The first day back from our holiday break, my students were excited about the idea of beginning the year with 100 Days of Notebooking (à la Michelle Haseltine) and One Little Word.
I saw an Instagram post by Jen Vincent (2024 Donald Graves Award recipient and all around fabulous writing teacher) about using question-storming for discovering your One Little Word. @storyexploratory
Jen graciously sent me a pre-made Google slideshow to use. (Ah, I love a free gift.) My older students, 4th-6th, responded well. The younger ones in 2nd grade needed a bit more guidance. But the basic idea was to write down questions about how you could make 2025 an awesome year. The answers to the questions would lead them to a One Little Word.
I chose a word last week and posted about it for Spiritual Thursday. Jen’s question-storming led me to a different word. I was surprised by this. Is it OK to change your word? As I look to retirement at the end of this school year and wonder about my future, the word Believe came forward.
After the question-storming activity, I allowed some creative working time. Some students made a sketch of their word. Some wrote an acrostic poem. I encouraged them to post on Fanschool. A few came up with their own idea: Make a whole slideshow. At the end of class, we were all sharing eagerly.
If you haven’t found your One Little Word yet, try asking yourself some questions. I was impressed with the sincerity of my students and how they wanted to explore and share their ideas. I feel we’ve started off the second half of our year together as a community of thinkers and writers.
Reflections on the Teche 
Such a great word as you begin this next chapter which I strongly suspect will be just as busy, but filled with some new projects interspersed with all the ongoing ones!
oh I like this idea. I am all over the place with finding one little word. I am in the middle of reviewing my painting learning and going in about 20 different directions. Maybe this will help settle things for me. Thanks
Those are beautifully illustrated journals, and I like the way you guided them to their words. I think it’s great to change the word. I’ve thought of having monthly words before. Sometimes it is just so challenging to pick ONE word when there are so many great ones out there. Believe, though, now that has to be one of the best words we can take through the year – and through life!
Margaret, you always provide projects that make your students dig deeper. Question-storming led your students to be creative. Hope, laughable, and persevere are words that will guide them during the year. As for your one word, it is fine to change your word. Still can be a subsidiary of believe. When we believe wholeheartedly, we sit in stillness thinking and meditating. At this moment, you may wonder what your future will bring at the end of this school year. God will help you find the answer to this thought. I look forward to hear more about this one little word.
Margaret, I think having your students write down questions about how they can make 2025 a great year is an excellent idea because it helps them to focus. It helps them to learn more about themselves. What wonderful and creative work they did! I love how you give your students time to work creatively.
Congratulations on your upcoming retirement. You will have more time to spend with your grandchildren! Are you planning on spending more time on writing and traveling? Thank you for sharing your inspiration and your students’ inspiration. As for your one little word, why not have two words?