Literacy Learning Zone

The March Slice of Life Story Challenge hosted  at the  Two Writing Teachers Join us for a month of writing! __________________________________________________ "Mommy, what's an anniversary?" M. asked this morning. She remembered the big word Grandpa told her.  He reminded the girls yesterday that it was Grandma and Grandpa's 46th wedding anniversary today. "An anniversary is like a birthday -- except you celebrate another special moment.   Grandma and Grandpa are celebrating their wedding anniversary . They got married 46 years ago.  Can you believe it?" I explained. "Wow. That's a long time," P responded. And that's the way it should be.  I'm so thankful that both my parents and my husband's parents are able to show us and our girls the meaning of one marriage for one lif...

The March Slice of Life Story Challenge hosted  at the  Two Writing Teachers Join us for a month of writing! __________________________________________________ Here, I write. Boy, life can get in the way of this slice of life story challenge. I mean, thankfully life provides me with opportunities upon opportunities of stories. There are plenty of stories that can be crafted and shared, but I feel the pressure of time. Some stories need and deserve more of my time. Yet, I'm finding that those stories are staying deep inside. They are not the ones I'm allowing to come to the surface when I'm writing. Here, I write. Even as I struggle with the story of time. I also know my rhythm for writing. I like to write in the evening when the girls are asleep. Then reread my draft in the morning before publishing. I like mini...

The March Slice of Life Story Challenge hosted  at the  Two Writing Teachers Join us for a month of writing! __________________________________________________ today:  i celebrate the first day of slowing down for spring break today :   was chilly, but sunny and surprisingly nothing scheduled want to be:   reading, reading, reading and commenting on more slices  blessings:    my health and the house buying & selling process has been smooth thinking:   i'm really tired and there is so much more i want to say planning:   my spring break week with my girls and my family writing:   this quick little slice, while many other stories are waiting ... loving:    my girls and hubby and family and friends near and far grateful:   that my parents are comi...

The March Slice of Life Story Challenge hosted  at the  Two Writing Teachers Join us for a month of writing! ____________________________________________________ Spring break is so close.   It's almost here.  And it's just what I am in need of ... Right now. Today is the last day To send kiddos home  with lots of books to enjoy. Right now. "You will be missed." Then we say our goodbyes  with many hugs and high fives. Right now. Right now. Time to play, ponder, pack. Time for family, friends, fun. Time to read, write, renew ... Right now. It's almost here. It's just what I am in need of ... Spring break is ... here.

The March Slice of Life Story Challenge hosted at the Two Writing Teachers Join us for a month of writing! _____________________________________________________ I had forty-five minutes to myself as I waited for the girls to tap and dance away in their pale pink tutus. I brought my beautiful new "happy" journal, just in case I had an idea or two to scribble about for another slice of life ... I was surprised when all this came pouring out onto the pages of my notebook. After attending an inservice this week, it sparked a little personal reflection as I continue to grow as an educator to make a difference in my small corner of the world.   I wrote and rewrote this blog post, adding and deleting. Yesterday, I was not ready to share it, hence my " I wrote a different slice today" post. I don't like to use this out-in-the-world space to share frustrations ... so even though I felt better about writing about those frustrations in my journal, I d...

The March Slice of Life Story Challenge hosted at the Two Writing Teachers Join us for a month of writing! _____________________________________________________ I wrote a different slice for today. A reflective slice about education. After a positive PD inservice. About asking the right questions. Seeing the future of modern learning. Thinking of myself as a learner. I wrote a different slice for today. A slice about the romance of education. The beautiful, enticing future of learning. About the opposite reality of what teachers live. Everyday as we walk deep, deeper in the trenches. Frustrated living between the worlds of romance and reality. I wrote a different slice for today. A slice that came from my heart. Sharing with some close to me. Not knowing the reaction from all. Worried about what others will think. Not brave enough to share just yet. I wrote a different slice for today ... maybe I'll share it tomorrow.

The March Slice of Life Story Challenge hosted at the Two Writing Teachers Join us for a month of writing! _____________________________________________________ An hour makes all the difference.   After I'm finally cleaned up and organized for the next school day, I race back home to pick up the girls. They spend their afternoon at the after school program.  Most days they roll their eyes and look the other way when I walk in to pick them up.   I'm happy and I'll take this as a good sign that they enjoy their time. Yesterday, I picked them up and we headed home having a conversation about their day.  Then the girls sat at the counter in the kitchen and worked on their math homework, while I warmed up dinner.  Nothing fancy tonight.  I'm happy with simple. After our dinner was complete, it was only six o'clock and it was light out.  And there was still an hour of daylight lingering.  The four of us looked at each other ...