National Poetry Month - March 28 2024 - SOLSC24

 

Poetry

March, though not over, has been filled with writing daily blog posts that recount small slivers of my life.

April is days away and will be filled with daily poetry writing for Ethical ELA's #Verselove.

I just hope I can maintain the writing stamina.

Fight or Flight - March 27 2024 - SOLSC24

What do you do when your brain feels like it has been in fight mode all day long?  

• You laugh to keep from crying.
• You silently hand them their journal back with no response.
• You walk away.
• You keep teaching despite...
• You try to speak in a calm voice.
• You drive home on autopilot and almost have a fender bender.
• You bury your head in your covers and cry your eyes out.
• You take your dog on a 4 mile walk.
• You try not to cry again as your write this slice.

The Difference a Day Can Make - March 26 2024 - SOLSC24

 

Yesterday evening during journal club, I shared my experience of struggling to understand some of the poetry I read.

In fact, I wrote this in my journal: 

"I am currently reading two poetry books, The Wonder of Small Things: Poems of Peace and Renewal by James Crews and One Last Word by Nikki Grimes. I so wish I understood or had some reaction, but I [often] don't. I love writing poetry, I guess my non-analytical mind can't wrap itself around someone else's poetry. I won't give up though; I'll keep reading and trying to find meaning in it for myself." 

After receiving some encouraging words, and kudos for choosing to not give up on reading poetry, I reread the first couple of poems in The Wonder of Small Things this morning. 

I was instantly moved by these lines written by Wendell Berry (The Peace of Wild Things):

"I come into the peace of wild things 

who do not tax their lives with forethought

of grief. I come into the presence of still water

...

I rest in the grace of the world, and am free"

These words remind me of coming into the peace of the Almighty who leads me beside still waters, whose grace is not of this world, but because of His grace I am free. 

Thank you M. for sharing how the imagery of poetry sometimes makes you think of Scripture. My non-analytical brain definitely wrapped itself around this words, and there was a reaction.

So Much More Rich - March 25 2024 - SOLSC24

Books

I literally just left a Zoom event in which a group of teacher-writers journaled together to a prompt about how books have impacted our lives. If you are familiar with the book, Be Kind to Yourself by Cindy Bunch, then you may know the prompt.

I love to read, and I find joy in Middle Grade Novels. I also love to read professional development texts that provide clarification or new understanding about teaching.

As you can expect, no one writer responded the same as any other writer. But, there were many "me too" moments as we each shared.  One of the main takeaways for me from this evening's journaling experience is one's reading experience can be made so much more rich when it involves others.  I can say I feel the same about my experience journaling with my Teach Write peeps tonight...so much more rich.

I Hate The Way They Cut This Tree - March 24 2024 - SOLSC24

I HATE THE WAY THEY CUT THIS TREE

Though I completely understand there are a plethora of reasons for trimming trees and removing branches, this knowledge does not eliminate nor change the fact the I feel some kind of way about how this tree was trimmed.

I'll assume that its growth had begun to impede upon the required safe distance between the branches and the power lines. 

Since this tree is located among the landscaping outside my subdivision, I am quite grateful that action was taken to remove the possibility of the adverse consequences associated with the communion of the two entities.

All the same, I was overtaken with sadness as gazed up and saw so much of this tree missing during my afternoon walk with my Princey-Poo-Poo. It looks as if it has been scalped or severely nicked while getting a haircut.

Saturday Morning So Far - March 23 2024 - SOLSC24

 SATURDAY MORNING SO FAR

Isagenix Cleanse For Life

Wobbles and Stretches

Apology Letter to My Daughter

Morning Medications with Rice Cake (Take with Food)

Every Day Dose Mushroom Coffee

Host Time To Write

Sentence-A-Day Gratitude Journal

Notebook

Reading, Responding to, and Being Inspired by a Couple of Slices

Encouraging students to write:

Coaxing and coaching a writer…

Writing and Posting this Slice

Today Was One of Those Days - March 22 2024 - SOLSC24

 One of Those Days

I woke up groggy.

I had brain fog most of the morning.

Students tested my patience.

I may or may not have kept my cool.

I felt stress in my mind and body most of the day.

I know that none of this is good,

but this was my day.