. I must have had a great time, as this was my reaction to meeting her. . .

#SOL16 March 3 A slice of right now

March 3, 2016Uncategorizedonathought

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!

Tonight’s post is a form from an inspiration 2 years ago.

Right Now I am. . .

Trying to remember how to slice every day

Thinking about all the now-too-fuzzy snapshots I could have written down

Paying attention more than I’d like to the debates my husband has playing on his phone

Taking too long to write

Drinking tea as it gets cold – but no snacks after dinner…

Deleting almost finished “slices” that were more like information than moments

Looking around at the mess of the week

Deciding not to clean (there’s always tomorrow)

Listening to my wheezing, snoring 6 year old on the old baby monitor

Wondering if I should nebulize him now or right before I go to sleep

Making new tea

Wishing so many wishes for safety and health and peace

#sol16 March 1 Slice

March 1, 2016Uncategorizedonathought

 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! 



Slice!

March 1
Dust off the blog
Find time to write
at lunch
after bedtime
early morning

March
Warn friends and family.
“You might be in a slice.” 
“This is a slice.” 
Jot notes on phone
to remind myself of funny moments
made incomprehensible --
jumbled by autocorrect

March lens 
find focus in
moments 
minutes
feelings
lessons

March on!
Gather ideas
celebrations
poetry
lists

March, every day.
Warm up my brain
When? Why? Where?
find a slice

Every.
Day.

March - Read.
March - Reflect.
March - Write.

March - Slice.