The Sunrise Story

I just returned home from a walk to the grocery store. I had a couple of things to pick up and the sun is shining, so it's a good excuse for a walk.  Going to the grocery store engenders strong emotions in me. Some days I feel invisible and I feel sad and alone. Those are the days when people run into my cart or cut in front of me or stop in the middle of the aisle and never offer an apology or even recognize that they've inconvenienced me. Let me stop right here and own the fact, that I'm sure there have been days that I've been that person for others.  Today's trip started off rocky. A woman walked in front of my cart three times and stopped. I had nowhere to go. She didn't acknowledge me. Frustrated, I moved around her and tried to remember one of my mantras, "Everyone has a story." I imagined she might be having a troublesome day and I wished her well...silently, in my head.  When I arrived at the check-out, my usually swamped groc...

This year, I find myself kicking and screaming towards the end. In my best recollection, I've never felt like this before about slicing. I wonder what's changed?  Honestly, the only thing that's bringing me back day after day in this final week, is my students. I have students who have committed to this challenge. Sixth-graders are slicing over spring break. What can I possibly tell them? I didn't feel like it?!?! I forgot?!?! NO. That's why I'm here. Writing. Blogging. Slicing. Tomorrow is the final day. I confess...I'm excited to be finished. The feeling for me is different this year. I'll need to reflect on why that is, but right now, I just notice and accept it. Today is Friday. I spent the afternoon with friends. We laughed and talked and listened. It was the best part of my week. Sitting with people who know me and hear me and like me. I hope your Friday was filled with joy.  March is the Slice of Life Challenge. I'll be sharing a ...

My favorite things about this break... a more relaxing morning routine more time to read & write & create lunches out with friends going to see a matinee the freedom to make my own schedule The things I don't like about this break... lots of alone time feeling invisible sometimes rain and chilly weather no traveling so much to get done Yet as this break comes to an end I'm grateful for time to reflect I'm grateful for time to write I'm grateful for time to finish things I'm grateful... March is the Slice of Life Challenge. I'll be sharing a post each day in the month of March. Please join me at Two Writing Teachers to read more slices!

I have too much to say... Thoughts swirling  in my head about life and the path of life and the twists and turns but I don't want to  write about it here. Where does that  leave me? My confusion stifles my ability to write. Nothing else sounds real,  important, authentic. Instead these thoughts refuse to leave- they strangle, simmer,  and swirl- Where can I go? Where can I share  these wonderings? Where I can untangle  this mess? The pages, the private  pages  of my  notebook... Sometimes a blog is not the right place for me to write. Sometimes I need privacy to figure things out. That's how I've been feeling the past day or two. Today I started and stopped this blog post more times than I can count...until I realized what the problem really is. My writing is private today. It's for me. That's what the poem was trying to say.  March is the ...

I don't like traffic. I don't like rudeness. I don't like cheating. I don't like lies. I don't like mean. I don't like burnt popcorn. I don't like making silly mistakes. I don't like when someone I love is sad. I don't like feeling invisible. I don't like crowds. I don't like cinnamon. I don't like when the seam on my sock is turned around. I don't like constant negativity. I don't like fruit with dessert (except for strawberries). I don't like feeling sad... This is certainly a different kind of post for me. It was inspired by a sixth-grade writer. Her post is here . I like the line I ended on because it reminded me of this quote I saw posted by the brilliant author, Martha Beck. The raw material for joy is sorrow...WOW! March is the Slice of Life Challenge. I'll be sharing a post each day in the month of March. Please join me at Two Writing Teachers to read more slices!

Facebook has something that shows my memories from years ago.  When my memories popped up from yesterday, I watched the videos of my nephew from years ago and reminisced about how time moves so quickly. Then I noticed something. I felt like I was in a rut. The year before and the year before and the year before...my days felt the same. That motivated me to get up and go. Try something new. Get out of the house. It's spring break, so it's easy to let the day pass without getting out and that can make me sad. I left and tried a new store that I've been wanting to try. I drove around and sang at the top of my lungs. I laughed and enjoyed myself. Get up. Get out. Get moving. I also walked a lot yesterday and that felt good too...even though it was chilly outside. Here's to more days of adventure and trying new places and moving, moving, moving. Hope your day is filled with unexpected adventures and lots of joy! March is the Slice of Life Challenge....

I sit in the quiet  with my coffee and wait  for the words to come What will I write? What's my story today? What do I have to say? Today nothing except quiet... Maybe  that's my story Maybe today is about  listening... March is the Slice of Life Challenge. I'll be sharing a post each day in the month of March. Please join me at Two Writing Teachers to read more slices!

Good morning Today It's here Spring break Start with a walk around the neighborhood sparkling sunshine Warm up with coffee Time with Bella Writing awaits Freedom of spring break brings me joy feels like possibility I'm awake let the days begin. March is the Slice of Life Challenge. I'll be sharing a post each day in the month of March. Please join me at Two Writing Teachers to read more slices!

Dear Spring Break, I'm so excited that you are arriving today. I've been waiting and waiting for you! Now that you're here, I don't even know what to do first. Here are some must do's on my list: I want to go and see at least two movies! I want to read a couple of really good books! Spending time with my friends each day will be a goal too! Hopefully, the weather will be warm so I can get outside for long walks with Bella too. It all won't be fun and games, though. I understand. Grading must be completed along with a couple of other projects for school. I have to clean out my garage along with other house projects. These may not be fun, but I will feel good when it's all finished. Spring Break, I will make sure to spend time each day being productive, as well as having fun. Remind me that it's ok to just be during this time. Remind me that each moment I spend is precious. Thank you for the rescue! It's been a busy school year and a break will do m...

My name is Michelle and I'm addicted to Facebook. The night before last I read a comment on Facebook that was hurtful. It was about me, without my name. It was on a page that has thousands of followers. I felt like the comment was incomplete and misinformed and I wanted to defend myself. Of course, I know better than that, so I logged off. Within ten minutes, I was back and stalking that thread again. It felt like I couldn't stop and I knew I was on the way down a bad spiral, so I stopped. I logged off of Facebook for twenty-four hours. I removed the app from my phone. And I reflected on this power this platform has over me.  There are so many benefits to these social media platforms! I've connected with people and learned from them. I am able to "chat" with others from the comfort of my own home. My world is simultaneously bigger and smaller. I've met people from around the world. I also get to see pictures of my family from far away. In these ways, it...

Yesterday the weather predicted a snow day. It didn't happen. If you are a teacher and this has happened to you, you can imagine what the day was like. Disappointed students and teachers filled the halls and to make matters worse, we had a hard day of work ahead of us in English class...drafting literary analysis essays.  This is not easy work. We've been working hard on preparing to draft and I know they were ready, but I also know, as a writer, days like this can be challenging. Once again my students surpassed my expectations. They slogged through the unknown. They listened to me when I gave them permission to write crummy first drafts. "Just get it down on the page! We will make is shiny in revision." They finally believe me. I was running from desk to desk giving encouragement and nudges until I wasn't...until they didn't need me. Until they realized...I really do know what to do. Yesterday, once again, I had the privilege of sitting in a room of wri...

Glum. Where is the snow?  Predictions...never correct. And now? Discontent... I was counting on it. The snow. I was so sure that it would be here this morning...so sure that I didn't prepare my slice the day before. (Rookie mistake.) I was so sure that nothing could jinx it. Don't get me wrong...I love my job. I love my students...still I want the snow. We've been denied snow all year long!I think it's coming later today...I hope. Oh snow, where are you?!?! March is the Slice of Life Challenge. I'll be sharing a post each day in the month of March. Please join me at Two Writing Teachers to read more slices!

We have one week of school before spring break. Five days...well, maybe five days. Here in Northern Virginia, we've had no snow this year. None. We've been living in the middle of a snow-hole. Every time a big storm comes, we get nothing. Being born and raised in Massachusetts, I am missing my snow.  This week we have another big storm forecasted and this time it looks like it might actually get us. I'm excited. What's funny is the build-up!  Sunday night was filled with a texting conversation like this... Here are a few comments on a Facebook post where I asked for predictions... Snow days...I have to say, I love them. Here's to one or two this week! March is the Slice of Life Challenge. I'll be sharing a post each day in the month of March. Please join me at Two Writing Teachers to read more slices!

Here it is. March 18th. This post usually comes sooner, for me, in this challenge. It's my "I don't know what to write about" post...or maybe it's my "I don't feel like writing today" post. Either way, here it is. I'm fighting a headache. I have a lot still left to do on this Sunday afternoon and writing a blog post is not high on my list...yet, here  I am. Show up. Sit down and show up to the page even when there's nothing to say. That's what a writer does...a writer writes. So, here I am...writing...about nothing. Nothing to say today. Really. Nothing. I keep waiting for a story to pop up or for something to spark so I can delete this and start over, but nothing. So here it is: my yearly post about nothing. It's kind of like my tribute to Seinfeld, the TV show about nothing. Here's hoping that something happens before tomorrow... March is the Slice of Life Challenge. I'll be sharing a post each d...

Leigh Anne Eck from A Day in the Life blog  is throwing a party. She's invited slicers here . This is a great way to connect with our community of slicers so today I'm RSVPing yes.  This is what I am bringing to the party: Favorite book:  Too many to pick just one...Anne of Green Gables is my all-time favorite, Intention is my current favorite professional book, and Word Collector is my current favorite picture book.  Favorite person:  I'd bring my friend Chrissy. She's an amazing teacher and a beacon of light. We get to work in the same school this year and it's amazing. She's always fun at a party and I know you'd all love her! Favorite food or beverage:  Since it's March, almost April, I'm obsessed with Cadbury Mini-Eggs. Mmmmm! I'll bring my favorite pasta dish too...spaghetti with anchovies. It's comfort food for me.  Favorite song:  Last week, I asked my students to share songs that made them happy. I'm going to shar...

Yesterday was a weird day. The energy level indicates spring break is around the corner. The increase in chattiness and silliness is noticeable. We were working hard on creating claims in our literary essay unit and we saw a green rope hanging outside the window. Strange. Suddenly two boxes were being pulled up to the roof. (We are on the second floor.) We got back to work and got our work accomplished. The day before, I'd asked for song requests from my students, "What song makes you happy?" The answers are as varied as the students. Here's our playlist-it's a work in progress. Spending the last few minutes of class dancing around to our favorite tunes made the craziness bearable. If you are a teacher, I don't have to tell you how precarious attention can be and when boxes are mysteriously floating by a second story window...it's impossible! Here's a video I caught of the empty boxes falling back to the ground. Luckily, this was planni...

I'm what you'd call a talker. One could say that I have a big mouth. That sounds bad, but really, it's true. I talk. I talk a lot. I'm sure my teachers all said that to my parents. I talk. I talk. I talk. (I'm loud too, but that's for another post.) Being reflective means that I think about my qualities and what I like and what I don't. I wonder how (or even if) I could change.  On the positive side, I talk to think. I talk to connect. I talk to encourage. My voice is strong and powerful. I've learned how to use it as a power for good...sometimes faltering.  I wish I listened more than I talked. Yesterday, I noticed at lunch I interrupted people more than three times. It was like I couldn't help myself. My internal dialogue was, "Shhh! Michelle, STOP." And there I'd go again.  There are reasons. I was passionate about the subject and I wanted to contribute. I wanted to share what I knew to be true.  When will I learn th...