Slice of Life: Can't Find the Path (Yet)

Over Thanksgiving, I had several conversations with our adult children which left me in a quandary. There are so many tough questions being asked these days not only from our kids, but about life.  I think there lies the answer: I don't have to know all the answers as long as I continue to learn and have empathy as part of the process.

 I watched Ruth's video about her decade of One Little Words.   Her calming voice along with her explanations resonated in me. My OLW15: reflection has sent me on twists and turns I never saw coming this year. When I take a moment to reflect and realize the answer is not always there or more importantly the path can't be found (yet).  We're all on a journey to figure out the pieces (slices) of life. The conversations really made me realize that my journey at 52 is not any different than one at the age of 23 and 25.  I am thankful for that realization. Thanks to Two Writing Teachers for encouraging me to Slice. 

Summer reflection from a moment on our dock.

"Everyone Has a Story"

Last summer, I followed the All Write Consortium virtually on twitter, and I remember thinking about how much I wish I could have been there. This year I attended with many colleagues and enjoyed the opportunity to listen, discuss and now begin to process all of the information.

Ruth Ayres gave the opening keynote entitled “Mandates, Standards and Evaluations.  Can Teachers Still Change the World?”  I loved how she shared her own teaching experiences, her own life story which led her to ask the audience, “What is your story?”  Everyone has a story.

As a teacher, I need to know my students’ stories. We want to change a life and give hope which allows each child to have BIG dreams.

All of life pieces make up our stories.  Stories allow us to change the world. 

Words matter and the story is worth being written.  

She suggested having students start the year with sharing a story that changed their life. I am already thinking about which picture book I am going to be sharing with my class the first few weeks of school.

She ended with connecting these stories to the importance of helping students believe that they are readers and writers.  It is our job to support and encourage students as well as build their trust so that they can form their own story because stories can change the world.

 Ruth wrote her own reflection about the keynote on her blog:  Two Writing Teachers.