Balance...

Bringing “Balance” to My Life...

Weekly Slice of Life-Two Writing Teachers

 

So, my ship has sailed on 2012 and it was an awesome year of learning for me.  The true professional growth in becoming a writer started this year-really!   My growth began when I took the Slice of Life Challenge in March of 2012 at Two Writing Teachers.  I have so many great people to thank for encouraging words and kindness during that month.  I want to personally thank Ruth, Stacey, Michelle, Linda, Dana, Maria, Terje, Anita, Lynn,  Cathy , Donna and Diana and so many others as well.  The month of writing, posting and commenting each day was challenging and rewarding at the same time.  I didn’t meet the goal of posting each day for the month-as life sometimes happens…but I did learn so much about myself as a writer (weaknesses and strengths).  I also learned a great deal from the writing community as a whole and continued to add stories through the Weekly Slice of Life here on my blog, The "Rudd"er!

During the month of April, with use of my rudder, I learned more about and becoming a user of Twitter.  Fellow slicers Michelle and Cathy posted Twitter advice on their blogs that helped me to understand it better and how to use it.  I am still learning but it’s been a great tool to further my professional growth.  After I attended digi-camp in the summer, where I learned even more about Twitter, I also became involved in learning about TweetChats!  I learned how to join in and participate in chats to gain even more knowledge about teaching and learning with varying topics.  I now try to participate weekly in the #1stchat TweetChat on Sunday nights.  Through the chats, I met even more great twitter peeps-great teachers like Karen, Kristen, Kathy, Laura, Val, Kristin, Kathy and Jenni to name a few tweeps there…

Then, came Pinterest.  With signing up for Pinterest, again, thanks to Michelle I had to increase the need for even more balance in my life.  I love Pinterest and could literally be lost for hours looking at all of the great ideas that people have pinned and shared with it.  I now set a timer for 15 minutes and after that I have to sign out-unless it’s on a night when I can’t sleep at which time there will be no timer set!  J

The big push in becoming even better at writing and teaching writing came when I got involved with Teachers Write-a virtual summer writing camp for teachers and librarians via Kate Messner’s Blog.  I learned so much by participating in the writing I did via prompts posted throughout the summer. I feel fortunate that I was introduced to more authors of great children’s literature and even started following some of them on Twitter.  I finally worked to keep the writers notebook I started with the Slice of Life Challenge and referred to it as I started Writer’s Workshop with my students. 

It’s been such a year of learning for me-but my one little word has to be balance.  I need to balance all of this professional learning with my personal life too, as I have a great husband, son and daughter who need me as well.  Oh, and one more little part of balance, I hope to read more as well.  As 2012 is now history, this reflective slice on the sailing that occurred is to remind me that in 2013, I must remember “balance” in my life!  What’s your one little word for 2013?

Here's my post in wordle...I think it's interesting that Learning came out to be one of the biggest words!

Created with Tagxedo Creator http://www.tagxedo.com/app.html