Walking in Someone Else's Shoes.

Day 6 of the writing challenge has allowed me to walk in my reluctant writer's shoes for the day. I think back to all of those student's who couldn't think of what to write. I would prompt them with questions or mentor texts or tell them straight out a topic to write about. Nothing could get them to write.

 

I have a list of topics that I have thought about for this challenge--nothing spoke to me today.

• traveling
• Moab
• life in a large family
• living in the city with parents who grew up on farms
• moving to Panama
• volunteering
• racing up Pike's Peak
• parenthood
• teaching
• students--success stories and not so successful stories

We expect students to write when it is dictated in our schedule. State tests expect students to write about topics that may have no meaning to them.


Writing instruction has been a personal professional goal for years. After every school year, I reflect in what went well that school year and how I could improve for the next. Writing usually topped the list.


I slowly made changes to my instruction: stopped using prompts, followed the writing workshop format, mentor texts to guide instruction to name a few.
Now, I am comfortable with teaching writing. I model my writing for students on the ELMO or chart paper. I even joined this challenge to stretch myself further. As a teacher, I thank Katie Wood Ray, Nancie Atwell, Georgia Heard, Ted DeMille, Lucy Caulkins, and Kathy King-Dickman (an educational consultant from Colorado who has worked with my school for 7 years--google her; she is amazing!).


When working with a reluctant writer, I have many tools, but now I have compassion and understanding!

 

 

A Slice of Life I could have done without.

I knew it was a good dream. It had a positive, happy feeling. Abruptly, it ended as I was woken up by my dog jumping on our bed. Big deal you say.


He weighs 75 pounds and landed on my face.
Talk about a rude awakening.
I have a nice souvenir to show for my midnight adventures--a black eye.


The bright side of the story was that the 4th graders were highly entertained by the mishap. The downside was that I never got that dream back and it was a good one.

Luckily, he is pretty cute! I couldn't stay too mad.

Morning Runs.

Three to four mornings a week, I wake up early to run. It took some time to make my early morning jaunts feel normal, but now I can't imagine not being a morning runner. Don't get me wrong. I look forward to Wednesdays. I rarely run on Wednesday mornings.

Here are the keys to my "success".
1. Training partner. Knowing that my friend will be waiting for me at the corner gets me out of bed on the coldest of mornings. I don't want to let her down.
2. Coffee machine with a timer. Just a wee cup before I run.
3. Clothes pile. I organize my running clothes the night before. When the alarm goes off, I scoop up my gear and head to the bathroom to change.
4. Goal. I pick a race to run every few months that requires me to train; a race keeps me motivated.
5. Sanity. Without running, I would go crazy. It keeps me balanced and helps me deal with stress.
6. Joy. Running makes me happy!
7. Inspiration. Many of my best ideas for teaching come to me when I am running (or in the shower).
8. Energy. On the days I run, I feel better throughout the day.

Some days I return a bit frosty.



Running has been my sport/passion for years. Some people I know pick an early morning class, go for a walk, a DVD, or even a bike ride. Find your thing. Give it a try. Make a realistic plan that fits in your schedule (morning, noon, or night) and stick with it for a month. Create that habit. Cut yourself some slack if it doesn't go the way you want immediately. Patience. You are worth the effort.

Worth it.

I am fortunate to teach in a small community. Overall, I have a good idea where and how my students will end up living their life. It is amazing to see them blossom into adults. Making good choices and bad ones. Finding love, happiness, and joy in their lives.


Two years ago, I changed grade levels. In my class, I have 4th graders who used to be 1st graders with me. It is fantastic to see their growth from budding students to independent learners.


Most teachers will have that student. The one who challenges you in ways that you didn't realize you were being challenged. G is my student. As a 1st grader, he would not write. He would shut down verbally. His imagination was like no other. Then some days, he would engage and shine in areas.


He was tested and it was determined that he was highly intelligent so we began to support him with our gifted and talented teacher. The next two years were turbulent in his life and more was discovered in his social and emotional development. He was also staffed on an IEP.


When G returned to me classroom as a 4th grader, he was my first experience with a twice exceptional student. Meeting G's needs meant more than challenging him in math and helping him as a writer. It was providing a place where he felt safe. It has taken a team to help G. I have the support on the G&T teacher, SPED teacher, our counselor, a mentor from the community, his parents, and now his friends.  As his mom put in one of our mid-year check-ins, "it is so nice to have G talk about friends...that are real"! 


When I look back on my career and I think of my Minnesota students from the early 90s then my Colorado students of the past 22 years. I am surprised how many faces pop into my head.  G will always be on that list. Everyday I hope I can reach him. I hope I am providing him with the tools to be successful in life. The one thing I do know is that I did create a community where he found friends. For that fact alone, all the hard work was worth it!

Risks and Consequences

Taking a risk that affects multiple people tugs and sometimes rips my heart strings.


In December, I accepted a job at the International School of Panama. It is a dream job, amazing location, and an incredible school for me and my children.


With this decision, there are a tidal wave of unknowns. When I erase all the practical unknowns of who will rent our house, will we find caretakers for our pets, and so on. The hardest part are the issues that have surfaced with my youngest child.


As a middle schooler, life is tough. It wasn't as obvious with my oldest who was born with a natural flexibility and balanced perspective on life. My youngest on the other hand has had a hell of a year.


Panama has surfaced multiple worries and issues in him. As a parent, I have been tested daily on how to help him. Some days are better than others. Other days I want to call it all off; buckling under the pressure to keep his life safe and predictable.


I know that this adventure (it is only 2 years) will be the best thing for him. Watching him torture himself over the uncertainty as well as the social pain of feeling like an outcast in middle school has been the hardest thing I have dealt with as a parent. Ever.


Panama brought so much to the surface for him. Eventually, we would have seen the same issues in him at different times in his life--7th grade, first breakup, going to college, who knows when and what would have been the trigger.


The life lessons. The coping skills. The flexibility. Perspective. These are a few of the life skills I hope he acquires throughout the experience.


Compassion. Patience. Understanding. These are the skills I hope to maintain and develop as a parent.


Luckily, he is forming a village during this process because my husband and I can't do it alone. I am thankful for his Nordic coach, teachers, and counselor who are helping my child.


My current Slice of Life has my heart and soul aching. The faith and gut feeling that this is the right thing for our family is the thread that holds it together. Just enough.


                                      

Just Do It!

A few decades ago, Nike told us to Just Do It! The simple phrase was applied to all areas of life--athletics, relationships, decisions (wise & unwise), jobs, extreme sports...anything!


Too many times in my life, the "what ifs" would affect my decision. The uncertainty would weigh me down. I played it safe most of the time.


Over time, I have worried less. Maybe I learned that life is full of uncertainties and we can't always know or control the outcome.


One thing I know, life is short. This past fall, my high school coach and mentor died suddenly from a stroke. I was fortunate to spend an afternoon with him a few months before where he talked about his family, job, plans for retirement, and his love of life! At 59, his life ended with many dreams unfulfilled.


It has been a dream to live abroad since I was 20 something. So for the past few years, my family and I have been toying with the idea. With my coach in mind, I knew this was the time---Just Do It!


In five months, we pack our bags to Panama. A place we never have been. Talk about uncertainty!

Keeping Sane.

Running helps me stay balanced.


January has been a tough month. Unexpected health worries with my youngest child, tons of hockey travel for my oldest, sickness, extra work pressure plus continuing to stay on tops of things for our move to Panama.


Thank God for my early morning runs. Some days they have been as short as 2 miles and as long as 10. The distance doesn't matter; the run does.