This post marks a milestone: my 100th.
I knew it would happen during the Slice of Life March Challenge. I mentally marked it on my calendar. Today’s slice is a reflection on my beginning and a note of gratitude for all that has transpired since.
First a reflection on the past. I went back and read my first post. So much is still true. So I played around with it (thanks Dana for giving me a model) and got this:
Sit down to a blank page
I think.
I write
for all to see.
That’s scary
someone might read it.
What if
it’s awful?
Freaked out by hitting publish.
Learning by doing.
Synthesize,
organize
ideas
into
manageable bins.
Fear is quieted by
inspirational colleagues,
desire to make a difference,
sort out the mayhem.
Writing leads to the need
to write more.
Messy state of mind,
the purpose,
that jump,
a profound
effect on
thinking.
Daily behaviors:
the good and not so good is my assignment.
Stay tuned.
Second a note of gratitude. The monumental support and feedback I received has been overwhelming. Comments have touched my heart, given me next steps, and made me feel I belonged. Had I not gotten this, I don’t think I would have continued.
The majority of my posts (40%) have been shared in the Slice of Life community. You have help me grow my writing life and have taught me what it takes to write daily. What one needs to do this work and want to do more. I got this, not from a workshop or book, that’s different. I got this from being a part of a writing community.
It’s made me realize what I need to change in my classroom. Daily writing needs immediate support and feedback. I knew this, but not “in-my-heart” know it. We have a class blog, posts and comments happen, but it doesn’t happen with fidelity. That’s the change I need to make if I want my students to feel they are writers outside units of study.
Words of thanks seem insufficient, but I’ll say this anyway: thank you Tara, Anna, Dana, Stacey, Betsy and Beth at Two Writing Teachers for providing and supporting this place to learn and grow. I believe this work has reach. It goes far beyond our blogging community into each of our lives as learners, writers, and teachers.
To Read To Write To Be 
I have felt the same way about getting comments. It feeds your motivation tremendously. As much as I love writing these, I may skip next year to allow me more time to comment on my students who aren’t getting responses.
Congratulations and well said, Julieanne! I feel the same way about this writing community – it takes a leap of faith of jump in and participate, but the impact that commitment has on one’s writing (and through it, our teaching) is invaluable.
Congrats on your 100th post! Love this – “Daily writing needs immediate support and feedback.” Since I work with the littlest of students, I hadn’t made the connection to how this would help in a classroom, too. I only know that Two Writing Teachers has been an awesome community to me!
Congratulations! As a first time slicer, I am in awe of your accomplishment. Well done! I also like what you said about how our student writers need immediate feedback on their writing. It is so true, but I struggle with it. I, too, am going to make that change due to what I’ve experienced in SOL!
Congratulations, Julieanne. I am actually surprised it’s only been a hundred-seems as if I’ve been enjoying your posts for a long time! I love the connections you made. Those who are writing with me are understanding how this community’s support helps! It’s hard to convince others of the impact! I hope you don’t mind if I save this to share with colleagues? Thanks so much!
Congrats!! 100 is a great number and now for YOU it is the # of blog posts. I’m only at 23 – know you are an inspiration to me!!
What a milestone you have reached, before you know it, it will be 200 and beyond. This community does nurture those who do push that publish button. It’s a great place to be! So glad you are on this journey too!
Congratulations! I reach my 100th on Tuesday – the original day of slicing! I will have to go back and read your beginning. You have expressed many of my sentiments as well!
Congratulations! You are wise when you say that the reach of what we learn from this community goes way beyond our won writing life. Pay it forward! Happy writing!
Congratulations, Julieanne! I feel the same way about the support of this amazing community and know I have grown as a writer and a teacher because of it. Your erasure poem is terrific. I especially love the idea of writing helping you “sort out the mayhem.”
Congratulations Julieanne!! I’m writing my 88th post today. 100!!! So cool. I like that you went back to the beginning and reflected. Thank you so much for writing! I love reading your posts. Here’s to the next 100!! 🙂