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Welcome! Join me as I share my experiences as a wife, mom, and kindergarten teacher, and my reflections on them all. Come along as I share my crazy journey!


Monday, September 30, 2013

September Chalk-a-bration

I was hoping to chalk a poem with my students this month, but life happened and chalk didn't!  So, here is my own contribution today...a little poem written in chalk on my iPad.


My amazing friend Betsy is the host of Chalk-a-bration at her blog Teaching Young Writers. Check out her blog for more wonderful chalk poems!


Tuesday, September 24, 2013

A Single Ray of Sunshine

On my way home from school last week, I captured a picture of a single ray of sunshine escaping through a cloudy sky.  I wrote this as I was driving, completely inspired by that ray of light.

This writing while driving thing is becoming a habit...not a safe habit, but a habit still.  I think I need an app that I can talk to and it will type for me!
 
 



A single ray of sunshine
can light your path
lead the way
can lift a mood
make a day

A single ray of sunshine
can create a smile
light a face
can bring together
strong embrace


My inspiration:


 And a few more "light" shots I have captured since:





















And my favorite one:


Friday, September 20, 2013

Check It Out!

My friend Betsy, who blogs at Teaching Young Writers and ithinkinpoems and is the creator of Chalk-A-Bration, is going to have a guest teacher post on the Two Writing Teachers blog tomorrow, Saturday, September 21.  Be sure to check out her excellent post on writing.



Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Song Smash




I am a music lover, since forever and until forever.  If you could see my collection, you would know it's an eclectic mix, but always there. I always have music playing - in the car, during planning time, in the kitchen, in my head.  Especially in my head.  I usually have a song stuck in my head, playing on a continuous reel, over and over.  This weekend, I caught myself singing.  Interestingly, I had two different songs stuck in my head and I was singing first one and then the other.  When I realized this, I began to see how the songs fit together.  It was like creating a new poem from two old favorites.  I couldn't help myself, I had to get it on paper!  So, today I'm sharing a slice that is borrowed and remixed; a poem made from the lyrics of two songs smashed together for my enjoyment. 

Right from the start
You were a thief
You stole my heart
And I your willing victim
I let you see the parts of me
That weren't all that pretty
And with every touch you fixed them

Not really sure how to feel about it
Something in the way you move
Makes me feel like I can't live without you
It takes me all the way
I want you to stay

Now you've been talking in your sleep,
Things you never say to me,
Tell me that you've had enough
Of our love, our love

It's not much of a life you're living
It's not just something you take – it's given

You've been havin' real bad dreams,
You still lie so close to me,
There's nothing more than empty sheets
Between our love, our love
Oh, our love, our love

Ooh, the reason I hold on
Ooh, 'cause I need this hole gone
Funny you're the broken one but I'm the only one who needed saving
'Cause when you never see the light it's hard to know which one of us is caving


Just give me a reason
Just a little bit's enough
Just a second, we're not broken just bent
And we can learn to love again
It's in the stars
It's been written in the scars on our hearts
That we're not broken just bent
And we can learn to love again


The black lyrics are taken from the song "Just Give Me A Reason" performed by Pink (written by Jeff Bhasker, Nate Ruess, and Alecia Moore).
The red lyrics are taken from the song "Stay" performed by Rihanna (written by Mikky Ekko and Justin Parker).

The Slice of Life Story Challenge is hosted by Stacey Shubitz at the Two Writing Teachers blog.

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Bits of You


It feels good to be serving up a slice today.  This one presented itself to me as I drove home from school.  It was swirling around my mind so quickly and insistently, I almost had to pull over and write it down. 


Bits of You

I saw your hands today, Dad
Resting on my steering wheel
With their long fingers and oval nails
I saw you there in me.

I heard your laugh today, Mom
Coming out of my mouth
And it surprised me so
To hear you there in me.

I thought of all the bits that make me.
Dad’s blue eyes are in my mirror.
My shadow is mom’s exact height.
Mom’s sense of humor is joking in me.
A pinch of Dad’s stubbornness gives me strength.

Thank you Mom and Dad,
I thought,
for the bits of you in me.


For more slice of life stories, check out the Two Writing Teachers blog.