The time has come for me to step back and do some self-reflection.I can’t say more right now. That would defeat the purpose of being introspective, wouldn’t it?As always, what’s important can be found in the unspoken word. Meaning is in the empty spaces.That’s my slice today. http://twowritingteachers.wordpress.com/2011/03/13/solsc-2011-13-of-31 Read more

I am enjoying my student’s slices so much that I have not written any of my own. I can really relate to Ruth’s post the other day about being overwhelmed. Nothing else to say. Enjoy! Last night I was eating dessert. I put my plate onto the counter and I was walking through the hallway… Read more

More student slices… Today is my uncle Cole’s birthday. He is turning sixteen years old. He is just learning how to drive. I can’t wait ’cause he can drive me wherever I want. He can almost drive. When you are 16 you can drive. He can drive me to MacDonald’s and Wendy’s. I will command… Read more

I received 12 positive responses from parents giving their children permission to publish their slices on my blog. So, here are a few of them! In my family, I am the oldest kid. I have an annoying younger sister. The only time when she was not annoying is when she gave me the stuffed animal… Read more

It all started just as we were getting ready for reading and writing workshop. There was a soft knock at our door. More than 20 eager grade five students, our buddies, were lined up outside our classroom. I had forgotten that we had planned to get together to work on peace messages for our school… Read more

2:00 pm I stood in the middle of my classroom and took a look around. I noticed a stack of baskets on top of a table where a now forgotten science experiment used to be. I moved the offending baskets out of the way but didn’t put them to any good use; I’ll leave that… Read more

Today is one of those beautiful rare days this winter, at least for Calgary – sunny, blue skies and not too cold. I spent most of yesterday and today working on report cards. My breaks have consisted of washing dishes; having meals; reading Losing Charlotte by Healther Clay, a new and notable book from my… Read more

I’m always surprised and disappointed when educators I respect support the use of rewards and punishments to control student behaviour. Whenever I feel like my students are “misbehaving” or not behaving as expected or agreed, it’s usually because I’m “misbehaving” or not behaving as expected or agreed. Sound odd? Perhaps, but think about this for… Read more

Writer’s block.I’ve got it.I don’t know how many topics I’ve contemplated,and started writing about,and then stopped.None of them seemed right.Too trite.Too contrite.No substance.I don’t know what to write.Keep writing something. Anything.I tell my students the same thing.It’s hard to do but if I don’t keep goingthen I’ll stop writing altogether’cause sometimes it just seems too… Read more