Back to Work!
After suffering all weekend, I’m back to work today! I don’t know why this weakness, illness, affliction is staying with me, but I will know more after my doctor’s appointment today.
Our class is writing Slice of Life stories today as well. Some students are writing about weekend life, favorite YouTube channels, and family members. I like reading the pieces and getting to know people better. Some students have fascinating stories! I’m having a little trouble thinking in this large, echo-y classroom — people want to talk about their ideas and items of interest instead of writing them down. I think I know why there are “writers’ retreats” now. The distractions are not helping my brain!
Maybe I shouldn’t write with my students. (No, that’s not what I learned is best for any of us.)
Reading Teacher Writes 
March 7, 2016 at 2:14 PM
Jennifer,
It might be “easier” to write when your students aren’t being noisy; however, they will learn from a lesson that explains how you have to “focus” differently when there is a lot of noise . . . maybe even put on a headset to block out the noise – a headset that is not connected to ANYTHING!
Channel the talk. Jot down 5 ideas. Star 2 to talk with your partner about. Add 2 details to each of those two. Now you are ready to share with a partner!
Focus the conversations. Share. Add to the ideas.
And then the infamous words . . .
. . . “off you go to write!”
March 7, 2016 at 8:25 PM
Thank you, Fran! We just keep plugging away. They love to share.
March 7, 2016 at 3:41 PM
Well, you’re being a good model by writing with them – but not if you can’t concentrate enough to write! 🙂
March 7, 2016 at 8:26 PM
Well, Dana, I got this much down! LOL
March 7, 2016 at 3:54 PM
Oh, I hope your are getting better and you get answers from the doctor. I can’t write very well with my students in the classroom. Right now I have only three in the room (it’s lunch) and I just had to ask one to stop reading quotes from a “useless” website! Funny but not great for writing.
March 7, 2016 at 8:27 PM
At least it’s lunch time! Sometimes you just need to be funny. Thanks for the note! Updates coming soon.