Literacy Learning Zone

Slice of Life is  hosted  at the  Two Writing Teachers Join in and share a slice of your life.  _____________________________________________________ I've become comfortable with this pattern of writing the last couple years. My slice of life writing slows and eventually stops as the school year is in full swing and the holidays arrive. Then January rolls around and I feel that I'm missing out. I'm not recording my stories and I'm missing your stories. But I have enjoyed this time away. For the last two weeks, it's been all about family. Family time. Making memories. Busy living. And not living busy. Just being in the moment....

Slice of Life is  hosted  at the  Two Writing Teachers Join in and share a slice of your life.  _____________________________________________________ And just like that three weeks fly by without writing a slice. But I have excuses: My brain is full and ready to share what's on my mind ... just not here. Many changes happening in my district ... that I'm not ready to share. New position on the horizon ... but I'm not sure yet. My girls turned SEVEN ... and I still cannot believe it. Kid parties, family parties ... oh, thank you cards to help write. The every day to do list ... that never (ever!) gets shorter. I know excuses shoul...

Slice of Life is  hosted  at the  Two Writing Teachers Join in and share a slice of your life.  _____________________________________________________ It's late. I haven't written a thing. This week I scribbled some ideas and seeds in my notebook. But time has not allowed me the opportunity to just write. Particularly because of our newest obsession with a TV show. Now, here is what you need to know. I watch minimal TV. But so many people encouraged us to just watch. I'm thankful for "on demand" TV. The entire season ready to watch right at my fingertips. Weeks ago we started watching. Almost every night we watched yet another ...

__________________________________________________ The March Slice of Life Story Challenge hosted  at the  Two Writing Teachers . Join us for a month of writing! __________________________________________________ "What are we going to do after lunch?" "I need to spend some time writing..." Thinking that I need to catch up and write two posts today. I like to be a day ahead with my slices and I skipped Friday night. P. jumps up and down. "Yes! Can we? I can write on my iPad! We can have a writing afternoon! What are you going to write about?" "I don't know yet ..." We settle at the dining room table. The girls grab their iPads and sit one on each side of me and scooch their chairs in closer. They bring their scrapbooks that Grandma made them from when they were babies. I visit a few blogs. Lea...

Slice of Life is  hosted  at the  Two Writing Teachers Join in and share a slice of your life.  _____________________________________________________ I don't even know where to begin ... as I stare at the daunting white space and the blink-blink-blinking curser.   {Sigh.} Weeks have passed. Life has taken over. I'm sitting somewhere between busy and exhausted. I haven't been writing, or even thinking about writing.  Even though writing has brought me so much joy over the last six years. Last week I received an email from Carol, just check...

Slice of Life is  hosted  at the  Two Writing Teachers Join in and share a slice of your life.  _____________________________________________________ Life is full of so many uncertainties. Right now, family, friends, and colleagues are dealing with a multitude of uncertainties. The uncertainty of what's to come. The uncertainty of the right decision. The uncertainty of just not knowing ... Surgery and treatments Infections and infusions Sudden death of a student New positions at school Decisions to stay home Hopes of a growing family Concerns about words said Frustrations with students Busy overbooked schedules The ...

The March Slice of Life Story Challenge hosted  at the  Two Writing Teachers Join us for a month of writing! _________________________________________ The last seven weeks of Non-stop, super busy Craziness of a schedule For us as A family . All the regular routines of life  And then throw in buying a new home Preparing our current home to sell Living in our home in showing condition, But quickly accepting an offer. More paperwork and signatures. A detailed home inspection. A sigh of relief as we move ahead. Then the weekend finally arrived.   And the calendar was (almost) empty.  Girls hockey on Saturday morning.   After that the day was ours. There was nothing scheduled.  Nowhere to go and nowhere to be. And we did much of nothing.   Church on Sunday morning...

Slice of Life is  hosted  at the  Two Writing Teachers Join in and share a slice of your life.  _____________________________________________________ I struggle daily with it.  I wonder how those super-moms do it all.  I think about all that those super-teachers do.  And then those super-mom-teachers?  Yeah, I struggle with comparison and balancing life. Some days I give more to my girls and family.  Some days I give more to my teaching and professional life.  Rarely do I give myself the time and devotion that I deserve.  I know this.  My Mom reminds me all the time to put myself first.  (Mom, keep reminding me i...