{solsc} 7/31 #sol16 A Little Ramble

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 things I had planned for her to do and also let her know that she could try anything she wanted when she was teaching. How are you ever going to know if a plan works unless you try it out on real kids!

The afternoon was meant for me to work on aligning standards to units in my speech course, but I will admit to spending most of it talking with Amanda (the student teacher). I also had a student-led conference with a student and her dad via Google Hangout. Dad's in a wheelchair and was having a difficult time making it up to school for the conference. The hangout worked awesome and we'll definitely try it again.

But now, I'm home. And still hadn't written a blog post. And I was really starting to procrastinate. The weather has turned warmish, the birds are chirping, and my deck was calling (even though all the furniture is still packed in the garage). It would have been easy not to write, but instead, you get a rambling post about my day, while my writing partner and I enjoy a warmish day with a few sprinkles...

{solsc} 6/31 #sol16 Good-bye Weekend

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?

{solsc} 5/31 #sol16 Celebrating MOMENTS

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 day, but I can't help but give them all a shout-out today.  
• Chocolate. Unexpected gifts of it. From a student. Enough said
• Chloe hugs. Someday we will have to record a Chloe greeting when we've been gone for awhile (and five minutes is a while).  She gives the best hugs ever.
• Time to finish a book. Last night I made Friday night mine. I finished an escape book, had a glass of wine, and watched fun TV. A perfect night.
• I work with amazing educators. People who care about students and the state of education. We work hard to improve, to do our best for kids.  
• Today we will head north and visit with old friends.  There's nothing better.

I'm sure there is more, but that's all I've got this morning.  Enjoy your weekend. Celebrate the MOMENTS.  

ALOHA

{solsc} 4/31 #sol16 First Hour View From My Desk

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.

{solsc} 3/31 #sol16 "Those Kids"

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 other classes?"

Another is a car engine prodigy. He missed school one day last week. When he came the next day, he explained that he decided to tear the engine out of a car before school. He fully intended to clean up and come. But he just got involved. And then, before he knew it, he was late. So he stayed home. He'd rather work on the car.

One is a reader. And she reads a lot. She just doesn't like reading "stupid stories" and answering all those questions.  But she will read big books that intimidate the others.  She really appreciates the small class size and takes me up on "you can come and talk to me anytime". With a little attention, she is thriving.

A concussion last year sidelined another of them. She got so far behind that she just gave up. So she comes to class every day and sits by herself. But she does the work and will regain her credit. This one is hard for me to get close to. She doesn't open up and talk like the others, even though I've had her in class before.

The last was my hardest to understand. He was the teacher hater. He didn't talk much at first. He listened to the others and took my measure. In the beginning, I would give him "the eye" when he gave a little attitude. I don't have to do that anymore. He may be the kindest of them all. He's always the first to volunteer to help with math homework on days I give them time to work on any class they need to.  Today, I found out he wants to be an engineer.

So twice today, once when I read my sub's notes and once when and administrator came in and asked if I was having any trouble--behavior wise or attendance wise--with any classes. I said no--my classes are amazing.  "Not even with the credit recovery class?"

Nope. Not even with "those kids".  My favorite class. My tribe.

{solsc} 2/31 #sol16 Chloe Writes

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 home. He's home. He's home.  I'll bet he'll play with me too. I can run up and down the stairs and get hime to chase me. And then I'll get supper!  And I can sit in his chair with him! I love when my people are home.

But, I'm still mad at Mom. Do you think she'll come home tonight?

{solsc} 1/31 #sol16 And, We Begin Again

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 grown-up this year, so I decided not to whine about it.  I'm going to let Mom write when she needs to. Maybe if I don't whine, we'll be able to play more when she's done.

I've been getting ready to write during the last week. Thanks to Michelle's advice I set up all my blog posts for the month. I can see where this will help a lot on those hectic days when I'm not sure I have time to write. I also have a Pinterest board with blogging ideas for those days when "nothing happens" and a list in my writer's notebook.  I know that I write better in the morning, so I plan to write my posts with my kids in Creative Writing. I'll probably comment after school, though. It just seems to be a better time for me to do that.

I plan on having treats. I'll do anything for a treat!

Chloe's right. Treats are good. Maybe writing with a cup of really good coffee in the morning--or if I procrastinate, a glass of wine at night.

Hey! I thought you said no whining!

Not that kind of whine, Chloe...