Fear of the Firsts

There are a number of firsts this year, despite it being my ninth year teaching.

A View from my Balcony

Now that the weather is reaching that spring-time sweet spot of partially cloudy-to-sunny and cool without being cold, I would like to enjoy the outdoors a bit more from my balcony. Thus, a cleaning has been prompted. I step out onto the small balcony of my apartment, big enough to hold two lawn chairs and […]

#SoL20: Looking Back, Moving Forward

This week I shared with students we were going to do the Classroom Slice of Life Story Challenge. I’m nervous and excited for them, but mostly hopeful that they will see the benefit and joy of doing it. I actually got to speak to two students over Hangouts today and address some points of confusion. […]

#SoL20: Frogs

There was a show on television when I was a kid, though I don’t recall the name, but I recall the premise. A kid would have a secret/weird talent or collection or hobby that a panel of celebrities would have to guess. It was on Nickelodeon so the once infamous “green slime” was involved if […]

#SoL20: Teacher Shoes

I was flipping through my notebook for ideas this morning, not exactly knowing what I wanted to write, and I found an entry (a free form poem) from January titled “Teachers Shoes.” Kicked off as soon as I get home, Laces loose and ready to slip on. The insides are worn from feet Dug deep […]

#SoL20: Cozy Canine

Today’s small pleasure is sitting at my kitchen table (turned teacher’s desk) and watching as my dog, Cooper, trots out from the bedroom. This has been our new normal for the past week. He sacrifices his spot on the bed to join me for work. Granted, that is partially because I have put a blanket […]

#SoL20: Central Living

Of all the rooms in my grandparents’ house, the living room stands out to me the most. It was like Grand Central Station in my grandparents’ house because no other part of the house could really be accessed without passing through that room. The front door, the kitchen, the play room, and the bedrooms were […]

#SoL20: School Game Night

One of my favorite non-academic aspects of the school I teach at is an event known as Game night. Game nights are hosted by our librarian (who is also a personal friend of mine) along with the student president of her library club, VHS Crew. Game nights have brought me nothing but joy because […]

#SoL20: A Test of Distance

Two Writing Teachers have opened up their Slice of Life challenge at the midway point and I almost missed the deadline to join at the halfway point as well! Luckily, I am slowly building into my writing routine to check out the blog on Tuesday so I managed to catch it. As you may have […]

A Belief in Language

When I was 13 I believed I would go to Hell for cursing. My first memory of using foul language was about that same time. I was goofing off at a friend’s sleepover with several other girls and one of them body slammed me while I was attempting to hide under some pillows. I remember […]