Sunday, March 4, 2012

Slice of Life 2012 #4


Today's Slice of Life entry did not come as easily as the other three have.  I started three different posts this morning, only to delete each one and start completely over.  The first was about a hot air balloon landing in my front yard.  I started that post at least three different times and each time it just didn't seem to flow so they were deleted.  Then I started a post about these t-shirts that I have my students decorate with pictures as one of their first homework assignments.  Nope, didn't like that one either, so it was deleted too.  I then started a post about what makes you feel smart, which is something I asked my students on Friday to reflect on.  Nope, that one didn't make the cut either, so it was deleted.   I was feeling rather frustrated.  The more I thought the harder it was to come up with a "slice" worthy idea. 

I then began thinking of the student who sits and does nothing the entire thirty minutes they have to write or the student who starts a new story each day and never goes back to it.  I also thought about the student who does everything to avoid writing.  You know the one who sharpens her pencil five times.  I could relate to all of these students this morning.  After my struggles this morning I began reflecting about what I can do as a teacher to help students through these times?  What environment to I need to establish in my classroom?  What routines can I establish to help these students?  Tomorrow I will look at these students from a new perspective and try some different strategies to engage and encourage their writing.

10 comments:

  1. You truly captured the hard work of writing here: writing even when you don't want to, even when the ideas are not flowing.

    All of your discarded ideas sound interesting, but I understand the struggle with HOW to get the idea out in a way that conveys just the right essence.

    Glad you sliced even when it was a struggle! Your honesty is appreciated.

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    1. Thank you for your comments. I've learned many writing lessons today that I look forward to sharing with my students.

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  2. Great post. You captured for me why I'm doing this. To make myself experience what my students may be experiencing so I can be a better teacher and help them learn more. I think it's good that we struggle through this some - it will make it more valuable! After each post, I'm trying to reflect upon how I got the idea for the post. How does this effect my teaching? Writing is HARD! You are not alone.

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    1. What a great idea to reflect and think about what I am learning about myself as a writer that I can use in my classroom to help my students learn too. Thanks!

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  3. I'm realizing how this experience will make me more aware of the struggles my students face as they write.

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  4. Writing through your struggle is important. Now you'll have something to talk about with your students about the way you worked through a problem as a writer.

    Glad you settled on something worth publishing. :) Great post.

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    1. I'm excited to share with my students some of my own learning. I also think I might be a bit more understanding with writers who are struggling with getting something down.

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  5. It's true sometimes we have to "muck about" with our writing. I'm the same way. I guess we need to let our students do that too!

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  6. Thank you for your comments. I kept thinking, "I wish I had someone I could talk this over with." I didn't mention this in my post, but my thinking of the importance of dialogue was confirmed today... Maybe that will be another Slice.

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