Sometimes Discouraged

Sometimes I get discouraged. Today is Chalk-A-Bration day. I have my loyal chalkers. Margaret Simon, Linda Baie, Liz Steinglass and Robin Sheldon. There are the occasional chalkers. There are those who love the idea but don't really have the time. There are those who just forget. Sometimes it rains, been there done that. Not an easy chalk day for sure. It snows, even harder. So, sometimes I am discouraged. Why do I continue doing this? Well, it brings me joy. It seems to make others happy, even if they don't find the moments to chalk. It's okay. It really is. I know what good intentions are. I have plenty of them. (The pile of laundry that needs to be folded, probably not happening tonight). I need to continue to find the joy in chalking poetry. Even when I can't find the words to share. Even when I can't find the right color or get the photo just right. I will find the joy in chalking a poem. It is a happy thing.

Girls on the Move

I do an after school program with a great friend and former teaching partner at my school on Monday's and Thursday's. It is called Girls on the Move and we do everything from Zumba to yoga in one hour. This year we have over 60 girls. There is something really amazing and fun about jumping around, running and stretching with a gym full of girls who are packed with energy. I start out dreading it a little after a long day of teaching. Then I change my clothes and pull my hair up and I feel a little more ready. But when I walk in that gym to echoes of giggling and excitement, "Mrs. Hubbard are we doing yoga today?" I can't help but smile and feel their energy just flow right into me.

Twitter Poetry

Last night the Two Writing Teachers and I had a Google Hangout and were talking about different tools for writing. Then the conversation went to Twitter and I started to think about the Facebook poetry I did in April. From there my thoughts traveled back to Twitter and I thought, "Hey, why not Twitter poetry?"
Soooo, today after reading a few poems to my class I asked them if we could come up with one line to start a poem. One of my little guys said, "It should be about our butterfly!" See, we let a butterfly go the other day after watching it in its chrysalis last week. I thought that was great. "Okay, so what should we say about our butterfly?" They thought a minute, a few shouted out some ideas and then one student said, "We said goodbye to our butterfly! Bye and fly rhyme!" How cute I thought. We've been talking a lot about rhyme and listening for rhyming words in poems, songs and rhyming activities. It was nice to see someone apply it independently. A bunch of students agreed that was a great line. So we tweeted the line and waited.
This evening a few friends of mine have added lines and this is what we are up to so far:

We said goodbye to our butterfly.

Its time came as autumn approached.

It wasn't long ago, it was just a gray haired caterpillar.

It headed out on its butterfly way,

Free to feel the breeze and warm sun

Above the trees he soared

As if with a job to do

I think this is going to be so cool. If you have a Twitter account and want to get involved or better yet, involve your class, follow me @hubbheadlines and see what we come up with tomorrow! 

Hesitation

Today was my first day of school back in kindergarten. I was anticipating a lot. I hate to say it, but I was mostly anticipating problems. All these problems are normal in kindergarten. Kids just don't know any better, they are immature and quick to react. Little kids cry easily and miss their mom. These things happen and I was ready for any or all of it should it occur. 

But then...

and I hesitate to even say it, almost none of it happened. Not only did everyone come in fairly happy, I think about two tears were shed (honestly, more from parents than kiddos). It was remarkable. We got to our play time and...they...played. I didn't have to do a lot of coaching like I normally do. I have one student who is on the spectrum and he was completely happy, even gave me some eye contact throughout the day. Someone knocked over another student's block tower and he said, "HEY, who's going to help me repair this?" He didn't throw things or kick someone, he actually responded quite appropriately. This was the first, first day, that I didn't have someone under the table or someone run out of the room in years. No one was pinched or bitten. Best of all, they seem like happy kids. That makes me hesitantly happy. I keep waiting for the crew from Punk'd to show up and say, "Just kidding, here is your real class." That being said, I have loved all my former students and classes. They were exhausting and I am sure (based on how I feel right now) I will be exhausted by this class as well. However, it feels different. I'll be anxious to share more as they get more comfortable and more personality traits are revealed but for now, I am going to soak it in a bit.

Living

I'm not sure what to write about but I was looking at this blog a little bit today. Looking at the name and thinking about what it means. What does it mean to live my words? Is this about being honest? Is it about living every moment and not forgetting? What is it? What was I thinking when I wrote that name? I wonder a bit. Then I decided I would write a little poem about what I think it means. Maybe it is about living not just in the moment but hanging onto it a bit; letting the moments linger.

I'm living.
My words
are like waves
washing and wishing
splashing and dashing
white capping
and thrashing
as I walk
my path washes away
but my words
stay as vivid
as the sunset.

Not Writing

I'm going to write about not writing. Yes. Not writing. 

I have been struggling to find my words lately. A friend recently shared this with me and it has helped me gain some insight into why. 

It is a post about how to find your "writing groove again."  

The first suggestion is to make a list of why you aren't writing. Well, there are many reasons actually. Things that do take priority at times but mostly I just feel very distracted from writing. Sitting down today to write this slice all I could think was, "I can't think." 

Then it says to purge your writing space. I spent countless hours about two years ago creating a space to write. You know what it looks like now? A mess. I don't even go down there anymore it is so overwhelmed with books and disarray. I guess I know what I need to do. 

Read a book, not just any book, but an amazing book or a craft book. Right now I'd give anything to have the attention span to read a page let alone a book. I think some good poetry is probably a place to start and I have several books just waiting to be opened. 

The last suggestion is to just do it, write anyway, even though you feel like you can't. I think this is my best option right now. Just do it and sludge through the mess that is likely going to arise in hopes that there is a piece or a phrase that ignites something worth telling. I think I need to get back to my writing habit and stop obsessing about my inability to hold onto thoughts right now.

not writing

no words

just here

will you lay

sprout from my ears

and please find your way

no dirge do I hear

your death 

not occurred

I'm waiting for you

on the page

to return

I Can't Help But Think...

little fingers

shoes untied

fumbling hands

and sparkling eyes

smiles big

while some have tears

hugs for both

will steer the year

happy days

and bad ones too

here we go

we go to school

September 2nd is the day! The day little feet come walking in my door and we start a new journey together. I went from first grade back to kindergarten this year, so essentially that is like leaving second grade (end of first) and going back to preschool (incoming kindergartners). UGH! I can't say I'm not a little nervous but it will be like riding a bike. I will remember what to do and we will have a great year together, at least eventually. :)