Literacy Learning Zone

Slice of Life Stories hosted by the  Two Writing Teachers A glimpse into our life as the parents of 21 month old twins: a different kind of testing. Sunday morning we were rushing around the house, getting everyone ready to head out the door for church.  It's a circus with the animals running wild. Grab the backpack. Put the snacks in. Slip on a shoe. "Where's M.'s other shoe?"  I mumbled under my breath.  P. walked over with it in her hand. "Thank you, P." Grab a coat. Put on a hat. Slip on the mittens. "M.  Sit down.  You don't stand up on the chair.  Sit down!"  Daddy sternly told her. I'm putting on my finishing touches from earrings to my jacket.  Again, Daddy warned our little dare devil to sit down.  She pushes and tests. Up on one leg. Squatting. Smiling.  Looking right at him. "M.," Daddy calmly tries to say. "No. No.  Off the chair if you can't sit the right way." Daddy whisked her o...

Slice of Life Stories hosted by the  Two Writing Teachers My OneLittleWord: There are many added benefits of having kids -- like the opportunity to be a kid again. Remembering the days we just played and had fun  because we could and  that's what we were supposed to do. The snow softly fell.  It piled up waiting patiently, quietly calling our names. With swishing snow pants, clomping boots, itchy hats, and hand warming mittens, we were ready. Ready to  jump high play loudly sled quickly build steadily destroy swiftly kick fiercely fall heftily lay lazily staring up at the gray sky unable to move except to catch snowflakes on our tongues forgetting about the cold ground beneath us and wet socks on our toes. We laughed, we giggled, we played.  

Slice of Life Stories hosted by the  Two Writing Teachers There has been lots of talk as of late about journals, writer's notebooks, and baskets exploding with notes, ticket stubs, and pictures.   Ruth , Christy , Deb and Jennifer all shared their thoughts and feelings. As great writers do, they got me thinking about my love-hate-to-take-the-time relationship with notebooks. I love  a new, blank, ready-to-write-in journal.  I will buy them just because they look pretty with hopes of writing, holding moments, scribbling notes, describing my hopes and dreams, or whatever my little heart desires. I always have the best of intentions. Like many others, I eagerly start capturing ideas in my new pretty journal using my just-right-perfect pen. The first couple pages even display my prettiest handwriting. Days later . . . my pretty notebook sits open waiting on top of a pile on the counter with a few more ideas of stories to share that I managed to jot down in th...

Slice of Life Stories hosted by the  Two Writing Teachers I've been waiting. Annnnnnnd waiting. I've been debating. And playing with choices. I've been wondering when the one little word would pick me. I've been reading and admiring the already hand-selected words. But one little word keeps coming back to me.  It keeps playing with me.  And now I'm choosing to play with it -- my one little word for 2012 is . . . Last year was the first year I chose a one little word to live by throughout the year. That's about as far as I got.  I picked a word and wrote it on a yellow sticky note.  I didn't announce my word.  I didn't write about my word.  I didn't own my word.  This year I hope will be different.  Life is too short. This year I'm going to PLAY more in my life: Our 20 month old twin daughters are growing faster than I can keep up!  It's hard coming home from a long day at school to a house full of chores to ...

Slice of Life Stories hosted by the  Two Writing Teachers A two week holiday break. Full of resting relaxing playing reading napping  enjoying our days. I needed the time away,  but real life B E E P E D me awake  this morning. Early. Back to school and work like we never even left.