Wordless Wednesday#SOLSC23

Sometimes a picture is enough to capture a special moment.

Thanks for wondering and wandering a bit with me today. And many thanks to the crew at Two Writing Teachers, and the extended SOL community, for giving us the time, space, and encouragement to live the writerly life here every Tuesday throughout the year and daily during the month of March.

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Ten Line Tuesday #SOLSC23

Last week, one of my Teach Write writing buddies, Heather Morris, introduced me to 10 Line Tuesdays. In case you missed her post, here it is. She was inspired by another Slicer, so I love that we all learn from one another.

Thought I’d take a chance.

You never know what might happen!

Haiku are on my mind.

The advent of spring annually inspires.

On we go.

Let’s try a rainbow riddle-ku!

water and sunshine

up high, I can not be touched

colors in the sky

Not bad for Kindergarteners!

Thanks for wondering and wandering a bit with me today. And many thanks to the crew at Two Writing Teachers, and the extended SOL community, for giving us the time, space, and encouragement to live the writerly life here every Tuesday throughout the year and daily during the month of March.

I’ve been waiting for this invitation! #SOLSC23

Every year one of my Teach Write writing buddies, Leigh Anne Eck, invites Slicers to a party. Each invitation has a theme. Did you get your invite last Thursday? In case you missed it, here it is. Leigh Anne invited us to share our best colors. Here are mine for today.

The best white are the lovely snowdrops blooming by my front steps, greeting me as I head off to work and return home.

The best pink filled up the morning sky as my husband and I drove to work this morning.

The best red adorns our WEA union-strong t-shirts we are wearing almost daily, as our battle for a fair contract continues.

The best oranges are the basketballs my Kindergarteners are attempting to dribble in PE class. They are working so hard!

The best yellow is the beloved, but chipped, vintage Pyrex mixing bowl I inherited from my late mother-in-law. It’s filled with slow rising olive bread dough nearly ready to be baked this evening.

The best greens are poking their little heads up through the dry cracked soil in my yard. Good things are happening!

The best blue are the comfy flannel jammies waiting for my return this evening after a long week.

The best purple are the crocus that bloomed in the afternoon sun.

The best brown is that salty caramel- filled chocolate I snagged from the Teacher’s Room at lunch time.

The best black is the slow cooker pot waiting for the lamb stew I’ll get going after the bread is in the ow

Thanks for wondering and wandering a bit with me today. And many thanks to the crew at Two Writing Teachers, and the extended SOL community, for giving us the time, space, and encouragement to live the writerly life here every Tuesday throughout the year and daily during the month of March.

Don’t forget to look up #SOLC23

“Hey, guys! Look up! It’s so beautiful in here!”

Wise words from a Kindergarten boy who I didn’t think was paying attention. Yesterday, we walked to the vernal pool on conservation land adjacent to my school’s campus. He was happily chattering with his partner as we walked along. Minecraft, Sonic, and playdates were what his mind was on.

I didn’t think he saw the trees. I didn’t think he saw the sky. I didn’t think he noticed the chickadees announcing our arrival with their winter Chicka-dee-dee-dee song. But he did.

Thanks for wondering and wandering a bit with me today. And many thanks to the crew at Two Writing Teachers, and the extended SOL community, for giving us the time, space, and encouragement to live the writerly life here every Tuesday throughout the year and daily during the month of March.

The Tree #SOLC23

I see the tree out the bedroom window

This time each year it begins to stand out from the rest

It is the first to bud

But by the time the others begin to display

It blends in and becomes lost

Lost in the shuffle of rebirth from the earth

From late fall until early spring

The tree is just like the others

Waiting for its turn

But it likes to go first

The tree is a green so special

Its yellowy-green hue is full of life

It calls out, “Notice me!”

The tree is an old friend who has been away

But wants me to know it is back in town

The tree makes me smile

The tree gives me hope

Thanks for wondering and wandering a bit with me today. And many thanks to the crew at Two Writing Teachers, and the extended SOL community, for giving us the time, space, and encouragement to live the writerly life here every Tuesday throughout the year and daily during the month of March.

Take our picture! #SOLSC23

Every morning they come in and get right to work. Not the kind of morning work you are thinking of, though.

I’ll be honest. I’m not a huge fan of morning work. Would you want someone handing you a form to fill out not long after you’d woken up? Before your coffee had kicked in?

We are a soft start Kindergarten classroom. We look at books, visit with friends, color, or maybe build for the first 15-20 minutes of the day, and then we begin our Morning Meeting.

There is a small group of girls who choose the same soft start almost every morning without fail. They LOVE Magna Tiles! And every morning they build essentially the same tower. Sometimes it’s fancy, sometimes it’s simple. And the fun part? They build on top of a cluster of four desks and, as their tower climbs higher and higher, they climb up onto the desks. I, of course, keep a watchful eye out for their safety.

Each building session ends the same way — “Take our picture!” — and of course, I do. Wouldn’t you?

Thanks for wondering and wandering a bit with me today. And many thanks to the crew at Two Writing Teachers, and the extended SOL community, for giving us the time, space, and encouragement to live the writerly life here every Tuesday throughout the year and daily during the month of March.

One Happy Camper #SOLSC23

5:24 pm, I kid you not

Is when it began

Right on the dot

His song continued

It did not stop

Until the sun began to drop

Want to listen

To his “what cheer?”

Just click the arrow below right here

Thanks for wondering and wandering a bit with me today. And many thanks to the crew at Two Writing Teachers, and the extended SOL community, for giving us the time, space, and encouragement to live the writerly life here every Tuesday throughout the year and daily during the month of March.

Harbingers #SOLSC23

First hike, layers lost along the way

Mud, squishy squelchy beneath soggy boots

Skunk cabbage, aubergine and green, popping up to say hello

Red-winged blackbirds conk-la-reeing along the way

Vernal pools silent, waiting for their cue

Roadside ice cream stands closed to premature urges

Western sky still streaming light at 6:00 PM

So close

Thanks for wondering and wandering a bit with me today. And many thanks to the crew at Two Writing Teachers, and the extended SOL community, for giving us the time, space, and encouragement to live the writerly life here every Tuesday throughout the year and daily during the month of March.

I’m a Lucky Ducky #SOLSC23

I never win anything, but today I’m a Lucky Ducky!

My school’s Sunshine Committee decided to spread a little St. Patrick’s silliness for faculty this week. It’s been a loooooong painful winter as we continue our battle with our School Committee for a fair and equitable contract. (A longer story for another Slice, perhaps.)

This is the first time we’ve done Lucky Ducky and I actually found one of the ducks. Woo hoo! One of the shamrock-laden rubber ducks was “hidden” on top of the soap dispenser in our K/1 prep room, so I grabbed it. Lucky me!

We had all week to look for them and I finally found one. I turned it in to claim my prize and it was…a $10 Amazon Gift Card. Not too shabby.

Maybe I should buy a lottery ticket on my way home. What do you think?

Thanks for wondering and wandering a bit with me today. And many thanks to the crew at Two Writing Teachers, and the extended SOL community, for giving us the time, space, and encouragement to live the writerly life here every Tuesday throughout the year and daily during the month of March.