Today I join my fellow bloggers in "serving up a slice"
to the Tuesday Slice of Life (SOL) community.
Thanks to Stacey, Tara, Betsy, Dana, Beth, Anna, Kathleen, and Deb
for hosting this meeting place each Tuesday and nurturing our writing lives.
I wander in, pleased to be in a familiar place. The teacher desk is in the same spot. My old microwave is on the counter. We look at slices from my former students on the document camera. Then we begin ten minutes of "sacred" slicing time. (I call it sacred because it's not okay to interrupt me unless you're about to throw up or on fire. I'm writing too!)
I glance out the window - no cherry trees, just the brown slats of a portable and the metallic gleam of a ramp. We write, and I think of all the students before us who have filled pages with slices to celebrate the ordinary moments of their lives. I celebrate being back in Room 104, with writers putting pen to page, pencil to paper, and fingers to keyboard. I eye the familiar - my classroom library in colorful bins, the rug I purchased at the thrift store - but also notice the unfamiliar, an Oregon pennant on the wall.
I reach for the chimes and a light brush of the fingers signals the melodic end of writing time. This group of sixth graders has just completed their first slice of life. Hurray for Mrs. Gaffney's slicers!
And on Monday, I receive this text from their teacher: "Thank you for doing such an awesome job Friday with Slice of Life! Kids came in begging to write! Yay! :)" I must mention that this group was prepared to begin slicing by her earlier lessons. I just happened to be the lucky person to launch their journey!
And on Monday, I receive this text from their teacher: "Thank you for doing such an awesome job Friday with Slice of Life! Kids came in begging to write! Yay! :)" I must mention that this group was prepared to begin slicing by her earlier lessons. I just happened to be the lucky person to launch their journey!
Lucky you, and lucky her! I love it when I have a substitute that can really stretch my class instead of just babysitting for the day.
ReplyDeleteso awesome for all involved! It's just the best when kids are begging to write or read!
ReplyDeleteYou subbed in your old room? What fun! I'm glad you got to see the slicing! Jennifer Sniadecki
ReplyDeleteI could see your smile all the way through this slice. What fun! Will they be slicing in March?
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful slice! I am not sure I would have taken being back in my old room and seeing my old stuff as well as what you have. But what a great thing to share with them. I am thinking about offering it to my students for this firs time this year. We will see!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great story! Yay for you, my friend!
ReplyDeleteThis is so exciting, Ramona! Woo-hoo! Will they be joining us in March for the Classroom SOLSC?
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet gift you gave those students, Ramona, & in your old classroom! I loved reading this trip down memory lane, & remember when you mourned the cherry trees. Loved reading this!
ReplyDeleteRamona, launched the students on the journey to slice the ordinary is providing then with the gift of lifelong writing. Kudos to you!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing your inspirational post. I remember how compelling it was for me to witness my prof writing at the same time we wrote. I love that you sacredized your writing time. No interruptions save throwing up or being on fire. I love it! God bless you! Lucky students!
ReplyDeleteBrave woman, being present to students in a place that used to be more yours. It's a good lesson to me, I think, to remember that all is gift, all is on loan. Every blessing for gifting "your" students and "her" students with a love for slicing. Kudos, too, to the teacher who graciously acknowledged what you did for "her" students, and, likewise, kudos, too, to you for acknowledging her role. Win-win-win for all!
ReplyDelete