SOL #18 By George, I Think She's Got It

Today some of my writers were working on #DWHabit, some were working on research for a project and some were working on their independent writing.  I sat with Lillian today and we looked through her quick writes.  I noted that she wrote some really nice summaries of some nice moments that could become stories.  I referred to the post by Beth Moore to help me help Lillian figure out what her next steps were.  Lillian decided that she would like to add more dialogue and inner monologue after she looked at some of my posts.  After she read my Follow that Weiner post she said "Oh. I can make the characters talk." We tied her writing back to the reading strategies that we have been studying.  We know that readers learn about characters by what they say and think.  As writers, we need to give our readers that same opportunity. We later shared with the class what she was working on.  When she shared she was using my story Follow That Weiner as her mentor text. Alex said, "That one is my favorite too."   Holy cow!!  I'm a mentor author!!
Other students shared some of their notebooks. After all these years of teaching, I now see the importance of the notebook.  Yes, it is a place for gathering ideas and for writing daily. More importantly, it was something to bring to your writing community.  Students shared their entries but then they needed to tell us what next.  Where did they think this idea could go?  What project do they think they can make?  Classmates offered suggestions about what it needed.  One student is easily able to write clearly, creatively and lengthy notebook entries.  When he shared his entry, the class enjoyed his humor and format.  When we posed the, "What next?" question, he realized that this writing wasn't finished, it was just the beginning.
Being part of this challenge has been such a powerful learning experience for me. I see the power of the notebook, the beauty of writing daily and wonder of a writing community.  Thank you Slice of Life!!!

SOL #17 Thank God I get to Tuck Him in at Night

And I tuck him in
and he snuggles his body to mine
snuggles up close and
I breathe in
I'm home
this is my greatest gift
and my greatest creation
Every time his soft, velvet, silky hands close on mine,
I'm surprised.
one more hug is never enough
I drink my child in and
Thank You God
my greatest gift
my greatest creation.

SOL #16 Because I Said So

 

 I was thinking about some discourse I had about religion.  There were times in my life when I practiced my faith but it wasn't my choice.  My parents dictated that I would go to mass, say my prayers and learn my catechism.  I realize now that if my parents had not made the choice for me that I would not have the ability to choose to practice today.  By not letting children have a choice, we give them the opportunity to choose later on in life.
      When it comes to the music program that our children are so lucky to have, I tell them they do not have a choice. I say we do not give them the choice to not learn math. We would not take seriously if a child said, "I don't want to learn to read and write." I don't understand why some adults comply when children want to quit the band or orchestra. I get that you know your child will not probably make a living as a musician.  However, I will remind everyone, I do not make my living figuring chemistry formulas. If we let them not take an instrument now we take away their choice later to enjoy playing or having the ability to choose a musical path.
     I've always been an educator that has given the children choices in learning.  The children choose what books to read.  They choose what they want to write.  They choose their own research projects.  I now see the value in retaining the choice from students.  Sometimes we need to remember that we are the adults and we do know what is best.  We are not letting them choose now so they can choose later.
   

SOL #15 A Slice of Lent

In preparing for my son's first Holy Communion and guiding his classmates as their teacher, I have been more conscious of Lent.  I learned about St Ignatius's examining conscience prayer.  It is similar to the prayers that my boys and I say at night.  We think about the best part of our day and then we thank God for that good part of our day.  

This week's news about airplanes crashing and then yesterday's mass murder in New Zealand hit too close to my heart. My parents came home on Monday from Australia and New Zealand.  I thanked God for my parents to be home safe.  I thanked God that I don't have to worry.  

Part of the prayer is to reflect on my shortcomings.  I didn't pray for the lives lost.  I didn't think of the families broken.  I thought of me and my family.  God, bring me closer to your grace.

SOL #14 The Evil Witch

Once upon a time, in an old craggy house on a cold and windy mountain, there lived an evil, ugly witch named Mommy.  All the children in the land were terrified of her.  "Oh no!" the little children cried. "It is the mean witch Mommy.  She will make us put pajamas on before we can eat our fresh, baked cookies."  The children ran and hid, tears streaming down their cute, adorable, little cheeks. One brave, little tike called over his shoulder. "You are the worst! You make us wear pajamas all the time!"
"Hee Hee Hee Hee" cackled the mean, old witch Mommy. She rubbed her hands together and crowed, "You can run but you can't hide from me, little boy" I will find you and you will put on pajamas!!"
She flew towards the boy and grabbed him by his teeny but stinky toes!!  "There is no use fighting little boy! Soon you will find yourself cloaked in pajamas and eating fresh, baked cookies."
The little boy fought with all his might. He kicked. He wriggled. He screamed. Alas, it was all for naught for soon the boy was in fact robed in fuzzy fleece.  Sniffling, all the boy's dreams were shattered.  The other village children looked at him with mournful eyes.  They did not want to fall into the evil, witch Mommy's clutches.
Every night since, as they gather around their fresh, baked cookies, the village children all tell the story of the boy who lost to the witch.

SOL #13 Refresh.... Click...

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2 likes still 2 likes.  Lets see what else is going on.  Weird puppy meme, another bad singing video, her new haircut.  40 likes? Ten hearts in comments?
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Still 2 likes.
I knew mom shouldn't have posted it.  Nobody cares that my poem got chosen for the magazine. At least I'm not the one posting my stupid haircut.  "OMG!!  YOU LOOK FANTASTIC!!!" 43 likes?!
It looks exactly the same as yesterday.
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oh 3 likes and a new comment.
Oh Jeez.  Grandma! 
"That's my baby girl! I knew my little bookworm would become famous someday!"
Hardly famous, Grandma.  Just 3 likes and Grandmas don't count.
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I guess it was kind of a big deal that my poem was chosen for the high school magazine.  I don't think too many middle schoolers get chosen.
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Oh good. Another kissy emoji for DuckFace's stupid haircut.
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SOL #12 A Moment in the Grey

"Huh? What?"
She got caught again in her own world.  She was happier there.  She felt like a cartoon character caught by the back of her collar and whooshed back into this other grey dimension.
She was in a greener place, splashed with movement and color.
Now she was back in the cold and boring, answering a question that she answered in her head at least twenty minutes ago.  Why should she stay here to wait for the pretty Dum Dums? Sure she could have answered the question and gotten the kind smile from the teacher. But all she got was the pursed lips scolding her for not paying attention.  How did Old Mrs Frog Face get the lipstick inside the wrinkles on her lips?
She crunched up her paper and put her head down.  Why even bother showing that she had gotten the answer forever ago?  Frog Face was only interested in slow brained, pretty girls that followed her every single direction.