Friday, March 1, 2019

Slice of Life Story Challenge #1 - The Remember Balloons


     Looking back at this forgotten blog, I realized it's been a year since I've written a post and two years since I've joined the Slice of Life Story Challenge.  This is their 12th annual SOLSC, and I believe it will be my 5th.  This is the first one I've joined without students since I'm not in the classroom anymore and am an education consultant and gifted coordinator, so it feels a little odd trying to figure out what this blog means when not writing alongside young writers.  In fact, this blog hasn't been forgotten at all, just neglected.  It's been in the back of mind, simmering; I just haven't figured out what it needs to be in my new role as a consultant, coach, and coordinator.  Maybe a new focus will emerge.  I'm still a reader.  I'm still a teacher.  I'm definitely still a  learner.  And surely...I'm still a writer.

     Thinking about daily writing for 31 days in a row is daunting, so I'm going to take my friend and colleague's, Angela Faulhaber's text advice, "Don't think about the whole month. Just think about this one." So here it goes...

     In most of the SOLSC years, I've chosen a theme topic as a way to focus and inspire writing. I did the same thing in teaching! I'm going to try that again even though I may sway from it now and then.  I'm going to use a picture book as an invitation to writing each day.   I love picture books.  They are essential to the soul.  They are small, affordable, brilliant works of art.  They are efficient yet powerful.  They are for all ages.  They are for all content areas. They are for every kind of learner. Hang around me long enough, and I will most likely read one to you aloud.  It doesn't matter that I don't have a captive audience in my classroom anymore - I have groups of teachers, friends, educator gatherings, and my own family!  And Ben, my dog. (No, I haven't actually read one to him.)

     One of my new favorites is the remember balloons by Jessie Oliveros, illustrated by Dana Wulfekotte.  I've read it at several professional learning experiences lately, and haven't been able to get through it without getting teary.  Neither have the teachers! I love thinking about the possibilities of this book with kids and writing.  When sharing this book with educators, I invite them to write about one of their balloons...

The Remember Balloons
          I'm writing this on the last day of February, and it will be shared on the first day of March, so it it is only fitting that one of my remember balloons involves Katie (February 26th birthday) and Libby (March 17th birthday) and books.  Books were always a part of my life and a part of theirs.  One of our routines was reading a book (or two or three) before bed.  When Libby was little, she would gather up ALL her stuffed animals to bring to bed.  It was quite a production!  We have video of it in our home movie archives.  She would insist on ALL of them before she could settle in.  Then it was a book.  If it was a book that I had read a million times, I would try to skip a few words...or sentences to make it go faster.  Have any other parents out there done that?!  She would have none of that!  She had memorized her beloved books well enough to know a cheater when she heard one.  

When Katie joined the family, it was challenging to find books to read aloud that entertained both as they got older.  I probably traumatized Katie, being the youngest, with some of our choices.  I remember Poppy by Avi (some nail-biting parts with Mr. Ocax) and Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardiner.  I was crying so hard trying to finish Stone Fox that I handed it to Libby to keep reading, and she was crying, too, so couldn't finish!  Poor Katie had no idea what was going on!  Thank God they're still both readers, so they weren't scarred too badly.  They still ask my for recommendations, so that's good.  Although, I've gotten a text or two that begins, "Typical Mom book..."

Remember Balloons is a beautiful book with an important theme.  Stories and memories stay with us forever.  When we share them, they become a part of someone else.  And that can never be forgotten.





12 comments:

  1. I have to tell you I was thrilled when I clicked on TWT and your post was the first one I saw! I am so glad you are slicing again.I have heard to much this book but have not read it. I love your memories about reading with your girls. Yes, there are "typical mom books!" So good to see you back!

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    1. Aw, thank you, Leigh Anne! I'm glad to be slicing again and look forward to reconnecting!

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  2. So thrilled to hear your voice. I've always been jealous of your yearly themes, and I'm totally excited for this year's stroll through picture books. I'm loving my grandma time as I discover new picture books all the time. And the remember balloons is an exceptional book, made all the more poignant for me b/c my oldest sister suffers from Alzheimers.

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    1. Thank you, Ramona! And, yes it is exceptional. It gives you a great perspective, doesn't it? It seems everyone is touched by Alzheimers or dementia somehow - through a family member, friend, or neighbor. So sorry you are touched so closely.

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  3. I can't wait to run to the store to read the remember balloons. I have been planning to spend some time in a book store to update myself on all of the great books that have great reviews.

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  4. So glad you're back! Definitely missed you last year. I love your theme of writing from picture books, and I am definitely storing this idea away to use at some point this month. I also love The Remember Balloons. It's been checked out of my lending library ever since I brought it to share! I share your love of PBs and I look forward to learning more about some of your favorites this month and seeing how they inspire writing.

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  5. Thank you, Elisabeth! I missed being a part of it last year and didn't want another year to go by without a connection to this wonderful group of writers!

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  6. Hey, you! Miss you so much! I'm so glad you are back. I am not doing the challenge with kids either because they moved the classroom challenge to April, so I feel weird not gearing them up while I geared myself up. I love picture books, but I tend to forget about them. I once set a goal to read one a day, but didn't keep it going. I look forward to reading your posts and building my repertoire.

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    1. I missed you, too, Margaret! I didn't realize they moved the classroom challenge to April. I hope you get some good picture book ideas!

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  7. I'm glad you are back too. And it is weird to do the challenge when you aren't in the classroom you were used to. Last year I found it was even more important to pay attention to my day so I had something to write about.

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    1. Thanks, Deb! It IS! Yes, I'm ready to pay more attention to my thoughts, moments, memories, etc. The years are flying by; it's important to capture them!

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