Things I learned in March

Slice of Life Challenge - Day 31 - hosted by Two Writing Teachers


Top 10 Things I Learned From the SOLC:



10.  Feedback is important.  Comments were motivating.
9.  It's amazing how much inspiration you find just by looking around you.
8.  It is important to know who your audience is when you are writing.
7.  I need to figure out a good way to celebrate my student writers.
6.   I thought I would run out of ideas...I didn't!
5.  I feel like I have something to say now and people will want to read it.
4.  I enjoy putting my thoughts onto the page - it is freeing.
3.  My children and students are quite inspiring as writing subjects.
2.  I had no idea about the sense of community that would be gained from this challenge.
1.  I am a writer.

Thank you to all who commented on my slices this month.  This was my first SOLC and I loved it!  I will continue to slice on Tuesdays and look forward to seeing you throughout the year.  Thank you Ruth and Stacey for an amazing challenge!

Nonfiction Writing!!!

 Slice of Life Challenge - Day 29 - hosted by Two Writing Teachers

I have been taking a class called Crafting Nonfiction as Readers and Writers for K-2 teachers.  It has been awesome!  I have been learning not only from a master teacher, but also I've had the opportunity to see what other teachers are doing in their classrooms regarding nonfiction reading and writing.
The "homework" for us is to try something new, nonfiction-related, and bring samples or pictures to share with the class.  I spent time last week taking pictures of all the things we do during a day in kindergarten.  My kids each chose a picture (that they starred in, of course) and wrote a caption for it.  Some chose to say exactly what they were doing in the picture (i.e., I was reading with Tyler in the library.) and some were more general (i.e., We go to music class.).  I left the door open for them to choose how they wanted to write their caption, what they wanted to say and then sat back to see what they would do.

My purpose for this activity was three-pronged.  First, I needed to have something "nonfiction related" to share in my final class.  Second, I wanted to be able to finish up their last "normal" writing pieces and not leave one hanging out there half-finished over spring break.  Third, I wanted to have a display to show parents during our kindergarten round up meeting because they always ask the question: What will my child do in kindergarten all day long?  One activity...three problems solved.  Nice!

The kids really did well with the captions.  Most wrote one simple sentence.  A few wrote a longer 2-3 sentence caption.  Three kids had minimal sound support for writing (ONLY because I wanted the parents to be able to read it) but the rest figured out their sounds and I'm confident that parents will be able to read them just fine.  A couple kids needed support to remember the spaces between words...popsickle sticks and gentle reminders did just fine for this purpose.

The kids loved it!  I loved it!  It was a nice way to wrap up our writing workshop during this crazy week.  I grouped the pictures and glued them to construction paper with titles to further explain to parents what they are seeing.  The kids oohed and ahhhed over the display!  They are so excited to help the parents of the "new kindergarten kids" and they feel so grown up thinking that they are writing for this big, real world purpose.  It really was the highlight of the week!

Here are a few pictures to show their hard work!  Enjoy!

I rolled the ball through the tunnel.                      We can read.  Books are fun when the teacher reads them.



 I play with Bristle blocks.                                                 We write stories.

Write On Princess

Slice of Life Challenge - Day 28 - hosted by Two Writing Teachers

My children are fortunate/unfortunate to hang out in my classroom with me after school.  As I "finish up" my work for the day (like it's every really done?), they entertain themselves.  They use the computers, play on the ipad, make paper creations born out of the scrap box, etc.  Sometimes I even get lucky and find them working on homework together.  Those are the good days. 

But it's a different story when we get home.  Everyone goes in their own direction.  Son usually goes downstairs for a little video game down time...his break from the day.  Princess (above) usually turns on the tv...her break from the day.  Sassy (3 year old) usually begins to pull out the toys and proceeds to fill the living room floor with every Polly Pocket, Lego, wooden block, plastic animal, Squinky and Lalaloopsy toy we own...and we own MANY...her break from the day.  Baby girl usually sits in her high chair munching on banana puffs while I begin to cook something excellent for dinner.  :) 

Today, instead, Son and Princess threw their backpacks into their bedrooms and ran out the door to the freedom of the backyard.  I watched their various activities as I put away the lunch boxes, pulled food from the fridge and began to cook.  At one point, I looked up from my chopping to see Princess, standing in the middle of the yard, notebook in hand, trying to write something and balance at the same time.  I hadn't noticed that the notebook went out the door with her, along with her new "clicky" pencil.

Later, in the middle of shooting baskets with the soccer ball, I heard her tell Son that she was taking a break for a minute.  I took a break from my stirring.  There she was, my girl, hunched over the patio table, writing furiously in her notebook. Icouldn't resist so I asked through the open window:

Me: What are you writing Princess?
Her: A story about soccer.  Want me to read it to you?
Me: Of course!  [Son sighs impatiently]
Her: I'll read it to you when I come inside. I've got to get back to my game!

About every five minutes or so the play would stop and Princess would return to her notebook to write more of her story.  She read me a little snippet when she came in.  Later, I checked out her notebook.  Here is what I found - in true six-year-old form:

page 1 - i'm loven' it
page 2 - [sister's name]
page 3 - belev me
page 4 - I like [sister's name]
page 5 - bee biy the door
page 6 - my favrit techer is Ms.D
page 7 - fliing away ahhhhhh!
page 8 - 10x10=100   10x0=0    100x0=0
page 9 - playing a new game
              cote with hande
              bowns on the wall
              ceche
              hit the bottom of my hande
page 10 - and basketball
                yes basketball
                no!
page 11 - new flowre
page 12 - Sokre Ball - I can't play the game. How can I play sokre? Yes I get my sokr ball.
page 13 - The Skare chree's - I so a tree. It was qwiite and still. I go agen. ahhhhh.
page 14 - The ride to School - I am in the car. My mom is driving. I am so Happy! My techre is Mrs. D. I eat at 12:30. I love math. I kinda donte like read to selfe.  [Don't like read to self? Made Mommy sad...until she explained that it's right before snack and she's always hungry then. Whew. Close one.]

That's my girl! Writing her thoughts from the world around her as only a munchkin can do. I wonder what tomorrow will bring to the notebook.  Write on Princess...write on.

Just the Facts...

SOL Challenge - Day 27 - hosted by Two Writing Teachers

Fifteen Things About Me:

1. I have 4 beautiful children - one boy, three girls - ranging from 9 to 7 months.
2. I am the youngest of 5 children.
3. I play the violin.
4. I am a new fan of guacamole.
5. I never met either of my grandfathers - both died before my parents were 10. 
6. I was going to be a country singer when I was little - I had the cowboy hat and guitar to prove it.
7. I love chick flicks.
8. I need music and I love to sing...by myself, in the car, making dinner, at bedtime.
9. I knew all the words to every Elvis song long before I could tie my shoes - they were lullabyes from my mom.
10. I would like to solve the world's problems-I hate politics-why can't everyone get along?
11. I wish I could play the guitar and the left hand on the piano.
12. I think pizza is the perfect food-so many possibilities, so much gooey cheese.
13. I have learned that five-year-olds are incapable of whispering.
14. I believe that the day needs more hours for time spent at home (not for work).
15. I am sad to see the SOL challenge come to an end...I will miss all the lovely words I read and the words of encouragement I received and the sometimes surprising words that poured out.

Free

Slice of Life Challenge - Day 26 - Hosted by Two Writing Teachers

The wind rushes past

Brushing all my cares to the side

The wind rushes past

I pump my legs harder

Until I can only see blue sky up ahead.

The wind rushes past

Shoving all my cares away

The wind rushes past

I trudge up the rungs and

Whoosh, down I go!

The wind rushes past

Spinning away my worries

The wind rushes past

Circling around but not landing

A flash of objects past my eyes.

The wind rushes past

My concerns vanish

The wind rushes past

It’s a playground day

A day of feeling free like the wind.

Book Spine Poems

Slice of Life Challenge - Day 25 - Hosted by Ruth and Stacey of Two Writing Teachers

I have seen several people create book spine poems in the last couple of weeks.  Until this SOL challenge, I had never heard of them before.  As a kindergarten teacher, I'm not sure this would be a form of poetry that I would use in my classroom as a teaching tool, but certainly as a type of poem I could read and expose my students to.  So, here is my attempt to create something new out of all those great titles sitting on my children's bookshelves at home.  This pile comes from my son's shelf.  I'm not sure I love it, but here is my first try!  An ode to the snow days we DID NOT have this winter:

After I made that first bookspine poem, I didn't publish the slice right away.  It just didn't feel done and I had nothing left to give it just then.  It has been hanging out there as one of those "maybe someday I will come back to this" slices.  I thought more about book spine poems yesterday after reading Grade4Wizard's slice about stacks of books and I decided to give it another go.  I hit up the book shelf again...this time with my middle daughter in mind.  These were her baby books, now outgrown and passed along to my youngest daughter.  I still picture her sitting with them piled high around her when I see them.

One last attempt...from my oldest princess's bookshelf.

Well, now I can say I've tried it!  I won't quit my day job to become a full-time book spine poet, but it was fun to try anyway.  It's certainly harder than it looks! 

How It Happened - Part Two

Slice of Life Challenge - Day 24 - hosted by Two Writing Teachers

Roomie: Robin! Phone call!  It's a BBBBOOOOYYYY!!!
Me: Who, my dad?
Roomie: Ha, Ha!  Here!
Me: Hello?
Bill: Um, hi, this is Bill.  I'm Joe's roommate?  I was wondering if you wanted to go get dinner or something?
Me: [Gulp!] Um, yeah, that sounds good! [Holy Crap! It's actually him!]
Bill: How about tomorrow? Do you like Fazoli's?
Me: Tomorrow is good...I like Fazoli's!
Bill: Ok, I'll come pick you up...what's your room number?

--------

Her: So...did you have fun?
Me: Yes, he is awesome!
Her: You like him a lot huh?
Me: Yes!
Her: Well, Joe said that Doug said that Bill said that he likes you a lot too!
Me: Seriously, back to junior high again!?
Her: [laughing] I know, but still...He likes you!
Me: I like him!

---------

Her: You guys have been going out for a while...has it been a year?
Me: Yep...over a year! 
Her: Are you going to marry him?
Me: I don't know. I would say yes if he asked!
Her: AHHH! That is so exciting!!!
Me: Well, he hasn't asked yet!
Her: He will.  He loves you. You can tell every time he looks at you!  I'm so glad I made you go visit that day freshman year.
Me: Me too!  Thanks again, by the way.

---------

Her: I'm going to be getting home a little later than I thought.
Me: Ok, Bill is bringing me dinner. I'm sure we'll still be here when you get home. I think we are going to watch a movie or something.
Her: Ok, see you later!

---------

Bill: I brought us Fazoli's! I ordered baked ziti for you and spaghetti for me.  Remember our first date?
Me: Yes, I do! I thought it was funny that you ate your spaghetti with your spoon.  I have only seen people do that on tv!
Bill: I only did that so I wouldn't be so messy on our first day.  I didn't want to get it all over me!
Me: You do have a special talent for that.
Bill: [gets out of his chair, down on one knee] I bought this over the weekend and I just can't wait any longer to give it to you.  I love you.  Will you marry me?
Me: [jaw on floor] YES!

----------

Her: [peeks her head in the door]
Bill: You can come in now!
Her: Well? [all smiles]
Me: We are getting married!  Look! [holding out my hand]
Her: I've already seen it.  Why do you think I was late?  It's so beautiful!  I'm so happy for you guys!
[hugs all around]

----------

We've been married almost 11 years and we still celebrate that first trip to Fazoli's - January 16, 1997.  There have been a lot of highs and lows since then, but always we have been by each other's sides.  Best friends.  Who could ask for anything more than that?