SOLS Day 2 Fretting on Friday
One of the primary motivations for joining
the March challenge is my desire to walk in the shoes of students and write
along side them. Knowing the power of engaging in writing experiences, which we
require of our students, has nudged me to write.
The
majority of my students enjoy writing. Sure they have days when they get stuck.
Don’t we all? There are those days when the words barely trickle out of my pen
like the last drops of my favorite salad dressing that is barely enough to
dampen my big salad.
Today
I know that I got a bit testy when I heard one too many, “I-don’t-know-what-to-write”
statements? ‘Why do we have to write Slice of Life Stories?” “It’s Friday, why
do I have to write today? We have been talking about this challenge for a while
now, training a couple days a week with SOLS entries. During March, students
must write Monday through Friday; weekends are optional, but encouraged. We
will have a celebration for the writer’s who meet the challenge for 30 or 31
days.
In
spite of what seems like ample time devoted to gathering ideas, I continue to
struggle with a few writers who frequently lament writing. We have spent more
time this year than ever before gathering seeds and learning how to live like
writers.
We
collaged our notebooks. My mentors guide me in my teaching. We ride on the
shoulders of our favorite authors, trying new writing moves. I turn to favorite
resources and blogs for advice on supporting students. Our notebooks have tools
tucked inside to help us scoop up seeds to grow new ideas. Aimee Buckner’s Notebook Know How is one of my go to resources, along
with Ralph Fletcher’s writing books, the Two Writing Teacher’s blog, their book
Day by Day, the Poem Farm blog and
many others. I share my notebook and my blog giving students a glimpse of the
everyday events and observations that have inspired my writing. I have even
resorted to providing a list of journal prompts to help combat writer’s block.
Hoping
that everyone, including the teacher, returns to room 25 on Monday, feeling
refreshed and recharged.
It is our attitude at the beginning of a
difficult task which, more than anything else, will affect its successful
outcome.
~ William James
I
love the quotes that precede each section in Day by Day by Ruth Ayres and Stacey Shubitz.
I'm thinkining (hoping) that by the end of March, these reluctant writers will be in the habit of considering what they want to write each day. It is hard. Especially when writing isn't your "thing". Keep at it; don't give in! Monday will be a fresh start for you all. :)
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