Category Archives: Slice of Life

Tulips: SOL23 Day 28

I love tulips! They seem to scream spring. Thank goodness that our local Trader Joe’s offers these seasonal blooms for a reasonable price.

On Sunday I bought a bouquet of yellow blooms to take into the classroom. Since I had planned a project where my students would draw and paint a tulip still life, a splurge of bright yellow flowers seemed just right. And add to the equation that it is parent conference week, I couldn’t not buy them, right?

So now they are sitting in a mason jar on the table in the classroom. When I walked in this morning, the first thing I noticed is that they had changed since I left yesterday. Tulips seem to dance and sway, even as they sit in a vase with no wind around at all. I love to watch the blossoms open, becoming rounder and more dynamic.

I’m enjoying these little bits of sunshine as I teach and as I talk with parents. And with rain expected tomorrow, I’m thinking I will appreciate them even more. Two days of sunshine and warm weather are teasing thoughts of spring…and with spring break just a few days away, spring is on the brain.

So why do I feel the need to justify the purchase of a bouquet of tulips? I don’t hesitate to splurge on a latte now and then. I think I need to treat myself to a few more flowers–maybe especially for the classroom–to bring that spring feeling inside and to make each day feel more special and more festive.

Nerdy Fun: SOL23 Day 27

1 Reply

I’ll admit it. Sometimes I’m a bit of a nerd. As a classroom teacher, I love it when the date does something interesting. And this month has offered a big bonanza. Sometime earlier this school year we had a date that was a palindrome (honestly, I don’t remember exactly when, but I do remember the conversation with my students). In case you are wondering, a palindrome is a number, word, or phrase that reads the same backwards and forwards–mom is an example of a palindrome word, 3223 is an example of a palindrome number. So last Monday (3-20-23) I was delighted when one of my students pointed out that the date was a palindrome. Then I heard the murmuring, kids were talking to each other, something was brewing. Then someone piped up with…we”re going to have palindrome dates until we get to March 30th.

Brilliant! Not only did they pick up on the palindrome date, they also noticed that the trend would continue…for the next ten days!

Today, the student who has a birthday on Thursday pointed out that his was a palindrome birthday–and the last day of our current string of palindromes. Then another student shared that today was her grandma’s birthday and they had celebrated with her yesterday, highlighting her palindrome birthday. They even gifted her with a robe that had the date (32723) embroidered on it!

I so love when students carry our uniquely nerdy learning home with them. I’ve been making such a big deal out of how wonderful it is to notice a palindrome date, how fun it is to write a palindrome date, how cool it is to have a palindrome birthday… And now I am hearing students figuring out when (and if) they have a palindrome birthday coming…and Grandma’s birthday with a palindrome theme? That is the best!

I think I have three years before I get a palindrome birthday…here’s to 2026!

In the Lagoon: SOL23 Day 26

1 Reply

Whenever I can, I love to walk on the beach. But some days, even when I have time for a beach walk, the tides simply do not cooperate. On those days I have to decide whether to settle for a walk around the neighborhood (not my favorite) or find some other place to walk.

Today was one of those uncooperative tide days. When the tides are high, there is simply not enough beach to walk any distance. So instead, we decided to head over to the lagoon for our walk and a dose of nature.

It’s sunny today–not warm (for these parts)–but blue skies and light breezes make for a nice walk and opportunities for interesting photos. The first thing we noticed when we arrived at the lagoon was no parking. Apparently, we weren’t the only ones with the brilliant idea of walking at the lagoon. A little patience paid off, and after a short wait we were able to park.

The positives of all the rain we’ve had this past few months are that the lagoon is in bloom! Native sunflowers (they have a fancy name I can’t remember) are like a thousand tiny suns waving in the breeze. Pollinators are also busy, buzzing from flower to flower, picking up pollen and distributing it throughout the region.

And not all pollinators are bees. I love the combination of both stillness and activity in the lagoon. I could see the silhouette of a tiny hummingbird perched on a bare tree in the distance. I crept closer and closer to attempt a photograph with my zoom lens. Luckily I got a few shots off before it sensed the movement and flitted off.

As we moved closer to the deeper waterway in the lagoon, we could see some of the other impacts of all the rain. We thought we might spend a few minutes at the bench until we noticed the muddy area–and how far the mud had risen around the bench! Looks to have very short legs for now!

Like the beach, the lagoon is always changing. Seasons change the way the plants look and grow, tides change the water levels, and birds come and go as many species use the lagoon as a stopping place on their migratory treks. There were many mallards pairs today (not pictured) swimming in the full high-tide lagoon.

It was a nice change of pace to head to the lagoon today. We are lucky to have so many wonderful places to explore and walk that are not too far from home. I hope you, too, were able to find someplace for a Sunday dose of nature and time to breathe and gather energy for the week ahead.

What Kind of Rest Do You Need? SOL23 Day 25

3 Replies

Sometimes it seems like I’m always tired. Even after a full night’s sleep, I wake up feeling like I could just stay in bed all day. It seems worse since the time change, even though I purposefully gave myself some extra down time to try to make up for the “lost” hour.

A week or so ago I read an article about seven kinds of rest that all people need. Now this is really not news–I know that sleep and rest are different, and that my mind can be whirling even when my body is resting.

Here are the 7 types of rest the article outlines:

physical rest
mental rest
sensory rest
creative rest
emotional rest
social rest
spiritual rest

It’s interesting to me that physical rest can include both passive (sleeping, laying down, napping, etc.) and active rest (stretching, massage, yoga). I’m pretty good at passive rest, not so good at active rest. It is definitely the mental rest and the social rest that are challenging in my line of work as an educator. Teaching is not the kind of job that is easy to leave at the office–and it’s also not easy to just take a break during the course of the work day. I think this is an area I need to make some more conscious effort to let my brain relax–and I think it explains why so many teachers hate to make decisions when they get home from work! That social rest is another challenge. We are people facing all day long, and it’s hard to be “on” all the time. Especially those of us who are introverts at heart can find the constant social interaction exhausting.

I love the idea of creative rest–which doesn’t really sound like rest at all. Taking photos is definitely a version of creative rest for me. And I often think I should pull out my watercolor paints or some other art more often. Lucky for me I do get to paint and draw with my students, which is another creative outlet.

Which kind of rest is your body and mind craving?

6 Words for the Environment: SOL23 Day 24

9 Replies

I wrote earlier this week about reading the book, I’m Trying to Love Garbage by Bethany Barton. In response to the book we discussed ways to reduce human trash. I followed that book by reading the gorgeous To Change a Planet by Christina Soontornvat. This beautiful book talks about how collectively we have created problems for our planet….and how collectively, we can also make change. Both words and illustrations are beautiful!

I find that students want to do things to help our planet. They are already aware of the importance of keeping the earth clean, about the value of caring for plants and animals, and are knowledgeable about composting food waste. And we’ve also been exploring the power of words and images to inform others about things that need doing.

So after reading and talking about To Change a Planet, I introduced them to the idea of writing 6 words for the environment. This is a version of the 6-word memoir that many of you may be familiar with. In 6 words for the environment, students come up with 6 words about our planet–to express its beauty, to help others understand how to help, to explain a crisis. We started by brainstorming words related to earth–and they had plenty to contribute.

I showed them how I would compose 6 words for the environment–including showing my first attempt that only had 5 words! I rearranged and revised in front of them so they would know that they should play around with the words. And then they opened their notebooks and started writing their own 6 words for the environment.

We then took those words and used black oil pastel and watercolor to create posters with their messages. Honestly, next time I will use a different medium. The oil pastel did not allow the words to be easily read, but the images themselves are quite striking. Here’s a few examples:

Respect the environment with other people.

Save the environment. Animals are important.

Integrating environmental literacy into the curriculum is essential. My students (and yours) are our hope for the future. They will be the stewards of our precious planet. I think it’s in good hands.

That Kid: SOL23 Day 23

3 Replies

Do you have “that kid” in your class? You know, the one who drives you crazy one minute and then offers insightful commentary the next.

This student could talk non-stop the entire school day if given the chance–even filling the silences with self-talk when everyone else is quietly engaged in headphones. Sometimes the talk is funny, sometimes caustic, sometimes serious and always constant.

Yesterday after school I decided to take a stroll around campus to check out the drainage (or lack thereof) I had noticed the day before. Our play area had quite literally turned into a mini lake! My student who was attending our after care program saw me and came over to see what I was up to. We fell into easy conversation, talking about the play area, the lake the previous day, and how the rocks had “tumbled and turned” because of the water. To my surprise, the water had drained and while the area was still damp it was no longer flooded. We walked the perimeter of the campus, noticing new growth, looking over our new building, and generally enjoying time together just chatting, observing, and noticing.

Note to self: some students learn and process information through their words. Remember to be patient with “that kid.”

Signs of Spring: SOL23 Day 22

5 Replies

There are those out there who would say it’s ridiculous to look for signs of spring where I live–they might even say there are only 2 seasons here: spring and summer. But those people would be wrong.

It’s funny, but since the “official” change of seasons on Monday, it seems like signs of spring are everywhere (in spite of A LOT of rain this week). The tree in front of my classroom has pulled on its gorgeous light green dress of leaves…that green that seems only visible in early spring. Just a week ago I was noticing a few leaves popping…and today, it’s showing its full glory.

The succulents in my backyard, those that don’t get very much attention at any time of the year, are suddenly showing off. While always pretty in their own succulent right, right now they are sporting new buds and blossoms-to-be.

The air too is different. Even though storms have still been rushing through, the temperatures are noticeably warmer and I find myself opting for lighter jackets and relishing the warmth of the sun on my shoulders when it pokes its way out from behind the clouds.

Are you experiencing signs of spring in your part of the world? What do your signs looks like, feel like, smell like, sound like, maybe even taste like?

A Mini Book Review: SOL23 Day 21

4 Replies

Today I read the book, I’m Trying to Love Garbage by Bethany Barton to my class of first graders. We’ve read other books in the series, including I’m Trying to Love Spiders and I’m Trying to Love Math. My students LOVE these books. Somehow the author manages to hit the perfect balance of funny, gross, and information.

I’m trying to infuse a steady dose of “let’s take care of our earth” throughout the school year, striking a balance of the urgent need to pay attention to the environment with a sense of joy and possibility– that little things DO matter.

This book does a nice job of teaching about nature’s clean up crew–the scavengers, detritivores, and decomposers who break down organic matter and contrasts that with human trash that can take centuries to break down (if at all). They learned about landfills–and were appalled that we, as human, are making huge stacks of trash that will take a long time to break down.

Luckily, at our school we have students engage in trash reduction every day. They compost remains of fruits and vegetables, recycle their paper trays and other recyclable packaging, and limit trash to those things that do not fit into the other categories. We also live in a place that has banned single use plastics, making reuse ordinary.

After reading, they wrote to their parents asking how their families reduce trash–and already, many students were aware of many efforts going on at home. I know that composting and recycling is not enough to change the climate trajectory, but I know that the more we and future generations know and do, the better our chances are to improve the situation.

I love a great book. Especially one that gets kids (and adults) thinking and acting in ways that have a positive impact on the world. What wonderful book have you read to kids lately?

Reasons to Love Rain: SOL23 Day 20

5 Replies

I’ll admit it. I’m done with rain. As I may have mentioned (aka complained) before, we’ve nearly reached our annual rainfall total in the first three months of the year (I think the storm this week–some today and more forecasted for tomorrow and Wednesday–will take us over that total). As a classroom teacher, rain tends to make me grumpy. All the wet stuff, the missed recesses, the eating in the classroom, the pent up energy…ugh.

But, instead of complaining, I’m going to switch it up on myself and find some reasons to love rain–even in the classroom!

Here I go…

Super bloom! Our local plants are loving this water and we are already seeing hints of the bloom to come. It won’t be long until cactus as in full flower, trees are already dressing in their best green leaves, and the ever invasive black mustard is showing off its showy yellow best (and getting taller by the minute).
Music to my ears. The drip drop of rain is wonderfully soothing if you take the time to listen. Just last week, my students and I took a few minutes to soak in the sounds. Those few minutes of the rhythm of the rain were priceless.
No need to wash the car. With the regularly occurring rainstorms, my car is staying pretty much dust-free. A few swipes of the windshield wiper and the windows are clear. This is probably the cleanest my car has been in years!
Makes Elaine Maglioaro’s Things to do if you are Rain incredible relevant–and perfect to study tomorrow. What better activity to do when it is raining than read a poem about rain?
Quiet time with kids as they trickle in before school. Instead of playing on the playground and lining up for me to pick them up, on rainy days the kids trickle in a few at a time. I feel like I get a chance to check in with kids when things are quiet, a softer more mellow start to the day than is typical. I love the informality of it.
Raincoats and rain boots get some use! I bought a pair of colorful, fun rain boots a few years back–and wore them at most a couple of times before this year. This year, my rain boots and my cowboy boots are both getting some love. Same for my raincoats!
Drought relief. After all the misery that accompanies extreme drought, it’s nice to get a bit of relief. While we are certainly not out of the woods when it comes to adequate rainfall and enough water to meet the demands of our region, it is nice to see our state drought map begin to ease and reservoirs begins to fill. Hopefully this will also decrease some of the wild fire danger this year.
It’s cozy. Even though my ideal rainy day would be spent curled up in my own home with the fireplace blazing, a cup of tea at my elbow and a good book in hand, I do like the coziness of rain at school too. It’s fun to experience rain through the eyes of children–their pure joy at the wonders of nature as we all hunker down, enjoying the indoors is nice (on a limited basis–of course).
No recess duty. Tuesday is my day for recess duty–both before school and during our afternoon recess. But if it really rains as predicted, I will have a duty-free day. Of course, I will have my own students during those times but an occasional break from recess duty is always welcome. And it’s always great to not have to go outside and watch kids when it’s cold and windy (as tomorrow is promising, along with the rain).
Opportunities for new and different photos. A change in the weather means new opportunities for photography. What will I notice on the rain slicked streets? Where will rain drops stage themselves? What new beauty will reveal itself?

Reflection in a puddle on the playground

Hopefully I will be loving the rain tomorrow instead of griping about it. All my grumps will be put away for a while as I remind myself of all the reasons to love rain.

What are your reasons to love rain?

Guilty Pleasure: SOL23 Day 19

5 Replies

Shhh…don’t tell anyone. I am a total competition show addict. I can be drawn into the regular network fare, (think: The Voice, Survivor, Top Chef) and most anything cooking related (although I don’t cook) like Chopped, Kid’s Baking Championship, and Tournament of Champions. But the shows I love best are the quirky off-channel series that come up from time to time on Netflix or some obscure network.

I particularly love art-related competitions. A recent favorite was The Great Pottery Throw Down. I loved learning about the variety of pottery techniques and watching pottery artists realize their visions with clay. I enjoy learning to critique each work and match my decisions about the quality of the works against those of the judges. I love the way these shows help you get to know the artists, learning a bit about their lives and their skills. Have you seen Blown Away? I’ve learned so much about glass blowing and have become fascinated with the interplay of heat and breath that goes into creating these delicate works of art.

I can watch tattoo competitions, make up artists at work, up and coming fashion designers, aspiring models, interior designers… You can see, I’m not overly choosy about indulging in my guilty pleasure. And right now, while I should be writing those report cards that are due later this week, I just watched the first episode of The Exhibit: Finding the Next Great Artist, a show my son (who is an artist and knows how much I love competition shows, especially of the art variety) recommended.

What is your guilty pleasure? And if you have a recommendation of a quirky, wonderful competition show, please share!