Highs, NO Lows and THIS is Reading?!?!

Today is my 20th slice for the 

March Slice of Life Challenge on Two Writing Teachers.

I just got this notebook last week because of the quote on the bottom (and the cute elephant picture)! It says, "Your day will go the way the corners of your mouth turn."

I think it's more than that. I believe you make lots of choices throughout the day that decide how your day goes. After a tough day today (Thursday) a friend and I decided to share our highs and lows...but we skipped the lows. I'll do that here too...

Today was mostly a good day. I had to work very hard to be able to say that and have it be true. That's the thing about good days...a lot of them don't just happen. It started out with lots of rude drivers. I turned up the music...LOUD...and sang! At a light, I turned and noticed this...a HIGH!

I don't think you can see it in this picture, but there was a tiny rainbow peeking through the clouds. I watched it for a long time at the light and tried to snap a picture.

At school time spent with my students is precious...especially after being out for a day. We had a terrific day together. The first couple of blocks worked hard and got lots done!

Time for lunch. Sigh...I need to skip lunch time...no highs here.

After lunch I needed positive energy! During the last class of the day when we were walking back from the library, some students were asking for more reading time. MORE. I must have had a perplexed look on my face because one of the boys asked me why I looked like that. I said, "You want more reading time? Remind me...what did you think of reading back in September?"

He smiles and says, "Oh that I don't like to read. I still don't."

I asked, "Then why more reading time?"

He replied, "I love this book! It's so good! I want to finish it!"

I said, "That's reading."

He said, "No, it's just this book."

I said, "NO. THAT. IS. READING. You know how you are feeling right now...how you would rather read than do anything else?!?! That's how READING feels! That's READING!!" 

He smiled. Looked perplexed for a moment and then smiled and said, "Oh, ok. I LOVE to read!" 

Does it get any HIGHer than that?!?! By the way, can anyone recommend books that are similar to "How to Steal a Dog" by Barbara O'Connor? That's the book these students are LOVING!

We had some time for a bit of recess. I brought my class outside and they all decided to play together. 

I heard giggles and watched them run around... happy & carefree! HIGH!!

The day ended with a parent conference. It went well. They asked good questions and got some advice. When I got home, I got this email...

HIGH! HIGH! HIGH!

I choose not to listen to the negative voices.
I choose to focus on solutions instead of problems.

I choose laughing instead of yelling.

I choose HIGH instead of LOW.

Here's that tiny bit of a rainbow again, as my day ended...