Slice of Life #22: Day 8: Something Looks Different

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 #22: Day 8: 

Something Looks Different

"Did you clean?"

"I can't tell, but something looks so weird in here."

"Where did all the posters go?"

"Is your room getting a makeover?" 

"It looks like a whole new room!"

At least one student in every class commented on my classroom yesterday. My students were right - my classroom definitely looked different. I took several anchor charts and posters down early Monday morning, leaving chunks of blank space on partitioned classroom walls.

There was no weekend vandalism. 

There was no quick dash to clean.

There was no grand plan for redecorating.

It was just me following directions. There can be nothing visible that might aid students on the ACT test. 

In a little while, all juniors will take the state-mandated ACT test. ACT testing is one of my least favorite school days of the year. It will be an incredibly long day for students testing and staff proctoring. 

I cannot wait until all of our mandated standardized testing is done for the 2021-2022 school year. 

 

Slice of Life #22: Day 7: Two Years Ago Today

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 #22: Day 7: 

Two Years Ago Today

Two years ago today, I met an old friend, Steve, for coffee at Ruby Roasters. Although Steve and I casually kept contact on social media, we hadn't seen each other for twenty years. We worked together in college, both of us student workers in the Information Technology Department. He was skilled in computers. I was a work study student who mostly did office work, such as making labels, sending faxes, filing papers, and answering phones. 

When I met Steve for coffee, I was newly divorced, but not necessarily looking for any kind of a relationship other than a friendship. Our coffee date changed all of that. 

Despite some physical distance between us and the pandemic, we began dating. We fell in love. Two years later, we're still going strong. 

In reflection, I played around with (mostly) three word slices:

March coffee date.

Old friends reconnect.

through conversation, laughter.

Pandemic creates barriers.

Communication via texts,

video chats, phone.

Yet...

Genuine love develops.

I trust again.

He brings joy. 

Me and Steve right before Christmas

Slice of Life #22: Day 5: Morning Cat Alarm

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 #22: Day 5: 

Morning Cat Alarm

Earlier in the week I awoke to my kitten, Herbert, not-so-patiently nudging me awake by rubbing his whiskers on my cheeks. Binx, another kitten, was in "loaf mode" on my chest. My third and senior cat, Emma, was perched on the pillow directly above my head, gently pawing at my hair. 

That night had been a restless sleep. I was still tired and yearned to catch a few more z's before I began my day. Yet my clowder's subtle behaviors were all too much for me to ignore. 

They gave me no choice. I had to get up.   

Of course, Emma, Binx, and Herbert were eager to eat their breakfast. How dare I be tardy for feeding my cats? 

Herbert and Binx

 

Emma

 

Slice of Life #22: Day 4: Senior Prank

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 #22: Day 4/31

 Senior Prank 

"Does anyone hear that?" I'm subbing for a colleague in a high school engineering class. I keep hearing a sharp, repetitive beeping sound.

Laughter erupts.

"That goes off every morning for one minute at 8:15." Someone yells out.

"Seriously? Why?" I inquire.

"The best senior prank ever. Maybe five years ago someone hid an alarm. No one can exactly figure out where it is, so we just deal with it." 

One student points to a corner of the room where the student must have hidden it. 

The alarm is hidden somewhere in here

"We are so used to it that we don't even notice it anymore," A quiet student offers and then adds,"it's just a part of first hour." 

I smile. 

Sure enough, the beeping stops at exactly 8:16. We continue with class.

Senior pranks are not my favorite, but I have to admit that this one is pretty good. The whole thing makes me giggle.  

Slice of Life Challenge #22: Day 3: Cribbage Challenge

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 #22: Day 3/31

 Cribbage Challenge

For as long as I can remember, my mom and dad have been avid Cribbage players. They often played with friends at gatherings. There was always a Cribbage board nearby. 

Sometime in my youth, my mom tried to teach me how to play. When I was a senior in high school, some friends tried to teach me Cribbage. It never stuck. 

Thinking back, the first time I learned how to play Cribbage I wasn't very patient. I didn't like all of the rules, especially when it came to determining points. (Fifteen - two, fifteen-four, a pair for six, a pair for eight. Don't get me started on how to count a run.) And then there was that math thing - the quick addition and the embarrassment of constantly counting on my fingers. No wonder I gave up so quickly.  

For me, the only thing that really stuck about Cribbage was that it had something to do with the number fifteen and that you moved the pegs. Not enough knowledge to play.

Recently, I realized that I missed out in learning how to play Cribbage. So many people I know love to play cribbage, including my parents. Last weekend, when my boyfriend Steve came to visit, I asked him to teach me how to play Cribbage. To my delight, he agreed.

I dug out the Cribbage board from the shelf that houses all of our family games. I blew off the thick coating of dust and opened up the Cribbage box. To my surprise (or maybe not, knowing my household), all of the pegs were missing. Steve and I improvised - we found some wooden toothpicks, colored them with magic markers, and used them instead.

The dusty Cribbage board all cleaned off

Our Cribbage "pegs"

Steve did a great job teaching me how to play Cribbage. He was patient with me, even with my slow counting and confusion with scoring. Most importantly, I had fun. 

This time, I think learning how to play Cribbage stuck. I cannot wait until we play again. 

In thinking about my recent Cribbage lesson, I wrote a haiku below: 

Cribbage pegs missing/

substitution of broken/

colored wood toothpicks. 

Do you play Cribbage? 

Slice of Life #22: Day 2: Writing from a Photo

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 #22: Day 2: 

Writing from a Photo 

Each Tuesday morning I co-lead a student literary club at the high school I teach at. This is my first year co-advising Literary Club. It has been a gift to be a part of Literary Club. 

Each student shows up at 7:20 in the morning, ready for our weekly literary club meeting before the busy school day begins. Some have a thirty minute icy bike ride to get to school for Literary Club. Other students trudge through the snow or beg their parents or siblings to drop them off early. 

On Tuesday we wrote about an image on our phone. First, I asked a writer to select a random number between one and five. The writer selected a three. Next, writers took out their phones and found the last third photo from their camera roll. For writers who did not have a phone or did not like their third photo, I projected an image of the day from the Internet. Students were invited to write in whatever form they wanted. Some writers wrote poems, others wrote prose, while others wrote dialogue. When everyone found a photo, I set a timer for five minutes. 

I wrote with my students. Mary, my co-advisor, wrote as well. 

My third photo happened to be a photo from a recent early morning walk:

Based on this photo, I penned this Haiku: 

Pink hues emerge now/

Darkness slowly fades. Early/

morning beauty walk. 

Writers always have the option to share. Anytime a writer shares their work aloud, the group snaps. Writers often comment which lines stand out. They give each other suggestions. 

No matter what we write about, their words and deep insights often blow me away. These writers inspire ME to write more. They are my people.

I adore this small community of writers.  

Slice of Life Challenge #22: Day 1: 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 #22: Day 1/31

Since Last March

Since last March, I've explored new learning

Learning how to tap dance

Learning macramé

Learning new recipes.

Since last March, I've been filled with laughter

Laughter erupting while playing family games

Laughter from visits and Face Time chats with my boyfriend

Laughter in watching two curious kittens play.

Since last March, I've gained new knowledge

Knowledge about students placed at risk

Knowledge about teaching students in alternative settings

Knowledge gained to earn a certification in Alternative Education. 

Since last March, I've realized unexpected blessings

Blessings from receiving hand written letters in the mail

Blessings in co-leading a school literary club

Blessings from loving and being loved. 

Thank you to Elisabeth's post in introducing me to this form of "Since Last March."