Skip to main content

{dear reader} 1/31 #sol18

__________________________________________________

The March Slice of Life Story Challenge
hosted at the Two Writing Teachers.
Join us for a month of writing!
__________________________________________________




Dear Reader,

You are here! I celebrate that YOU are on this writing journey with me for the month. I cannot even believe this is year eight for me. Each year has felt different: from feelings of anticipation to nervousness to excitement to everything in between. 

Yet, here is what I know for sure:

In this community, we celebrate words on a page. 

A short, simple slice of your life is about capturing small moments from an ordinary day.  

You will understand how your student writers' feel.

Use your notebook to hold a thought. (You think you'll remember that great idea for a slice.)

Play with words, write a poem, or try something new. Other slices make great mentor texts!

It's not easy to write every day -- publicly -- for thirty-one days. 

But you'll soon realize writing day-after-day is oh-so rewarding.

Comments matter. You'll see ... because there will be a day. 

A day when you have nothing to write. Nothing

But you will dig deep and still write.

Because remember? 

We celebrate words on a page. A short, simple slice of life.

Welcome to our first of thirty-one days of writing! It's going to be an amazing month!

Just write,
Michelle








Comments

  1. Thanks for reminding me to live like a writer throughout the day by carrying a notebook. This idea is going to save me in two ways, keeping me grounded in a happy identity I love, being a writer, (as I teach second grade) and helping me be more efficient in the morning when I need to write quickly! Thanks so much, happy March!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Awesome! Let me know how it goes ... Happy writing!

      Delete
  2. Welcome back for year 8! I still remember reading your slices when I first started 8 years ago...:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aw, that's awesome! So happy to be on the journey again!

      Delete
  3. Hard to believe that you've been on this journey for 8 years and me for 7 years. It's an amazing community and I'm anxious to start sharing, reading and commenting. Happy writing. Love ya, Mom

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Mom! So excited that you are continuing on this writing journey with me!

      Delete
  4. A notebook. So simple. So many ideas cross our minds during the day and get lost durig the shuffle. I'm going to start carrying one. Today. Thanks for the inspiration!

    ReplyDelete
  5. So glad to be back for my third (I think!) year. You are right: it's not easy to write publicly for 31 days. But so worth it. I look forward to seeing what slices we'll all create and discover this month. (And I love the reminder about seeking slices in other slices.)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm so happy that you are joining in again, Elisabeth! Happy writing!

      Delete
  6. Happy year 8, Michelle! You've captured most of the benefits of slicing. But I think you forgot making new friends even though you have never met in person. Here's to 30 more days!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are SO right, Deb!!!! And I cannot believe it's year 8 and there are so many of still around writing ... that's the power of this community!! Cheers to "slicing friends"!

      Delete
  7. I love this line: In this community, we celebrate words on a page. The simple idea of celebrating words on a page. So refreshing and releasing. Thank you for the pep talk!!
    Clare

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This slice of life is just that simple ... words on the page. Happy you are joining in again, Clare!

      Delete
  8. I love this! I'd love to write something like this for my children! Thank you for the inspiration!

    ReplyDelete
  9. These words are most encouraging: "We celebrate words on a page. A short, simple slice of life." Great reminder to us all.
    Just Write

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You got it, Christine. Happy you are joining in again this year! Happy writing!

      Delete
  10. I'm teaching a grad school class in writing in a couple of hours and I will be sharing this post with them How do you teach writing? You have to write because it's about celebrating the words on the page! Thanks for the reminder!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's great! I am humbled my little words will be shared with a grad class! That's awesome and happy writing to you all!

      Delete
  11. Celebrating words for thirty one days in a row. You are right, it is going to be an amazing month.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And I'm thrilled we are doing it together! :)

      Delete
  12. I love everything about this slice because everything is absolutely correct! I am going to share it on our #TeachWrite Tribe Facebook page for our new slicers. Thank you for being such a positive supporter! You are the best!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aw, thanks, Leigh Anne! Share away! I've been pretty calm about this challenge, but now today I can feel the buzz of excitement!

      Delete
  13. Thanks for getting those words in my head....just write, just write, just write!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Trust me ... there will be many days I need that reminder too!

      Delete
  14. Great connecting with you again at #SOL18, Michelle. I am glad that Leigh Anne shared your post tonight. I can say that your line: "Comments matter. You'll see ... because there will be a day," is so true. I have been in a month-long poetry challenge and when I was unsure of what I wrote, I put it out there and the supportive comments came in. That makes the unsure writing still appreciated. (How old are your twins now-8?)

    ReplyDelete
  15. This is such a fun, encouraging celebration of why this community matters, Michelle! So glad to be here with you again!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Celebrating that words on a page have meaning was the topic of conversation at a grade level meeting of kindergarten teachers this morning. A few years ago when I first started slicing you were a great source of inspiration and support for me. Looking forward to slicing with you!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Thank you for the encouragement! I was having a great conversation with my creative friends on the purpose of a journey such as a 31 day writing challenge. And it comes back to community and story! Such powerful tools to bring us together!

    ReplyDelete
  18. I love this! I think it's that "publicly" part that makes this tricky --- and wonderful.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Popular posts from this blog

{40 reasons} #sol15

Slice of Life  hosted  at the Two Writing Teachers Join in and share a slice of your life. _____________________________________________________ Today my husband celebrates a big, BIG birthday -- and I'm so lucky and thankful to have spent  the last sixteen years learning about everything that he loves the last (almost) twelve years learning about everything that I love about him the last (almost) five years learning with my daughters why we love our Daddy. Created at canva.com _____________________________________________________ Happy, happy 40th birthday Jon!

An Interview with Educator/Momma/Writer Ruth Ayres Celebrating #EnticingWriters + Giveaway!

I love sharing book titles with close friends, so I'm happy you are here! I want to share a book that you must add to your to-be-read list. Ruth Ayres has a brand new book titled  Enticing Hard-To-Reach Writers   published by Stenhouse Publishers. It's another must read from Ruth. There are many professional development books available to learn about mastering our craft of teaching.   However, there are only a few that make a true impact -- and this is one book that weaves raw truth, research, practical ideas, and story all in one {cute} little package.  In  Enticing Hard-To-Reach Writers , Ruth allows her worlds to collide during the creation:  "In this book, I entwine my three story lines as educator, momma, and writer." (p. 6) And she does this in an amazing way through sharing stories of her family, adoption, children living in hard places -- and doing their best  -- and healing. She shares how we can use research to understand how to

{#sol15} 10 Tips for the Challenge

Slice of Life  hosted  at the Two Writing Teachers Join in and share a slice of your life. Last Saturday morning, I didn't need to wake up early.  I wanted to go back to sleep.  But instead my brain was awake and thinking.  Creating this list.  Writing this post.   Many of us are embarking on an adventure - the Slice of Life Story Challenge.  Writing, sharing, and commenting for thirty-one days in March. Want to learn more about the SOLSC?  Check out Stacey's post {HERE} about the challenge hosted by the "Fab Six" over at the Two Writing Teachers ' blog.   I hope you find these tips for the challenge helpful whether you are a first-time slicer (cue confetti!) or a year five slicer like me. 1. Before the challenge