Slice 2012 A Big Win

This morning, like I do every morning when I first get up, I checked my email.  While checking, I found that Stacey at Two Writing Teachers had posted the winners of the prizes for the Fifth Annual Slice of Life Story Challenge.  I anxiously clicked on the link to read more.  I enjoyed reading through how she chose the winners and then read through how to claim your prize.  As I scrolled down, I was surprised and excited to see my name as the winner of the registration to the Seventh Annual All Write!!! Summer institute.  I attended the conference last year and my district was unable to send me this year.  I had considered paying the fee myself because the conference is, "that good", but had decided against it.  The prize for the Slice 2012 truly was in writing and what I learned every day about myself as a writer, but this prize is the cherry on top.  Thank you again Ruth and Stacey for organizing!  Can't wait for next year!

Slice 2012 An Awkward Moment

I was sitting in the last pew of a beautiful historic, shaker style church at my friend's wedding.  The wedding was over and she and her new husband were dismissing guests from the pews.  The bride and groom dismissing guests is bit less awkward than the dreaded receiving line.  I leaned over and said to my two friends, "I never know what to do in these situations.  I most certainly will give Katie a hug, but what about Rodney?"  I had only met him briefly prior to the wedding.  I didn't feel comfortable hugging him, but a handshake seems so odd.  As they approached, I actually got a bit nervous.  I gave Katie a hug and told her how beautiful she looked.  To my delight, someone came up from behind and started talking to her new husband, so the entire "awkward moment" was avoided. --Thank goodness!

Slice of Life #31

For Slice #31, I'm going to sum up some things I have learned:

• Keep writing, even when you don't want to.
• Positive feedback is important for motivation.
• It is easier to write about what you know (school and my kids).
• Planning and thinking makes writing easier and better.
• Being part of a "group" helps motivation.
• I need to continue working on my writing.
• Don't be afraid to try something new and take a few risks along the way.
• It takes lots of practice.
• I'm not the best, but I AM A WRITER!

Slice of Life #30

Back on March 1st, I wasn't sure I would make it.  Here I am a day away from the finish line.  I have mixed emotions about the Slice 2012 ending.  I'm excited, saddened and appreciative.  I'm also so glad that I participated and continued throughout the entire journey.  I have learned some valuable lessons about myself as a writer (which will be my final Slice) that I can transfer to help my students in the classroom.  I'm amazed that I am surrounded by some awesome educators and writers.  Finally, I appreciate Ruth and Stacey at Two Writing Teachers for organizing this event.  I'm so glad I felt the nudge from Ruth at the Dublin Literacy Conference to join in.  Finally, thank you to everyone for reading my less than interesting posts, commenting and encouraging me to keep going! 

Slice of Life #27

A Few Wonders I have Tonight....

I wonder how many people fly on an airplane in one day?
I wonder how many hours of t.v. are watched in the U.S. each day?
I wonder how many animals are out there that haven't been identified yet?
I wonder why children who are very blonde as children end up with darker hair as they grow older?
I wonder why student behaviors get worse the closer you get to a break?

Slice of Life #25

Things I'm Looking Forward to Over my Spring Break:

• Sleeping in
• Finishing my final Capstone for my Masters
• Taking and picking up my own two children from school
• Visiting with friends
• Finishing the book I started over Christmas break
• Catching up on some much needed house cleaning
• Having some free time
• Exercising every day
• Shopping

Slice of Life #24

We went to see the long awaited Hunger Games today as a family.  The only family member that read the book was my daughter.  She told me last night she was more excited for today than she was the night before we left for Disney in January.  I guess she really enjoyed the book!
I didn't read the book because it just never seemed to interest me.  I was repeatedly told by many people that I would enjoy it, but the topic just didn't seem to appeal to me.  After seeing the movie, I think I will be reading the next two in the series.  I am a bit disappointed that I didn't listen to others who told me I should read it.  I wish I had....  The movie was excellent, but being an avid reader I know I would have enjoyed the book more.

Slice of Life #23

Another Real Life Writing Lesson Learned from Slice 2012

I've learned that writing every day sounds much easier than it really is.  I wonder, is this how my students feel some days?  After all, I expect them to write for about 20-30 minutes almost everyday.  Could I really sit and write for that long everyday?  After completing 2/3 of the Slice, I'm not sure if I could.  I have a new found perspective on how some of my students must feel.  The importance of talking, planning and thinking about writing have been confirmed through this experience.  Throughout my writing, I've wished that I had a colleague to talk through what I am writing.  In addition, some of my best Slices have come from taking the time to plan and think before writing.  I'm not sure how I can imbed this time naturally into my second grade class room, but look forward to figuring out how to give my students the needed time to talk, plan and think before they begin their writing.  

Slice of Life #22

The conversation on the car ride home from my kids' voice and guitar lessons:

Ben:  Hey Betsy, why don't you get your ears pierced?
Betsy:  Why don't you get your ears pierced?
Ben:  Because it would look unprofessional when I grow up and want to get a job.
Ben: So, why won't you get your ears pierced?
Betsy:  Because I don't want needles putting holes in my ears.  Would you want needles poking holes in your ears?
Ben:  It isn't that big of a deal.
Betsy:  So, you don't think getting a needle stuck in you is a big deal?
Ben:  No!
Betsy:  Then why don't you take a needle and put a hole in your finger.

Betsy refuses to get her ears pierced.  When she was five and I suggested we get her ears pierced for her birthday, she refused and said she would do it on her next birthday.  Five years later, her ears are still not pierced and she has no plans on getting them pierced.  Everyone has tried to convince her to do so, but she refuses!  I've learned there is no convincing Betsy to do something she has her mind set against.  One day she may be ready!

Slice of Life #20

Our Scholastic Book Fair is this week and one of the books on the "adult" table is Save Me by Lisa Scottoline.  I can't remember when I read this book, but it has stuck with me.  

The book is about a mom who is volunteering in the cafeteria to keep an eye on her daughter who is being bullied.  After an explosion, the mom is faced with a choice, either save her own daughter or other children.   She is also faced with the consequences of her decision.  Every once in awhile, during cafeteria duty, my mind will wander back to this book.  I vision the cafeteria in the book being much like the one at my school.

This would be a great spring break or summer read!

Slice of Life #19

The excitement is building for me.  I've organized a Wonder Literacy Night at my school and tomorrow is the night.  I wonder.....  Will it be well attended?  Will parents feel the time was well spent?  Is the copier going to work tomorrow to copy everything (it has been broken down 5 of the last 7 days)?  Will teachers be glad they participated?  Did I forget to do something?  I'm sure these are the thoughts that will keep me up well past the time I should be and the thoughts that will wake me well before I need to be up.
I'm also looking forward to tomorrow night.  It's always fun watching parents interact at school events with their children.  I'm always amazed at the learning that goes on by both parents and children when they engage together.
Can't wait to share how it goes tomorrow night!

Slice of Life #18

Today was a beautiful spring day.  We did some of our favorite family spring activities, a long bike ride and grilling out.  While I was riding my bike, I found myself thinking about how I could describe the adventure through words.  I looked at the sky and thought of how I could describe it through words.  While grilling the steak tonight, I thought about how I could describe the scene through words. 

My bike glides over the pavement

The wind blowing in my hair

I love the feeling of flying down a hill

and hate the sweat that streams down my forehead

as I pump up the hill.

Slice of Life #17

Today I turned in my first paper in my last class for my Master's Degree.  The class is titled, The Reading and Writing Connection.  As part of the class I am required to read Regie Routman's book, Writing Essentials Raising Expectations and Results While Simplifying Teaching.  I thought I would share a few quotes from the book that have stood out to me so far and made me reflect on my own beliefs and practices in my classroom.  Hopefully they may make you think too.

"The question we need to be asking is, how can I teach writing so that all students become effective and joyful writers and communicators? not, what does the writing program look like? or what skills should I be teaching? Teaching the skills is crucial, certainly, but those skills need to be taught because the writer needs them to convey a message, not because they are on a checklist or in a prescribed "scope and sequence" program" (p. 12).

"All students, especially those who begin school with limited literacy skills, need to think of themselves as readers and writers, see the processes as meaningful, and have positive attitudes about literacy before they can successfully engage in literacy practices" (p. 34).

"If you're reading everything your students write, they're not writing enough.  Expect more.  Kids become writers by writing every day, not by completing exercises about writing.  Students who are excellent writers write a lot" (p. 65)

Slice of Life #16

Tonight as I watched the national news I saw there was another early outbreak of tornados in Michigan.  On March 2nd of this year, there was a record breaking outbreak that affected many states.  I was reminded of  the Youtube video below that I saw shortly after the tornados.  I can't imagine living through such a horrible act of nature and I hope I never have to find out.  My heart goes out to the people in Michigan and all those affected on March 2nd.

Slice of Life #15

Today my husband got word that a close friend of his passed away.  It makes me reflect on all that I have to be thankful for....

My husband
My children
My mom and dad
My sister and brothers
My friends
My do
My class
My colleagues
My job
My house
My health
My computer

Slice of Life #14

Today on my way home, I called my sister.  We both teach 2nd grade.  This is her 1st year back in the classroom after being a title reading teacher.  We spend many Saturday mornings talking about what we can do to improve our teaching and student learning.  Furthermore, I can thank her for my Twitter addiction.  While we were talking, she was shared about reading teacher blogs and how inferior she feels as a teacher because so many teachers are doing so many great things in their classrooms.  After I assured her she does some amazing things in her classroom, I told her how I can relate to how she feels by doing Slice of Life this year.  I feel so inferior as a writer when reading some of the amazing writing on different Slicer blogs.  I have realized that I am NOT a very good writer.  I'm noticing that I do some of the things that I try to curb my students from doing, like telling the entire story without focusing in on a small portion or that I'm really good at telling in my writing, but not showing through the words.  I also shared how doing the Slice has made me want to focus on my own writing in order to help me become a better teacher of writing.  I'm looking forward to keeping my own writer's notebook this year, collecting ideas, writing down possible words that could make my writing more interesting and simply just writing!

Slice of Life #13

Early Spring Eve

Blue sky

Birds chirping

Children playing

Sun setting

Windows open

Cooling off

Early spring eve.

Slice of Life #12

This is not the Slice that I had planned to write.  I had a bad day today.  It started by being awoken by my alarm clock and went downhill from there.  I usually wake before the alarm clock goes off and savor the fifteen or twenty minutes I have to lay in bed and think about the day ahead.  Not this morning though....

After a not so good day, I read How Happy Are YOU? by Pat Johnson at Catching Readers Before They Fall.  I encourage you to take the time to read the post.  I categorize myself mostly in her second type of teacher, "these teachers have a hard time leaving the job at the door."  On my drive home tonight I thought about trying to balance my life and what I need to do in order to make that balance happen.

Then after dinner I sat down to write my post.  As I signed on to my blogger dashboard, I noticed the two most recent postings by bloggers I follow.  The first was by Maria Caplin at Teaching in the 21st Century, titled Slice of Life-Putting One Foot Forward.  From the beginning I could related to Maria's day.  She started with, "Some days are harder than others.  I'm not writing anything that is a big news flash.  But today seemed harder than most."  I felt like she was saying what I was thinking and I could really related to what she was saying.

The second blog, just below Maria's post was by Laura Komos at Our Camp Read-A-Lot.  Ironically titled, Optimism - Slice of Life #12.  I immediately had to read this because I needed some optimism in my life tonight.  Her post is about a four-time iditarod champ who is struggling to finish the race, but remains extremely positive and optimistic--just what I needed to read after a crappy day.  Thank you Laura for reminding me to stay positive.  I also related to her post because at this time of year I am feeling like the race is almost over (the school year) and I question how I will finish.  Have I done enough for my students to help them win?

Thank you Pat, Maria and Laura for helping me look for the happiness, knowing I'm not alone in my bad day and for helping me to look positively and optimistically at tomorrow and as I finish the race!

Slice of Life #11

On my Slice Friday, I made a topic list to think of things that can write about in the future.  One of the things on my topic list was about my daughter breaking her collar bone.  Betsy from Teaching Young Writers commented on my post about being a "Betsy" and breaking her collar bone.  She said she would love to hear the story, so thanks to Betsy's encouragement I am writing about my daughter's experience tonight.

My daughter Betsy has broken her left collar bone not once, but twice.  The first time she was four.  The second time she was seven.

My husband had just left to pick up my new car, the date was March 31, 2006.  It was a beautiful spring day and we had spent the day new car shopping.  I was excited to be ridding myself of a car I didn't like and getting something more family friendly.  I decided to stay home with the kids while my husband went to pick it up.  I was in the basement on my computer when I heard a big thud proceeded by a loud screaming.  It was the kind of scream that you know instantly something is wrong.  I few up the stairs to find my daughter laying on the floor holding her shoulder.  Betsy's crying was inconsolable.  I knew immediately that our first emergency room visit was in order.  Betsy had been doing front rolls off the couch onto the floor for a couple of days.  That night she decided to try a flip.  Fortunately she didn't land on her head, but instead her shoulder took the brunt of the impact, breaking her collar bone.

Almost three years later in March of 2009, Ben and Betsy were play wrestling in our great room.  My husband and I were watching something on t.v.  The fun they were having was making lots of noise and after awhile the noise got to be too much.  My husband told them if they wanted to keep playing to go upstairs.  They were only gone for a few minutes when once again, we heard a thud followed by a scream.  The screaming wasn't as bad as the first time she broke her collar bone.  When Betsy came downstairs with a wash cloth on her shoulder and that undeniable hanging arm and sloping shoulder, I knew it was broken.  Before our second emergency room visit, I made a horrible mistake.  I suggested Betsy raise her arm just to see if she could.  The sound her collar bone made is enough to make me nauseous still today.  That rates as one of my finer "mom" moments!

Slice of Life #10

How I Named my Children 

One of the hardest things before my children were born was giving them a name.  I think the decision was more complicated because of being a teacher.  As a teacher there are so many names that you just "can't" possibly name a child, even if you loved the name before.  If you're a teacher, you know what I mean.

My oldest child is Benjamin "Ben" Woodrow.  We considered names like Forrest, Bradley and Jeffrey, but finally decided on two Benjamin and Gavin.  Woodrow was always going to be the middle name because of my husband's grandfather.  We thought since we had narrowed it down to two names we would wait until our son was born to name him.  I thought he would magically enter the world and immediately look like a "Ben" or a "Gavin".  It didn't quite work that way.  After almost 27 hours of labor and a c-section, I was too tired to even consider which name our new baby looked more like.  The next day, every time a nurse would enter the room, they would ask, "pick a name yet?"  This added to the pressure to pick the "right name".   Day one came and went and I still couldn't decide.  At the end of day two, I was really starting to feel the pressure from everyone to just pick one and go with it.  I'm not really sure why I finally settled on Benjamin, but I did.  I can't imagine him being any other name now!

My daughter is Elizabeth "Betsy" Mary.  I knew from the get go that we only wanted one name picked when entering the hospital, so we could avoid what happened the first time.  I've always liked the name Sarah and would have been happy with Sarah Elizabeth, but I made the mistake of looking at the most popular names and it was higher on the list than Elizabeth, so I couldn't go with that.  I like the name Mary and would have been happy with a Mary Katharine or Mary Elizabeth, but my husband felt those both sounded too catholic.  I also wanted to use Mary because my mom is Susan Mary, my sister is Mary Beth and my mother in-law is Mari Lou.  We finally agreed on Elizabeth Mary.  Unfortunately, I have two cousins with girls named Elizabeth, so I felt I needed to come up with something a bit different to call her.  I've known two people in my life named "Betsy" and adored them both.  I also loved the ring that Ben and Betsy had together.  The name Betsy really fits my daughter's personality and I think it couldn't be more perfect for her!