Literacy Learning Zone

Image from Unsplash: Photo Credit Kimberly Farmer March 13th Before the world closed the doors indefinitely I made a quick stop at our library grabbed stacks (and stacks) of books and a few movies to entertain the family during the unknown months ahead. The pile waited -- I imagined enjoying my time at home, spending hours upon hours just reading with my feet up, living in a new book a day. But, for me, I couldn't focus. Fall into a book. Feel lost in another world. All my attention online had my brain dinging like a pinball machine. The pile waited -- The extended lease is up on all the library materials in 5 days. Now I am frantically trying to read and read and read in an attempt to move my to-be-read books to the finished, completed,  happily read and ready to return to the library pile. The pile patiently waited.  Some books will be pleasantly devoured. Some books will be a quick read.  Others will be returned with  a desperate plea to be checked out again. June...

Image from Unsplash: Photo Credit Jordan McQueen Right now, we {should have} been ... Enjoying the Hawaiian Islands A trip of a lifetime with family Celebrating 50 years of marriage and family Soaking up the sun on the beautiful beaches Sight seeing and observing island life Relaxing, laughing, sipping something good Flipping through the tourist books Balancing the busy hustle and the resting calm Making memories and taking lots of photos All this will happen. Just not this year. Not right now.  But Summer 2021. Watch out. We are coming for you. For right now, we are home. Dreaming about what {should have} been.

Right now ... I am at a loss for words. My fingers are empty. The white page taunts me and I return the blank stare. And then I was reminded to just write. Just write. Just write. Write now ... The sun radiates the bright blue sky without a cloud in sight. The warm breeze sending leaves dancing and cotton puffs floating. The house is peacefully quiet, except the tick-tock tick-tock of the clock, a lawn mower in the far distance cutting healthy green blades of grass, And the girls voices traveling down the hall from their upstairs bathroom together creating special art with their hair.

Slice of Life is  hosted  at the  Two Writing Teachers Join in and share a slice of your life.  _____________________________________________________ The last days of school are for ... reminders to exercise their reading brains making a reading plan of who? what? where? when? and why? filling their arms with new books to read at home and a notebook and pen to write story after story The last days of school are for ... small moments of connecting with each child noticing and telling of why they matter to me and this world sharing and caring as much as they need with hugs in between pouring all that I can into their hearts and mi...

__________________________________________________ The March Slice of Life Story Challenge hosted  at the  Two Writing Teachers . Join us for a month of writing! __________________________________________________ Right now I am: ::sitting in the family room watching over the puppy who is resting from her surgery yesterday ::hearing the laundry flip and turn in the dryer dreading the final buzzer ::planning a return trip down to the Science and Industry Museum tomorrow ::celebrating how easy the stories have come to me over the last 26 days ::wondering why now -- on day 27 -- I don't know what to write ::borrowing this slicing format from my friend Terje ::accepting her gift of words because it's just what I needed to get me through another day of writing! Right now ...

__________________________________________________ The March Slice of Life Story Challenge hosted  at the  Two Writing Teachers . Join us for a month of writing! __________________________________________________ The weekend arrived One would think I would have time to write and read and relax. But instead ... I slept in (an extra half an hour) Made breakfast for my family Walked the dog Cleaned and organized Made a light lunch Organized and cleaned Stopped at the library Ran to the sports store Walked the dog again Fixed dinner Finally showered Had date night at the movies with the entire family The house is now quiet Everyone is in bed I finally have a moment to write this weekend.

__________________________________________________ The March Slice of Life Story Challenge hosted  at the  Two Writing Teachers . Join us for a month of writing! __________________________________________________ {16 small moments from my day} Today I ... started the day hitting the snooze button and sleeping in an extra 20 minutes  celebrated NOT having to make two lunches because the girls requested shamrock-shaped chicken nuggets for hot lunch walked the dog a mile through the neighborhood after the girls were picked up by the bus paid a fine at the library for overdue books because that's what happens when you check out lots and lots of books administered the third math PARCC assessment to a small group of students and they worked hard enjoyed a slow lunch reading slices and commenting, but...

__________________________________________________ The March Slice of Life Story Challenge hosted  at the  Two Writing Teachers . Join us for a month of writing! __________________________________________________ A quick trip to Target last night "Girls, let's make this fast!" {We had a list and knew what we needed.} A stop first at the dollar section "Look, Mom. It's only a dollar." {Grabbed a total of four light-up puffer balls.} Then by the books - they know me "Look, Mom. A new one! And it's a signed copy." {Yes, a new copy of She Persisted Around the World .} The cheap party favor aisle "Look, Mom. I've always wanted this." { Added suction cup balls to the cart. I question Why? } To the clothing section for girl...

Slice of Life is  hosted  at the  Two Writing Teachers Join in and share a slice of your life.  _____________________________________________________ I've been patient. Probably too patient. It's just about February and I haven't officially connected with my one little word to help guide me through this new year  ... that is now a month old. I've tossed about words just as many of you have as well. Words that peak my interest. Words that light a little fire. Words that bring me joy. Words that speak to my soul. In the past, my one little words have been safe words. Nothing daring and bold. Nothing that caused me big actions. ...

Slice of Life is  hosted  at the  Two Writing Teachers Join in and share a slice of your life.  _____________________________________________________ {Yesterday} I packed my last box stacked it on top of all the waiting boxes and I sighed. {Yesterday} I looked around my desolate classroom thought about my students and smiled. {Yesterday} memories of students laughing, learning, sharing of great books echoed in the empty room and I looked down. {Yesterday} I left a note welcoming the new teacher moving in hoping she loves the cozy space as much as I did and I blinked back tears. {Yesterday} I took one last look, closed the d...

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...

__________________________________________________ The March Slice of Life Story Challenge hosted  at the  Two Writing Teachers . Join us for a month of writing! __________________________________________________ Lucky for me, my plan was to take the girls to see the musical Madagascar . Lucky for me, I found out their classes were planning to go too. Lucky for me, I found out before I purchased tickets. Lucky for me, chaperones were needed.  Lucky for me, I was selected to chaperone. Lucky for me, it was scheduled for the day before spring break. Lucky for me, I was approved to go. Lucky for me, I got to be a mom today, not the teacher. Lucky for me, it was an amazing musical production. Lucky for me. 

__________________________________________________ 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...