Looking for the Write Words

SOLS Day 4 Dinner is Served

2012-03-04T22:13:00.000-05:00

Rotisseriechicken – love it! I have tried making this scrumptious poultry and it nevercomes out the same. Our wonderful grocery store makes them every day. Well, Iguess that’s not anything too unique; all the markets do up the chickens, butnot like ours. Maybe it’s the rotisserie part that does the trick. If I madeone at home, I would sprinkle on some seasoning, tuck some onions and celeryaround the chicken and toss it in the oven for a couple hours. Guess you’d callthat baked chicken. Decent meal, but not the same.

Nope,not doing that again. Instead I concentrate on the sides and let them take careof the centerpiece of this dinner. Hmm…potatoes – mashed or baked, a vegie ortwo – broccoli with cheese, of course and maybe some asparagus too, dinnerrolls and there you have it. Dinner is served! Bon appetite!

Myonly complaint is not much leftovers. Perhaps two chickens next time.

Pondering Paperless

2012-03-03T21:07:00.003-05:00

SOLS #3 Pondering Paperless

After hours of attempting toorganize heaps of financial paperwork, I am sitting beside an overflowing bagof trash that really should be shredded or burned. I need a beverage and a break. This is a typical March task for me as Igather the documentation needed to file our taxes. However, this is notsomething I would typically tackle on a Saturday night. What am Ithinking??!

Eversince I discovered mortgage statements from 1995, I have this overwhelmingdesire to downsize our files. It could also be the stacks of file boxes thathouse years of bank statements, loan papers, credit card receipts, and insurancepolicies. I know that inside my pack-rat self is an organized person!

Perhaps it is time to be brave andsign-up for e-statements. After all, it’s been a couple years since we switchedto reusable grocery bags. We should do more. This is the next step in goinggreen. All of our bills are paid with on-line banking, so this should work out.I am a little apprehensive, but if it doesn’t work out we will go back to paperstatements. Get a grip, right?

While I am at maybe I should thinkabout parting with some magazines in my stash. On no, that’s pushing it!

Fretting on Friday

2012-03-02T22:20:00.000-05:00

SOLS Day 2 Fretting on Friday

One of the primary motivations for joiningthe March challenge is my desire to walk in the shoes of students and writealong side them. Knowing the power of engaging in writing experiences, which werequire of our students, has nudged me to write.

Themajority 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 penlike the last drops of my favorite salad dressing that is barely enough todampen my big salad.

TodayI 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, whydo I have to write today? We have been talking about this challenge for a whilenow, training a couple days a week with SOLS entries. During March, studentsmust write Monday through Friday; weekends are optional, but encouraged. Wewill have a celebration for the writer’s who meet the challenge for 30 or 31days.

Inspite of what seems like ample time devoted to gathering ideas, I continue tostruggle with a few writers who frequently lament writing. We have spent moretime this year than ever before gathering seeds and learning how to live likewriters.

Wecollaged our notebooks. My mentors guide me in my teaching. We ride on theshoulders of our favorite authors, trying new writing moves. I turn to favoriteresources and blogs for advice on supporting students. Our notebooks have toolstucked inside to help us scoop up seeds to grow new ideas. Aimee Buckner’s Notebook Know How is one of my go to resources, alongwith Ralph Fletcher’s writing books, the Two Writing Teacher’s blog, their bookDay by Day, the Poem Farm blog andmany others. I share my notebook and my blog giving students a glimpse of theeveryday events and observations that have inspired my writing. I have evenresorted to providing a list of journal prompts to help combat writer’s block.

Hopingthat everyone, including the teacher, returns to room 25 on Monday, feelingrefreshed and recharged.

It is our attitude at the beginning of adifficult task which, more than anything else, will affect its successfuloutcome.

~ William James

Ilove the quotes that precede each section in Day by Day by Ruth Ayres and Stacey Shubitz.

SOLS #1 Marching into the Challenge

2012-03-01T21:08:00.003-05:00

SOLS #1 Marching intothe Challenge

March has always been a month that I lookforward to with fondness. March is a hopeful month. Little bits of green arepoking out from beneath the shell of winter. March can roar like a lion one dayand purr like a kitten the next. March says goodbye to winter and sings a songof spring. And even though we have barely had a winter, I am already hummingthe tune of my favorite season.

For three years now, March is also themonth that motivates the writer in me. Really it’s the community of writersgathered together by the “Two Writing Teachers”, Ruth and Stacey. Many thanksto these two amazing educators who orchestrate the March Slice of Life Writing Challenge. They truly inspire a network of writing camaraderie and enhance thelives of everyone who is involved. Wow, the community is growing. I bettercatch up on my grading and other schoolwork, so I have time to settle in forsome blog reading. The number of participants is amazing. I also can’t wait tocheck out the slices from my fourth grade writers. March, what surprises do youhave waiting for us?

Books Don’t Leave Home Without One!

2012-02-21T22:16:00.000-05:00

Winter break for me iscatch-up time. Today was the day to check off a couple appointments from my“to-do” list. Sitting in the waiting room at my first appointment, reading on myNook, and in walks a little boy and his dad. From the moment they walked in, thelittle guy was chattering to his dad who lovingly answered his questions.

Dad had paperwork tocomplete and sat down in a chair. Little guy suggested, “Sit over here daddy inthe comfy seat.”

Dad stayed in thechair and little guy grabbed a magazine settled in on the comfy couch. Hecarefully flipped through Sports Illustrated, a task he was certainly at easewith. Little guy trotted over with SI in tow to ask Dad a couple questions. Dadpaused and softly responded. At three,maybe four years old, this little guy clearly has been blessed with experiencesthat have already enhanced his literacy growth.

After a few minutesMom joined the boys in the waiting area. “Hi Mom!” Little guy snuggled up nextto his mom who produced a book and began reading to him. He was immediatelyengaged. I was no longer engaged with my book, but totally entranced by this young reader. My last observation before being called back for my appointment waslittle guy making a prediction. “I think it was the pirate, mom.” I wanted to check on his age, but hated to interrupt their time together. If I am still in-tune with preschoolers, I would say that he was not quite four yet.

I am usually preparedwith a book or other tasks to keep me busy, so I really don’t mind waiting fora bit. If I happen to arrive empty handed, I will settle with one of thewaiting room magazines. On more than one occasion, I have felt badly for littleones that have to wait with nothing to do and are told to sit quietly. I have many more years of waiting under my belt and still hate to wait without something to occupy me!

How often do we hearexcuses for not reading with children? Or students who arrive with excuses fornot completing homework or reading at night:

“I was out all nightat…”

“Oh, we are so busy.”

“By the time we gethome, there’s no time to read.”

Today, waiting andwatching, put a smile on my face. I loved observing the pleasure that littleguy got from reading and interacting with his attentive parents. The take-awayhere is nothing new, but just a real live reminder of the value of READING! Whencaring parents want to know how to prepare their children for school, theanswer is simply stated in a four letter word ~ READ! Or when summer vacationapproaches and caring parents want to know what their children should do overthe summer ~ READ is on the top of my short list! Books don’t leave homewithout one!

Sowing the Seeds of Kindness

2012-02-14T22:52:00.002-05:00

This week all across the country people are celebrating National Kindness Week. Our awesome case worker has planned some activities for students and teachers; the main feature of the week being a door decorating contest. Each classroom was given the task to choose a children's book that exemplified kindness and decorate the door accordingly. My students and I pored over stacks of books in the classroom. So many possibilities. How would we ever choose? We wanted everyone to take part in the door design, so that would be a determining factor. Through our literacy work together this year, students have been digging deeper for meaning, noticing metaphors and symbolism, so I was hoping to choose a title that nudged our thinking. We decided to mull it over for the weekend. Some time Saturday, during a browse through one of my favorite quilt shops, the book came to me. Hmmm, I thought how about Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney? The Lupine Lady a beloved character, finds a way later in life to make the world a more beautiful place, certainly a kind act. As we talked about the book, we realized that The Lupine Lady made her mark in the world in many ways as she traveled, making friends and helping others. She was sowing the seeds of kindness long before she planted those lupine seeds. We found our book and children have been busy writing kindness quotes, decorating seed packets, making tissue paper lupines and much more. Of course, like so many projects, this has taken way longer than I anticipated, but like I told the children, I really don't mind. The work they are doing is priceless. We can catch up on math and science tomorrow. Their words of kindness and satisfied feelings of accomplishment made it a memorable day for sure. "I can help with that." "I'm done, so what else can I do?" "Wow, that looks great!" "Our door is going to look great!" "I'm having so much fun, it doesn't even matter if we win." As one wise student said, sow the seeds of kindness wherever you go.

Getting Back in the Saddle Again

2012-02-12T23:04:00.003-05:00

This will be my third time participating in the March Slice of Life writing challenge hosted by Ruth and Stacey at their blog TwoWritingTeachers. My fourth grade writers are also gearing up for the month long challenge. These brilliant writers, along with the network of blogging writers associated with the Two Writing Teachers, inspire me to be better. I think about writing. I have ideas for writing. I jot down snippets of mentor text. I teach writing. I read about writing. I read like a writer. I feel like a much better teacher of writing when I live an active writing life. I feel like a much better person when I take the time to reflect, react, and remember in writing. Therefore, I am jumping back in the saddle for March and hope that is just what I need to revive my quest for the write words. It you want to join the writing adventure head over to TwoWritingTeachers blog for all the info.

Slice of Life

2011-08-23T22:06:00.005-04:00

August…

Sparkling sunsets.

Crisp mornings.

Overflowing baskets.

Farmer’s Market.

Tomato slices.

Peach pie,

peach cobbler,

just peaches!

Zucchini, cucs,

green beans,

Big salads.

Buttery cobs.

Lunch dates.

Ravenous reading!

Classroom set-up.

School supplies.

New shoes.

New books.

Old books.

Favorite books.

Book baskets.

Lake days.

Kayak paddling.

So much to love!

So much to savor!

August.

It starts slowly, but picks up momentum as August progresses. It's that exciting time for teachers. It's time to think about the coming school year. Summer slips away in August. The air has a different feel. Crisp, cool evenings and crisper, cooler mornings. The sunsets are beautiful, but occur much earlier than last month. But summer hasn't left us yet. There are sunny days to savor, a "TBR" summer stack to be read, lunch dates, projects. With a predicted high for tomorrow in the mid-eighties I can avoid the calendar and pretend that it is a lazy hazy July day! You will most likely find me lounging with a book in my lap, sipping peach tea, savoring summer! I'll go back to August on Thursday! Slice of Life Tuesday is at Two Writing Teachers amazing blog! I have thought about writing many times this summer, but have gotten side tracked until today.

Remembering and Reaching

2011-08-05T17:20:00.008-04:00

Family, friends, flowers, the beach, the lake, some sewing, a little writing, lots of good books...not too much blogging. But I sure have been enjoying this summer and getting rejuvenated for a new school year. It's not that I am at a loss for ideas. I think about getting back in the saddle. I check in a few times a week at my favorite blogs and am in awe of those of you that balance much more on a daily basis.

So, today this first Poetry Friday, my thinking veered to my O.L.W. ~ One Little Word for 2011. There are many ways to reach, many things to reach for, but for me it often seems to come back to balance.

Reach

Tiptoe,

stomp
or dance perhaps.
Reach.
Sometimes baby steps,
sometimes leaps.
Reach.
Dive in deep
take a chance.
Reach.
Close your eyes
Make a wish
make a splash

or just be still.

Reach
You'll find the way
to reach
a balance.

Happy Poetry! Happy Friday! Happy Summer! Libby is hosting Poetry Friday today over at A Year of Literacy Coaching.

One More Excuse

2011-06-14T22:34:00.001-04:00

Perusing the slices tonight, I am reminded of a writing distraction that I omitted last night – hockey. We are a hockey loving family all year, but the playoff season is extra special. Since April we have averaged three to four games a week. The couch is taking the shape of my behind. My school bag totes the same papers back and forth several days in a row and yes the pages of my notebook patiently wait for the words that I gather like scraps for a quilt.

Elizabeth writes about her beloved Bruins and so does the book making blogger, Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord. I love her Who Am I Book? that she created about a favorite hockey player. There are so many ways to adapt this idea in the classroom. Perhaps a famous American, a book character, a getting to know you book in September, and so on. Susan very generously shares directions and ideas for making books with children. We are going to make accordion memory books in school this week and have made several Hot Dog books in the past. So many connections happening here…I best dive back into my school bag.

Happy Tuesday! Happy Reading! Happy Writing! Cheers!

Reasons Why Haven't I Been Writing

2011-06-13T22:19:00.004-04:00

During my writing drought I thought about my writing, jotted some reflections in my notebook, but mostly I experienced a prolonged case of writer's block. Throughout this time people and activities have kept me busy. Thankfully I stayed up to date with my favorite blogs. Ruth & Stacy at Two Writing Teachers have stirred things up as their posts often do. Their summer challenge may be the kick in the pants that I need. There will always be dirty laundry, grocery lists, and bills to pay, but in my quest for balance I am reminded that we make time for what matters. Therefore, I'll keep looking for the write words.

Thursday Night Tradition - SOLS #31

2011-04-01T00:03:00.000-04:00

Why change now on the final day of March? Once a night owl always a night owl…it might be nice to be a morning person. Someday perhaps I will greet the day a bit earlier and try starting my day as a writer, but for now I am a late night rambler.

Thursdays are okay, but Thursday nights are what I truly look forward to. Sure the weekend is on deck and this week did seem to creep on at a snail’s pace. For the last few years my daughter and I have a standing date to watch “our shows.” I am not much of a show follower except for the two we keep up with on Thursdays. We hunker down with mugs of fresh coffee and a little something sweet and for two hours we are couch potatoes. It’s wonderfully relaxing. We watch. We chat. We watch some more. Traditions with children. For me it doesn’t get much better than this!

A Writer Emerges - SOLS Day 30

2011-03-30T23:18:00.004-04:00

Few events in the classroom top the moment when a student finds his or her niche in writing. It might be a place of comfort, a favorite genre, a voice of confidence, or any number of triggers that give a student the nudge to see himself as a writer. Today the seeds were bursting for K. typically a “reluctant” writer who has been known to stare at a blank page for all of Writing Workshop. Even with an idea, K. had a pattern of brief descriptions followed by a claim that he had nothing else to write.

For the first couple weeks his SOLS fit the above pattern. Then little by little the stories started to creep out like a toe testing the cold pool water. Now I would say K. has reached a significant turning point with a distinct style emerging in his writing. He has the voice of a storyteller and is standing tall with pride.

We are turning to color for inspiration this week. Click here to read about 100 colors (paint chips) sparking 100 stories. Sometimes it’s the name of the color that gets the writing wheels turning. Today’s color, tropical lagoon, a beachy blue sent a story sailing for K. It was a snippet that packed a punch with sensory details, a line or two of dialogue and a Jamaican accent when K. read his piece aloud. You know “mon” it was an amazing moment listening and watching K. beam with pride as he shared his story today. K. learned that he really is a writer with something to say! And if you are wondering he did use “mon” in his story.

Blessed Birthday

2011-03-30T00:00:00.000-04:00

Another Birthday Slice

It’s late again so I will leave just a small slice tonight, but if it was a slice of cake it would be a slice filled with frosting. I head to bed tonight with a smile on my face. Today I celebrated another birthday enriched by the wishes and kind thoughts from friends and family. It seems like yesterday that I was writing a birthday slice. The speed of life accelerated when our children were born and the years continue to fly by even now that they are grown. But oh how blessed we are that they are here in town to brighten our days and create memories together. Our celebrations have changed. Now we choose a favorite restaurant and gather there for dinner. When little ones are once again part of the group we may go back to gathering around the kitchen table. Going out to dinner and being with my family are surely among my favorite things, but truly it is who we have surrounding us with love that matters, not where we are. Cheers to birthdays and loved ones to share them with.

Looking Forward to April - SOLS Day 28

2011-03-28T23:22:00.002-04:00

“Poetry is not words that rhyme. It’s words that feel true.” ~ Georgia Heard

I am ready for a new month, a new season, and some POETRY. We have continued to pop a poem in here and there. We have stopped by to visit the Poem Farm where Amy LV is approaching the finish line in her Poetry Year. I hope she hears us cheering for her accomplishments and also fearing that we will miss her gifts of poems and writing advice.

My love affair with poetry started many years ago during a Children’s Literature course in college. My passion for books and poems grew even more when our children were born. Years later when I started teaching, literature and poetry became my lifelines, my “bag of tricks”. However, I quickly learned that poetry was not something to save for a unit or a month in the spring. The value of poetry and the power of poetry needed a special place in the classroom culture. And heck I needed to do something with the poems I was collecting like they were rare, vintage baseball cards. I was constantly discovering new poets or finding out that some of my favorite authors also wrote fabulous poetry. This year, I tucked a poem bookmark in the envelope with my August “back to school” letter. Students had a head start on their 4^th grade collection and already knew their teacher was a poetry lover. There are still a few doubters, but by this point in the year most of my students have been bitten by the poetry bug.

As we march towards April I am looking forward to the month that celebrates all things poetry. Even though I believe that poetry deserves our respect and attention every month it’s fun to put poems in the limelight for a month. This year I am hoping to involve more classes in Poem in Your Pocket Day on Thursday, April 14, 2011. I am especially excited to celebrate this event just two days before our spring break. How cool would it be to have the momentum for all things poetry get tucked into backpacks and suitcases? A Poetry Vacation… hmmm…I will have to think about this a bit.

Reflecting on My One Little Word

2011-03-27T21:28:00.003-04:00

Reach

My one little word for 2011

Today I am pondering…am I reaching far enough? Am I reaching out to each and every student? Am I helping students to reach for the stars? How can I reach out to the students who need more? More what? Time? Challenge? Encouragement? Attention?

According to Dictionary.com there are numerous definitions for reach including:

· To succeed in making contact with, influencing, impressing, interesting, convincing, etc.
· To stretch or hold out; extend
· To establish communication with
· To get to

This week I will be looking for new ways to stretch, to communicate, to influence, to interest, TO REACH those who are near and dear to me.

“You can't stay in your corner of the forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes.” A.A. Milne

Story Tellers ~ SOLS Day 26

2011-03-26T21:35:00.003-04:00

Doing some spring cleaning and trying to get a bit more organized...read an article this morning about discarding old books that got me thinking about what I might be ready to part with. Only thinking...I don't really believe it is going to happen. I am so attached to our books. Many of the treasured picture books are tucked away, waiting for grandchildren and a few are still standing proudly on our family room bookshelf pictured above.

You know the saying;

a picture is worth a thousand words.

Or the Rod Stewart Song,

Every Picture Tells a Story.

Think of all things

in our lives

that could tell a story.

Pictures, yes,

Many other belongings too

Have tales to tell.

A desktop,

a bulletin board,

a writer’s notebook,

a junk drawer,

an iPod playlist,

bookmarked websites,

shoes,

quilts,

a favorite sweater,

a backpack,

a purse,

or a bookshelf.

Lost in Books

2011-03-25T06:49:00.002-04:00

We are working on building our stamina this week, adding a few minutes each day to our reading time. Our fourth graders need to have the endurance for testing in May: three days of ELA, two days of math, and two days of science. They are used to reading 40-45 minutes at a stretch, but will need 70 minutes of staying power for the TESTS. Therefore, now rather than later we decided to exercise these muscles. The good news is our class read for 55 minutes today. The better news is students are learning more about themselves as readers, recommending books, falling in love with authors, and planning for what they are going to read next. My conferences with individuals and small groups of students are bringing smiles to my face and warming my teaching heart. Our conversations have revealed deeper thinking and wondering. Students are excited about their reading lives and the passion is spreading like good news.

In September and October, we are so diligent about building a classroom community. Then something happens…we jump in the deep end of the pool and paddle around, sometimes barely staying afloat assuming the work we did in the fall will sustain. Sure there will most definitely be moments of angst about the TESTS, but for now we are going to keep stretching and reaching and growing together.

Music to Teacher Ears! ~ SOLS 23

2011-03-23T23:31:00.001-04:00

These are the words that are speaking to me tonight, words that I need to tuck away, for they will surely brighten a rainy day.

“I was missing that voice.”

Every once in a while I take on an accent for the narrator of a book that I am reading aloud. I don’t think I am all that good at it and always wish I could do different voices. The narrator, Georgina’s voice in How to Steal a Dog by Barbara O’Connor immediately reminded me of Opal from Because of Winn Dixie who I also gave a southern accent. When I first started reading, my students wondered out loud, “what happened to your voice?”

Yesterday I had a meeting and had not left yet when the substitute started the read aloud. I had to chuckle a bit when shortly after she started reading, S. raised her hand and asked if she could do the voice the way Mrs. A. does it. Fast forward to this afternoon, after a short discussion recapping yesterday’s events, I started reading. A moment later from the back of the meeting area I hear H. (one of my most difficult students) say “Oh, I was missing that voice.” A few simple words, but oh so meaningful and memorable. H. you made my day! :)

More about the book in a future post. We are LOVING it!

Looking for Spring ~ Day 22

2011-03-22T23:08:00.003-04:00

Just a week ago we were flirting with spring. Winter coats were traded for sweatshirts, bikes were dusted off, and balls were bouncing. Today the temperatures dipped and the wind whipped. I dug out my winter wear and bundled up. At least it was still light out and the robins were still singing with vigor, ready to welcome spring whenever she returns. I hope that these are hearty New York robins, for tomorrow they will be singing in the snow. My thoughts tonight had me playing with the words that were springing up. Here's my draft...a work in progress.

Spring please come back.

You stopped by,

But did not stay.

Where are you now?

We looked today,

Is that you hiding beneath that blanket of grey

that covers our sky?

But wait, there’s a familiar sound.

Aren’t they singing your song?

Surely you know the tune.

Spring, isn’t that your ambassador?

Perched on a branch

was a robin

shivering

and searching

and singing.

Perhaps he too

was looking for you,

the season he loves to serenade.

hoping to lure you back

with his song.

Searching for Balance SOLS 21

2011-03-21T22:26:00.003-04:00

Today I found myself thinking about balance and wondering why it’s such an elusive concept. Summer is the truly the time when the one-sidedness balances out. I read widely and often. I write. I garden. I cook. I try new recipes. I nurture neglected friendships. I sew. I quilt. I am balanced.

Tonight I spent a bit of time in my sewing room mostly catching up on some ironing. Even so, it felt good to be there in my little corner of balance – the fabric, the books, the quilting tools, my inspiration board, and much more. (This has been the dumping room during our home improvement.) The room needs a good tidying before I can really get down to business, but that didn’t matter. Tonight I just needed to wrap myself in my sewing room. If you enjoy creating – scrap-booking, knitting, drawing, quilting, and much more, I believe in the value of making time to feed this creative spirit, and finding your place, your sanctuary, your ”sewing room.” Where’s your place? Do you have a creative spirit? What do you create?

Color My World ~ SOLS 20

2011-03-20T23:09:00.001-04:00

I finally picked out some carpet today! This winter we have been knee deep in home improvement projects. Oodles of work, most of which was completed by my handy husband. Choosing colors can be oodles of fun, but challenging to narrow down. The names of products and colors had my mind reeling. The bedroom is now Gulf Shore blue. The hallway is Carriage Door, a sea turtle green. The bathroom is Sea Salt or is it Ocean Pearl. The beachy paint hues get me every time.

So back to the carpet decision– the list below looked so cool in a Wordle, but I still can’t figure out how to post it here…This is just a sample of the carpet names I gathered from their website. We decided on the Bliss carpet in Bisque (a medium brown.) I may call it Sand Castle instead. Perhaps I have a future in naming paint or carpet colors. I’ll have to add this to my bucket list.

Seize~the~Moment

Never~Let~Go

Soft~embrace

Pearls~Of~Wisdom

Come~out~and~play

Soft~and~cozy

Unforgettable

Bliss

Make~a~statement

Whisper~soft

Cozy~and~soft

Soft~sensation~supreme

Soft~spoken

Soft~spoken~supreme

Ambiance

Tuscany~sunset

Unrivaled~softness

Barefoot~soft

Pillow~soft

Lost~in~soft

Fields~of~softness

Good~vibrations

Star~island

Generously~soft

Coming~up~daisies

Days~of~softness

Hold~on~forever

Delightfully~soft

Art~of~softness

World~of~softness

Grand~softness

SOLS Day 19

2011-03-19T23:13:00.001-04:00

Today I had high hopes to clean the house, catch up on laundry, pay bills…you know get organized at home. Well, it turned out that I wasn’t home for long today and that is okay. Actually it’s more than okay since today was filled with so much more than a completed to-do list. Today I am so thankful for...

mugs of steaming hot coffee

the Saturday morning paper

children who like to spend time with their parents,

time spent with our children.

Saturday morning bowling,

sunny days,

my new sunroof,

shopping with my daughter,

shrinking snow piles,

parties,

good friends,

good food,

love,

laughter,

and carrot cake.

Today I am thankful for many things.

I am also thankful that tomorrow is Sunday.

Good night.

Jewels in the Mulch

2011-03-18T18:03:00.003-04:00

Lime jewels poke out

Like tiny bits of lipstick

Whispering spring’s song

As I approached the walkway today I spotted bits of green hiding in the mulch. Our landscape will be a drab brown for bit longer, but I am seeing beauty in the dullness that has replaced the blanket of white. The birds are singing. It’s still light out at 7:00 pm. And the mercury has climbed into the 5os for two consecutive days, Hip hip hooray! Today I am thankful for glimpses of spring!

Happy Poetry Friday and the 18th day of the SOLS at the Two Writing Teachers blog. Visit Andromeda at A Wrung Sponge for the Poetry Round-up.

Dozing Off ~ SOLS 16

2011-03-17T00:29:00.000-04:00

We are half way through March. We have half of March left to go. Either way this month is marching right along. This afternoon I asked my 4^th graders to reflect on the SOLS challenge thus far. I listed four questions on the Smart Board to generate some thinking. How is the SOLS challenge going for you so far? What new things have you learned about yourself as a writer? How are you growing as a writer? What areas would you like to work on as we continue with the March challenge? This has been a week of late nights for me. Burning the candle at both ends catches up with the night owls. Therefore, I am going to let these wonderings tumble around in my head. Perhaps a better night’s sleep will clear the dust.