Stories with Sophie

Currently Listening: The gentle snores of Chloe sleeping on the couch. She loved visiting my family and our kids this weekend, but it made for a couple of long days, with no naps for her.  Today, she seldom left the couch, even as nice as it was outside. Loving: This new season of "Dancing With the Stars" (and now my Monday nights are complete again. Aside from a couple, this season's stars have great potential and have already danced some amazing performances. Thinking: School starts back up tomorrow. I keep thinking of what I have to do when I get there in the morning. But the truth is, my student teacher is in charge. We talked about her plans and what she'll be doing with the kids this week. I plan to work on a new unit for after she's gone.   Wanting: A hot fudge sundae, with peanuts. That's what I really want. But I settled for Greek yogurt. Needing: Honestly. Nothing. My life is pretty great right now (well, aside from other peopl

You've had those weeks, haven't you?     This week we've found out that my husbands twin brothers will both be having major surgery a day apart. One will have a quadruple bypass and the other will be having surgery to remove cancer on his tongue. And then we found out that one of our very best friends was told surgery wasn't possible and he has maybe a year to live. This all sucks.  And it's hard to celebrate.  But I will. Because both my mom and sister (cancer survivors) received clean bills of health. We went to my hometown on Friday to visit and enjoyed the time we got to spend with everyone. We then drove north and spent time with our boys and their families. It was just the thing we needed--to laugh and love with our kids and grandkids. :) My husband and I are both healthy. And trust me. We have been making sure of that.  We hit fourth quarter at school, so summer is right around the corner. As much as I've enjoyed this year,

We moved to the area about the same time and met when our oldest sons joined the local Cub Scout pack.  I volunteered to be a leader, Tom was willing to help. Little did we know almost 30 years later, the four of us would still be friends. We've helped raise each other's kids, celebrated holidays, birthdays, and graduations together. We've been neighbors both in town and the lake. We go to concerts together and enjoy each others company in the quiet of a campfire.  We've supported each other through the deaths of parents, kids getting in trouble and health issues. Only now, this latest health issue will separate us, will rip apart a friendship strong enough to survive anything. Anything except this. Cancer sucks.

Sometimes Your world seems to d    r       o           p out from under you This has been one of  those weeks The words won't come and  I don't want them to yet Tomorrow will be better Tonight I will wallow in sadness.

I did it! I left my room today. It's not that I don't trust my student teacher--I do. But I like chatting with her and the kids. I just knew I had to get out of there and let her do her thing. But was does a teacher who isn't teaching do all day? I left this note on the board for my students--just so they don't forget me. We're in a Winter Storm Warning, so I know the questions on all of their minds is "Will we get out early?" and "Will we have school tomorrow?" My note answers both questions! First hour, I said hello to my independent writing students and reminded them of deadlines and then went to the art room and gushed over the painting of her walls. I reminded her that when she got done having kids paint her walls, I do have one rather large one they could use for a canvas. Second hour is our prep period. Since I didn't really have work to do, I mostly checked the radar to see how the storm was doing. I forwarded a c

I fully intended to turn in my application a few weeks ago for one of the instructional coaching positions being offered in our district.  I worked on my resume, my cover letter and the application itself. I looked back on my career, thought about ways I've been a leader in our district, and ways I've been not so great. I completed question after question. Aside from a little wordsmithing, it was ready to turn in. Well, editing work and one question Why do you want this job? I looked over my pros and cons list. I talked with peers about the job. I reread my answers. But none of what I read and heard seemed like reasons to leave what I love. My kids. I thought about my pixie, who almost took her cutting too far And A, who always needs to talk on Mondays after a weekend with her mother And then there's the new boy. So angry when he first started, but now he's fitting in and wanting to raise his grades so he can go out for football in the fall.

Do you know what the hardest part of having a student teacher is? Keeping my mouth shut. It's not that she is doing anything wrong or needing my help, or forgetting anything. She's wonderful! We talked about what I wanted kids to do in writing units and then I turned her loose with Gallagher's Write This Way and my informative writing unit .   She came up with four great days of playing with informative writing before she asked them to start their actual pieces (I am going to steal one particular activity!). She walks around and checks in with kids and has plans to conference with them all on Thursday. The kids are responding well to her. I love it. She's also doing the informative speech unit. And again, came up with great plans. Today we both walked around and checked in with kids about what they are thinking of researching. I should have stayed out of the way, though. She's got this handled! When I'm in the room, some kids talk to me instead of he

I need to write want to write have to write BUT I can't think of anything to write about (insert whiny teenager voice) SHARE a moment It's all I need to do A moment Maybe that's the problem There have been a lot of moments lately Breathing becoming normal Writing begins to flow Calm. Show Up and  Write

Every Saturday Ruth Ayres invites us to celebrate the little moments in our lives that bring us joy.  Whether from the classroom or our own lives, it's important to focus on those things that make us smile.... Or as Ruth said in a post the other day, "When I choose to celebrate, I no longer have space for complaining." I  love March Madness.  Watching college basketball gets me through the winter. I follow the ups and downs of lots of teams, so when March comes around, I am in 7th heaven. I read ESPN and CBS articles. Follow lots of people on Twitter who are in the know and I fill out brackets everywhere. The tournament is fun to watch, but this year, there is a lot to cheer for! All three Iowa teams made the tournament AND won their first round game---two of them on last second shots. My birthday was Thursday, so that brought many, many little moments to celebrate. Facebook wishes that went on for days An early morning phone call from my granddaug

At some point last year, my friend, Christy Rush-Levine, posted a blogging challenge for her students. The prompt for day 1 of the challenge was The Things We Carry Things we carry      Secrets      Guilt      Hope Some days, I carry more than homework and lesson plans home in my bag. Some days, I carry      Heartache and      Worry Those damn kids. The ones who don't do homework, Who cause trouble in the back of the room The ones acting all tough Like nothing bothers them Those damn kids are the ones I carry      Home Those damn kids, whose parents don't seem to care Or don't know how to care Who don't seem to worry Those damn kids Whose parents kicked them out of the house, Who have no one else who wants them That's the      Heartache and      Worry I carry with me

Birthdays. Some people hate them. They dread them coming around every year. They lie about their age. I love them. I celebrate my birthday as long as I can and proudly admit that this year I am 59.  Although, I'm wondering if I should have kept my mouth shut at school. There were a few, "OOO. Next year's a big one. We're going to have to do something." I woke up this morning and checked Facebook. So many birthday wishes. I loved this one from my high school friend, Dan. One of my granddaughters called me before school while she was riding the bus to school. A friend's daughter sang me Happy Birthday in the enthusiastic way only a five-year-old can. A class sang to me later in the morning, while also tormenting me with bananas (I hate them. The class thinks it's funny to torment me). My husband took me out for supper and I had bacon wrapped shrimp. And green beer. And, of course, March Madness starts today, so there are plenty of college

"I'm going to have to buy the next book of this series." HUH???? These words came from the mouth of Mechanic Boy. A self-proclaimed nonreader in my credit recovery class.  But he's read TWO books this quarter. Really read them. As a class we read Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.  It didn't suck. And we had great discussions. Then we started an independent reading unit. Student could choose their own book and they would read it in 15 days. 15. Days.  I was crazy, wasn't I? Mechanic Boy was home from school yesterday with food poisoning. He finished the book. Finished the book on day 6! And loved it. He has to order the next one because "The author stopped this book is a really bad spot."  In other words, Mechanic Boy needs to find out what happened. He kept telling Amanda (student teacher) and I that he still wasn't a reader. He just liked this book. I kept telling him, "Everyone is a reader. S

It's so strange, sitting in my classroom and not being the one who leads the lesson. But that's what I did today as my student teacher, Amanda, lead my Creative Writing students in activities that will lead to informative writing. She did a great job. And most of the kids kept on task as she led them through what she wanted them to do. What did I notice? Most of them had phones out and sneakily texted any moment they could.  Until I moved into their area and sat down.  That's the great thing about the comfortable furniture in my room. There are lots of places to sit and observe. And phones silently got put away.  I need to deal with this. My room is a comfortable place to be.  Nice spaces. But. I feel bad for Amanda, because the seating is not of her choosing and it's hard, I know, for her to teach a lesson, while being observed by her advisor and me.  I'm not sure I can do much about this for her. But I'll check with her tomorrow and see if she has

There are lots of ways to avoid doing school work (I'm writing a blog post, for instance), but some of my students have become masters of it in my room.  I've started a list of all the ways they stay off task and, sometimes, get me off-task too! How to Avoid Doing Your Work in Mrs. Day's Room 1. Help another student with their homework--especially Math homework! Students know I  love those who collaborate and help each other out. Teaching someone else is a great way to show our own understanding of the work. HOWEVER!  Get your work for my class done first! 2. Discuss politics.   I can't help it. I'm a political junkie. And I love students who are taking an interest in politics, even if they can't vote yet.  Quote from a student in one particular class, "Any thought is three sentences away from being about politics". 3. Tell Me About Your Car (job, accident, girl/boy friend) I'm a sucker for talking to kids and love to hear about their liv

I am so content and peaceful as I sit in my chair, while the rain taps gently at the window. It is the contentment of being happy with who I am, decisions I have made and who I am with. This time in our life is just for us, my husband and I. There is an easy rhythm to our life now. An ebb and flow. A give and take. Life is good.

I'm home after 15 hours of Speech today--5 on the bus and 10 at contest. I'm tired. Really tired. So today you get my celebration in tweets. And Pictures. Selfies mostly, because they're teenagers after all. But their chosen poses. I have to apologize to those I missed today, they all did great also!

It's been a day. Met with my student teacher's advisor before school. Printed ballots for contest tomorrow--and the bus list, don't forget the bus list. Packed the crate and the cart for contest--don't forget the projector--and the "clicker"--and the adaptor... Reprinted Anna's poem, but not John and Mitchell's radio news transitions--they forgot to send them! Oh, yea. Need paper for radio news--and check the radio boxes and make sure they have tape. What else?  I know I must be forgetting something. Rehearse after school Who's coming for one last practice? Today, no critique. Just remember what you need to do tomorrow. Kelly's computer still doesn't connect with projector...remember to take mine Send me your presentation... What else? I know I must be forgetting something. Time to head home WAIT I forgot my keys! Thank heavens I remembered before I left the building! What else? I know I must be forgetting something

A few days ago Michelle at One Grateful Teacher posted a 5 Question Challenge. Chloe read it and thought she might try it. Evidently she has a few things to share. 1. What has been your one biggest struggle this school year. Well, I don't go to school anymore (I did for a little bit when I was a puppy, but I graduated with flying colors, so I don't have to go back anymore.) But Mom is a teacher, in case you didn't know, and my biggest problem with that is she goes to school early in the morning and comes home when it's dark out. I hate that she's gone all day and doesn't come home til supper time. Dad's home more now, but he doesn't always play with me like Mom does. But she told me yesterday that next week she will be home earlier and we can start going for walks again! 2. Share two accomplishments that you are proud of this school year? Ummmmm. What's an a --ccom--p--lish---ment?  Hmmm. Mom says it's something I should be prou

He sits and stares Frozen He acts like he's working But The simple act of emailing Why He's abandoning his book Freezes him He wants no help, but he's Paralyzed  And nothing will come Nothing I know it's in there Now How do I help him Release it?

Today, my student teacher Amanda starts for real. Yesterday was in-service. Today, my kids come into the picture. And today, having a student teacher makes me nervous. I'm not nervous about her abilities. She's already been hired for next year and she was their top pick. She did a great job in her other placement. But.... Those are my kids. And just like any parent, I want the best for them. And I want people to see the amazing things in them that I do. I need her to notice My quiet author and the shy smile you get when you read her work The slacker kid who is reading more books this year than ever before The passion of my auto mechanic and how excited he is that I found a car book for him Those crazy political kids really do know what they are talking about My pixie in homebase who needs a smile and support every day My 8th grade Big Bang Theory boys are many, many things besides smart My 8th grade girls are smart too and smart is good. They need positive role

I fully intended to write this morning. I woke up at 5:30 am and got right out of bed, showered and grabbed a cup of coffee. Went to my chair, grabbed the computer, and opened up.  My Feedly page is the first thing I see, so I start reading blogs. Then I head to Twitter and check out the #sol16 feed. I read some more and commented on a few. I'm finding it so much easier to find blogs to read on Feedly and Twitter. Sometimes the list on Two Writing Teachers is overwhelming! Before I knew it, it was 7:15 and time to get ready and go!  My student teacher started today, I had to be ready! I had just enough time at school to straighten up things--I left things kind of a mess on Friday after rehearsals. I've been in touch with my student teacher since last December--and she has visited twice, so there wasn't as much of an awkward "get to know you" conversation. I hated that she started on an in-service day. Not much excitement there! I gave her a heads up on some th

Good-bye to those imaginary hours that seem to stretch to  infinity on Friday.  The possibilities are endless. I can clean my house write in my notebook start another book write lesson plans grade papers And then, when the work is done, I can nap visit friends do a little shopping play with Chloe Reenergize BUT here it is on Sunday night and my bag sits beside me untouched a bare sketch of lesson plans Where did those hours go?

My favorite day of the week. Celebration Saturday.  I was celebrating my week before Ruth started her Celebration link-up, but I love that now I can celebrate with others.  Once you start finding the JOY in your week, those little MOMENTS help BALANCE out your life. I've been more intentional about celebrating MOMENTS this year since I joined Ali Edwards One Little Word class this year.  I'm not sure what actually prompted me to do it, but I'm happy about it. I'm more conscious of taking little MOMENTS just for me, of keeping track of those MOMENTS in my notebook and, sometimes, just enjoying them. This week I celebrate: Our family message chat:  We have a group chat on Facebook that just makes me smile. I never know when a silly picture, a news article link, or just a check-in will pop up. We visit and call when we can, but those mid-week connections just make my day. Kids who trust and respect you. I wrote about a group of them the other d

First Hour View From My Desk Monday or Friday-- First day of piece or the last-- The hum of the projector and the clicking of keys are the only sounds I hear. They are quiet, Oh, so quiet. Not an ominous quiet Like something terrible has happened. It's the quiet of eight writers with a deadline to meet. Real Writers Concentrating on their piece Enjoying the process. This is a snippet about my first hour Creative Writing 2 class, an independent study, allowing students to write what they wish. They are the quietest, most serious group I have ever had. And they are fabulous writers.

I admit to being worried about "those kids", the ones in the credit recovery class I didn't intend to teach. How would they handle a new sub the first time I was gone? I shouldn't have worried. We have built a community, a family, a tribe.  I respect them. They respect me. We had a conversation the first day of class in January. Why did they hate English? Why did they fail the first time? They were honest and thoughtful. They took the blame for some things. They explained why they didn't always get things done and handed in. They acknowledged that the reason some teachers don't like them is partly their fault. The power of conversation is important. They all have reputations...druggie, skipper, lazy, teacher hater. One of "those kids" is the best big brother I have ever seen. He truly loves his younger siblings and will do anything for them. He was the first one who answered the question, "Why don't you behave like this in oth

Mom's gone. She left me. One minute she was here and playing with me. And then she was gone! I should have known when she got the gosh darned suitcase out last night. I should have known.  But I thought maybe she was just getting ready for the weekend. Dad wants to go some place this weekend and I heard him say I get to go. But NOOOOOO. I have to stay home. Even Dad's not here. You don't think he went with her, do you? Do you think he will be home later? I know I'm getting older, but I still hate being home alone. There's nothing to do--no one to play with. I just lay on the bed and look out the window.  Sometimes I cry. I'm so bored this winter. I don't even care the stupid squirrel is up in the tree or the cat lives under the deck. Everyone is sooooo busy and no one has time to play. I don't even get play dates. I just have to stay home and look out the window at the neighbors. Wait!  I hear something.  It's DAD!!!!!!  He's h

6 years. That's how long Chloe and I have been participating in the Slice of Life March challenge. 6 years. Last year I wasn't sure I would participate, but when that calendar page turned, here I was. Ready to write again. This year I didn't question. I just knew I would. I'm a writer, you see. And a writer must write. I'm Chloe. I'm 6 years old and I'm a writer too. I complain a lot about this whole March blogging thing, but it's really kind of fun. Well, it's fun if Mom lets me write.  I looked back over my previous first posts and found that I said pretty much the same thing every time. I'll let you go back and see them for yourself if you want. They explain a lot about who I am and what I write about. Chloe tends to.... Hey...it's my turn to write. You don't get to tell about me! I haven't been a big fan of Mom's blog and this whole challenge thing. It takes away from fun stuff. But I'm more