Celebrate: Slowing Down First Three Days of January
Learners of Room 234 came back on Wednesday. We spent almost the entire day in conversations. I decided this year after sharing their favorite memory that we were going to discuss gratitude. I chose to open the conversation with a favorite picture book, Thank You, Mr. Falker. . I believe it is important to teach young learners about being thankful. I purchased thank you cards from Target, so students could have a chance to write a quick note. Most students wrote their parents, some wrote their grandparents and a few wrote a coach. I celebrate not jumping right into curriculum the first three days back in 2017. I am thankful for my students who spent some time reflecting on their holiday vacation and writing about gratitude.
I have been struggling with writing lately. I know that my Saturday Celebrations are important to me in two different ways. First of all the community of writers and the comments that we leave each other encourage me. Second I live differently knowing that I will be posting a celebration on Saturday as I constantly search for that special celebration moment. Welcome to my first celebration of 2017.
Yay for you in having your students hand write a thank you note. That is sadly becoming a lost art! Keeping our eyes, ears and hearts open for celebrations has certainly changed my outlook on the week. Yay for Ruth for creating this celebrating community! Have a great weekend, Maria.
ReplyDeleteI know I always feel very old when I have my students write a thank you note. When I was little I always had to write thank you notes for all my presents. Still hanging on to the past.
DeleteSo glad you're back here celebrating! It's been a while for me too. I agree with this very much, "I live differently knowing that I will be posting a celebration on Saturday as I constantly search for that special celebration moment." Wise words!
ReplyDeleteThanks Michelle I'm always a better person when I end my day reflecting on a celebration.
DeleteI'm glad you are here, Maria, and that you show your thoughtfulness with the students in taking the time to reflect and show gratitude. That's very special.
ReplyDeleteThanks Linda - it was nice to start slow with our first week back.
DeleteReflecting and writing - the perfect beginning to a new year. Thanks for sharing this celebration of gratitude with your students and us.
ReplyDeleteReflecting seems a little easier than "writing" right now. Here's to finding more writing time.
DeleteA lovely start for the year. You inspire me to change what I had planned for next week. I thought of ending blogging in December. Then I looked at my posts and decided that SOL and Celebrations have helped me to focus on the positive. I like showing up and reading what others write.
ReplyDeleteTerje, your comment is why I didn't hang up blogging in December. I realized that the community of comments are my friends who help me keep writing. I agree "I like showing up and reading what others write." Thank you :)
ReplyDeleteYou are so right that posting here every week makes us live differently -- in constant search of celebration. As a result, we see more celebration around us and live a fuller life as a result. Yay to you for recognizing this and for showing up here and in all of our blogs as a reader! Happy new year, Maria!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jennifer for your encouragement. Have a great week.
DeleteI love the sweet gesture of a thank you note and I'm afraid it's going out of style. How good of you to teach this valuable lesson to your kiddos. Happy 2017!
ReplyDeleteAnd I don't want it to go out of style. I saved grandmothers, grandpas and several other special handwritten notes in a special box. The connections with their writing is so special for me.
DeleteI'm so glad that you wrote today, friend. This has been my struggle too, I'm in a real writing rut as well. I did the same thing as you - eased back slowly. Loved that you began the year with Thank You, Mr. Falker - one of my favorite books!
ReplyDeleteAlways learning side by side though the challenges and the highlights. I hope you find a moment today and find an inspiration to write.
DeleteLove, love "Thank you Mr. Falker"... Your thoughts resonate with me: I, too, need to be part of a "community of writers." I'm just beginning to realize how much I need "the comments that we leave each other." And I too am finding my consciousness of living is sharpening because of #SOL and now #Celebratelu.
ReplyDeleteThat is our journey as writers. I believe every writer needs to find their niche and that can ebb and flow as the years pass on. Happy writing this week Alice.
DeleteGratitude is a wonderful celebration. I am so touched that you had your students write thank you cards. It teaches them the value of thankfulness.
ReplyDeleteThe three go hand in hand. I want to be more aware as well as send the message that it is an ongoing process at school, home and in their community. I hope you have a marvelous week Carol.
DeleteThanks, Maria for the exchange of words today.
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