Stories with Sophie

It was student led conference week, district speech week, and the end of February. Chaos and Craziness reigned. And while I thought I didn't have anything to write about when I opened up my blog this morning (really, I think I was just being lazy. I am really tired this morning), when I look through my Twitter and Facebook feeds, I realized just how great of a week it was, even if I didn't remember it all. I'm changing up Creative Writing a bit this semester because I have a student teacher starting next week (and that is a celebration!  I can't wait to work with her). So this week, we spent playing with words and stories. It's my "Making Writing Fun Again" plan.  It's silly little group writing activities that move my high schoolers to be more creative.   They had a blast! I also graded this little gem of Expressive/Reflective writing this week. A high school senior, ending his wrestling career, wrote this. Modeled after Kobe Bryant's

That "Day After Conferences" hangover. You know you have to get up, leave your pjs at home and get to school. No, you can't have another cup of coffee. Yes, those pieces of writing are still waiting to be graded. No, you can't cancel rehearsals. You have contest on Saturday. You live for Friday, when you know you have a day off. You sit at your computer for one cup of coffee before school and open up Facebook. And there, you find the nicest post just waiting to make your day. Facebook post from a former foreign exchange student And suddenly, you are ready for the day. You can have a second cup of coffee at your desk as you finish those last writing pieces. And tonight's rehearsals don't seem quite as overwhelming. Especially since your husband already has supper planned. You can have a nice glass of wine while it cooks. You look forward to kids coming in to work, you have plans to make for the rest of the week, and maybe, a couple more notes

It's been a week. And sometimes all we can do is celebrate little MOMENTS. I celebrate my speech kids. Large group season was a little rough for us this year. Only six kids advanced to state. I didn't have enough to warrant taking a school bus, so I drove them myself in a school van.  You know what a bunch did? Carpooled and drove themselves down to cheer on their teammates. I celebrate kids who believe me when I say, "I am your school mom. If you have troubles, you can come to me."  It's a blog post I won't publish, but I am so thankful that a student believed me this week. Kids knew that something was wrong on Wednesday. It might have had something to do with the fact that I kept leaving the room in tears.... but.... on Friday, a simple little gift left on my desk reminded me that I teach the best kids. This weekend we are spending with our favorite travel companions. Fun, food, and laughter are the recipe ingredients for the weekend. It is t

We all do it. We're busy. We ignore what's in front of us. A student comes into our room before class, drops their things on a desk and leaves. We say nothing. We keep planning our day. Finish an email. Enjoy the last quiet moments before the day starts for real. The student will be back. BUT What if they don't come back? Then what do we do? We usually assume the worst. THEY SKIPPED MY CLASS!  HOW DARE THEY!  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We all do it. We're busy. We ignore what's in front of us. A colleague, obviously upset, passes us in the hallway. What do we do? If they are a friend, we may ask what's wrong--if we're not too busy.  If it's not someone close to us, we turn our heads and look the other way. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We all do it. We're busy. We ignore what's in front of us. A friend texts or posts on Facebook. We text back a shallow, "it will be OK" kind of response. Or we ignore it.

He looks up from his writer's notebook. "This is hard." Wait! What? "This is hard. I can't stop writing." J is taking Creative Writing independently because he couldn't fit the regular class into his schedule. It is the lesser of two evils. He hates writing less than he hates reading. "I just don't know where to stop." "What are you writing?" He proceeds to talk about a decision he was working his way through--whether to go to college or join the Marines.  He wants to be a professional pilot. It's been his dream forever and he recently got his pilot's license.  He has lots of reasons to do either one. The decision isn't important---well, it is. BUT He was using his writing to help sort out his thoughts. Thoughts he hadn't even expressed to his parents  yet. And then we started talking. He'd explain. I'd question. I'd explain and he'd question. I asked him if it helped, this c

1. Celebrating Snow Days Is it wrong to celebrate two snow days and a two-hour late start?  I'm going to. There's something about an old-fashioned blizzard that's just kind of fun. Well, not fun for my husband. He had to go out and blow the driveway (I did help a little).  I snuggled in comfy clothes and a blanket the whole first day. I read and wrote. I dozed in my chair. When Greg came in after clearing out the driveway the first time, we binged watched half of the first season of The House of Cards  on Netflix.  We are now officially addicted to this show. The second day, I did do a little grading and planning, but still found time to read and write. 2. Celebrating School It was nice to get back to school and see my kids. Lots of fun discussions about what everyone did on their days off.  I keep telling students that as the oldest teacher in the district, it is my job to decide if school is called off, so I was thanked a lot for the midweek vacation. 3. Celebr

Snow Day Possibilities Up and Moving at the Usual 6:00 AM starting time It's dark, quiet, The perfect MOMENT to begin the day. Make coffee Make a list   Write   Read  Nap      Repeat Enjoy another cup of coffee Snuggle into my blanket and Enjoy the possibilities