Day 16 was a lost day...not in the sense that I was sick or out of commission, it's just LOST....somewhere...I did have a slice that I shared but it's gone, lost, somewhere in cyberspace or in the dregs of what little memory is left in this laptop. But not on SOL site or in my drafts, so be it.
Sorry, slicers, not because it was epic or anything. I'll try again. Workout slices: 25 pushups 90 leg raises with ankle strap 30 lower back extensions with 30-pound weight 40 medicine ball squats 9 pull-ups with assist to trainer (lol) 40 crunch/twists 2 minute plank Repeat x3.(not that plank, baby, no way!)
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Today we had our second day of our second round of state-mandated testing. This test is called I-READ and it's designed as an assessment that will show that our 3rd graders are reading and comprehending on grade level. This test is comprised of phonics and comprehension portions.
This test was NOT our best hour—although my students all read at or above grade level, and they seemed to take their time while testing, reading carefully and searching for text evidence in the various passages. No, our BEST HOUR was the first hour in our day today. We didn't test right away and were able to spend the first hour working on some projects we started yesterday on day one of our testing. Today we took time to write, color, cut, glue, and create. It was absolutely a wonderfully calm and productive start to our day. The students talked in groups while they worked, giving me insight to little slices of their day or week or thinking. Honestly, I wish I had videoed them, it was that sweet. Why don't we take time for this on a regular basis? (Oh, yes, refer to paragraph one....) Why do we generally save this for the end of the day when they are antsy little clock-watchers, putting to use their elapsed time skills as they try to determine how much of the school day is left before they should "remind" me that it's time to pack up? Creating, conversing—and yes, even coloring, cutting and gluing—this is a slice I want to repeat! I sat to the side and answered questions when needed, laughed with them when they came to show me something clever they'd written, located specific colors of markers or a lost glue stick lid, spelled the occasional word, and just soaked it in...relishing in the way they helped each other, basking in the glow of their sweet conversations, wanting it to never end! Today's slice will be a real slice, just a slim view into my day.
I awoke to not a blizzard, as many of my eastern friends did, but to a quiet house. Too quiet for this day, this special day. It's a birthday in our family (mine), and birthdays deserve laughter and hugs, streamers and presents at the breakfast table! Birthdays deserve Belgian waffles with blueberry compote or chocolate chip pancakes sprinkled with powdered sugar. Birthdays deserve a mimosa at breakfast (on a weekend, of course) and flowers on a table set with pretty china and tea cups for coffee. On special days like this I miss having our kids at home. I miss their smiles at the breakfast table and their homemade cards. Many a birthday has been celebrated around this table, and even with no leaf in it, it feels too big for the two of us. Especially at birthday breakfasts. Even without the kids, I am blessed to celebrate with my best friend and husband—and indeed, I do count celebrating anything with him as a blessing. There is plenty of hot coffee (in my favorite china cup), and there are flowers on the table. Instead of waffles, there's an omelet with sautéed mushrooms and freshly grated parmesan cheese. There is Fleetwood Mac on the stereo playing all the old favorites. Later there will be texts, phone calls and FaceTime, a glass of wine at dinner, laughter and love. And for now there is a quiet breakfast together, complete with cards and gifts, the best of which is an opportunity to make this year a fabulous one! I am participating in a month-long writing challenge called The Slice of Life Story Challenge sponsored by Two Writing Teachers. The purpose is to share little short "slices" of your everyday life in realistic terms. "Slicers" also read and comment on other bloggers' slices. There is an individual SOL challenge and a classroom SOL challenge. I frequently use this space to share what I learn from the wise folks in my PLN, whether local educators or those I've encountered via social media. The quote I've used above is the result of a recent venture down into the Twitter-verse "rabbit hole." Some such ventures bear incredible fruit, as did this one. A couple of weeks ago, I ran across a tweet by librarian-extraordinaire Margie Myers-Culver (@Loveofxena) that led me to Margie's blog, Librarian's Quest, and the twists and turns of the proverbial rabbit hole then led me to this wonderful TedX video by acclaimed author Carmen Agra Deedy. Oh, my—I love Ms. Deedy's storytelling—and her message of the importance of stories! {Listen for the whack-a-mole comment! It's spot on, as any teacher will tell you, and made me laugh at the visual image it brought to mind.} Carmen Agra Deedy's book The Rooster Who Would Not Be Quiet, delightfully illustrated by Eugene Yelchin, has been receiving attention from teachers, librarians, children, and critics everywhere because at its core is the message of giving voice to your truths. Read this inspirational book about a rooster who finds his voice in a town where singing is outlawed. Scholastic Reads shared this interview with Carmen Agra Deedy about giving children a voice. Look here for the podcast. Here is a link to this important book. As a teacher who has a passion for sharing books with children, and as a teacher who encourages students to share their voices in their writing, this lovely book is perfect match! Today's inspiration asks us to consider who we are grateful for, suggesting that our slices do often feature those who are important in our lives - even those who share their influence around the edges of our being. I made this little puzzle sign to try to pin down the various segments of my life influences. They run the gamut from immediate and extended family, to friends and mentors at various stages of my life. Strong influences, like my parents who worked hard to provide for their four children, and like my husband who has always supported my dreams, to others who saw me through the tough times all parents face. Equally important are the gentle and subtle influences like teachers and church friends. There were sections here and there with a huge impact, and sections here and there with a smaller role, but not necessarily a lesser impact, those whose influences have nudged in from the edges. My slice: Sometimes you have to listen to your heart - and know that a simple "thank you" can lift someone else up. Consider someone from your past who you might reach out to - offer a note of thanks to a former teacher, friend, doctor, relative, neighbor, or co-worker who touched your life somehow. A couple of years ago I felt called to write a thank you letter to the doctor who delivered our daughter. I remember it was her 23rd birthday. I wrote that I was confident he wouldn't remember me because he was my doctor 20+ years ago. Well, he might possibly recall a patient who came in crying one day because she had to relocate to a new state and that wouldn't fit into her plan that he would deliver all of her babies. Yep, I really did that, so I was really hoping he didn't remember me, as you might imagine! My note of thanks to him was simple and from the heart because he took the time to ask if we'd pray with him right after our daughter was born. I know that our praises and prayers - both spoken and unspoken - that very day, within the first few moments of life, were indeed heard. We know He is at work always in our daughter's life. I'll never forget that. You might wonder what a busy doctor would do with a thank you note sent from a patient from two decades earlier. Well, he was delighted to know that his prayers that day had such an impact on us and that she is a strong Christian on her own following her dreams. That simple note started with just a nudge in my heart. Listen to your own nudges and follow through in your own way to offer gratitude. Gratitude unlocks the FULLNESS of life, it turns what we have into enough...and more... |
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April 2020
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