#sol16 March 30 Find your tribe: A slice

March 30, 2016Family, Reflections on teaching, Slice of Lifeonathought

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 teacher is sincere and she loves my son. “He’ll be fine when he finds his tribe,” she said matter-of-factly at a parent-teacher conference in the fall. I’ve been thinking about that comment ever since. I want him to find his tribe.

Some of his tribe is in this old commercial.

Some of his tribe can be found in picture books biographies about people who were different and made a difference. Albert Einstein in Odd Boy Out by Don Brown is a great example.

Today I read The Inventor’s Secret: What Thomas Edison Told Henry Ford by Suzanne Slade and I can’t wait to read it to my own kids. I’m especially looking forward to sharing it with my son the inventor, who just this morning was mixing vinegar and baking soda on the hallway rug.

In this story, you meet Thomas Edison and Henry Ford as children. They are both curious. They both got in trouble. They both found each other, and others in their “tribe.” They both made a difference.

Image 3.jpg Image 2.jpg

Later in the story, Henry Ford is jealous of Thomas Edison’s success. He wants to know his secret. Finally he finds it out: “Keep at it.” Growth mindset anyone?

The other day, my son had his feelings hurt by people he considers friends at school. It was mean. It will probably forever stay with him and shake his confidence with friendships and kindness. I want to tell you the story, but it’s his slice not mine. So instead I will read him stories, and find ways to support his crazy ideas. I will try to help him keep at it, discover his way, and find his “tribe.”

#sol16 March 29: Confession Slices

March 29, 2016Family, poetry, Slice of Lifeonathought

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!

Confession Slices

This morning I rushed around, shouted that I was late 
and then stopped for coffee
at my favorite place.

I hid my kids' Easter baskets in the trunk of my car
but my candy is in the cabinet
easy to reach.

Actually, the jelly beans are right here
on my desk,
very easy to reach.

I haven't finished a book in weeks
but I have started plenty
and there are books everywhere.

If I could, I'd wake up my daughter right now
and watch Gilmore girls
for a couple of hours.

I kind of miss playing King's Quest
on my old IBM
from when I was 8.

I helped my kids burn leaves
on the driveway today,
and tried to make a real fire.

I don't think this is a real slice
but I'm writing it anyway,
because it's all I have.

#sol16 March 28 The Slice you Didn’t Write

March 28, 2016poetry, Slice of Lifeonathought

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 Slice You Didn't Write

I'm the slice you didn't write
The moment you 
didn't 
see

You couldn't take me in

I'm one you'll 
never 
perceive

You skipped 
right 
by me

I'm the slice you didn't notice
I'm the story that doesn't belong to you
I'm the one you can't remember 
I'm the slice you missed 
I'm the slice you didn't write

#sol16 March 27 A slice of Easter

March 27, 2016Family, Slice of Lifeonathought

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!

Happy Easter, friends
on this chilly Easter Day
your baskets are pretty, but 
the sky is too grey

Why did the bunny 
bring all that is sweet?
chocolate, peanut butter 
so much junk to eat

I thought bunnies ate carrots
and all sorts of greens
a salad sounds great, so
why, sir, all these jelly beans?

My kids asked if I helped the bunny
I've been accused of being a rabbit!
but that's crazy talk because I know 
sugar is a super bad habit

If I were in charge of these baskets
they wouldn't be full of junk food
all the yum, all the fun isn't worth
everyone's foul sugar-crash mood

We keep eating sugar,
and I'm not to be blamed
if you see that crazy rabbit,
tell him I won't be framed!

But, if you are looking for me
I'll be making lasagne and roasted veggies
while my kids run, shout, laugh, cry and
even probably give each other wedgies 

Happy Easter dear friends
I hope your day is sweet
time to put down that basket
and have something green to eat!

#sol16 March 26 A slice of Witch

March 26, 2016Family, Slice of Lifeonathought

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!

#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 24 A slice of a bad week

March 24, 2016Family, Pets, Slice of Lifeonathought

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!

*Photographs of my cat by Sabine Carey. Pictures created using the app: SUPER,

*Photographs of my cat by Sabine Carey. Pictures created using the app: SUPER

#sol16 March 23 Tell me something good: A slice

March 23, 2016Family, Pets, poetry, Slice of Lifeonathought

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 sure there's a poet's way
to write when your cat is dying 
as the children head to school
and your daughter texts you:
"Mommy help us"

There must be a metaphor for 
when you're too late 
he's already dead 
and your son begs you to say 
"passed on" instead 

I wish I could speak in allegory
when my daughter lies in bed 
and says,
"Tell me something good, mama. 
I need to hear something good." 

The words keep repeating
a mantra
a poem
Tell me something good, mama I need to hear something good
Tell me something good, mama I need to hear something good

#sol16 March 22 A slice of that day

March 22, 2016Family, poetry, Slice of Lifeonathought

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!

that day
that day when your son is sick
sent home
seems like strep again
dr. says watch and wait

that day 
that day when you ask the 
dr. to imagine he weren't a dr.
I hate that rapid strep test
you might have yelled a little bit

that day
that day when you realize you 
have been giving your son the wrong
antibiotic dose
for 3 weeks

that day
that day when you call your mom to tell her 
your horrible mistake
so that she will tell you
it's not big deal, it will be okay

that day
that day when you tell your mom the whole 
stupid antibiotic story
and she is so nice before she says
Do you know where I am?

that day
that day when your mom is at the emergency room
with your grandpa 
being a daughter, and a mom
and you wait to make sure he's okay

that day
that day when feel your own throat 
getting sore
so you eat raw garlic, waiting  
to hear from your mom

#sol16 March 21 A Slice of Synthesis

March 21, 2016Family, Reflections on coaching, Reflections on teaching, Slice of Lifeonathought

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!

On my way to school my mind was spinning with all of the inspiration from The Saturday Reunion. I was trying to synthesize it all. I was thinking about love and acceptance of my kids, both at school and home. Andrew Solomon’s words resonated with me as soon as he spoke, and then last night we read Michael Hall’s Red.

Have you read this? I hope you have, and if you haven’t – go buy it now. Then buy a copy for every parent and teacher you know. Or, I guess you could lend your copy out… but wouldn’t it be fun to just start handing out this book about love and acceptance and being your true self? Give it to everyone you know who works with children…

Thinking about Red led me to think about Lucy Calkins quoting Maya Angelou.

Which of course made me remember the rest of Lucy’s talk,which is only partially represented in my notes:

I started dreaming of the traditions I can start when I go back to the classroom next year. I reflected on my beliefs about reading and writing and how school needs to be an authentic place for challenge and for joy.

As I walked into school, I smiled dreaming up the toolkits I can make, a la Kate Roberts. I was brainstorming skills, strategies and processes that I can pull together, using the structure that both she and Cornelius Minor demonstrated on Saturday. Cornelius reminded us that teachers have tenacity and we need to take what we do invisibly as readers and make it visible for students. Kate showed us tangible ways to do that with purposeful, practical tools.

I made my way to my office thinking about Carl Anderson’s message that assessment means to “sit beside.”

Then BOOM. On a nearby door, I’m hit with another message:

Oh, Pennsylvania Department of Education… Please go to a Saturday Reunion. Listen to Lucy. Help teachers “build worlds in their classrooms,” where students can find their power as readers, writers and learners. Lead teachers “not with mandating, but with influence – bring out the great talents of your people!”

I know it’s just a little yellow sign. But it made me wonder if there is an emergency TCRWP hotline. Kate Roberts? Cornelius Minor? The departments of education in this country could use a little shaking up. I’m not afraid of working hard, and I expect my students to do the same. “There’s no easy in being an effective teacher.” Kate said it. I agree.

So, tonight as H drew a superman sketch, E practiced drawing cubes and Mr. Thought challenged L to draw different emotions, I started taking some more notes on my Saturday Reunion learning.

I know I’ll learn more as I synthesize, and I also know that I’ll never ever get the markers back in order. That’s okay. Learning is messy.

Then before bed, E read me Little Quack. As I listened, I realized Mama Duck has been to the Saturday Reunion. She loves and accepts all of her children. She is in the water with them. She knows her ducklings, and her content. She breaks down the skill and encourages them to jump in, to just start. She even has a mini lesson. (Look closely, and you’ll find some math too.)

I decided that this was the perfect way to synthesize my day, because a book and a bedtime snuggle might be the best tradition of all.