SOLSC Day 21 - My Six Word Story For Today

Slice of Life Story Challenge -- Day 21  #SOL17
My Six Word Story For Today





I've seen some of the Slice of Life challenge writers doing "six word stories" or "six word memoirs." I don't know much about these six word stories and don't know what all the rules are for them, but I'm quite tired right now, so I thought that I would write a six word story tonight instead of writing a lengthier piece. My story has six words, and it tells a story, so I'm hoping that I did it correctly.

My six word story is this:

Babysat grandchildren for eight hours. Exhausted!

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JudyK   March 21, 2107

                        

SOLSC Day 20 - Co-authoring poems with a granddaughter

Slice of Life Story Challenge --
 Day 20  #SOL17
Co-authoring poems...with a granddaughter!






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My 11-year-old granddaughter and I had some quiet time together this afternoon, and after we had played a few games of Hangman, we were looking for something else to do. I suggested that we write some poetry together. (Note: The scenario of writing poetry with a grandchild, just for fun, is not something that would have ever occurred to me before this Slice of Life challenge came along into my life. Ever ever ever. Haha!)  I thought writing something together with L might be fun...and to my surprise, she agreed! 

So, we started out by reviewing what she knew about poetry. (I just can't quite ever turn off the teacher in me....) As it turned out, L knew a little something about haiku, so we decided to go with that form. We decided on our theme of nature, and picked Oak Trees for our first poem. We discussed possible words and phrases that pertained to oak trees, started counting syllables, and created a poem which we were both proud of. 

We decided then to write a second haiku called The Creek. That one was inspired by an outing to a nearby metro park last month during a period of some abnormally warm weather. Again, we brainstormed some words and phrases to help us write the poem.

Our planning ^

After that, at L's suggestion, we each drew an illustration to go with one of the poems. I think that she was enjoying the entire activity as much as I was! Who would have thought that co-authoring a couple of poems with a grandchild could be such an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon?


And now, without further ado....
       
            our creations:

Oak Trees

Green leaves, strong rough bark...

The soft wind makes the leaves shake.

Old acorns fall down.

The Creek

Rushing cool water

Small splashes; smells like warm earth

Soft wet muddy bank

                                                      ( ^ The small splashes, by the way, are the 

sticks and rocks being tossed into the creek

 by the grandkids, their cousins, and friends)

         
      

(These pics are from our outing to "the creek" 2-20-17)  :-)

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JudyK   March 20, 2017

SOLSC Day 19 - Diamante Poem - School/Break

Slice of Life Story Challenge --
Day 19  #SOL17 --
Diamante Poem: School/Break


















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Various forms of poetry have been getting my attention lately, and I've been having fun exploring them. Some of them are familiar friends to me -- the classic Haiku, for instance, with its reliable formula of counting syllables. Some of the poems which I've encountered lately are more recently invented forms that I had never heard of until a few days ago: Found Poems and Phone Number Poems, for example.

Yesterday, I read a Diamante poem posted by a slicer on the Two Writing teachers Slice of Life challenge. The Diamante is an old classic which also follows a formula, but it had been a while since I had encountered that type of poem, so I decided to refresh my memory about it. I read about the format it is supposed to have, and I looked at quite a few examples, and then I decided that I would try it.

So, here I go, continuing my new fascination with poetry, by trying out a diamante poem:

School

jam-packed, noisy

working, exploring, reading

books, clock-watching, relaxation, books

reading, playing, sleeping

quiet, glorious

Break

Obviously, I have Spring Break on my mind. And why shouldn't I? I am on my wonderful, relaxing, lovely, peaceful, highly anticipated, long-awaited Spring Break right now.

Ahhhhhhh......



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JudyK   March 19, 2017

This is the format for a diamante poem:

SOLC Day 18 - Phone Number Poem: Spring Break Staycation

Slice of Life Story Challenge --
Day 18 #SOL17 --
A Phone Number Poem:
Spring Break Staycation






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In a Slice of Life post on Two Writing Teachers this morning, Rose Cappelli explained how to do Phone Number Poetry. I thought it sounded like fun, so I decided to give it a try. (The phone number which I've used for the poem was my childhood phone number. I have no idea if anyone has that phone number now.)

Here is my attempt at a Phone Number Poem --


Spring Break Staycation

6 --    Nine glorious days stretch before me!

1 --    I'll:

4 --    Walk at metro parks,

2 --    Relax lots,

6 --    Catch up with never-ending school work,

8 --    Read from my large stack of unread books,

3 --    Sleep in late,

4 --    Clean my messy house,

9 --    Play games and have fun with my beautiful grandchildren,

0 --    And enjoy having time to just b-r-e-a-t-h-e.


:-)

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JudyK  March 18, 2017

SOLSC Day 17 - many bits of our wonderful world

Slice of Life Story Challenge --
Day 17 #SOL17

Many Bits of Our Wonderful World, All in One Day


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I had the privilege of experiencing little bits of different parts of the world today.

It started this morning, at the elementary school where I teach for the first half of the day. The entire student body assembled in the gym, where a troupe of Irish dancers from a local dance school put on a show. The dancers -- all school aged children -- were quite talented, and their costumes were festive and colorful. While lively Irish music played, dancers of different experience levels performed various jigs and reels. Graceful figures kicked and stepped, tapped and leapt. It was a charming program, and a fun way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day!

The "bits of the world" continued this afternoon, where a talent show was put on at my second-half-of-the-day school. The full student body of that school assembled to watch various students -- their own peers -- display assorted talents. I watched in amazement at their bravery as many students sang or danced, some solo, some with a partner, in front of an audience of hundreds. One boy put on a comedy routine, another boy recited from memory the Gettysburg Address. Two different students demonstrated different forms of martial arts. One young boy sang what I presumed to be an Indian chant....I'm not quite sure, but it was impressive.

It was at about that point -- when the boy was singing the chant -- that I became amazed for a different reason: I was witnessing many bits of the world coming together, all in that one room. The student body itself is fairly diverse, but they were sharing different aspects of cultures that aren't normally seen at school. And it was remarkable to me. I had never had such an education when I was a child; here in that room were several hundred students who were all enjoying a diverse, multi-cultural experience, all from their own student body....What a privilege!

The realization that the children of this generation are living in a worldwide global community...well, it really hit home for me right then. I was watching it play out before my very own eyes; I was seeing and hearing marvelous things that I never could have even dreamed of as a child. It reminded me of some lines from Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World":

I hear babies crying, I watch them grow.
They'll learn much more than I'll ever know.

That's a little how I felt at that moment. Do today's children realize how much they are able to experience and learn, compared to past generations? Of course not, because to them, it's just normal. But I am in awe. In awe of the experiences and opportunities that today's children have, in awe of the vast amount of things that they already know about our wonderful world and the beautiful people in it. Much more than I ever knew as a child. 

So much more.

                                                             "What A Wonderful World"                                                           

                                                                     Louis Armstrong                                                                    

I see trees of green, 
red roses too. 
I see them bloom, 
for me and you. 
And I think to myself,
what a wonderful world. 

I see skies of blue, 
And clouds of white. 
The bright blessed day, 
The dark sacred night. 
And I think to myself, 
What a wonderful world. 

The colors of the rainbow, 
So pretty in the sky. 
Are also on the faces, 
Of people going by, 
I see friends shaking hands. 
Saying, "How do you do?" 
They're really saying, 
"I love you". 

I hear babies cry, 
I watch them grow, 
They'll learn much more, 
Than I'll ever know. 
And I think to myself, 
What a wonderful world. 

Yes, I think to myself, 
What a wonderful world. 

Oh yeah.

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JudyK  March 17, 2017

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

    

SOLSC Day 16 - A Found Poem Nature's Resiliency

Slice of Life Story Challenge --
Day 16  #SOL17 -
A Found Poem: Nature's Resiliency


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On Day 16 of the Slice of Life Story Challenge, the Two Writing Teachers website posted this:

• Catherine Flynn shared this found poem in January. Using words found in the news, she created a poem. This might be a fun thing to try today.

I decided to try it. Going to the news website of a local TV station, I looked at their section called "Latest Local Headlines" where 10 headlines were featured. I took the 3rd word from each headline, and ended up with these 10 words: after, suspects, drill, to, driver, claims, suspect, in, discount, dozen. With those words in mind, I used them in one form or another to write a poem.

Here is my first attempt at a "found poem". 

Nature's Resiliency

Dozens of tiny crocuses are poised,
waiting for warm sunshine to fully open their blooms
in harsh March weather.

First,
heavy rains drill them,
driving some to the ground.

Then,
gusty winds and frigid temperatures
claim a few more.

I begin to suspect
that no blooms will survive this week;
the world won't enjoy their full beauty.

But,
never discount
the power of Mother Nature.

After
the sun shines strongly today,
there are many still standing --
straight and proud and open --
displaying their purple grandeur to the world.

They are telling us:
Spring will come.



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JudyK  March 16, 2017





          

SOLSC Day 15 - Proud to Be a Pantser!

Slice of Life Story Challenge --Day 15  #SOL17
Proud to Be a Pantser





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I am a person who is writing by the seat of her pants -- I am a Pantser!

Today's writing is inspired by the "Pantser" badge given out by the Two Writing Teachers website today, in the midst of their March Slice of Life Story Challenge. I've been taking part in that challenge, writing in my blog and posting on the TWT site every day during the month of March, and I have surprised myself over and over again during this writing challenge. I have changed so much as a writer since last Fall (I'll talk more about that in a future blog entry), and becoming a Pantser is one of them. Never in a million years did I think I'd have the ability -- or the confidence -- to be a Pantser. 

I started out the Slice of Life Challenge as a Planner, actually. But within a few days, as I found myself with less time but still wanting to write a daily slice, I had to just go for it. I had to start writing by the seat of my pants more and more. It meant abandoning all (well, most of) my writing habits. It meant that I had to ignore self-preservation instincts about embarrassing myself by writing on the fly. It meant that I had to just do it. And I did, and I still am.

And I have to admit....I'm quite proud of myself for being a Pantser.

Cheers to all the Pantsers everywhere!

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JudyK  March 15, 2017
Many thanks to the Two Writing Teachers website for hosting the March Slice of Life writing challenge!
  

SOLSC Day 14 - A Pi Day Poem About Friendship

Slice of Life Story Challenge --
Day 14  #SOL17 - A Pi Day Poem About Friendship








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We got a bit of snow here in central Ohio last night/today, but just a bit. Not enough for a snow day, of course, so the count for snow days in my school district for this school year is still holding at zero. And I'm not holding my breath that we have one at all.

I did, however, have the day off school today. Not because of snow, but because I'm sick. So, it hasn't been a really great day, and I haven't done any writing. But I plan to change that right now. 

Just a little fun, in honor of Pi Day:

A Pi Day Poem About Friendship
Three friends, living far from on another, made a 
Point to get together
One weekend a year.
Four times they did that, until
One year, they didn't.
Five more years went by, and then it was 
Nine. Their friendship remained steady, though, because friendship transcends distance...
And time. Friendship goes
On.
Forever.


:-)
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JudyK   March 14, 2017

SOLSC Day 13 - Monday March 13

Slice of Life Story Challenge --
Day 13  #SOL17
Monday March 13


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In honor of today -- Monday March 13 -- Haiku poems about Monday, March, and Thirteen!

Another Monday
Monday comes again!
Weekend just a memory....
Time goes too quickly.


March
Sunny, rainy, cold,
Snowy, warm, frosty, windy,
Oh! So confusing!



Thirteen
Unlucky number?
(Especially on Friday)
Just superstition.


Happy Monday!

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JudyK  March 13, 2017

SOLSC Day 12 - My Very first Spring Forward

Slice of Life Story Challenge -- Day 12  #SOL17
My Very First Spring Forward







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Daylight Saving Time. It's back once again! I find myself needing to change many of the clocks in my house today, the clocks which are not connected to the Internet or synced to some faraway signal that update their times automatically. Also today, as happens every year when Daylight Saving Time requires us to "Spring Forward," I find myself recalling the very first time that I experienced DST. It was when I was about 10 years old. Before then, Daylight Saving Time wasn't a yearly happening as it is now -- at least where I lived -- and I had never heard of it, so that first time made a big impression on me.

I may not remember exactly what the year was when Daylight Saving Time began in my little world, but I distinctly remember the effect that it had on me. I remember a big deal being made of it in the local newspapers. I remember seeing a picture of a young woman who was poised by a huge clock, ready to turn forward the hands of the clock, being on the front page of one of the newspapers. I remember sitting on my front porch with my mom and my older sister, discussing the fact that our time had just been changed. What I remember the most, however, is how I reacted as soon as DST went into effect.... Looking back now, I can't help but think what a weird kid I was!

So, what was so strange about my reaction? 

Well, any time anyone in my family mentioned what time it was --  4:15 for instance --  I felt compelled to add, "but it's really only 3:15."  Even if someone asked me what time it was, I would dutifully tell them the numbers that the clock displayed, but I would still always add as an aside, "but it's really only [whatever-the-time-would-have-been-had-we-not-switched-to-DST.]"  I remember that I didn't make those comments around anyone other than my family, because somehow I knew it was weird that I did that. (My older sister laughing at me was probably a fairly good clue.) But even when I didn't SAY "but it's really only...." around anyone else, I still THOUGHT it to myself. I couldn't help saying/thinking it; the words/thoughts just came out. Every single time.

Why did I care so much about something that others didn't think about twice? I don't know exactly. But my 10-year-old self was definitely fascinated, maybe even obsessed, by the concept. How can people change the time like that? How can people just arbitrarily say that it's 10:00 when it's really 9:00? I mean, the time was the time, for goodness sake, and that couldn't be changed! Yet, it was happening. Time was being changed. It took me a while to get used to that. 

Eventually, I stopped saying and even thinking "but it's really only...." every time that the time was mentioned. But I'll never forget the strangeness of my first experience with Daylight Saving Time.

No doubt about it. 

I was such a weird child.

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JudyK  March 12, 2017

P.S. The apple, as they say, doesn't fall far from the tree. Here is a link to a post written a few years ago by my adult child David-Maggie, with his observations about Daylight Saving Time:
Don't Say Standard Time Unless You Mean It

 :-) 

SOLSC Day 11 - "Old Man Winter"

Slice of Life Story Challenge --
Day 11  #SOL17 
"Old Man Winter"    







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It's March in Ohio. Spring will officially arrive in nine days. But just a couple of days ago, the beautiful spring-like weather which we were enjoying disappeared overnight. Harsh winds blew in a spattering of snow and below-freezing temperatures. Crocuses tightly closed up their almost-ready-to-open blooms. People once again bundled up in their winter coats, hats, and gloves. On the local TV station, the weather person reported that Old Man Winter wasn't finished with us yet. 

It wasn't really a surprise to anyone, since weather in Ohio is unpredictable and can change on a dime. And March is one of those transitional months anyway, when Winter and Spring constantly battle over who has control. The temperatures go up and down like a roller coaster for most of the month, and sometimes most of April, too, until Spring ultimately wins the war. But this most recent return of Winter was a disappointment anyway, for those of us who were enjoying the preview of beautiful Spring weather.

This morning I was thinking about the phrase that the weather person had used: "Old Man Winter." I've heard the phrase many, many times throughout my life, of course. It isn't exactly a phrase that people like to hear to describe their weather; the phrase has a very unpleasant connotation. As I thought more and more about the phrase, I wondered who had coined it, and why. Yes, many people don't like Winter weather, which can be bitter and bleak, treacherous and wearisome. But who was it that decided that Winter was an old man?

Considering the fact that so many people dislike winter....Isn't that a terrible insult to old men?

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JudyK  March 11, 2017

SOLSC Day 10 -- 10 Things I Like About Teaching

Slice of Life Story Challenge -- Day 10  #SOL17
10 Things I Like About Teaching

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In honor of the 10th day of March and the 10th day of slicing, here are 10 things I like about teaching:
1. Spontaneous hugs from kindergarteners
2. Outdoor recess on sunny days 
3. The exquisite look on a student's face when he finally understands a new concept
4. Curious third graders asking insightful questions
5. Energetic, fun, caring co-workers
6. Uncertain students beginning to enjoy themselves as they learn
7. Kid-drawn pictures given to me as gifts
8. Snow days (although we haven't experienced that pleasure this year)
9. Sweet smiles from students you don't even know as you pass them in the hallway
10. Days that are never, ever, ever boring

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JudyK  March 10, 2017

SOLSC Day 9 -- Rosy Bridge Rover Light

Slice of Life Story Challenge -- Day 9  #SOL17
Rosy...Bridge...Rover...Light



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"Ring around the rosy

Pocket full of posies

Ashes, ashes

We all fall down."

Does anyone remember the old games that children used to play outside, a long time ago? When I was a kid, we played London Bridge is Falling Down; Ring Around the Rosy; Red Rover, Red Rover; Red Light, Green Light; and probably a few others that I no longer can recall. None of those games required any equipment to play. No bats, balls, shin guards, nets, or helmets. (Though, now that I think about it -- we really could have benefited from having some protective gear playing Red Rover, Red Rover. That game could get ROUGH.) And certainly there was no technology or devices needed for any of those games. (Never mind the fact that those didn't exist yet.) No, all we needed for our amusement was our imagination and good sportsmanship. Those games were all operated exclusively by kid power.

"London Bridge is falling down,

Falling down, falling down.

London Bridge is falling down,

My fair lady!

Here's a prisoner I have got,

I have got, I have got,

Here's a prisoner I have got,

My fair lady!

Take a key and lock her up,

Lock her up, lock her up.

Take a key and lock her up,

My fair lady!"

Do children still play any of those games these days? I know that my grandkids occasionally play Red Light, Green Light, but I've never seen them play any of the other games I mentioned. I don't know if my grandchildren have even heard of any of the other games. (I guess I should ask them and find out, right?) But I absolutely have many fond memories of playing all those games from my childhood. 

"Red rover, red rover,

Send Johnny right over!"

Thinking of the memories of those activities from my childhood makes me wonder....What are the games that today's kids are going to have fond memories of?

I also ponder....Are my generation's games going to be another thing that gets lost in time?


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JudyK  March 9, 2017

SOLSC Day 8 -- Pencils and Poetry (Take 2)

Slice of Life Story Challenge -- Day 8  #SOL17
Pencils and Poetry (Take 2)


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     A 5th grade Language Arts class, where I was 'pushing in' two days ago, had just begun a lesson on poetry. The teacher had assigned the students, as a sort of pretest, to write a poem. She gave the students specific instructions as to how many lines the poem should have, but left the topic of the poem open for each of the students to decide.

     One of the students was having trouble choosing a topic. I tried to encourage her. "What do you feel like writing about?" I asked her. "You can write a poem about anything." She looked at me rather doubtfully. "You can!" I continued. "You can write a poem about anything at all. You can write a poem about a pencil if you want to!"

     Fast forward to the next day. I was recalling that conversation, and it occurred to me that I need to practice what I preach. Can a poem be written about a pencil? I decided that if I were going to tell a student that it can be done, I for sure had better be able to do it. So, here I am today, putting my money where my mouth is:



ODE TO A PENCIL
Oh, lowly pencil,
Simple writing tool.
Yellow,
Long,
Thin,
Smooth.
We take you for granted.
We tap you on tables,
or even nibble on you.
We use you, we lose you,
we discard you when you're old and worn.
You deserve better treatment
than what you get.
Technology
is taking away your importance;
The demand for you is down.
But fear not, humble pencil....
You will always be needed somewhere.
ALWAYS, my trusty old friend.


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JudyK  March 8, 2017