Teachers Write #2 - You Can Write!

What struck me about today's lesson is that I am the only one who can give myself permission to write even if

For me, and I suspect for my students, this fear is enough to shut down the entire process. I often get on my soapbox and use the sports analogy - we don't get better at anything without practice. My own children have been the recipients of this speech. But perseverance really does pay off. Annabelle, my six-year-old, is obsessed with standing on her head. She has tried for months, each time staying up a little longer, and finally for several seconds (which seem like forever to her.) My head stand is writing. So I'm going to keep practicing, writing a little bit as often as I can until it's a habit, not a challenge. 

Here is my response to today's lesson:

I did not get to participate last week so I’m jumping in today. On a recent trip to our local botanical garden, my six-year-old, Annabelle, gave me an idea for a children’s book. This idea has come to me at least once a day, gnawing at me to work with her to develop the story, even if for our own entertainment. Now, I believe, it could be something more and I’m excited and scared about the possibility. So, of course, my dedication would be to Annabelle, the sweetest, smartest, silliest six-year-old I know. My life would be so boring without her and her four-year-old sister, Caroline, and I would not even know it!

Teachers Write #1

AP scores came out yesterday last Sunday and I was a little disappointed. Not in my students, but in myself. I feel responsible. There were more 2s than I would like to admit. And I know those students were more than capable of scoring higher. So, what happened? What could I have done to help those students? What can I do to help all of my students become better writers? As I went about my usual Sunday routine, I looked through my Twitter feed and found Kate Messner's (@katemessner)Teacher's Write, a summer writing camp for teachers. Before I knew what happened, I was signed up and even tweeted about it!

Summer Diamond, (@sumlendia), a friend and coworker who recently wrote about stepping out of her comfort zone, sent this to me. She is just one of many who push and inspire me daily, and she happens to work in my district. Lucky me!

I am participating in Teachers Write because I believe the best way to help my students become better writers is to become a better writer myself.

UPDATE: Soon after joining this challenge I created this blog and started this post. Then, I went to a 3-day conference and did not finish the post, nor did participate in the TW writing assignments last week. I plan to start tomorrow and move forward. Sometimes I get myself into more than I can handle :).

The conference, PBL 101 at the UT Tyler Ingenuity Center was overwhelming (hence the lack of attention to this and TW) but awesome and I will blog about it later. Stay tuned!