Tuesday's Slice of Life 4/2/2013 - Text Messages, Prom Notes, & Postage Stamps

Upon waking this morning, I wearily grabbed my cell phone to check the time. I noticed a text alert, and through blurry eyes I read the following message.

 

Hunter, my eighteen year old bonus son, seemed giddy about the prospect of attending his senior prom with a friend from the ATC. After a stressful day of STAAR testing, his dad and I eagerly listened as he told the story of composing a poem in the wee hours of the morning. Stumbling upon printer paper designed to look like parchment, he published his love note and decided a postage stamp would authenticate the romantic sonnet. His attention to detail and creativity warmed my heart, and as he relayed the events of the day, I beamed with pride. He is truly his father's son, and I know some lucky young lady is going to be swept off her feet someday by his wit, charm, and thoughtfulness.

 

There are sweet moments in life we wish we could bottle up and save for ever. This afternoon, lounging at the foot of the bed, I was overcome with gratitude. Being a bonus mom has truly been one of the greatest joys of my existence, and I will always treasure these precious interactions.

 

 

 



 

 

#Slice2013: Day 31 of 31 - Stick a Fork In Me, I'm Done!

 

Writing my final slice of life for the month of March ushers in a variety of emotions. A sense of completion and accomplishment envelops me as I type my last blog post of the challenge. Although many of my submissions were published late, I am proud of my efforts. Next year I will be more diligent about replying to other's slices, and I hopefully this experience will keep me motivated and inspired to continue writing on a regular basis.

 

This weekend, I began reading a new professional book by Jennifer Jacobson titled, No More I'm Done: Fostering Independent Writers in the Primary Grades. Mrs. Barnes, my third grade teacher suggested it, and I know I can always count on her recommendations to inspire me. I love what I've read so far, and as the SOLC draws to a close, I can appreciate the impulsive nature of a six year old who raises his hand and declares, "Mrs. _____, I'm done!"

 

 

I don't plan to quit writing any time soon, and I realize now the commitment art requires. Diligence, steadfastness, and a willingness to stick to the task at hand are necessary if we hope to maintain writing momentum. I think of Jeff Anderson's book, Ten Things Every Writer Needs to Know, in which he encourages young authors to spill their words on the page. I also think of Angela Duckworth's axiom to Choose Easy, Work Hard.

 

For today, I'm declaring victory. I made it to the finish line, and I'm glad I joined in on the fun. I want to thank all of the other slicers who took the time to comment on my posts, and I appreciate Ruth & Stacey for hosting the challenge.



#Slice2013: Day 30 of 31 - Stalled Staycation

 

After getting all psyched up about taking the A-Train to Dallas for a weekend staycation @ the Ross Perot Museum, disappointment and dashed hopes threatened to ruin my day when the following message appeared on my computer screen after attempting to purchase tickets online.

BUMMER!

Perhaps these unmet expectations could have been avoided if I had purchased tickets in advance. I suppose I deserve the feelings of disappointment, but this reality does not make recalibrating the day any easier.

I will only wallow for a minute in my momentary misfortune, and I will do my best to make the most of this beautiful Saturday. Who knows what lovely adventures lie ahead?

#Slice2013: Day 29 of 31 - A Day in Denton

Chris and I spent the day soaking in the local flair of Denton, Texas. Our first stop on the journey included a delectable lunch from the Green House. My husband received a gift card from a coworker, and we enjoyed sharing ceviche, breaded fish, and fresh steamed vegetables. Sitting in the sunshine on the patio and conversing about our lives together made the day sweet.

 Next we traveled a few blocks north to the Denton Square, where we ordered hot tea and a cup of joe from the Jupiter House. This has become one of our favorite places to sit and read on the weekends. Hipsters, artist, and intellectuals surrounded us as we sipped our caffeine and surfed the web. This establishment is owned by Joey Hawkins, the winner of the United Way's Dancing with the Stars competition. He and Chris became fast friends while preparing for the event last fall.

 After several hours of reading, writing, talking, and thinking, we decided we needed something a little more stout to drink. We made our way up the block to the Oak Street Draft House, our favorite place to sit outdoors and enjoy the spirits. The place was already crowded by 4:00 in the afternoon. I ordered a raspberry beer, and Chris got the house special, #29. We found a set of colorful metal chairs surrounding a wooden spool table, and we cozied up next to each other. While Chris read The Heath Brother's newest book, Decisive, I launched into Jonah Berger's book, Contagious. We listened to all the conversations taking place around us, and we people watched.

      
When we set out for the day, our primary destinations were the recently opened Natural Grocers and Kohl's. We'd received a few coupons in the mail for grass-fed, organic beef and pound of free almonds, so we headed to the health food store where we were greeted with a smile. The place was a bit pricey, but we enjoyed perusing the aisles, finding all kinds of unique products from seaweed chips to flavored tofu. At Kohl's we purchased new bath and dish towels, using a digital 15% off coupon from my favorite I-Phone app, Coupon Sherpa. I love discounts and freebies!

  

By this time in the evening, our tummies were growling and home was calling our name. We made a quick pit stop at the local WHATABURGER, where we ate a cheeseburger and french fries, and we shared a large sweet tea. Chris commented on the spicy ketchup, and I relished the salty, hot fries. Sure we blew our diets, but who cares! The food was delicious and our both our stomachs and our souls were satisfied.

Our day in Denton was delightful, and we are both so grateful to call this place home. 

#Slice2013: Day 28 of 31 - Familyship

Books, slumber parties, and reunions with old friends are truly some of the sweetest gifts this life has to offer.

This week, I had the opportunity to return to a former campus and present a writing lesson to the children of Sycamore in preparation for STAAR. The team I used to teach with remains intact, and as I set in Penny's office around the Van Gogh table, it was as if nothing changed in the last five years. We didn't skip a beat, and the conversations about teaching, learning, and education invigorated my spirit. I grew up as a teacher at Sycamore, and the women at this school have impacted my life in lasting ways.

I headed to Crowley on Wednesday night, and joy filled my heart as Penny, Holly, and I caught up on all the happenings of life. Mrs. Hostess of the Mostest prepared us an exquisite dinner of sea bass, scallops, and twice baked potatoes. Yum! We sipped wine and giggled about days gone by. We engaged in lively conversation about education, and we attempted to solve the problems of the world.

Years ago when I was still single, I would regulary spend the night at Penny's house in Granbury. We would stay up talking into the wee hours of the morning, planning lessons and chatting about the challenges of the classroom. She was and still is my mentor, my mother, and my friend. I treasure our "familyship" more than she will ever know, and as I drove home on Thursday evening, I realized how truly blessed I am to be connected to such a beautiful group of people. I love my Crowley girls, and I love reconnecting with my past.

#Slice2013: Day 27 of 31 - I've Got a Bone to Pick!

This afternoon, I scrolled through my Twitter feed, and I inadvertently stumbled on a post by TEA about the publication of the 4th grade Scoring Guides. Our students take the STAAR Writing test next Tuesday, and irritation about the timeliness of this valuable resource instantly surfaced. I would have loved to have viewed samples six months ago. As we often tell our students, it's hard to hit a target you can't see.

I clicked on the link for the Expository writing samples, and my blood began to boil. The first composition in the collection received a score point 1. What the hell?

Really? Really?

This kid knows how to write. She has a strong control of the English language. Her conventions are impeccable. Her sentence structure is solid, and there is a clear, controlling idea present in the text. Yes, she blends narrative structure with expository, but don't all good writers embed story into their work to engage readers? Almost all of the nonfiction books I've recently read use anecdotes to make a point.

I completely disagree with the score of this paper, and I am saddened to think that the state of Texas has regressed in its thinking about modes of writing. It feels like a throwback to the good ole' TAAS days where kids were unfairly punished for writing a How-To-Paper when the prompt was clearly pointing to a narrative piece.

Does it really matter if the kids get the genres mixed up as long as they can clearly communicate their ideas? If the goal is to write to a particular audience, we will never achieve the results we want as long as a test scorer in Austin is our only spectator. Standardized testing pisses me off, and when I see things like this, I become even more incensed.

Gggrr fist!

#Slice2013: Day 26 of 31 - Languishing Leaders

 

I do not consider myself a natural leader. In the past, I would reluctantly agree to take on leadership roles when other, more equipped individuals, we unavailable. I preferred to follow, and my own insecurities prevented me from daring greatly and stepping into the arena. Today, I welcome opportunities to lead, and in most meetings, I'm the first to speak up. My solution oriented nature can be a bit overbearing at times, and I know I have a LOT to learn about the qualities of strong leaders.

This week, as our campus prepared and planned for a STAAR pep rally, I found myself reflecting on the importance of a leader's visibility and authority. I firmly believe the captain of the ship should take the lead when trying to rally the troops, so I quickly deferred the pep talk to our current administrator. She emphatically stated, "No, I don't do that. I contribute in other ways."

Her refusal to address the students shocked me, and as I thought back on the school year, I realized she has never once spoke in front of all the children. This puzzles me. She rarely address all of the staff, and it's evident she is much more comfortable in a small group setting. As a principal, she is constantly in the spotlight, and from what I can tell, she'd prefer to whither in the wings.

As I thought about this scenario, I found myself wondering how our strengths effect our successes or failures in the roles in which we serve. Can someone effectively lead, if they don't have woo or influence? Do our top five strengths change as we transition from one professional task to another? And should we consider switching jobs if our natural strengths do not match our roles?

Next to parenting, I think being a principal may be the toughest job in the world. I have no desire to enter administration, and since I've never walked in a principal's shoes, I shouldn't judge. Languishing leaders are people too. Maybe we all just need a Pep Talk.