Please link up your slice of life post here. Looking forward to reading and commenting on these posts! Click on the frog button to read and comment on our posts!

First of all, I want to apologize for not posting something yesterday for the challenge. I was doing my homework on my bed last night and completely passed out before I got the chance to write my Slice of Life. 1. Exhaustion hit me again, and 2. Never do your homework on your bed. Anyways, today was another one of those really productive days but how it started was the best part. Ashley and I were running a little later than usual to field experience, so it was no surprise to me when I saw Ms. Haseltine waiting for me down the hall when I finally got to the 6th grade “house;” the area of the middle school where the 6th graders reside. Ms. Haseltine wasn’t waiting out of annoyance but out of excitement for what she had planned today. It was evident by her expressions that it was going to be awesome. When we walked in the classroom together, the first thing I noticed was that Ms. Haseltine had random items on each students’ desks. These items ranged from paper clips, a light-up question mark, a mini mailbox, magnetic letters, and receipt paper. After seeing my confused reaction, Ms. Haseltine explained to me that she was going to have the students create, play with, and share these items and then write about it. The items were meant to inspire their creativity and encourage them to use their imagination. As the students started trickling in, their reactions were even more confused than mine. Some exclaimed, “What is going on?,” and “Am I dreaming?” Once all of the students were in class and the bell rung, they were already busy creating with their items. From paperclip chains to pyramids made of plastic bins, the students were practically in heaven.  Some of the things they created with the items just astounded me. How could they think of these things? Every field experience day I’m with them, they never cease to amaze me with each of their individual strengths and minds.  It was so refreshing to see them in a setting where they were having legitimate fun. By the time we had to clean up, I had glitter in my hair from joining in on the fun. After cleaning up, the students wrote about their experience but with a twist! With their writing, they had to continue to be creative by writing their experiences in different ways. For example, some students used magnetic letters to make a six word memoir, while two other groups wrapped students in receipt paper like a mummy then wrote on the “mummy.” As you’re reading this you may be thinking, “What kind of classroom is this lady running here?” Let me tell ya: A positive environment where students are encouraged to use their imaginations and express themselves in different ways. I am so lucky to be learning from a teacher who runs her classroom as such, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Today is Monday and I’m writing about the book that I’m reading. Well, let me be honest…I’m writing about the book I read last week. The title of the book is Word Nerd. I started reading it because of a friend’s recommendation, she is also a sixth grade teacher. The author is Susin  Nielsen. Word Nerd sounds like a PERFECT book for me doesn’t it?!?! I consider myself a word nerd, so I jumped right  into reading it.  I usually like to jump into reading books without knowing much about them. I prefer that. This time it didn’t work out the way I wanted it to. 

The opening of the book grabbed me RIGHT AWAY! “The day I almost died, the sky was a bright, brilliant blue…” (page 1). What?!?! I wonder so many things: Who almost died? Is he ok? The writing is excellent and it certainly kept me interested! But I honestly don’t love this book. I’ve abandoned it for now.

The main character isn’t my favorite. He has lots of struggled in his life, but I’m not a fan. I need to connect with a character in the book for me to want to read it. Also, this book isn’t for my sixth grade students. I have so many books to read and not a lot of time to read. I may return to this book, but I’m taking a break for  now.