Here are  two AHA moments that I've long wanted to blog about, and the final #SOL17 day is PERFECT for connecting the two!  They share some commonalities, and I offer up the Slice of Life tie-in to bring these aha moments full circle.. 
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1.  I finished reading R.J. Palacio's incredible book Wonder with my kids just before this next event (#2 in this short list) occurred.  I absolutely loved sharing this story of courage, hope, kindness, and overcoming struggles - such an important book for 8- and 9-year olds who live a rather sheltered life with limited diversity in our small community. This lovely book isn't an easy read, it's long and it has some difficult themes for 3rd graders. However, it has so much to offer kids—it contains many nuggets of gold and words of wisdom!  Check out my one of my favorite quotes above.

2.  In November of 2016, a dear friend (the daughter of a dear friend) competed with our local high school band in the state ISSMB finals and performed well.  In addition to taking a tough schedule filled with honors and AP classes her senior year, this friend was one of the drum majors, putting in many hours to help our marching band pull together another top 5 finish at the state level.

These hard-working students were treated to a much celebrated and time-honored tradition in our community - the "welcome home from state" fire truck ride! 

It works like this:  student buses returning to town stop just inside city limits at a shopping center. They're met by parents (and friends like me) AND several local firetrucks.  Students climb aboard the firetrucks and ride through town with sirens blaring and horns honking.  Parents (and friends like me) follow along in a caravan and honk their horns as a show of support.  

Some adventurous parents (and friends like me) generally follow a bit and then meet at the high school to await the arrival of the students for an end-of-season wrap up pep talk from the band directors.  

Some very adventurous parents (and friends like me) weren't content to go wait at the high school, so we decided to follow the firetrucks for a short time and then jumped ahead in the route, parked along a side street and cheered, waved and honked when the firetrucks went past.  Then we jumped ahead again and waited for them, following this routine in a few different locations along the route.  Most kids caught on and loved that we're beating them (barely) and waiting for them.  It was a total SCREAM - such an incredible way to show support and appreciation for their efforts.

{Side note: this is such a strong community tradition that when my school applied for a National Blue Ribbon Award several years ago, we even included in the document that receiving this award would possibly result in a celebratory firetruck ride!  We were awarded the distinction of being a Blue Ribbon School, but we didn't actually get to do the firetruck ride.}
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The quote above from Wonder made me think of the firetruck ride.  I think everyone should have someone who champions them, someone who encourages and believes in them, and someone who is there to cheer when goals are met.  I think everyone should definitely get not only a standing ovation but also a celebratory ride on a firetruck with sirens blaring, horns honking, and family and friends waving in honor of YOU.

Which brings me to the #SOL17 tie-in:

I offer this heartfelt THANKS to all who have inspired me with your #SOL17 posts and your reactions to my own slices. I appreciate each and every one of you for your ability to see something in my everyday writings that often I didn't even see myself.  Truly, you made me feel like I was on the receiving end of a standing ovation just because you took the time to comment, often sharing a connection to your own lives. Thanks, fellow slicers, for making me feel like a state champion!  I've learned so much about writers and writing, and about myself. I've tried some new formats and love that most of these will lend themselves to sharing with students, too!  

THANKS also go to Two Writing Teachers and all of the organizers and Welcome Wagon support slicers!  Thank you, Stacey, Betsy, Beth, Lisa, Melanie, Kathleen - and any others I've missed! You all are deserving of your own celebratory ride on a firetruck—you are champions, one and all!

​Slicing today by following in the footsteps of Judy at Joodles Now and Then, I'm posting a Six Word Story today:

Spring Break skiing, powder day calling!

{Oh, and here's a tiny timely Thursday Tech Tip for you:  if you haven't played around with a photo editing app called Prisma, it's fun and addicting!  It's available for both android and iOS users. Go check it out and don't say I didn't warn you....}

That's it - thanks, Mother Nature and Judy, for today's inspiration!

My Sparkle Crew is actually two crews that keep things running smoothly for all of us at school.

The first is the office crew—two administrative assistants, a nurse extraordinaire, and of course, our admin, a veteran principal -- each of these individuals knows each student and family situation better than most social workers (and we have two dandy social workers, so that's saying a great deal).  Thank you to each of you for helping me to support my students!

The second crew is our instructional assistant crew!  They not only help with instruction, but they do everything from run copies to work with small groups to meet with intervention kids to read with anyone and everyone who might need assistance to work as a writing coach on revising with students to just make us smile.  

While all of these assistants work very hard to make my life easier, in particular, there are one or two who go above and beyond to see what we need help with, often just popping in to see if five to ten minutes of her time will help us with anything. Honestly, she seeks out opportunities when she has precious downtime to come and see if an extra hand is needed with anything.  Most importantly, she goes out of her way to avoid the day-to-day drama that sometimes sneaks its way into an elementary school uninvited. Thank you for this!

So a belated HATS OFF to my two Sparkle Crews - a heartfelt thanks for all of the unnamed ways you support the work we all strive to do!

It's Tuesday - and here is a quick tech tool for you.  Google Forms are so easy to use and incredibly versatile!

First, here are two links and experts to get you started if you've not explored GF much—or even if you've used GF a bunch, you'll find something new to learn!  These ladies have tons of ideas for using Google Forms in more ways than you can even imagine!

​Look at Shake It Up Learning with Kasey Bell and Teacher Tech with Alice Keeler.

Now, here are just a few ways I've used Google Forms:

• formative assessment - to formulate a plan for where to go from here
• gathering book talk info from students
• setting expectations/outline for student blogposts or comments
• Flat Stanley (or Flat Friend) host information - instead of sending out/back a little journal, hosts use a Google Form to share info about where each students' Flat Friend went and what he/she did there
• surveys - ask for input on anything
• student/parent contact information
• parent volunteer information
• school event RSVP
• content area quiz (math, social studies, science, or even a book quiz)
• exit ticket after a lesson
• professional development feedback 
• student project info and feedback
• group project work and feedback
• teach your kids to make surveys or create a game or quiz based on content or concepts

 
Below is a little form for "peeps" to try out if you'd like!

Can you add some ways you've found Google Forms to be useful in the classroom?  Please comment below so we can all learn new uses for this tech tool.

Today I offer you a slice of I'VE NEVERs.  It's merely a simple list of things I've never done that can be turned into a game.  This fun slice comes to you thanks to Mary Ann and Linda - and can be used as a classroom game, too!  

Check out Linda B's post to learn how she uses this, and click here to see Mary Ann's nevers.

Here is how it's done:

Each player receives five (or three if there's less time) toothpicks. Each time the player HAS done the shared action, she or he must forfeit a toothpick. The one person—or you can choose to have three people—who still has at least one toothpick would be the winner(s)!  Alternatively, you can time it and those with the most toothpicks left after a specified amount of time are the winners. 

Please comment and play along - it'll be fun!

I've Never...

• traveled to the Southern Hemisphere.
• been to a hockey game.
• been on a cruise.
• snowboarded.
  

• watched Game of Thrones.

• played Minecraft.
• competed in a sporting event as a member of a team (outside of field day at school).
• cut the grass.
  

• operated a gas grill.

Comment below to tell if you lost any toothpicks (if you HAVE mown the lawn,  HAVE competed in sporting events, HAVE done any of the other things I've never done) - and be sure to try this format on your own slice!