"Great Noticing!"

Happy Slice of Life Tuesday

-thanks Stacey for hosting!

for more slices click here

As we walk through life or even run through life (like it seems sometimes) we're surrounded by hundreds of daily details. One of the things I catch myself saying to Kameron and Nattie is "Great noticing!" whenever they mention little details in their daily conversations.

 On Sunday when we were eating lunch, I was sharing how the cheese we were eating was shaped like a square-

and Natalie blurted out, "Good noticing, Mama!"

Of course, her remark made us giggle because noting the cheese was shaped like a square wasn't earth shattering-maybe to her it was.  And then, I pondered on what may have been running through her mind...Could it be that she had picked up on my modeling of noticing details?  Maybe...

This little sliver of a slice caused me to think that we never really know just how well children or students are able to pick up on the modeling of what we're thinking aloud.  As a result, we should be sure that behaviors and thinking we've modeled are really what we want to see and hear.

First Day of Spring

Slice 20 of 31

Thanks to Stacey and Ruth for hosting

Slice of Life Challenge 2013

@ Two Writing Teachers

In honor of the First Day of Spring, I spent some time at the library looking for the right words to tell more about night noises that arise when spring arrives.  My first attempt at spine poetry last week was created with books from around the house, but at the library, there was so much more to choose from...I enjoyed looking for the right words to capture the mood of the night noises.  Here is my latest poem:

HUSH!

By the Light of the Moon

WHILE the WORLD is SLEEPING

At the Edge of the Woods

CLOSE YOUR EYES

Listening and Hearing

CREATURES OF THE NIGHT

To all the lovely librarians out there, you'll be happy to know that I took time to reshelve the books-all back in the right place.  Happy Spring to all!



Growing Writers-A Fifteen Line Poem

Slice 19 of 31

Special thanks to Stacey and Ruth

@ Two Writing Teachers for hosting the Slice of Life Challenge 2013

15 line Poems

I was inspired to write after reading Christina's blog post on taking the first 15 lines of a topic (I cheated and went 17) from an internet search and writing them as a poem.  Thanks for this inspiration Christina!  I am so excited...I did a little rearranging of the phrases but for the most part, the search I typed is the search words I wrote...

"Growing Writers"

Growing Writers

Dear Teachers

Through collaboration

Considering Talk, Time, Models and Purpose

Growing Writers

Grow up writing

Practices and Skills

We Grow Writers

One day at a time

Listening, Observing, and Celebrating

Growing Writers

From the ground up

Writing

Helping Writers Grow

Growing Writers

Mighty Writers

Growing Writers





Measure, cut, THEN hang

Slice 18 of 31  

Special thanks to Stacey and Ruth

 @ Two Writing Teachers for hosting the Slice of Life Challenge 2013

Last weekend when we shopped for the new dishwasher, I decided that I wanted to purchase some new, updated-looking light fixtures for the upstairs hall bathroom.  The new ones looked lovely and definitely would add some beauty to the powder room! 

The hubby thought he would surprise me by installing them without bothering me for help...oh, yes he did!  HOWEVER, I NOW need Tim the Toolman Taylor's pal, Al, to come and rescue the project gone wrong.  My hubby didn't realize that he needed to cut the wire and the chain links on the fixture to the appropriate length...here is what we've got now (see pic below):

So until next weekend, when more time is alloted into our schedule, we'll have extra linkage and wiring hanging around to collect dust...

In my hubby's defense, there is nothing in the manual about trimming the wiring or links to the appropriate length.  Did someone leave out a step when they wrote the manual?   Perhaps.  Lesson learned, measure, cut, and THEN hang.  Here's hoping install of the second light fixture goes smoother than the first next weekend.

Thanks for trying to surprise me, Kev!



No 'i' in TEAM

Slice 16 of 31

Special thanks to Stacey and Ruth for hosting the Slice of Life Challenge 2013

As I reflect on the past 15 days of playing the game called the Slice of Life Challenge, I tried on my baseball lenses.  I started thinking about how we are all players on the same team.  We have supported each other well during the challenge so far and I hope we continue. 

Some stats on the game:

Batting average:  16 at-bats, 16 hits=1,000 -I've sliced every day so far.  The challenge for me has been the timing as my schedule is never the same every day.  Something has come up that has caused the time I would prefer to write-morning-to change because of being too tired, someone else being awake who usually isn't-Nattie- or I had too many other things that needed done first.

Game play:  Every day, I arrive at the game with my equipment ready to enter onto the playing field.  Everyone else on my team does too.  There are rookies and novices in this game-but we are all learning from each other.  Whether we've hit singles, doubles or grand-slams, we are learning.

Position:  Whether batting (writing) or catching in the field (making comments), I feel supported by my team in every way.  I hope we are all having fun at our game.

Shout outs!  Thanks to our GMs Stacey and Ruth for leading all of us to the playing field and encouraging through example.  Thanks to the managers-Linda, LeAnn, Bonnie and Carol who have fielded questions or concerns in relation to the challenge.  Thanks to all of the bloggers-writers!  I wish I had enough time to read of all of your slices-I will be going back when I am on spring break.
I am looking forward to continuing my at-bats and being inspired by the moves, hits, and catches of others.

We are all learning to exercise our writing muscles and growing stronger from the game performances every day.  I will continue to depend on this team of people for learning and growing as a writer.  Thanks to all for the support so far, there is no "i" in team.

Spring Sounds

Slice 15 of 31

Thanks to Stacey and Ruth for hosting

the Slice of Life Challenge 2013

 



A Slice of Poetry Friday...

Some spine poetry for your viewing pleasure...

 

 My Mama Says-    

 

                              -I hear a noise

 

It's Spring!        

           

         

                                                           How Do You Know It's Spring?

 

 

Night Noises!       

Thankful Boy

Slice 14 of 31

Thanks to Stacy and Ruth at Two Writing Teachers for

hosting the Slice of Life Challenge, 2013

As the boy readied himself for bed, mom called upstairs, "Have you brushed?"

"Yes!" replied the boy.  "Are you coming up to say goodnight?"

"Yes," Momma replied, "I'm coming up now."

The boy hopped into bed and called to Momma, "Please lay beside me Mom!"

"Ok, boy, I will..."

So Momma crawled onto the bed as they looked at the blueish, greenish and goldish stars beaming out from the boy's dreamlight...

Boy began, "Momma, I am really thankful."

"You are boy?...what for?"

"Well, I am thankful for my bedroom, and my clock that tells time."

"Uh, huh..."

Boy continued, "and my lamps to give me light, and the things on my dresser.  Mostly, I am thankful for my family-you, Dad, and Nattie."

"Thank you boy, for making my day!  I love you."

"I love you too Momma!  Good night."

"Goodnight," Momma whispered back.  And they laid there together until the boy nodded off to sleep.  Momma thought to herself, I am thankful for the blessing of this boy...

i'm here

Slice 13 of 31

Thanks to Stacey and Ruth @ Two Writing Teachers

for Hosting the Slice of Life Challenge 2013

 

Do you know i'm here?

i bet you don't

 

i came into the house

quieter than a mouse

 

i am ready to do the daily work

of someone who couldn't keep up

 

my pace is quick

loaded and ready to go

 

my quiet shy style doesn't compare

to most

 

i work alone

i don't need any other assistance

 

the model i took over for was the noisy type

loud and rumbly (you can read her story here)

 

not me, i am smooth

and sleek

 

i am more efficient

more energy saving

 

i love my new family

glad to be home with them!

 

Here's my picture,

isn't it grand?

 

 

 



Squirrel's Inspire

Slice 12 of 31

Thanks to Stacey and Ruth @ Two Writing Teachers

for Hosting the 2013 Slice of Life Challenge

Like a squirrel on the telephone wire, I feel like I am doing a great balancing act lately...keeping up with everything the kids and fam have been doing and all that's going on with school work has been a challenge.  As I was driving home, I saw the squirrel high above the road.  It was plowing full speed ahead across the wire and then suddenly stopped mid-way across the wire and paused.  I will follow nature's lead and pause...


How did I get to this point?

Wondering
Reflecting
Taking it all in
Thinking
Moving forward or
Going back

...Pausing...

Moving forward
Thinking
Taking it all in
Reflecting
Wondering

What will tomorrow bring?

A Note for Dad

slice 11 of 31

Thanks to Stacey and Ruth for Two Writing Teachers

for hosting the Slice of Life Challenge 2013

 

 

As giggles, racing, and shouting filled the air, I laughed to myself.  I enjoyed hearing the kids outside in the yard playing with Kevin.  They were having the best time ever back at "the park" swinging, climbing and then playing in the yard with the kickball.  I wanted to be out there myself, but didn't indulge as I tried to stay focused on my work.  I felt like the child with homework to do who's distracted by the call of what is outside.

 

 

Nattie was brought inside for her nap kicking and screaming!  Kam faked a nigh-nigh into his room so she would think he was going to take a nap as well.  She just kept saying, "Outside, outside!"  I kept saying,  "we'll go back out after you wake up from your nigh-nigh".  Exasperated, she huffed, "Ok momma!"  She finally settled down and fell asleep...when I heard Kam bounding back upstairs after escaping from his fake nigh-nigh, I motioned a "shhh" on my lips.  He whispered, "I just have to leave this note for Dad!"

I didn't ask to see it, just allowed him to place the note where he knew Kevin would check.  He snuck back out of the office and tiptoed back downstairs.  I snuck over and snapped a quick photo with my phone...

 

A note from Kam that I am sure Kevin will cherish for days and maybe years to come!

 

 



iPhone on Duty!

Slice 10 of 31

Thanks to Stacey and Ruth @ Two Writing Teachers

for Hosting the Slice of Life Challenge 2013

 

 

Last year when I started the Slice of Life Challenge, I didn't have my iPhone yet.  I got it near the end of March last year.   I had no idea what the device would be able to do for me.  Now, I would be hard pressed to go without it.  This tool for learning and living has brought so much convience to my life it almost seems unreal.  My constant compliments of the phone convinced my older brother to rethink his objection to the apple products and leave the android market.

 

Our newest learning with the tool is how we are now using it to text message.  We talk into the microphone icon and then it types out the text for you.  Not trying to be lazy in typing here as I am a very proficient typer, but using it for quickness.   It seems like it can save about 30-40 seconds by just saying what you want instead of typing.

 

I have decided to take it to the next level and use it for the comments on the slices I am reading as well.  I just say what I would say as if I am talking to the slicer after tapping the microphone tool, click done and it types out my response.  Just another way to save time so I am able to read as many slices as possible as they are just juicy goodness! 

 

If you haven't tried using the microphone for talk to text yet, I highly recommend it.  Maybe other smart phones have this too (I am just a 1 year old newby with this tool).  Maybe there are other ways to accomplish the same thing.  I am just glad I no longer have to sit in front of my computer in an office to do the reading, writing and posting for this year's Slice of Life.  Your slices can inspire me anywhere now!

 

#slice2013 Tweet

 



Hear Every Voice!

 

Slice 9 of 31

Thanks to Stacey and Ruth from Two Writing Teachers

for Hosting

Slice of Life Challenge 2013

 

I am done.  My guts are moaning and groaning.  I've lived a good life.  And now I feel like I am breaking down.  First this thing goes, then that thing goes...I need replaced.  I can no longer carry on and do the duties that I've been committed to do for a number of years now...My parts are spinning out of control and they just can't seem to work right and do the things they were meant to do...I am opened and then closed, turned on and turned off, sliding in and sliding out, selected and deselected.  I am tired of the clanging, banging and reracking...I am tired of the dirty friends I've got who come out smelling like a rose after spending time with me.

 

I hear that they are thinking of replacing me-filling in my space with a younger, more attractive model.  A model who is quieter, less noticable and more effective and efficient.  I am jealous of the fact that I can no longer compete with these new things fresh off the assembly line.  I heard they are going to replace me with a Bosch model.  And it's ok, I'm tired, I know when it's time to go...they've heard my complaining for long enough. 

 

At the end of the week, it will all be over!  No more dishes to wash, no more cycling through the dirty, wash, clean and dry routine.  Our time together is coming to an end...goodbye Rudd family.  Enjoy your new dishwasher! 

 

#slice2013



iPod Wordle Poem

Slice 8 of 31

Thanks Stacey and Ruth for hosting the
Slice of Life Challenge 2013

 #slice2013

So by reading other blogs, I saw this wonderful idea called ipod poetry!  Check out links to those blogs here and here!  Thanks Michelle and Michelle!  So, I decided to take my first 50 ipod faves play list and type the songs into the Tagxedo Word Cloud.  After creating my wordle, I took a screen shot of the words and imported the screen shot into Paint and got this image:

 

Some of the biggest words that popped out at me were:  Today, time, coming, Don't, ways, great, heart, gonna, and day. **And Christmas, but that was just a little to seasonal for me so I left it off.

So here is my poem a bit of slice advice, if you will:

 

 

 

Don't waste today

Time is fleeting

With all of your heart

and in all ways

in your coming and going

Make today

a great day

You're gonna do

great things!



 

Filched Penny Balloons

Slice 7 of 31

Thanks to Stacey and Ruth for Hosting

Slice of Life Challenge 2013

@ the Two Writing Teachers

Join the party for a slice or two or three or four and then tell 2 friends!

So they'll tell 2 friends and they'll tell two friends

and so on!

Today's slice...inspired by more stories from the baby book...

filched -past participle, past tense of filch

Verb Pilfer or steal (something, esp. a thing of small value) in a casual way. One glorious kindergarten morning in mid May 1976, my mom took my brother (4 years old) and me (5 years old) into the Aid Drugstore to purchase a few things she needed.  She allowed my brother and me to browse the toy section of the store while she watched and waited for the prescriptions over near the corner of the store.  After browsing awhile, we ran over to her and begged for balloons.  She authoritatively denied our request for the balloons and reminded us that we wouldn't be going home with them.  Little did she know, we had a different plan in mind.  We had filched the penny balloons... According to the newspaper here's how the scene went down...

When mother discovered the penny balloons in the the girl's pocket at home (as told by little brother-the snitch) she marched the two children back to the store with the loot (5 loose balloons).

"Reprimand them!" she emphatically demanded of the pharmacist/owner of the store...as an aside here this was a 200 pound 6 foot tall man who was growing a snow white beard to celebrate the bi-centennial of our nation!  (With a belly that shook when he laughed like a bowl full of jelly)-remind you of anyone?

So he laid it on..."stealing is wrong, we don't take things that don't belong to us, thieves go to jail, blah, blah, blah...and while you're waiting for the police to come, you'll have to sit on those tall stools over there.  Then they'll..."

"We'll never do it again," said sis, tears rolling down her cheeks...meanwhile the little brother displayed no emotion whatsoever...

Turning to her brother, sis said, "They could put us in jail!"

Brother said, looking rather wise, "No, I know they won't!  Santa Claus would never call the police."

Missing and Rescued

Slice 6 of 31

Thanks to the Two Writing Teachers

Stacey and Ruth

For Hosting the SOLC 2013

Details, details, details...this slice inspired by noticing details and creating a bit of worry on the part of drivers who dare to notice them...

Yesterday on my drive to work, I glanced at the timer billboard...these are newly installed monstrosities (of which I pass twice-driving to work) that indicate the flow of traffic to main destination points.  These will indicate how many miles and minutes to a particular point on the highway so local drivers know whether to jump ship and take the back roads or not during major traffic delays.  Yesterday's message was floating on and off the screen as well and had me a little worried...ok a lot worried considering this wasn't someone I knew personally.

MISSING OHIO ADULT

OHIO LICENSE PLATE .....

BLACK GMC

I noticed again as I drove by the second monster too...I prayed that the missing adult was found...I don't pass any of these billboards on the drive home (ok, maybe I do-not sure I notice because I'm so tired on the drive home). So I didn't know whether the message was still up on the drive at 5 but my need to know lead me to do a google search...

Sadly, I read that the missing adult search was cancelled as the missing man was rescued by angels and taken to heaven.  I pray now for the family mourning the loss of a loved one.  Hoping they find comfort in knowing the details to remind of a lost soul prompted searching and prayers...all because of a tiny message on a huge billboard.

Rest in peace missing man, rest in peace...

Knowing

Slice 5 of 31

 

Thanks to the Two Writing Teachers for Hosting

Slice of Life Challenge 2013

 

#Slice2013

 

Knowing my readers and writers...

 

Today felt good!  I was able to confer with 3 students and talk with them about their writing.  All three of them had very unique things to discuss today.  Larieyah shared that her mom and dad got married over the weekend.  She wrote about how she was the flower girl and her brother was the "reng berer"-she expressed how her "bruther" dropped one of the rings.  Kahana shared how she got a new dog over the weekend, a pit bull and she got a new "neklis" and "brslit".  Angel shared how he "wots" new Mario games for his xbox360.  I am glad I got to share these moments with them and get to know them as writers.  They are growing like little weeds.  Each of them had little teaching points that we are working towards, growing them along the way.

 

 

Knowing our little community...

 

Today felt bad!  I am struggling with understanding what makes these little people tick.  I have never seen nor worked with so many children who fuss, fight and generally don't get along with each other.  I don't know how to make them get along.  They are mean, mean, mean to each other.  They say hurtful words, show mean actions, push, shove and battle all day long.  I want nothing but the best for them but everyday has been a struggle.  I feel like I suck as a teacher in the fact that I cannot make this work...

 

 

Knowing the learning targets...

 

Today felt bad!  I know what the learning targets are for my students.  I spend hours (really at least 4 or 5) planning high quality instruction for my class.  I am working on learning the CCSS for ELA and Math.  I am working to get my students able to articulate what we are learning and why-and yet today when the principal was in to do the walk through and ask the students what and why they were learning during math, they were not able to explain what they were learning or why.  I just keep trying my best to get these goals across to them...we're working on it.  I started using "I can" statements to help with putting the learning targets in kid friendly language.  Hopefully we'll get there...

 

 

Knowing the data...

 

Today felt good.  The data tells me that these students are learning.  They are making progress.  They have made tremendous growth since the beginning of the year.  The red and yellow areas of the pyramid have decreased for all areas we assess.  I will continue to progress monitor and check-in to make sure they are progressing as they should.

 

 

Knowing me...

 

Today felt bad.  I need help...



One Crazy Week

Slice 2 of 31

Thanks to the Two Writing Teachers,

Ruth and Stacey for hosting the Slice of Life Challenge 2013!

 #slice2013

One Crazy Week

(A slice of family dinner)

5 fabulous nights to dine together

A table for 4

Night 1

A table for 3 please

3 dine together-1 who is late

Work requires more input 

Night 2

A table for 2 please

2 dine together-2 who are called to other things

Out of town for work

Basketball practice

Night 3

A table for 3 please

3 dine together-1 who will be late

Flat tire repair needed

Night 4

A table for 3 please

3 dine together-1 who is late

Interim report pick-up

Night 5

A table for 4 please...YES!

4 dine together-none who are late

So happy together

Slices of cheese pizza with black olives

Our fate

Glad to be sitting in the comfort of home

Smiling at each other

Sharing drinks and good eats

4 who've been dining strangers 

at one point or another

all week

Now satisfied

To be

All at dinner together

Reflecting on one crazy week!