Day: March 31, 2022

SOLC22: day 31, 31 things I learned

jarhartz16 Comments

One of the things I appreciate about blogging is the opportunity to reflect.
So for the last day of March 2022, I listed the 31 things I learned and/or relearned this month. Some need explanation. I’ll save that for future posts.

About my writing

  1. Mentor texts are essential.
  2. Whatever I’m reading reverberates in my brain and comes out in my writer’s stance/voice.
  3. My writing territories include cats, students, books and gardens.
  4. I don’t do enough notebooking.
  5. Writing with my students allowed for self reflection.
  6. I can write on my phone.
  7. Photographs provide entry points.
  8. My favorite time to write is Saturday morning.
  9. Interaction with other writers always inspires.
  10. Goal setting is about resetting and adjusting daily goals with the end goal in mind.

About teaching writing

  1. Mentor texts should change as student expectations/goals grow.
  2. Sentence starters are not to be avoided, but to be abandoned.
  3. How’s it going my favorite way to start a writing conference.
  4. Varying the pace of student’s drafting/revision cycle can be powerful.
  5. Students’ ability to feel comfortable with choice varies.
  6. Student writing spotlights parts unseen.
  7. There is never too much notebooking.
  8. Poetry seeps into writing even if you only teach it once a week.
  9. Holding students close to a mentor text can reap rewards.
  10. Memoir has become one of my favorite units to teach.

About myself

  1. I admit I could be wrong more than ever before.
  2. I question myself less.
  3. I care less about what others think.
  4. I worry that I care less about what others think.
  5. I’m finding ways to avoid adding more without feeling guilty about it.
  6. I prefer quiet spaces.
  7. In spite of number 6, I love being with children.
  8. Teachers are my second favorite group of humans, children being my first.
  9. I seek out story in all forms.
  10. There are never too many books.

About this year’s Slice of Life Challenge

  1. Even though I questioned my ability to continue, I am so glad I did.

Sending out gobs of gratitude to
the Two Writing Teachers blogging team
and all of those who participated.
It was an honor.