Day 18 - Light

I don't know if it's knowing that spring is just around the corner (at least I hope) or if it's because of the time change, but I have been noticing the spectacular skies in the morning on my drive to work.  I have taken a few pictures but didn't really know what I would do with them.  I just liked them.

Today, as I snapped another picture, I started thinking about my OLW for 2014.  Back in January, I chose my word, wrote about it, even wrote a poem about it, but I haven't returned to it much since then.  My word this year is "light" and the beautiful sky this morning with the bright orange sun just barely peeking out above the tree line made me think of it again.

I can make several different connections here and since I can't pick one...you get a snapshot of all of them!  First, there is the fact that winter is ending and spring is coming...the sky I have been noticing is like the "light" at the end of the tunnel...finally!  Next, there is the "light" that is beginning to pop up above some of my struggling student's heads lately.  It's that time of year when things are really starting to click for some of them!  Third, there is the shift in the time change that makes it possible for me to see the sunrise.  For so long I woke in the dark, drove to work in the dark and even drove home in the dark many times.  Now, I get to see the "light" of morning again!  Finally, there is the "light" of a new day dawning that is just amazing.  It always makes me feel good when I think about a new day starting and all the new opportunities that come along with it.

Here are a couple of the pictures I have taken lately.  I hope you are able to find some light today too.

Poetry Friday - Generating Light

Whew!  Three posts in one week!  Hang on to your hat!

Anyway, it's Poetry Friday and my fabulous friend Betsy at ithinkinpoems is hosting!  She takes us on a beautiful journey through the Michigan's splendor.  Be sure to check it out!  She also shares a picture taken by friend that is just magnificent!

For my contribution this week, I write about my OLW - Light!  About a week ago, I saw a friend's post on Facebook that was asking for some inspiration to get the writing juices flowing.  Many people responded with thoughts and ideas, but one really hit home for me in many ways.  As I read the phrase "generating light" I fell in love.  I went on about my day, days really, but I couldn't shake that phrase from my mind.  It ended up igniting both my One Little Word for 2014 and a poem.

As I sat down to cut out an enormous pile of laminating, the words kept bouncing around in my head.  I was sitting next to the computer so I opened a document and began to type the bits and pieces that came to mind as I cut.  By the time my pile was finished, so was my poem!  I love multitasking and it turned out to be a nice sampling of things that bring light into my life.

Generating Light

A smiling babyface opening Christmas presents.
Generating Light

A child’s laugh erupting from the belly.
Generating Light

A sparkle of stars in the midnight sky.
Generating Light

A leg-hug from a two-year-old.
Generating Light

A hot cup of coffee on a cold morning.
Generating Light

A long snuggle by a crackling fire.
Generating Light

A neck squeeze by child-sized arms.
Generating Light

A sunshine walk in the woods.
Generating Light

A comfortable conversation with a friend.
Generating Light

A tasty meal with easy fellowship.
Generating Light

A pudgy hand holding on tight.
Generating Light

An uplifting melody stuck between the ears.
Generating Light

A faithful memory that holds the heart.
Generating Light

A collection of treasured pleasures throughout the day.
Generating Light

A feeding of the soul.
Generating Light

Goodbye Growth, Hello Light

 

It's time to share one final Slice of Life in 2013!  Join the gang at Two Writing Teachers for another Slice of Life Tuesday!

 



It's always hard for me to put my thoughts at the close of the year into words.  I've been struggling with a slice of life to share today.  Mostly, as this year draws to a close, I've been thinking about my One Little Word. 

In 2013, I chose the word:

GROWTH

Over the past year I have reflected a bit on my OLW but not nearly enough.

I've watched growth all around me...in my children, my students, my family, my friends.  I've grown myself in may ways.  It was a good word and though I didn't spend as much time with it as I would have liked, it's time to move on.

This year I have selected:

LIGHT

as my OLW for 2014.

I hope to be more involved in the meaning of this word.  I hope to do more things that bring light into my life.  I hope to bring light to those around me in whatever way I can.  I hope to let my light shine into new places this year.  I hope this year's journey is full of light in every way.  I hope to share the slices of light I find in the new year through my blog posts...I'm already looking forward to the March Slice of Life Challenge!

And so, with 2014 just a handful of hours away...I'm beginning to look for light.  Today I've seen it in the eyes of my children...in the smile of my husband...in the words of a friend...in the hope and promise that a new year holds.

Have a safe and happy new year everyone and may life's light shine brightly for you in 2014!

Working On My Workshop...Growth to Follow

In my classroom, I have reached the time of the school year when I need to re-evaluate the writing environment.  It's time to step back and take a look at how things are going.

This is what I've been doing for the last week.  Trying to decide what is working well, what needs adjustment and if anything needs an overhaul.  The first thing I did was move children around.  They have seats at the tables that don't change.  However, I've noticed that during writing workshop, these are not the best seats for all children.  My first order of business this week was to change the workshop seating.  I spread the kids out all over the classroom.  I would ideally prefer for the kids to make these seating choices on their own but with this particular group of children, if I allowed that choice, writing workshop would turn into chat workshop!  :)

In order to move students around, I have had to rethink their writing tools and caddies.  I made it work last week by stretching what was available the best I could (kids that sit on the floor got clipboards, some students sit on the counter, some are at small tables around the room, etc.) but it ended up meaning that a few kids were walking around the room to locate an item (a certain color crayon, a colored pencil, a regular pencil, etc.) rather than just being able to get comfy and absorbed in their work.  To fix that problem, Monday we will be switching to a combination of tool caddies.  There will be some caddies that stay on the tables...for children that sit there during writing workshop.  For students that are on the floor, at a small table elsewhere in the room, or sitting on the counter space, I will be putting together pencil boxes that have the pencil, crayons, and colored pencils that they will need.  I know there will still be supplies that they will need to get up for, but at least it will be somewhat more contained to allow them to get caught up in their work.

I have also been doing some rereading of my professional books. I spent time this summer reading Katie Wood Ray's book: The Writing Workshop - Teaching the Hard Stuff (and it's all hard stuff). I've gone back to that book to review some of her ideas that really struck a chord with me. I also pulled out a book that I purchased recently but hadn't yet begun to read. It is Marcia Freeman's Teaching the Youngest Writers: A Practical Guide.  I have to share a quote from this book that resonated with me as I read from the chapter on creating the workshop environment this morning.  "Your first big step is to expect your students to write.  Act on that premise.  In the beginning, treat them as writers, call them writers, make them believe they are writers.  Have faith: Build it and they will come."

I think that is what it all boils down to...build it and they will come.  If I make sure the environment is in good shape (and of course, my teaching as well), they will come...or maybe more to the point, they will write.

My OLW for this year is grow.  I think I found my first opportunity to reflect on this word.  I am pushing myself to grow by doing some reflection and professional reading right now and I am expecting to see my students grow in their writing as a result.

Because it is also the time of year when assessments are high on my list and report cards are on the horizon, I am looking forward to collecting a writing sample from my youngsters.  I can't wait to see what kind of growth they have made!

Grow With Me

Be sure to visit Two Writing Teachers for more tasty slices!

I've never chosen one little word (OLW) before but I've been giving it a lot of thought.  I have considered so many different words.  Some words made it higher than others on the list: hope, kindness, strength, lead, inspire.

I was very close to picking kindness.  I love the word and the idea of focusing on kindness.  I decided instead of making it my OLW, I would rather it be my way of life.  I choose kindness.

So...what did I choose?

Grow.

I can apply this to every area of my life.  My children. School and teaching.  Professional development.  Relationships.  Everything.

I want to grow.  I want to see growth.  I want to look back at the year and reflect on growth.

Bring it on 2013!