SOLSC #8: What am I grateful for?

I am participating in the
March 2018 Slice of Life Story Challenge (SOLSC).
All participants are writing about one moment, one part of their day, every day for thirty-one days.

A big thank you to Two Writing Teachers for providing this unique opportunity

for teacher-writers to share and reflect.

This is a school day that was so low, I need to go high...and the best way to do that for me is to write ten gratitudes:

1. I am alive and healthy.

2. I have a husband who I love dearly and who loves me back.

3. The day is basically over.

4. My son Bryce is coming over to hang out (rather late on a school night, but when you are 22, you don't feel these schedule burdens!)

5. Yoga class made me feel so much better, and reminded me to write gratitudes.

6. Tomorrow is Friday.

7. I took Monday off because it is our 30th anniversary.

8. Tony and I are going out of town for the weekend. 

9. I have brownies in the oven.

10. There is ice cream in the freezer.

Bonus: This counts as my slice of life today.

sol17-24 What makes our community better?

I am participating in the
Slice of Life Story Challenge (SOLSC).
All participants are writing about one moment, one part of their day, every day of March 2017. 

A big thank you to Two Writing Teachers for providing this unique opportunity

for teacher-writers to share and reflect.

As I was exiting the metro train this morning, a young man endearingly called out to me, "Ladyglove." There was a brief mental delay on my part before I realized he had noticed that I left my gloves on the seat - and I thanked him profusely, with an embarrassed giggle. Not a morning to walk without gloves. A huge smile filled my face as I walked on, pulling on my gloves, and I repeated, affectionately, "Ladyglove, Ladyglove, Ladyglove." Funny that my first thought was that he was just being pleasant.

Little things are so important.

Somehow, this got me thinking about the small steps my preschoolers have taken, making our community better - 

- she often uses a regular voice now, rather than that high-pitched screech
- similarly, he often uses a regular voice now, rather than that whine
- he no longer needs our assistance in the bathroom
- she is helping with clean up
- he worked on that activity for a good long while, very focused
- she stroked his back when she saw that he was crying
- yes, he's still dumping things out, but he enjoys picking them back up
- he plays with his classmates, not just alongside
- she is eager to share her things with others
- he can come to school in a dress and no one bats an eye

- she invited others to play with her

- he lies quietly on his cot during nap

These are not big things, but they make the day so much smoother - like gloves on a cold day.

Tuesday SOL: What makes you joyful?

This is a Tuesday
Slice of Life.
All participants are writing about one moment, one part of their day. 

Check out the Two Writing Teachers website for many more reflections on teaching.

The root of joy is gratefulness. It is not joy that makes us grateful; it is gratitude that makes us joyful.
- David Steindl-Rast

Teachers are expected to be joyful and to create joyful learning experiences for students. What makes me joyful in the classroom? What makes it possible for me to be joyful in the classroom? What are my gratitudes?

I am grateful for

• three year olds, and their boisterous energy, their infectious laughter, their curiosity and questions
• playing and learning alongside them
• always coming home with something sweet, silly, or laugh-out-loud funny to share about my day
• the freedom I am given to teach, to teach the way I want to teach. I love not following a script, but having guidelines and expectations - and the flexibility to teach the way I'd like within these
• how much I move in my work, how physical each day is, how healthy this makes me feel.
• my colleagues, who offer me unlimited support, encouragement, and shared stories
• the diversity of my school and my staff, how we work to know one another, how we collaborate together
• my Teaching Resident, who comes to work with a big smile and energy, radiating a desire to be there
• the variety of my day and all the unexpected that happens in the midst of routine and plans - it makes me feel mentally sharp
• the young families who are sharing their children with me

What are your gratitudes? What makes you joyful?