Copier Stress SOL #11

Image by manuelwagner0 from Pixabay

In a recent post, I wrote about how I do not like technology changes. Well, the same goes with copiers. We received a new copier, and I just can't get the hang of it.

When I hit the button for the number of copies, it already has the number one. When I hit 105 for the number of students I have, sometimes the first number one doesn't go away, and guess how many copies I get? Yes! Over 1,000. Luckily, I have only done this once!

My second thorn in the rose bush copier is the double-sided copy button. For some reason, I just can't get this down either. Today, I needed single-sided to double sided. I must have hit double-sided to double-sided because I ended up with an 8-page single-sided document with BLANK pages in-between that should have been 4 pages, double-sided. 

Something that is meant to make my life easier should not be adding this much stress! 

Thank you to Two Writing Teachers for creating 
a space for me and other teacher-writers to share our stories.

Fasting SOL #10

Image by congerdesign from Pixabay

The Lenten Season has begun for me, and yesterday my priest talked about fasting. He explained how most Catholics believe that fasting is eliminating food, but he also said that fasting could be eliminating other things from our lives. He challenged us to think about those things that need to be eliminated.

After I got home from mass, I began to think about this idea of fasting other than food. As much as I have tried to decrease my social media time, I am still quick to grab my phone, click on the icon, and endlessly scroll time away. I thought maybe if I tie into Lent, I may be a little more successful.

Yesterday, I totally eliminated it from my day. Instead, I read more and spent a little quiet time outside enjoying the beautiful spring day. 

I might just be able to do this!

Thank you to Two Writing Teachers for creating 
a space for me and other teacher-writers to share our stories.

Obsession or Fondness SOL #9

I was struggling with a topic for today's slice, so I decided to scroll my phone to find a picture that might inspire me. 

I stopped on this picture some of new markers I bought and sent to a colleague because she also likes markers and pens. 

I thought, "Oh, writing about my favorite writing tools might be a fun slice to write."

Off I went to I went to my writing and reading rooms upstairs and began opening desk drawers and looking at the containers of pens I have.

You all, I think I have an obsession.

Let me introduce you to some of my favorite, and some neglected, writing friends.

These are my highlighters that I use for my Bible and for professional books. 

These are my brush dual tip Crayola markers. Yes, I wanted to use these in journals, but I am not very good at the fancy writing...yet!

These are my twistable colored pencils--the best! I use these to decorate my notebook pages and in my adult coloring books.

These are my Sharpie pens. I use these in my notebooks, but not as much as some of the others.

These are my fine-tip Sharpie markers. My regular tipped markers are at school. 

These are my Paper Mate Flair markers. I use these in notebooks, especially the unusual colors.

These are my erasable colored pencils. Although I can erase mistakes, I have to have a sharpener, which is why I like the Twistables better.

And these are my best friends! The EnerGel pens. At the beginning of the school year, I bought a 20 pack and love, love, love the colors. I use these for everything from grading papers to writing in my notebooks.

So, what do you think? Do you think I have an obsession or just a fondness for writing tools?

Thank you to Two Writing Teachers for creating 
a space for me and other teacher-writers to share our stories.

Focus on the Direction SOL#8

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

One step forward and two steps back has been my life since my knee injury on January 20th. I make progress, and then something happens to deter that progress.

Yesterday, I received a second injection in my knee, and I was so hopeful that would help the bursitis. I switched orthopedic doctors, and I felt good about my decision.

As the day went on, it became more painful to walk. I went to bed feeling quite defeated.

This morning, I woke up to a text from assistant principal that had nothing to do with my injury, but it was just what I needed to read.

"Don't be as worried about the distance 
but focus on the direction."

Thank you to Two Writing Teachers for creating 
a space for me and other teacher-writers to share our stories.

Somewhere SOL #7

I love the change of the seasons and change of scenery and change of perspective. I really don't mind change expect when it comes to technology. 

We have been waiting on new computers for what seems like forever. The week before they were to arrive, we were instructed on how to back up our files. I am not a fan of Google drive. I just can't organize it like I can my desktop. Because of my dislike for drive, I decided to also back up my files on a jump drive so I could reload them on my new computer desktop.

Files were copied, and I used the jump drive the next day to work on yearbook. At the end of the day, I put the jump drive "somewhere" and went home.

The following day I went to get the jump drive from "somewhere." And guess what, I couldn't find it anywhere. I looked at home; I looked at school; I looked in my camera bag. I looked everywhere, and I looked everywhere again and again, but I could not find it.

I began to panic. I needed the files on this jump drive.

I called our tech department and asked if I could get my old computer back to save the files again.  I searched through boxes of over 60 black computers that all looked the same. 

Did I have any identifying marks? Yes! A chip on the right-hand bottom corner!

But so did many others.

Finally, I found my computer and resaved my files, but I still wanted to find that jump drive because I knew it had to be "somewhere."

I backtracked my steps. The last place I had it was when I was working on the yearbook. I again, opened my camera bag, took the camera out, and looked in all the zippered pouches. Feeling defeated, I sat at my desk and went to put the camera back in the back, and I finally found it..."somewhere."

And little did I know the little orange jump drive was stuck on my camera!

 

Thank you to Two Writing Teachers for creating 
a space for me and other teacher-writers to share our stories.

Slicer Music Festival SOL #6

This is my 12th year of participating in this challenge, and every year but one, I have held a slicers' party. I honestly didn't think this would become a hit, but I am asked every year to host it. I always think I will run out of ideas, but that hasn't happened so far.

This year's party is a music festival! Many songs are attached to memories. As soon as we hear them, we are transported back to those special places and times.

So here is how this works. You must bring 3 songs that evoke a special memory, so take a trip down memory lane and share your stories that are connected to a song.

Here are my three songs:

"Spirit in the Sky" by Norman Greenbaum

When my husband and I first got married, we lived in an old farmhouse. I loved that house except for the heat. We had little gas stoves, and we only heated the room we were in. We were antique collectors, and my husband would spend hours refinishing furniture. We would listen to music on cassette tapes that we had "remixed" by recording from the radio. "Spirit in the Sky" was one of the songs he played while working, and when I hear it, it takes me back to our first place we called home.

"Your Raise Me Up" by Josh Groban

I returned to school to become a teacher when I turned 40. Making this decision was a difficult one. I was a stay-at-home mom, and a second career did not even cross my mind. I had so many questions and concerns. Could I do this at my age? Would my family be supportive? Could we afford it? As I was praying and thinking about the decision, You Raise Me Up seemed to play often. I began to think that God was leading me, and I am so glad I listened to Him.

"Blue Suede Shoes" by Elvis Presley

A little over a year ago, we put my mom in a memory care unit. As her cognitive ability continued to decline, she would always perk up and become alert when we played Elvis for her. When we played "Blue Suede Shoes," she knew all the words and would sing right along. Eventually, the nurses would sing, "One for the money" and Mom would sing the rest of it. This is the mom I want to remember. 

As the month wraps up and when you need a slice, (and yes, you know it WILL happen!) accept this invitation to my party.  The best part is that you can join the party anytime during the month. Just let me know you have joined, and I will include you on the guest list down below. I hope you will join us!

Join Two Writing Teachers and other teacher-writers as we 
share a slice of life during the month of March. 

Finger Frames SOL #5

 

One of my classes finished reading Grenade by Alan Gratz, a story about an American soldier and a young Okinawan soldier. It is a great book that gives young readers a glimpse of the devasting effects of war.

Hideki, the Okinawan boy, was taught by a lieutenant to use his fingers to frame what he sees. The lieutenant asks him, "What story does this picture tell? That's what I'm always asking myself. Not just what's happening in the photograph I take, but happened before it was taken, and what will happen afterward. How you frame a photo says everything about the story you're trying to tell."

The American soldier begins to collect photos, many from other American soldiers who are dying on the battlefield. He collects them to reassure those who are dying that he will give them to the soldiers' family members.

The two soldiers eventually meet, and Hideki takes over the collection of photos from the American soldier. At the end of the book, Hideki still has the photos, from both Americans and Okinawans, and puts them on a wall to keep their stories alive.

As we were discussing the point of using fingers to frame what we see, one student says, "Mrs. Eck, this book made me realize that everyone has a story to tell that we don't always know, or we don't always get to read."

This made me think about this challenge. The wall that Hideki posted these pictures on are like our blogs. Yes, we all have stories to tell, but now I wonder how you framed your pictures. What happened before? What will happen afterward? 

I may go through tomorrow holding up my fingers to frame what I see, and I might just find a slice!

Thank you to Two Writing Teachers for creating 
a space for me and other teacher-writers to share our stories.

Three Things That Made Me Smile Today SOL#4

Image by Pexels from Pixabay

I am trying to avoid social media these days. Mostly because it is a time sucker. 

A while back, I started posting "three things that made me smile today." I loved doing these posts. It helped me to find those small, ordinary things that I was grateful for in my day.

Gratitude journaling has many benefits such as lowering stress, improving attitudes, and increasing happiness. Although I haphazardly keep a gratitude journal, I enjoyed posting these on social media.

As I was deciding what slice of my life to share today, I thought this would be a great way to capture those small moments that I am grateful for.

Three things that made me smile Monday:

1. The smell of cocoa butter--I have been massaging the muscles behind my knee and the bursa sacs with cocoa butter, and while at first, I didn't like the smell, it now reminds me that through pain comes relief.
2. Reading aloud to my students--I don't do this often enough, but we are reading a whole class novel, and I have been reading aloud some of the chapters. Even middle schoolers enjoy this!
3. My husband--with my knee injury, my mobility is limited, and I am unable to go up and down stairs. My husband has been pulling double duty by doing extra things around the house. I am so grateful for his help!

Writing this slice of gratitude made me smile and ended my day on a positive note!

I am grateful to Two Writing Teachers and the other teacher-writers as we 
share a slice of life during the month of March. 

A Paper Butterfly and a Student Note SOL #3

This is not an oh, poor pitiful me post, but you have to know the events of the past month to understand the joy to the ending of my day today.

On January 20 of this year, the day before my 61st birthday, my knee went out on me. I was leaving school for the day, it went completely out, and I could not walk. 

I went to the doctor that week and received a cortisone shot. That day, I was in so much pain, and I became discouraged because I thought it was supposed to help. My students were not well behaved, and I lost it on a few of them. Toward the end of the day, one of my students saw me sitting on the bench outside my room, clearly defeated. 

She says, "Here I made you something."

It was a paper butterfly, and it was in that moment that I broke down. The pain, the behavior, and the small, sweet gesture just did me in. 

That weekend I came down with the flu and was out of commission for days. I went back to school too early because you know, that's just what teachers do. I had a chronic cough for what seemed like forever, and I lost my voice. 

I started therapy and after a few sessions, I was making good progress. I thought, "Ok, we're turning a corner here. I can do this!"

Then last Wednesday, I developed bursitis, and I have been in pain since.

Today, the same student handed me a piece of paper and walked off. After I read it, she came back up to my desk, and said, "The best part of that was watching your face when you read it. You went from (insert serious facet) to this (insert smiley face.) and that just made me smile." And she skipped back to her seat. 

What a joyful ending to my day and a discouraging month!

 

Join Two Writing Teachers and other teacher-writers as we 
share a slice of life during the month of March. 

Three Little Words SOL#2

Image by AS Photograpy from Pixabay

When I was growing up, I rarely heard the words "I love you." This doesn't mean I grew up in an unloving home or had terrible parents. Neither of those would be true. Mom just didn't express her love with those three little words.

My mom showed love in other ways. 

Fixing our favorite dinner on our birthday.

Donuts on Sunday nights.

Timing Sunday dinner so all four kids could be at the table. 

Saturday trips to the library and Saturday nights on the couch reading our books. 

Rolling my hair in pink sponge rollers to try and control my naturally curly hair.

And Christmas. Mom made Christmas extra special even when times were tough.

These days, I go and visit her in the memory care unit. I sit beside her, rub her shoulders and hands, and tell her about my day, what the weather is like outside, and what Megan and Ethan are doing. Our visits are becoming more difficult as she stares into space and mumbles a few incoherent words. 

When I leave, I tell her when I will be back to see her next, hope she has a restful night, and "I love you, Momma." 

And in those few minutes of our goodbye, she looks at me and clearly says three little words... 

"I love you." 

 

Join Two Writing Teachers and other teacher-writers as we 
share a slice of life during the month of March. 

Remembering My Why SOL #1

 

Join Two Writing Teachers and other teacher-writers as we 
share a slice of life during the month of March. 

I have heard the mantra, "remember your why" in many educational circles, presentations, and professional development sessions. Sometimes, it rubs me the wrong way because I think it can be overused. 

As I contemplated joining the Slice of Life for year 12, those words kept coming up. And honestly, they are the reason why I completed the Google form to sign up.

I continue to join this challenge to...

1. Capture stories.
2. Document memories.
3. Renew connections with other writers.
4. Enjoy "seeing" them again even if it is for just one month.
5. Practice my craft authentically.
6. Set a goal and accomplish it.
7. Learn new writing moves from other slicers.
8. Sharpen my noticing skills while looking for moments to capture in a story.
9. Create authentic mentor texts to use with my students.
10. Receive a natural high when I press the publish button.
11. Meet new writers from all over the world.
12. Push me to do hard things.

Look at those verbs! This is my why as I say hello to year 12!

One Little Word 2025

 

Happy New Year! I am delighted to once again be joining other bloggers for Spiritual Journey Thursday. Today's journey is hosted by Margaret Simon, and we are writing about our One Little Word for 2025.

My word for 2024 was "seasons." I knew this past year would bring new life seasons for me, and I wanted to embrace them and fill them with joy even if they would be difficult. 

As I moved through nature's seasons, I also moved through life's seasons and came out a stronger person. Funny how God does seem to know what we need just when we need it.

Last year's journey brought me a greater sense of purpose and gratefulness. Watching my mom's decline with dementia made me realize the importance of capturing memories. Turning 60, I realized the importance of good health. And watching my daughter spread her wings and move into her own home made me realize the importance of my marriage. These three seasons became my cornerstone for my one little word for this year:  TODAY.

I am focused on today:  cherishing the days I still have left with my mom, focusing on better health, enjoying the time with just my husband and me (it's been 32 years since it has been just the two of us!) and leaning in to hear God's word a little clearer.

"This is the day that the Lord has made; 

let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24

My 2024 Reading Wrap-Up

The year is days from ending, and people are beginning to talk, write, and post about reading challenges from the past year and the upcoming year. Reading these usually motivates me, but this time it has been hard. This was not a banner reading year for me although it wasn't my worst year, according to my Goodreads account. Reflecting back on the year, I have learned a few things about my reading life.

1. Distractions are real. We hear so much about our student's being distracted by their phones. I know this is true, but I also know my phone is my biggest distraction. I often reach for my phone instead of a book, and it is something I am not real proud of. I know I need to fix this problem if I want to reignite my reading life.
2. My reading life affects my students' reading lives. I know the connection between books, teachers, and students. I have written about it; I have presented it; I have preached it. I used to live by the quote by Steven Layne, "Never underestimate the power of a great book in the hands of a teacher who knows how to use it." That was me. I need to find that "me" again.
3. Bad habits form quickly, and good habits quickly die. Stacking habits is something I believe in. Finding a habit I already do and add a new one to it. For example, when I eat breakfast every morning, read a few pages. This is something simple I can do to help my reading (and avoid #1!)

But I am not going to beat myself up over this dismal reading year. Donalyn Miller once wrote in a Nerdy Book Club post:  "Most readers experience this ebb and flow--alternating between reding binges and dry spells." I will continue to hold tight to these words while looking at ways to end this dry spell.

However dismal this year was, I still read some amazing books that have become my favorites of 2024!

For someone who has never played basketball, I have a long history with it. My sister both played and coached for years, and my daughter has followed in those footsteps. When I see books about girls who play basketball, I have to read it. If you have any girl basketball players, I highly recommend this one! Basketball, friendships, rivalries, and March Madness! What’s not to like?!?! Being from Indiana, I would have loved the girls to have chosen the movie "Hoosiers" to watch!

I was afraid to read this sequel to Frindle for fear of being disappointed. I don't know if it was the backstory about finding the manuscript years later or having read to my students in my first year of teaching, but it was everything I wanted it to be!

Playing sports in the late 70s and early 80s, the struggle for girl athletes portrayed in this book is real. Living in Indiana, the basketball history and culture is accurate. Being a graduate of Butler University, the pictures of Hinkle Fieldhouse are nostalgic. I absolutely adored this book. I even got a little teary-eyed at the end! The back pages with the story of the three athletes on which this story was based, made me appreciate Matt Tavares' research and accuracy. I can't wait to get this in my classroom this fall.

What a book! Two of my high school friends grew up struggling with eating disorders, ten years before Jake's story began. We, their friends, didn't know about it, and then when we did, we really didn't understand. As I was reading this, I wondered if this was the type of pain they went through. Did they feel this alone? Should we have seen something sooner? I wish they could have read a book like this all those years ago, and I wish we, as their friends, could have read it too.

With 2025 around the corner, I am looking forward to getting my reading life flowing again, and I am always looking for recommendations!

Scrapes and Scars

  

I am delighted to be hosting Spiritual Journey Thursday this month. This month our theme change/transformation--a perfect theme for the season. Please link up below if you would like to join us.

I thought I knew what I was going to write about this month, but you know what they say about best laid plans. All that changed after reading Ruth Ayres' lead from last week's Choice Literacy newsletter. And this post is more of a brain dump than an organized, coherent piece of writing.

Ruth wrote about her son Jay and his powerful story about chasing dreams and not letting his past control his decisions. She wrote about how difficult and frustrated teachers can become with students who experience deep trauma. Their decisions and choices don't always make sense. She explains that this happens "when a child is scraped by darkness at the start of life"

The words "scraped by darkness" stayed with me the entire day. After school, I told a colleague about what she wrote, and he says, "I wonder why she chose scraped by darkness instead of scarred."

Of course I have no idea why she chose those them, other than the fact that she is a master at stacking words. But these words have lingered on my heart.

For days, I thought about the differences between the words scrapes and scars. Most scrapes are temporary and can change, but scars are permanent. I touch a scar on my knee, and I can go back to the night I knelt on a needle, and it broke off in my knee.

We tend to forget about scrapes because they can sometimes heal and become invisible, but scars are a constant reminder of pain. I think about the "scars" from my relationship with my dad. I cannot touch those, but I know they are still there.

I believe that we have both scrapes and scars because God wants us to understand the role they play in our lives, in our faith. I know I have been scraped and scarred in my relationships with others as well as with Him.

But it is through His grace and my relationship with Him that I become healed, changed, and transformed.

A Saturday Morning Blessing

Moving my way down the aisle at the grocery store, I see a family trying to corral a toddler. As she climbs on top of the stocked cases of pop, her mom grabs her, tickling her. Dad looks at me and moves on. Then turns around and says, "You were one of my teachers."

Of course, he is a grown man and looks nothing like a 4th grader, so I say, "Ok, you are going to have to tell me who you are because you have obviously changed since I had you in school."

He tells me his name, and my face lights up. When I ask him if this is his family, he introduces me and tells me what he is doing. My heart flips and flops as I look at him with so much admiration. He is in the army and stationed in Georgia, due to get out next summer. He will have a degree in criminology and wants to come back here and work on the sheriff's department. His wife is working on her master's degree in social work. 

This is a student who came from some very hard places. He saw things as a child that no child should ever see. His mother was a meth addict and was in and out jail so many times. He was exposed to domestic violence and was eventually raised by his grandfather. He was one of those students who you just prayed would somehow break away from those chains. He struggled in school, but he knew school was the safest place he could be.

I wished him luck and thanked him for stopping and saying something to me.

Leaving the store that day, my heart was smiling. Those are the success stories we as teachers love to hear and what makes teaching have a purpose beyond the ABCs and the 1,2,3s.

What a Saturday morning blessing!

  

Thank you Two Writing Teachers for creating a space to share a small corner of my world.

Searching for Wisdom

  

I am delighted to once again be joining other bloggers for Spiritual Journey Thursday. I missed a couple of months, but I am glad to be back this month. Today's journey is hosted by Ruth at There is no such thing as God-forsaken town and the theme is "I don't know." Please feel free to join me!

I have been studying the book of Proverbs this month, taking a deep dive into the definition of "wisdom." I am taking a chapter a day, but I think this is quite fitting for this month's theme:  I don't know.

I always thought wisdom was information or facts I knew. I have come to learn that experiential knowledge is what lead leads to wisdom, not factual knowledge.

I have found five foundational principles throughout these first 10 chapters.

• wisdom--knowledge or an ability to make the right choices
• understanding--rational thinking
• prudence--ability to use reason to discipline ourselves
• knowledge--to experience reality
• discretion--behaving to avoid being offensive
• discernment--ability to judge between right and wrong
• the fear of the Lord--a worshipful awe of God

I have learned that just reading scripture isn't going to help me find wisdom. I have to act on it and gain that experiential knowledge by reading and accepting His word; being obedient by living His commandments; and continuing to search for wisdom like it's a "hidden treasure" (2:4). 

I know when I "do not rely on my own understanding," I will find peace and happiness, my worries will not seem so burdensome, and "He will make my path straight" (3:5-6)." But this is not always easy for me to do. I oftentimes act on impulse; I don't think things through before I do something. 

This is not wisdom. 

Sometimes I think I have the right answer because "I know things." 

This is not wisdom.

Chapter 8 taught me that everywhere I look, wisdom is calling out. But what keeps me from not seeing it or keeps me in the I don't know?" Am I taking the time to search for wisdom or to notice it. Sometimes, it's easier to just say, "I don't know."

It seems like I am always in a hurry. Maybe not so much in the summer, but certainly during the school year. I need to slow down, embrace times of quietness, and discern if my actions are based on wisdom. Again, this is not always easy for me to do.

These first ten chapters have certainly given me something to think about, and I am looking forward to becoming wiser.

As I work through the remaining chapters of the book of Proverbs, I will continue to pray these words: 

                "Lord, help me to slow down in my search for wisdom and 

                come to understand the treasure that she is, so that I can 

                come to know You better."

Celebrate the Light

Image by Mike Sampson

The

world comes

together.

A brief moment

of total darkness

we celebrate the light

and hope we bring each other.

In a collective voice of cheers

my tears of wonder silently stream.

 

Thank you to the writers at Two Writing Teachers for creating this safe place for us to meet, to share, and to grow as writers.

Solar Prominence

   

It is April, and I am going to do my best to join many others in celebrating National Poetry Month by reading, writing, sharing, and celebrating poetry each day. On April 8th we will experience a solar eclipse, and my hometown is the longest totality in the state of Indiana. We are expecting several tens of thousands of visitors to my town of 17,000. I thought it only fitting to write about sharing my sky with them. 

My inspiration this month will be from the Teach Write monthly writing prompts. Yesterday's word was eclipse (of course!) and I created a found nonet poem. I read a Facebook post by Eric Snitil who is a meteorologist explaining what the read spot on the bottom right of the sun, and I used his words to write my poem.

Equinox Equation

  

It is April, and I am going to do my best to join many others in celebrating National Poetry Month by reading, writing, sharing, and celebrating poetry each day. On April 8th we will experience a solar eclipse, and my hometown is the longest totality in the state of Indiana. We are expecting several tens of thousands of visitors to my town of 17,000. I thought it only fitting to write about sharing my sky with them. 

My inspiration this month will be from the Teach Write monthly writing prompts. Today's word is equinox, and the form is an equation poem.

Check out the Kidlit Progressive Poem, which is being organized by Margaret Simon at Reflections on the Teche. A different poet adds a line each day for the month of April, and today's contribution is added by Margaret.