Slice of Life Challenge #23: Day 7/31: ACT Testing

 For the month of March, I am writing and posting a slice of my life, hosted by Two Writing Teachers. 

Slice of Life Challenge #23: Day 7/31: 

ACT Testing

Today is ACT testing, a mandatory and standardized test for all juniors. It is officially one of my least favorite teaching days all year. 

Although I had ACT training about two weeks ago, yesterday I spent a significant amount of time prepping. I reviewed the expectations for proctoring the exam, reread the student expectations, and re-watched some of the training videos. I removed all the posters that may provide the student with an unfair advantage on the exam. 

New this year, any students who are not taking the ACT (freshman, sophomores, and seniors) have a virtual learning day. This means that teachers needed to create a virtual learning assignment for students not taking the ACT. After I finish proctoring the ACT today, I will need to assess virtual work, as the completion of this assignment is tied to attendance. I will likely not have any time to plan for Wednesday's classes. I know that I will be thoroughly exhausted by the end of the school day.

Of course, some students will arrive today with heightened anxiety. Other students will not care or try their best. This test won't phase some students. 

There is so much emphasis on this one test. Results from this test are a large factor of our school report card. It can be a determining factor for scholarships and acceptance into higher education institutions.

I wish that our education system wasn't set up this way. 

I will be so relieved at the end of the school day, when ACT testing is behind us. 

Slice of Life Challenge #23: Day 6/31: Word Games

For the month of March, I am writing and posting a slice of my life, hosted by Two Writing Teachers. 

Slice of Life Challenge #23: Day 6/31: 

Word Games

Each morning I try to carve out a little time to solve the New York Times Wordle. While I don't post my statistics to social media, my boyfriend Steve (who lives in another city) and I share our daily progress. 

The premise of Wordle is that you get six tries to guess the five letter word. 

There is some strategy involved in Wordle, especially in the starting word selected. I do not always have the same starting word. However, I typically select my starting word based on a word that has many vowels. My favorite starting words include adieu, suave, teach, ideal, and raise. Steve approaches his starting word in a bit of a different manner. He selects the same starting word for the month and doesn't deviate from it. 

My daughter loves this game, too. At times we figure out the word together. 

If I am stuck, I will often use a word that I know is not the correct answer, just to figure out a letter placement. See my example below: 

Do you play Wordle? What's your favorite starting word? 

Slice of Life Challenge #23: Day 5/31: Walking In Nature

For the month of March, I am writing and posting a slice of my life, hosted by Two Writing Teachers. 

Slice of Life Challenge #23: Day 5/31: 

Walking In Nature

When I was an undergraduate, I often walked through Schmeeckle Reserve when I needed a break from studying or a slice of solitude. Schmeeckle was right on the edge of campus - a short walk from my dorm. Back then, I did not realize how fortunate I was to have such a beautiful, safe space to explore. I also did not fully understand how walking benefited mental and physical health. I just knew that I felt better when I returned from a walk. 

Over twenty years later, walking remains my go-to for relieving stress or anxiety. It is my preferred form of exercise, even through bitter cold Wisconsin temperatures. I am a better version of myself when I regularly walk outside. 

Yesterday morning I was fortunate to be able to walk through Schmeeckle.  

I am grateful for walking. I am grateful for city nature spaces, like Schmeeckle. I am grateful for the calm yesterday's walk gave me.  

Slice of Life Challenge #23: Day 4/31: Progressive Lenses

 For the month of March, I am writing and posting a slice of my life, hosted by Two Writing Teachers. 

Slice of Life Challenge #23: Day 4/31: 

Progressive Lenses

Sometime last spring I had an appointment with my optometrist. He and I had the talk. I imagine that our exchange went a little like this: 

"Tell me about your vision when you are reading?"

"Oh. It's fine, but I take my glasses off, just like when I am using my phone or the computer."

"Is that because you cannot see very well?"

I paused. A LONG pause.

"Oh, You mean blurry? Yeah, I guess that's why I take my glasses off. It's really just when I need to see my phone, the Chromebook, and books. So yeah, I guess that I do this often."

"Your prescription has changed a little bit." (Readers, trust me. He gave me all of the optometrist jargon that I cannot currently pull out of my memory.) 

"You will likely be able to get by for a while by just talking off your glasses for reading text up close. However, you may want to think about Progressive Lenses the next time you buy new glasses."

"Progressive Lenses? Like bifocals?" 

"I am not recommending a lined bifocal. We now have the option of Progressive Lenses. It helps transition between near and far prescriptions within the lens."

"For your glasses prescription, I will indicate that Progressive Lenses are optional. You can take some time and think about it."

**************************************

I definitely took my time in ordering a new pair of glasses, mostly because I was putting off the decision of whether or not to order Progressive Lenses. I was warned it would be an adjustment and a significant cost increase. 

The hinge point was when the screws kept coming loose on one side of my glasses - something that I haven't experienced before. I thought that it was just time to get a new pair of frames. However, when I went in recently for an adjustment, the technician asked me if I took off my glasses a lot. Immediately, I realized that I was taking off my glasses multiple times a day for when I needed to read text up close. She gently reminded me that investing in Progressive Lenses would help with this problem.

This past Thursday I picked up my new pair of glasses, complete with Progressive Lenses.  Friday was the first day that I wore my new Progressive Lenses. My depth perception is still a bit weird. I am still learning where to look through my new glasses. I am using my old prescription for driving until I get used to my new lenses.

My Progressive Lenses are a gentle reminder that we are not immortal. After all, our bodies won't last forever. Just like getting my colonoscopy screening, it makes me feel a bit a lot more seasoned. Yet, I cannot help but be grateful that I can afford Progressive Lenses and there are options to bifocal lenses. 

  

My new frames (and Progressive Lenses)

Slice of Life Challenge #23: Day 3/31: Herbert's Security

For the month of March, I am writing and posting a slice of my life, hosted by Two Writing Teachers. 

Slice of Life Challenge #23: Day 3/31:

Herbert's Security

"Your photography is a record of your living, for anyone who really wants to see." Paul Strand

At times, when I feel stuck in my writing, I head to my phone. Challenging myself to stay away from doom scrolling (as that is one of the most counterproductive things that I do to myself), I scan through my photos and use a writing technique called writing from a photo. Not surprisingly, my camera roll has a lot of cat photos - an easy writing inspiration.

Below is a recent photo of one of my cats, Herbert. Along with his brother Binx, he loves to burrow in boxes and bags. 

Based on this photo, I wrote a Haiku:

An open suitcase-/

Invitation to nestle./

Cat security.

Click here to see last year's slice about writing from a photo.

What gives you inspiration to write? 

Slice of Life Challenge #23: Day 2/31 Writing Hiatus

For the month of March, each day I am writing and posting a slice of my life, hosted by Two Writing Teachers. 

Slice of Life Challenge #23: Day 2/31

Writing Hiatus

On Wednesday, while I was reading Elisabeth's post, a line of her writing resonated with me: 

The past year has felt like an extended hiatus from writing. I last blogged eleven months ago in April. The writer’s notebook I started in July is still only half full in March.

I felt like Elisabeth took the words right out of my mouth. This year has felt like an extended writing hiatus for me, too. 

Prior to my February 28th post, I had not blogged since April of 2022. Like Elisabeth, I began a new notebook in July, and I still haven't quite filled it. In fact, there have been a handful of weeks when the only time I wrote in my notebook was when I led a Literary Club session. 

My current writer's notebook - not even 100 pages long

I tried to ignite my writing through the NaNoWriMo challenge last November. I wrote about 10,000 words out of the 50,000 word goal. When I found myself getting too stressed out about finding time to write, I gave myself permission for a short break and never returned to my novel. 

In December, I challenged myself to write a Haiku-A-Day for a month. I wrote a Haiku every day for about two weeks. I am not sure what happened, as a haiku-a-day is a reasonable and attainable goal. I didn't have an audience or any kind of accountability, so maybe this was my problem. 

Perhaps my lack of writing this year has had to do with my school year. Honestly, it has been a tough school year for me. Most days I have returned from school exhausted, only to work in the evening to make sure that I am ready for the next day of teaching. Only to do it again the next day. And the day after that. It's been a hamster wheel. I have felt so overwhelmed as an educator this year. 

Regardless of the reason for my lack of writing this year, I have missed writing. I have missed the connection with other writers. I have missed all of the things that I notice when I am actively writing. I have missed sharing a small slice of my writing. I need to make time for myself to write.  

 

 

Slice of Life Challenge #23: Day 1/31 Since Last March

For the month of March, each day I am writing and posting a slice of my life, hosted by Two Writing Teachers. 

Slice of Life Challenge #23: Day 1/31

Since Last March

Since last March, I've done some traveling

Traveling to Kentucky on a youth mission trip

Traveling to Hayward and Door County to be with family

Traveling to new and familiar places.

Since last March, I've been strengthening my skills in crocheting

Crocheting with color changes

Crocheting a small handbag

Crocheting amigurumi creatures.

Since last March, I've been working on letting go

Letting go of unhealthy relationships

Letting go of the drive for constant production 

Letting go of unhealthy work and home balance. 

Since last March, I've realized unexpected blessings

Blessings from neighbors who helped me with snow removal

Blessings from students who make me laugh

Blessings from loving and being loved. 

I used this format to begin my SOLC challenge last year. You can read this slice here. For me, this is a wonderful way to reflect on this past year.