{solsc} 10/31 #sol16 5 Question Challenge: Chloe Style

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 proud of.   Hmmmmm.  I made a new friend last month when we went to visit the Wisconsin people.  His name was Freddy and I wasn't scared of him or nothing. He was kind of annoying sometimes, but he was littler than me, so instead of laying on the floor I would just stand up and look at him and then he would leave me alone.

And, let's see, I chased a rabbit earlier this winter and almost got it.  Rabbits are really fast, in case you didn't know. I'll bet when Mom and I start walking again and I get back into running shape I'll be able to catch it.

3. What are 3 things you would like to accomplish before the end of the school year?

I would really, really, really like to go to school with Mom one day. She says there are lots of kids there and that they would like me. I love kids and getting petted and stuff.  Don't you think I should be able to go.

The other two things are easy. I want to go for walks and go back to the lake house.  I love the lake house. We went to visit people a couple times, but we haven't gone to our house and I want to.  I want to see my people and run on the beach.

And walks....it's starting to get nice out. It's been kinda warm this week--well, except for yesterday--and I like to lay in the sun in the backyard. But I would sure like to get out and move!  I've got to check and see if there are any new dogs on our walks. And those dumb squirrels start taking over if I'm not checking up on them, so it's time to go!

4. Give four reasons you remain in education despite today's rough culture.

HUH???? I don't understand most of the words in this question. But Mom tells me she keeps teaching because kids need her. I try to tell her that I do too, but she says there are kids who don't have nice Moms and Dads like I do. Mom says that some of her kids don't have many people to tell them how great they are, or smile at them, or hug them, or care if they come to school. That would be horrible. I don't know what I would do if I couldn't hug Mom and Dad every day, or if they didn't care about me. She also says even if they have nice ones at home, they need a school mom and that's what she is. 

So I guess I'll share her for a couple more years anyway.  

I know this isn't four reasons, but Mom says it's so important it counts for four.

5. Which five people do you hope will take this challenge by answering these questions?

Well, I would like my friends to answer this, but they don't have blogs and Mom's who let them write, so I guess I hope some of the other blogging kids will talk their parents into writing. Do you think they will? So, I guess, if you read this you can answer some of them if you want. It would be fun to see what you say. 

Gee. This was kind of fun. I hope Mom lets me write again soon!

{solsc} 9/31 #sol16 Frozen

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?

{solsc} 8/31 #sol16 The Things I Want Her To Notice

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 models to stay that way
• The boy behind the hair. And there are several.
• The ones who are finding their way in the world
• The sweetness of the snowboarder (and learn his story)
• The angry boy just wants approval
• My hunter girl really struggles and needs positive support in class
• Improv boy is more than funny. He's caring and smart and creative in other ways
• That sometimes, an "I don't care" attitude is masking a fear of failure
• That these kids will do anything for a teacher they like

There's more, of course. And, I'm sure she'll be amazing with my kids. Not too amazing, though. They're still mine!

{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.