SOL #5 Sunday Mornings

Sunday mornings are my favorite. While most people like to sleep in, I like to get up early and enjoy the quiet. This is my time.

My time to read through the Sunday papers. Read about what's happening locally and around the world, look through the ads to see if there is something I can't live without, and clip coupons.

It's my time to sit with my dog and enjoy a cup of coffee. Nothing pressing to think about. No major decisions to make. Sometimes I will watch the news, other times I will read a book.

My time to think about what I want to do with my time today. Sometimes I will rustle up my family and go to church. Other times I just want to enjoy a run, walk, or bike ride. I may go into school and get some work done. Reading a book may be on the agenda. If the weather is nice, I may find something to do outside.

When I hear people moving around upstairs I know that my time has almost ended and I need to start making breakfast. Because making a nice breakfast on Sunday morning is also something I enjoy.

Sunday mornings have a slow pace to them; the only time in the week where I feel as if I can slow down and enjoy what's around me. It's my time. I hope everyone finds a time in their week where they can slow down and enjoy the moment.

Goals

Lately, I haven't been doing so well with personal goals. I have fitness goals. I have reading goals. I have household goals. Needless to say, I haven't been meeting them and have been in a rut.

So, I am going to pronounce to all some goals hoping that will keep me accountable.

First, fitness.
My goals this week are to complete 4 workouts lasting at least 30 minutes and to walk 10,000 steps per day at least 5 days this week.

Reading this week.
My goal is to finish the book I'm reading, plus make a dent in my stack of picture books I've been wanting to read. And to read half of a professional book.

Household goals.
Simply put, I need to clean. My son has been sick twice in the last 2 weeks so I feel as if I need to do more than surface clean. And I also need to put away my snowman decorations. I don't believe they are relevant at this time.

I'll check in next week and let you know how I did with these goals. Hopefully, putting them out there will encourage me to meet them. Fingers crossed!

Tournament Time

It's that time again. Basketball tournaments. My husband is the girls' varsity coach for the district in which he teaches. Last year his team was state runner-up. They lost 4 starting seniors from last year's team. Tonight the team is playing in the district final. Which is absolutely wonderful considering losing those 4 seniors.

And I am home.

With a sick child.

Being at the game is stressful enough. Being at home is even more stressful when you can't see what is going on. I have friends who are texting updates but it is not the same.

Let's just say there is pacing going on.

And sweating.

And some cleaning.

And a lot of stress.

And maybe a glass of wine.

Here's to a win and the Sweet 16!!! Go Spartans!

Read Across America

This week our school, like so many others, celebrated Dr. Seuss and reading. Each day we had a different Dr. Seuss theme, we also read a different book each day schoolwide, and we had guest readers in from the community to read in each classroom. Our cafeteria staff even served green eggs and ham for lunch. And our principal bought shirts for the staff to wear today.

The students had fun with the themes and we had a lot of participation. They enjoyed the guest readers. Overall, it was a good week.

Yet, I feel that it was lacking something. While it was enjoyed, I felt as if the enthusiasm just wasn't there. I just can't put my finger on it. Are people just tired? Thinking about testing, which is right around the corner? Too many other things going on? Conferences were also tonight, did that get in the way?

Being a Literacy Collaborative school, we have to have a Literacy Leadership Team. Part of what we do is plan events like this. We have an upcoming meeting so hopefully we can look at this week and figure out how we can improve it for next year.

Happy writing!

Slice of Life

Welcome, Slice of Life! It's high past time I dusted off this blog and started writing again.

Today, I just want to begin by introducing myself. My name is Krista and I am a Literacy Collaborative Intermediate Coach. I work with students and teachers in grades 3-5. I really do love what I do. I still get to teach and I get to work alongside some wonderful teachers and leaders.

I try to read as much as I can. Currently I'm reading Me and Marvin Gardens by A. S. King. For me it's always fun to see if I can predict the Newbery winners. And it's even better if I have read all the winners. I'm not sure I have accomplished that yet.

I love to get outdoors. I have flowers and a garden in the summer. I also like to go for an occasional run. Zeus, my black lab, enjoys a neighborhood walk with me.

I will be married for 15 years this year and we have an amazing son. We love spending time together and visiting different places. My husband is also a teacher and girls basketball coach.

I am looking forward to writing this month and learning about and from the other Slicers.
Happy Writing!

Must Read in 2016

Recently, I have really thought about my reading life. I somewhat feel as if I have been in a reading slump. I still read, but haven't been as good about it as I have in the past. It just seems as if I am letting little things get in the way.

This is all about to change. I was disappointed when looking at my reading on Goodreads. I know part of that is because I have been terrible about updating my reading on the site. This past year, I didn't set a reading goal for myself on Goodreads. Part of me wonders if maybe the lack of a goal is part of the reason for the slump. So for 2016 I have set a goal on Goodreads to read 250 books. I've surpassed that in the past, so I know it's a manageable goal.

But I'm going to take it a step further. I am coming up with a list of Must-Reads in 2016. I have seen other people do this in the past and enjoy reading about their progress. I am also hoping, by creating this list, I have a go-to place when I get in another slump. Most of these books I have wanted to read for quite some time. Others haven't been published yet. Some are professional books that I have started and haven't finished.

Without further ado, here is my list of Must-Read in 2016 (in no particular order):

Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer Holm
Drowned City by Don Brown
The Notorious Benedict Arnold by Steve Sheinkin
Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War by Steve Sheinkin
Echo Echo by Marilyn Singer
The Nest by Kenneth Oppel
Paper Things by Jennifer Richard Jacobson
The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin
Swan: the Life and Dance of Anna Pavlov by Laurel Snyder
The Marvels by Brian Selznick
The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann
Greenglass House by Kate Milford
Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos
Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier
Moo by Sharon Creech
Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo
Full of Beans by Jennifer Holm
59 Reasons to Write by Kate Messner
Drive by Daniel Pink
7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
What Great Teachers Do Differently by Todd Whitaker
In Defense of Read Aloud by Steven Layne
The Unstoppable Writing Teacher by M. Colleen Cruz
Raising Kids Who Read by Daniel T. Willingham

So there it is, my Must-Reads in 2016. What will you read?

One Little Word

For the last few days, I have spent a lot of time thinking about what my One Little Word for 2016 would be. No matter what I thought of, none felt right. If it doesn't feel right, I know I will have a hard time living it this year. I really needed to find a word that "spoke" to me.

As I was straightening things up in my kitchen, my eyes fell upon this plaque one of my students gave me for Christmas.

That's when it hit me; THIS is my word. I've read this plaque several times over break. I've really thought about what it means for me and for people around me. I've thought about how sometimes I need to inspire myself. I've thought about how I want to inspire my students. I've thought about how, as a literacy coach, I want to inspire my peers.

So this is it. The word I will live by this year. The word I will think about when doing things for myself or my family. The word I will hold close to my heart when thinking about my students and colleagues. How can I encourage someone, myself included, to be their best? How can I awaken those good, positive feelings in myself and those around me?

I don't really have the answers right now, but I know I will enjoy the journey finding the answers. Inspire.