We officially went back to school on Monday after a full two-week break, but because of an unpredictable weather system, we dismissed early, so I did not see all of my students. In a way I wasn’t ready for a full day. The early release helped me get a grip on what I need to get done this week. It was as though the train I was on came to a full stop in the middle of the journey. Pause. Think. Plan.
I made the decision to lean back on a reliable and time proven way to start our class: 100 Days of Notebooking. I recall a few years ago after attending NCTE, I received the gift of this idea from Michelle Haseltine. I still follow her on Instagram, and she is still notebooking. With my first group of kids on Monday, I introduced the idea.
I leaned back on William Stafford’s writing habit with these 4 steps:
- Date
- Quote of the Day
- What’s up?
- Poem-ish
That’s it, a simple format that seems to work every time. I set the timer for 10 minutes and we write…together. Creative freedom is my only goal. I hope getting back to this practice gives me, as well as my students, time to express themselves, a time for pause and peace (my OLW).
For my poem-ish, I wrote an elfchen. These are so fun to write. See the process here.
“When you say ‘yes’ to others, make sure you are not saying ‘no’ to yourself.” Paulo Coelho
Yes
Margaret Simon, draft
makes sound
like the ocean
drawing me to love
Myself.
Reflections on the Teche 
What a gift you’re giving to your students — “creative freedom” and a taste of what wonders a regular writing routine will provide to them. Your elfchen is perfect and true.
I hope it’s as magical for them as it is for me.
Margaret, you found peace in the midst of the storm. We’re out today, too, and ironically, my husband was traveling near where you live yesterday, bridging our distance. The notebook is such a creative routine – – the daily practice, establishing a habit of thinking about quotes and writing and keeping colorful flair on the pages of the journey. I have another friend who has started a gratitude journal this year. She lost her stepmother and her father in the latter part of 2023 and her mother in the early days of 2024. She realizes that journaling brings peace and healing. Whether it’s a gratitude journal, creative notebook, blogging, or any other form of daily writing, I am convinced it’s a medicinal healing balm for the soul. Thanks for sharing your beautiful pages.
And having encouragement along the way with like-minded friends helps, too.
Go Margaret!! Thanks for sharing the quote and then your poem draft. Your students are lucky to have this time to pause and find some peace and joy through your modeling. Stay safe with the weather, too.
Awesome that you have introduced it to your students too- I should get that going with mine! Elfchens are new to me! Happy notebooking!
I love the structure you’ve set up to benefit your students and you! How wonderful to introduce your students to notebooking and provide the time and space for them to experiment with it. Great quote and another wonderful elfchen!
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