After 7 days of slicing, I’m realizing and enjoying the deep importance of this opportunity and exercise. Thank you, thank you, twowritingteachers.org. I just read three posts – the “requirement.” But I’m going to read and respond to more. This writing community is healing, inspiring, exciting, motivating – all of it. I just read a post written by a slicer who pulled over to recored her thoughts. She shared that she’s not ready to share that particular thinking. A wise and healthy decision. Whether these raw feelings are ever shared isn’t the point – it’s that we are thinking, reflecting, and practicing self-care. And, oh yes, supporting one another.

I walk. I hike. I stretch. I Bowflex. I like Ben & Jerry’s – A LOT.

I’m really good about eating healthy during the day but, dang, I get home from school and all hell breaks loose 😉 And during the winter months when it’s time to cozy up on the couch with a warm blanket, I share it with my friends Ben and Jerry. Cinnamon Buns. Yum. Americone. Deelish. Fish Food. Can’t keep it in the freezer.

Enough. Today I commited to stop eating added sugar and white flour and take it one day at a time. Oh, and the title of my post? I tried pilates for the first time this afternoon with a free week’s worth of classes. I’m going back tomorrow – that’s if I can move my arms…

I work with a third grade teacher who is wonderful to work with – always willing to try anything, always reflecting, always reading what I send to her 🙂 – so today we tried the comic sans trick that has the interweb all atwitter. Supposedly using this previously maligned font now fosters writing volume and stamina.While this applies to adults, I knew this new thinking could influence third graders as well. Combining this thinking with letter writing seemed like a great idea to inspire the students; we’re in the middle of a NF unit and the teacher spotted an article in the local paper that encouraged people to write to animals at the local shelter. The shelter workers actually spend time reading the letters to the shelter animals and they LOVE it! Licks and kisses galore!

Well, the kids were so engaged and motivated between the comic sans font and writing to dogs and cats – and a bunny – it was a joy to witness. Oh, the wonders of psychology and animals!

After sharing something very personal yesterday, I am so grateful to all you Slicers out there for your support, generosity, honesty, and thoughtfulness. My heart is full and I will keep paying it forward. In the midst of the world’s upheavals it’s restorative to know that we are all in this together and spreading compassion, empathy, and kindness are priorities. I shouldn’t be surprised – you are all educators throwing the pebble in the pond for our kids. Hugs to all.

I just read a wonderful post on vulnerability so here goes: I’ve been sober for almost two years after living a life where alcohol became something I looked forward to, too much. It interfered with my well-being. I thought coming from a family that suffered from generations of substance abuse and alcoholism would make me stronger and resistent to this horrible disease. I was wrong. It caught up with me. As I say, “my family’s gene pool is filled with alcohol.” It was the BEST decision I ever made, to quit. Our culture celebrates alcohol to a fault, IMHO, and my hope is that the narrative changes a bit. I don’t want to be preachy here – I can’t stand that approach. My post this morning is about sharing a sense of vulnerability – taking a risk – in hopes that it inspires someone who reads this. That’s it. But maybe more.

We talk to our students about the importance of taking risks, putting themselves out there, failing – all to learn more deeply and grow as as humans. Shouldn’t we do the same? I am sharing something publicly for the first time to a community of writers. I’m tearing up as I type this. I am nervous yet exhilarated. I hope I am reaching the right “audience” – that my “message” echos and/or helps someone – and that my “purpose” rings true.

Thank you SOL for providing this opportunity. I just breathed a huge sigh of relief coupled with joy.

Can anyone relate? I hate that red bubble on my phone indicating how many home emails I have. My OCD forces me to read and delete – mostly the latter. Friends of mine don’t care and they may have thousands that go unread and undeleted. EEEK! That’s like nails on a chalkboard to me. We all have our issues, right? Anyway, what has made me a bit testy lately is the amount of political emails I’m receiving and I know it’s becuase of my activism during the 2016 and 2018 cycles, but I am tired of politicians ASKING FOR MONEY!! And when they begin the email with: “I am humbly asking…,” the smoke really starts pouring out of me ears. OK, rant over. Thanks SOL for allowing this bit of cathartic writing and thanks peeps for reading – if you made it through 🙂

March is the Month of Expectation.
The things we do not know – 
The Persons of prognostication
Are coming now – 
We try to show becoming firmness – 
But pompous Joy
Betrays us, as his first Betrothal
Betrays a Boy. 
~Emily Dickinson

What a way to start SOL 19 with the brilliant Emily Dickinson! Snow is falling gently this morning but this poem rings so true. My perspective begins to change, I realize how the dull gray winter days affect my moods. But they begin to lift with this Month of Expectation.

Walking the other day I noted tiny green sprouts popping through the raised cracked (cracked raised?) mulch but I couldn’t help but wonder if this new fragile growth would survive the coming weeks when the lion of winter is still roaring. Hope is different from expectation.

thank god she called
everything came together
desperation was met with knowledge
her warmth wrapped around me
and frustration dissolved
into a long, wide stream 
of awareness

feelings are understood
words aren't always needed
the distance is closed in minutes
even though we're invisible to one another.

So, Penny Kittle, Teacher, Author, Advocate, spent two days at our HS to share her magical expertise on all things reading and writing. Her methods for increasing engagement, motivation, and LOVE of reading and writing in a workshop setting are truly extraordinary. Visit her website pennykittle.net to learn more.

The reason why I titled this post “Doing the Right Work” – albeit a bit overused – is because I believe teachers who instruct using the Workshop model is “doing the right work.” My district adopted a true workshop environment about 7 years ago in our district and I’ve never looked back. To foster engagement, investment, and motivation to read and write, I don’t know of a better practice. To grow teacher and student success, I don’t know of a better practice. My own students and those with which I interact as a current LA coach have grown in these areas because of choice and conferring – two of the most important elements that define a reader’s and writer’s workshop model. Surveying my kids early on confirmed my suspicions.

That said, I won’t lie, and tell you everything was hunky dory; the first couple of years, spelling and grammar took a hit. It was difficult for us teachers to do it all – especially at the elementary level. But like all change – it’s the progress that matters. And we are riding this wave, surfing along the ebbs and flows that worthwhile transition brings.