SOLS 6 of 31 Savoring Sunday

Well, yesterday was a sweatshirt day; back to parkas today. Snowy Sundays are perfect for hunkering down inside. We savor the morning, lingering with the newspaper and mug after mug of hot java. Sundays are often cooking and baking days. A pot of simmering soup is comfort food for the week. Cookies put a smile on everyone’s face. In lieu of soup, a veggie medley sizzled in the skillet and fajita marinated steaks seared on the grill – a summery combination that is good any time. The weather rarely keeps us from using our outdoor grill. A few sweeps of the snow shovel clears a path to the grill and a few more swooshes to brush off the grill and we’re in business.

SOLSC, 2011 - 4 of 31 Slogging Along on a Saturday

A Soggy Saturday

What a soggy, gray day, but that’s okay with me. For weary New Yorkers, a muddy March brings hope and faith that spring is coming soon. Like a movie preview that grabs catches your attention, March blows in and shouts, “Hang in there, April is on her way.” Late this afternoon the thermometer approached 50 degrees and the rain died down to a drizzle. After missing our walk a couple days this week, my weimaraner and I were both feeling antsy. Since the air felt almost balmy I knew the day could not end without a walk. I decided a hooded sweatshirt would be enough to face the elements (or a hoody as the kids would call it.) I-pod on, hood pulled up and off we went. As Grace and I were slogging along dodging puddles and muddy snow banks, we heard familiar announcement from Mother Nature. I looked up to see v formation heading north towards the lake. Another sure sign that winter’s days are numbered.

SOLSC, 2011 - 4 of 31 My Reading Self

I have been talking to my 4^th graders about knowing yourself as a reader; knowing how to create the best conditions for getting in the zone with your book; falling in love with books, getting to know the book characters, and the authors that create the stories. Last fall I read about several bloggers that were reflecting on themselves as readers. Franki who blogs at “A Year of “Reading” is working on “100 Things about Me as a Reader”. Her blogging partner, Mary Lee is doing the same. I loved reading their list and this is what I have come up with so far:

1. Realistic fiction is my favorite genre – hands down.

2. I love to talk about books.
3. I have heaps of books.
4. I love to buy books.
5. I also am fond of going to the library to borrow books.
6. I read book reviews wherever I find them, in the newspaper, magazines, blogs, etc.
7. My book club forces me to expand my reading horizons.
8. I love anything by Sharon Creech.
9. Jack from Love that Dog and Hate that Cat is a great character.
10. Realistic fiction with strong, developed characters is a critical part of a book for me.
11. I remember loving Judy Blume in junior high.
12. This quote is totally true – “Don’t judge a book by its movie.”
13. The book is always better.
14. Rarely do I read the book if I see the movie first. Example, Marley and Me.
15. I buy loads of books; too many.??
16. The majority of my non-fiction reading is related to teaching.
17. I read a lot of blogs.
18. I love to learn about authors.
19. I love to meet authors.
20. I love magazines- quilting, gardening, home, educational.
21. At the beach or other public places, I am a book stalker, spying on other readers trying to see the covers of their books.
22. I recommend books, sometimes without even being asked.
23. I like when people suggest books for me.
24. Authors’ names are often easier for me to remember than my neighbors’ names.
25. I love book stores.
26. Libraries, too.
27. Trying to go more often.
28. I miss snuggling on the couch with kids and books.
29. I am so pleased that our daughters are voracious readers.

30.

SOLSC, 2011 - 3 of 31 Power Shopping

Power Shopping

How quickly can one spend $100.00? An on-line purchase can happen in a flash…a click or two, an account number, an expiration date, a three digit code, click, click and an order has been placed. Sitting in comfy sweats with a steaming mug of java money can slip through your fingers.

The scene was not this cozy today. Walk students to lunch. Slip on coat. Sign-out at the office counter. Dash out the door. Thirty minutes later with $138 in groceries tucked in my trunk I was darting in the door. I was surely not a pretty sight blasting up and down the aisles grabbing my groceries. Cutting it oh so close, too close, I arrived back just in time to gather my class in the cafeteria. I try not to run errands too often on my lunch, but after school was going to busy with a meeting and another stop to make on the way home. It’s not that oh so precious, refreshing block of time laughing with co-workers in the faculty room. However, as I drove home this afternoon I was oh so glad that I could cruise right past the grocery store.

SOLSC, 2011 - 2 of 31 Feeling Thankful

• Tonight was the last meeting of an interesting In-Service course taught by two talented teachers who I am fortunate to also call my dear friends. Even as our time was winding down the conversation and learning continued with vigor. Their gentle, easy manner as facilitators encouraged great collegial dialog and sharing. I am continually inspired by the generosity of teachers both near and far which reminded me that today I am thankful for…

* Teachers everywhere…young and old, near and far, in unexpected places
* Picture books
* Picture book authors
* Friends and family who love to talk about books
* Libraries and librarians, for as much as I love to buy books it’s good to sometimes borrow them
* In-service snacks
* Steaming mugs of coffee
* A loving, supportive husband
* A handy “do-it yourself” home improvement husband
* Remodeled bathrooms ~ we have a sink again!
* TWO WRITING TEACHERS ~ Ruth and Stacey ~ thanks for bringing the March writing community together!

SOLSC, 2011 - 1 of 31 Getting Started

Happy First Day of March Slicing! Head over to the Two Writing Teachers blog to learn more about the challenge and to read other blog posts.
Excerpts from our Slice of Life class discussion yesterday afternoon.
“You mean we have to write every day?” R. squawked.
“How much do we have to write?” asked Z.
“Can we write about different things in one day?”A. wondered.
“Do we have to write about the same topic all month?” T. inquired.
This is just a sample of the plethora of questions that students rattled off after I went over the guidelines for the March Writing challenge. My students have written several Slice of Life notebook entries since the fall, so this was not a new concept. Perhaps it was the format…maybe the invitation was too wordy, too daunting. I must remember less is often more.
Along with the outline, students received a March calendar and three examples from my 2010 slices. I try to share a variety of my stories, my attempts, as well as the areas that challenge me as a writer. One of the major reasons I started writing was the conviction that it would help me to grow as a teacher of writing. I truly believe in rolling up my sleeves experiencing the things that I am going to ask young writers to tackle.
So I am feeling like this will truly be a challenge, but we are in this together, all 26 of us! Challenges are good for us. Challenges push us. We climb higher mountains. We reach new heights. Most students are at least semi-enthusiastic. Some were very excited and a couple are just plain dismal…”I can’t do this.” No way, I’ll never make it.” I tried to recognize and acknowledge their concerns telling them that many times in life it is the experiences that we dread that turn out to be the most rewarding.
We’ll see what tomorrow brings. Questions may keep blowing in like blustery March winds, but writing is kind of like the weather in Rochester – unpredictable, ever changing, and sometimes quite surprising! And I must remember that it is good to question. After all I encourage a wondering way of life.