Our faculty meetings now begin with a “writing soft start.” Invitations for writing are projected and we are all given a few minutes to sketch, write, and reflect. We know that teachers that write are better teachers of writing and so we are making time for what we value. Today, as Dawn prepared to give the invitations, I called out to her, “Make it slice worthy…I don’t have anything for today.” She laughed and jumped up and clicked her heels together. I laughed, I’m sure others wondered what was going on…
The first invitation today is what I chose to write about, “Write about a moment that felt good.” In the four minutes that we had to write, this is what I wrote:
A second chance at a read aloud. The first time felt forced, somewhat unfamiliar despite the fact that the book was an old favorite. The plan wasn’t mine, yet I appreciated the new spins and moves.
Last week, at Teachers College, I sat next to Leigh-Ann for a day on talk-finding opportunities to layer in more talk for kids during read aloud, partnerships, and throughout the school day.
Amanda Hartman read aloud Thank You, Omu by Oge Mora, a beautiful story, with perfection. I sat in my seat marveling at her technique-why had I never thought to do that?
Today, an opportunity to try again.
This time I take on the new spins, add of a splash of Amanda Hartman, and a dash of me.
More ownership.
More joy.
So much gratitude for the soft start today.
Without it, I may not have had a slice
or
this moment to recount a good moment.
Amazing what a writer can do with 5 minutes, a deadline, and determination! Yay you for slicing and getting a redo! Ps…glad that heel click got sliced…that was a faculty mtg first!
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This put a smile on my face. I might have to borrow the book too…not sure I know it.
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It’s a new k read aloud… but the one I redid today was The Honest to Goodness Truth in second grade… and I’m just realizing you don’t teach second anymore! 🤣
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Nope 😕
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I love the idea of a writing soft start and that you have writing partners right in your building! Thanks for sharing…now off to find a copy of that book…
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What to hear more about this new technique. That soft start writing idea is so strong.
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Dawn can actually still click her heels? Wow!!! And can I just say how much I LOVE this as a faculty meeting soft start?!?! And yes, we can write really well with a deadline and some determination.
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After a day full of propeller failure
and engine sputters, wing
alignments and wheel worries,
the soft landing on this page —
the way your flags helped me find
the blue lines of safety, parallel
to all the worries —
these words of mine, unbidden,
arrive with nary a sputter
— poem as comment, inspired by that ‘soft landing’ phrasing
Kevin
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This is quite an amazing response! I love “the soft landing on the page” line.
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Agreed! Always a gift of a response. Thank you!
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I can’t wait to hear more about your TC day and your new Read Aloud ideas. I’m heading there today to study writing. Let’s find a way to share all that we are learning so that we can all have these beautiful moments of reflection and redo.
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You wrote a lot more and composed a lot better in your soft start entry. Mine was just getting started.
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I love that first line about a second chance at a read aloud. That is the best feeling that I’ve never given much regard to. The best writing makes us notice things we take for granted, and you definitely did that for me!
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It is great that when we are given the gift of time, and a little encouragement we find a slice. I’m so glad you shared yours.
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I love this idea for a faculty meeting. Wonder what the high school math teachers I work with would have to say about it? I would relish 5 minutes to myself to write before we began. Imagine… well, I guess you *did* imagine. 🙂
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There are so many things I loved about the post – the idea of a ‘soft start’, the idea that teachers who write are better teachers of writing, that prompt, the four minute deadline and the amazing lines you turned out in that miniscule time frame.
This should work with children too – the reluctant writers – short deadline and a good prompt.
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