Join the Two Writing Teachers blog for March Slice of Life Challenge.
The day has come that I don’t know what to write about. It happens to all of us who are committed to this SOL challenge. In my classroom, students are writing posts about why they hate the SOL challenge. Among the top reasons is not knowing what to write about. Vannisa wrote, “When I’m thinking about what to write, I’m always thinking about if I should really write about it or if it’s sol-worthy.”
I totally understand this dilemma. Not only am I committed to writing a blog post every day, I have that little bird on my shoulder tweeting about the worthiness unworthiness of my writing. Why can’t he just leave me alone? I assure my students that we all go through this. I actually love watching them struggle through because they can be very creative while doing it.
Did I just write that? If my students become creative when they struggle through the dreaded writer’s blog, then shouldn’t I, too?
I could be writing about my sweet blogging-slice-of-life-best friend Julianne and how she traveled all the way from L.A. to see me and visit my class, and how my kids already knew her name from our class connections. Oh, and how we talked and laughed and the time was sooo short.
Me on the left with Charlie and Julianne enjoying the bayou breeze.
You can meet a little slice of Julianne on her blog here. She’s traveling to help her daughter select a college for next year. This is a difficult time. We all want what is best for our kids, but they themselves ultimately need to make the decision. Julianne wisely knows from having two older children that no decision is forever. Still, I hope I provided a safe haven for them on their travels.
When I first connected with the Two Writing Teachers and their March SOL Challenge, I had no idea that it would lead me to such good and lasting friendships. Julianne is a prize. I don’t care about any of the other prizes from the challenge. I have already won.
Reflections on the Teche 
Such a great picture of the two of you. Maybe Claire will choose Tulane and you will get to see her more! BTW, tell that bird to get the ____ off your shoulder!
She’s actually looking at LSU. Tulane is no longer in the running. I’m sending the bird on its way.
I am so glad that you wrote about Julieanne and told that no-nothing writing bird of worry to scoot away. Beautiful photograph, too…shades of our summer writing retreat to come! 🙂
Julieanne is the prize. I completely agree. I love that photo of you two. Brings me joy as well.
Totally agree with you that meeting/knowing Julieanne is a grand prize. How cool that she was able to visit you at school and home! There is no such thing as “I don’t have anything to write about,” because that in itself is writing about something. Keep digging for those topic treasures, they are there and you have the talent. That bird doesn’t know anything!
So great that you had Julieanne as a guest, a prize indeed. And we do need to give ourselves permission to struggle. I guess our thoughts of being a good role model don’t help. We want to show the students that we “can” do it, but sometimes it’s hard!
Oh, I love this slice, my sweet blogging friend. I’m exhausted after our LSU tour, but we did love it. Yeah. Could be more visits by the bayou in my future!
And you, Margaret, are my prize for encouraging and supporting me with kidblog from afar. And now I see that you also love Julieanne!! I got to meet her once in NYC and even though most times we are opposite coasts, I still connect and learn so much from her through blogging. I agree!! Who knew we would all be winners by slicing. Enjoy your time with a fellow slicer!!
Maybe we will meet some day and be best friends, too.
Such a great post about always staying a learner and the power of this writing community!