Reflections on the Teche

Slice challenge #5: A Perfect Day

March 4, 2018 by margaretsmn

What do you do with a perfect day?

Sky’s a clear blue… let’s canoe…bayou still…no wind…smooth strokes…sun setting slow…an orange glow behind the towering smoke stack…abandoned mill…concrete riprap…a nest for trash…discarded life tokens.

A distant roar…speed boat…they see us hanging at the edge…cut the motor……push, pull, turn…cross waves…speed on.

Crossing under the bridge…sun’s gone…sky darkens…paddle strengthens…then we hear it…a distant hoot…the owl swishes overhead…beginning his hunt…who-cooks-for-you-you-all familiar call…calling sunset’s end… pull to dock…warm glow of home.

The idea for this poetry format came from Poets and Writers The Time is Now Writing Prompts.

Posted in Photography, Poetry, Slice of Life, Writing | Tagged Bayou Teche, Louisiana | 5 Comments »

Slice Challenge #3: Celebrating Dr. Seuss

March 3, 2018 by margaretsmn

Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life March Challenge

Find more celebration posts at Ruth’s blog.

Librarian Melissa Armentor as Cat in the Hat and Coach Regan as Sam I am. Fun picture day!

This week was Dr. Seuss week at two of my three schools. Each day had a theme. The walls were covered in Seuss-inspired art and quotes. At one school, the librarian was in costume each day.

Fun dressing up as Dr. Seuss characters.

On Friday, I sat next to Chloe, a 2nd grader, to help her write her second post for the March Slice of Life Challenge. She wanted to write about Dr. Seuss week. She is a huge fan. As I looked at blue feathers circling her head, I knew this was going to be a fun slice to help her with. She told me that her favorite book is “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish.” Using some of the ideas from this book, I suggested she write a poem.

We collaborated on this poem but most of the words came from Chloe. I just typed them into a poetic looking form.

Dr. Seuss books are lots of fun.
You can read them in the sun.

Dr. Seuss books are the best thing ever.
They can trick you. They are clever.

Dr. Seuss books are kind of silly.
Like the one with crazy Billy.

Don’t know that book? Have some fun
And write one!

See Chloe’s complete post here. Please leave a comment.

Posted in Celebration Saturday, Slice of Life | 10 Comments »

Slice Challenge #2: Poetry Friday What Animal are You?

March 1, 2018 by margaretsmn

Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life March Challenge

Poetry Friday round-up is with Renee at No Water River.

For a few days last week, most of my students attended the state Beta convention, so I had fewer students. I seized the moment to do something out of the ordinary.

One of my gifted teacher colleagues told me about the website Animal in You. This site has an online quiz that determines what animal you are most like.

Each student took the quiz. Then they wrote a blog post about their spirit animal. We also made masks on round cardboard discs. I had no idea how popular this activity would be. The news spread to the Beta kids, and they have been taking the quiz on their own time. It’s become a “thing.” I put the writing prompt into our padlet for Slice of Life challenge ideas.

This activity led to poetry. Here are a few student poems that emerged.

Eagles,
flying high,
touching the ocean blue sky
with their soft silk feathers.

Eagles,
Bird of Prey,
you are majestic but carnivorous,
helping us keep balance.

Eagles,
feathers soft as silk,
soar high and long
like love in my heart.

–Dawson, 4th grade

A note about Dawson’s writing: He wrote this on a scratch sheet of paper with words going all across the page, no form. Previously, Dawson’s poems have been silly and rhyming with little sense of poetic language. I held my tongue, knowing that more exposure would lead him, that I did not have to tell him about writing poems. I had to show him. The poetic format was done by me to show him his poem.

Roosters
Fierce and Strong
Protector of his home.
Fast like the wind
Soaring on land
With their butt feathers in the air.
Screaming,
“Predators over there!”

–Trace, 5th grade

My youngest writer, Chloe wrote about life as a lion.

If I was a lion I would like to play and jump.

If I was a lion I would have a big circle of friends

If I was a lion I would like to play in the tall grassy fields.

If I was a lion I would like to play fetch with my friends.

If I was a lion I would like to slurp the water.

If I was a lion I would sleep all day.

If I was a lion I would eat a lot of gazelles.

Wouldn’t it be fun to be a lion? What animal would you like to be?

–Chloe, 2nd grade

Posted in Poetry, Poetry Friday, Slice of Life, Writing | Tagged Animal in You, animal poems | 32 Comments »

Slice Challenge #1: Spiritual Journey through Music

March 1, 2018 by margaretsmn

Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life March Challenge

For more Spiritual Thursday posts, click over to Irene’s Live your Poem

Welcome to the first of 31 daily posts for the March Slice of Life Challenge. This is my 7th year to do this challenge, and every year I think I won’t make it through. Somehow I do.

Writing daily is a discipline I try to keep, but when met with a daily publishing deadline, it becomes more important somehow. Someone is waiting to hear from me. Someone is listening. Someone cares what I have to say.

Today is also the first Thursday of the month when a group of us who met through blogging come together to write about our spiritual journeys around a theme. This month Karen Eastland is hosting at Irene Latham’s blog. Her chosen theme is music.

Music is an integral part of my spiritual life. I’ve been in church choirs ever since I was a teenager. To me, singing a hymn is praying, loving, praising.

This poem is a golden shovel. The line of poetry that forms the right margin is from Irene Latham’s poem Music Teacher that is included in Lee Bennett Hopkins collection School People.

When I sing in the loft, the music fills my soul. I am transported and transformed. Last Sunday, I was given the opportunity to chant the Psalm. The chanting music is notated with a line of music at the top of the page. Each line of the psalm has symbols for changing intonation and moving notes. It’s complicated. I can’t read the music and the words at the same time and the notation is a blur. So I just have to feel it. I sing whatever comes out. I have no practice or education in Anglican chant, but I’m willing to breathe in and let God take over my voice. True consecration of my lips.

Sample of Anglican Chant music

Posted in Slice of Life, Spiritual Growth | Tagged Anglican Chant, Irene Latham, School People | 16 Comments »

Slice of Are you Ready for a Month of Slices?

February 27, 2018 by margaretsmn

Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life March Challenge

March is coming soon. And you know what that means, a month of slices every day. The Two Writing Teachers has been hosting the yearly Slice of Life Challenge for 10 years. 2018 will be the 11th Annual Slice of Life Challenge. This is my 7th year to participate. About 4 years ago I got my students involved in this challenge. When I bring it up, many of my students who have been in my class for more than a year groan, then smile. They say, “It’s terrible. It’s horrible. I’ll never do it again.” and then “But this year I’m going to try to get all 31 slices done. Just watch me!”

One thing I can count on is their competitive spirit. I do offer a prize of a free book if they write all 31 days. I only require (for a grade) 3 slices a week. So this week we are getting ready. Noah already has 3 slices drafted. He is in the warm up position, revving his engine.

We started a padlet for writing ideas and will add to it as the month goes on. You can view our idea padlet here. We talked about a class hashtag and decided on #GTSOLC18. I set up a category in our kidblog site just for the challenge. I will be putting up sticker charts and a space for badges. A few years ago, Kathleen Sokolowski made badges and shared them in this Google Doc.

Kathleen set up a padlet this year for the classroom challenge. If you click here, you can see all the classes participating.

I am looking forward to joining my students on a monthlong writing journey. It will take us to places we are not expecting. Would you like to come along? You can view my students’ writing at Mrs. Simon’s Sea.

Posted in Digital Learning, Gifted Education, Slice of Life, Writing | Tagged Slice of Life Classroom Challenge, student writng | 10 Comments »

Poetry Friday: Meet My Family

February 23, 2018 by margaretsmn

Poetry Friday round-up is with Elizabeth Steinglass

Welcome to the first post in the Meet my Family Blog Tour. Laura Purdie Salas’s book gives an overview of 22 animal families with engaging illustrations by Stephanie Fizer Coleman.

My students were immediately engaged in questioning and learning about animals, from the tundra swan to the chinstrap penguin. Each entry is written in the voice of the baby animal telling about his family.

My two daddies feed me fish.
One is always next to me, strong
and sturdy and warm. Both of
them protect me and play with
me. I am double-daddy lucky.

From the chinstrap penguin chick, LPSalas

Whenever we encounter a new text, I invite my students to write. For this book response, we wrote persona poems. Each student chose their favorite animal and wrote in the point of view of that animal. Research was optional. I shared a colorful National Geographic Kids Ocean Animals book. Some students chose to write about ocean animals. Some searched in Google about other animals of interest. And some had stored up research in their minds to tap into. All of my students enjoyed creating poems. For more persona poems, go to Mrs. Simon’s Sea Kidblog site.

Hi I’m Peanut, Peanut the Orangutan!
My mom’s name is Walnut.
I don’t have a dad but I’m still livin’ the life.

My mom made me a new nest which is my room.
We always have fruit for dinner
but on special occasions we get juicy, delicious, BUGS!!

Well, I am happy to say that
I can be as lazy as I want,
because I’m 3 years old and my mom gets my food for me.

Right now I’m in my nest
watching the birds tell jokes trying to make others laugh.
I didn’t get the jokes but I laughed anyway.

Can I tell you that I like and don’t like those weird humans.
Some of them like to shoot us
some like to capture us.
The nice humans like to protect us and help us,
but they’re still weird.

Well that’s my story
I got to go we’re having bugs for dinner tonight YES!!!!!!

–Dawson, 4th grade

The Great White Shark

I am sleek and silent.
I never chew my meals.
My favorite snack are seals.
I’m an undeniable top dog.
I am the king of the sea.

–Jacob, 4th grade

Erik the Eagle

My name is Erik
I was just born
I was fed raw meat,
it was a delicious treat.

My name is Erik.
I learned to fly.
I love leaving home
and soaring the sky.

My name is Erik.
I am fully grown.
I have my own wife,
and my own little throne.

–Andrew, 5th grade

Next stop on March 2nd, Kirby Larson’s blog.

Posted in Poetry, Poetry Friday, Writing | Tagged animal poems, Laura Purdie Salas, Meet my Family blog tour, persona poems | 31 Comments »

A Slice of my Art Journal

February 20, 2018 by margaretsmn

Join the Two Writing Teachers blog for the Slice of Life Challenge.

For 2018, I chose the word Explore. I’m not sure if this means I need to get out of my comfort zone, but I have somewhat interpreted it this way. I long to be an artist. I’ve tried many kinds of art, but this year I am trying art journaling.

In the fall I took a class about making your own books by sewing pages together. Using a discarded falling apart book, I took out the pages and sewed my own pages into it. I decided that this would be my art journal for 2018. I glued in a postcard from a postcard exchange that started me on a path of using color to define each month. The postcard was blue, so January was my blue month.

February became my red month. I am working in collage. Each month I will collage a heart map reflective of the month. My art journal is only for me. It only needs to please me. And it does.

On Saturday, there was a free open workshop at a local gallery. I decided to take my journal and work on some of the pages. This is a work in progress, but I am happy to be Exploring possibilities and expressing myself with creativity.

Posted in Slice of Life | Tagged art journal | 22 Comments »

Poetry Friday: My Week in Verse

February 16, 2018 by margaretsmn

Poetry Friday round-up is with Jone at Check it Out.

A week off to enjoy family, friends, and food. I’m sharing my week in verse.

Throw me somethin’ Mister!

Sunday, Feb. 10, 2018

Mardi Gras after the rain
Parades roll, beads fly,
Hands waving high.

Open doors,
chicken fingers,
Chili Fritos,

Costumes, blue hair,
hugs
and happy laughs,

Marching bands,
King cake,
Vodka and La Croix.

Come on in,
stay right here,
Bacchus is rolling soon.

Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2018

Houston in the rain
heavy trucks spray
hold on tight.

Find a friend.
Sit a while
comfort in just being.

Glasses of wine,
flat bread pizza,
gather around the table.

Ukulele playing,
out of tune singing,
cuddles with the dog.

There is love here,
not over the rainbow yet,
but healing will come.

My friend Sarah is fighting the battle for her life.

Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2018

Ashes to ashes,
we are but dust,
miserable wormness,

Yet now is the time
to reach out
to reach in.

Be alone with God
to realize you are
never alone.

Spread the fruit
of your solitude.
Translate cynicism to Joy!

I am but dust.
Life is a gift.
Existence is grace.

Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018

Japanese magnolia blooms
along my walking route,
sending pink fragrance into fog.

My mind wanders as I walk,
thoughts of children
whose lives were shot short.

My voice speaks to neighbors.
Can I trust my words
to be kind?

We are all wandering
on this lonely path
questioning God’s grace.

Find meaning in a moment,
Joy in a conversation,
Light in a dew drop.

Posted in Gratitude, Photography, Poetry, Poetry Friday, Writing | Tagged Mardi Gras, week in verse | 14 Comments »

A Slice of Community Change Makers

February 13, 2018 by margaretsmn

Join the Two Writing Teachers blog for the Slice of Life Challenge.

What is a change maker and who are the change makers in our own community? I asked my students. I made a list on the board of people I know from our area who are making a difference. Each student chose one to interview based on his/her own interest.

I called Vicky Branton, a feature writer for The Daily Iberian, our local newspaper. She agreed to come visit with my students about interviewing for and writing a feature article. She had good advice:

Begin with the 5 W’s: Who, what, when, where, why?
During the interview, listen.
Record the interview in order to be completely present and to go back for direct quotes.
Elaborate: Find the interesting thing.

For the first three days of last week, I scheduled interviews. In all, we had 5 interviews. Students then began writing. We had to juggle the computer around for them to listen to their recorded interviews. Eventually, they had a draft of a feature article.

This was a motivating project for my students. They were elevated by their interviewer status. They learned a great deal about the good things happening in our city. They learned how to take a quote and turn it into narrative. They learned about themselves in the process, too, and have renewed aspirations for what they may want to do to be a change maker.

Faith is interested in an anti-bullying program that is in the early stages in our community:

Mrs. Dawn and Mrs. Sharon say they really feel like Chez Hope is impacting the community. Russo expressing,”…What we do is not easy, it’s not easy work at all, it’s hard.” Over time they are helping the community. These crises are a big problem in our community. And many people are afraid that they aren’t going away any time soon. To add on to that, I would like to say that I feel like Chez Hope has impacted our school. When Mrs. Sharon and Mrs. Dawn came to our school, they left an impact on me and others as well. Once I walked out of that room, I knew I had to do something to help stop bullying. I also took away that I should never bully anyone. Also, if some one bullies me, then I need to tell an adult. I don’t need to be put down and be bullied. So stand up for yourself and tell an adult. (Faith, 6th grade)

Bully Free Kids T-shirt from Chez Hope

Jennie Lallande, Acadiana Lifestyles “Women Making a Difference 2016”

Andrew wanted to know more about how Jennie Lallande became involved in the community garden and school garden programs.

Jennie Lallande is a massive change maker. She helps in the community garden, but the garden is made in a place where people don’t have much access to fresh food like lettuce or carrots. She was recruited because she has a experience in sustainable agriculture.

Erin is doing a fundraiser to make care packages for foster children, so she wanted to know more about the system from someone who had adopted a foster child.

When I interviewed her I got a lot of information about her and the foster system, which will help me with my research because I want to learn more about the foster system. A lot of new information was revealed to me. I thought the social workers were supposed to help the parents. But according to Mrs. Schlicher they don’t really help. She said they provided her with false information so that she would take children in.

From interests to interviews to writing, my students are discovering who is making a difference as well as planting seeds for their own future as change makers.

Posted in Slice of Life, Teaching, Writing | Tagged Daily Iberian, feature article writing | 10 Comments »

Poetry Friday: Low Tide

February 9, 2018 by margaretsmn

Poetry Friday round-up is with Sally Murphy.

I have five friends currently battling breast cancer. This daily battle is heart-wrenching and hard. They are sharing their journey with me and others. It seems all I can do for them is pray or cry or write a poem.

On Monday, Kim wrote this: “As you know, chemo wreaks havoc on the immune system. It lowers red and white blood counts and one specific type of white blood cell–the neutrophil–is especially critical because it plays an important role in fighting infection. If a chemo patient develops a fever, it sounds the alarm that the neutrophil concentration has likely fallen below 1000 and spurs doctors to take immediate action. If not treated with a strong course of antibiotics, the patient could develop a potentially life threatening infection. So, chemo comes with a strong warning: take fevers very seriously.”

On Tuesday, Sarah wrote this: “Exposed, hurting, lying on what seems like a narrow mortician’s table in a cavernous room, alone, encapsulated by an enormous machine shooting me with targeted radiation all in the name of cancer — I am a science experiment.”

On Wednesday, Amy wrote this: “What do you wear to hear the results of your pet/ct scan? A crown of course. Well I got good news and not so go news. The not so good news is the cancer is growing and has shown up in two new places. We’ll be looking at new treatment options at MD Anderson. The good news is my doctor said I can ride roller coasters at Disney next week. Bring it!! Thanks to all who have shown their concern and who have prayed for me. Please continue – the road just got bumpy.”

In Laura Shovan’s Daily February Writing Challenge, the image of a beautiful ocean scene came up, but all I could see was the dirty sand and the crashing waves. I released my growing worry and concern in a poem.

Low Tide by Andrea Lavoie

Low Tide

That sand is frozen brown grass
flowing like the folds of a blanket,
fluffed and tucked over
the patient’s bed.

Does it comfort or scratch?
Cover or annoy?

Skin is sensitive with fever.
Chemo burns through her veins,
poison that saves
even as the waves
of a raging ocean
recede with the tide.

It’s the pull of the moon
holding her in a glowing stare.
Where is the silver lining?

–Margaret Simon, (c) 2018 for Kim, Sarah, Amy, Kelley, and Sandy