October 20 2015

Why I Write

Let’s celebrate the National Day on Writing.

I Write

Why do I Write? Today is the National Day on Writing sponsored by NCTE. I’ve been thinking about this question for awhile. There are so many reasons that I write…

I write to untangle my insides.
I write to communicate my feelings.
I write to think, to figure things out.
I write to calm myself down.
I write to learn.
I write to explore new worlds.
I write to express myself.
I write to share who I am.
I write for my students.
I write for my family.
I write for my friends.
I write for myself.
I write for my readers.
I write because I don’t know how not to write.
When I don’t write, I lose myself.
Writing brings me back to me.
Writing quiets the crazy chaos of the world.
When I write, everything makes sense.

Why do you write?

Double click on the Padlet and answer the question. Why do you write?!?!

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Category: Haseltine, NCTE | 4 Comments on Why I Write
December 2 2014

I Got to Meet My Heroes!

The opportunity to attend NCTE and ALAN was amazing. I spent six days getting to meet my heroes. The people who inspire me from their classrooms all over the country! We got a chance to talk about what we do! They inspire me and they make me a better teacher! Who gets to meet their heroes? I also got to meet many authors!! Each one was kind and generous with their time and their conversations. Spending time talking with wonderful authors and talented teachers is time well spent. I missed YOU, my students, but I feel recharged. Check out some of the pictures from the conference…

 

#NCTE14

Category: inspiring, NCTE, slice of life | 1 Comment on I Got to Meet My Heroes!
November 25 2014

Why Tuesdays?

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Many of you have asked me, “Why do we post slices on Tuesday?” All I could say is, “That’s how we do it on the Two Writing Teachers blog.” Well this weekend, I asked the same question to the Two Writing Teachers and I got an answer. Stacey told me about when she was planning to start posting slices. She had to decide which day. While she was thinking about it, she remembered one of her favorite TV shows, Seinfeld. Here’s the script: 

Kramer: What’s today?
Newman: It’s Thursday.
Kramer: Really? Feels like Tuesday.
Newman: Tuesday has no feel. Monday has a feel, Friday has a feel, Sunday has a feel….
 

 Stacey wanted Tuesday to have a feel, so Tuesdays feel like slicing.

I miss you guys a lot! I’d love to know how you are!! Please leave a comment. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Can’t wait to see you next week!

Category: NCTE, six word memoir, slice of life | 18 Comments on Why Tuesdays?
November 18 2014

Planning and Packing Slice of Life

 

 

I am mostly a homebody. I love routine and quiet time. I can fill my days with reading and writing, painting and playing with Bella. Traveling stresses me out, but it’s important to take RISKS and I always enjoy myself once I arrive at the destination…so I do try to take some trips.

The act of traveling is hard. It starts with preparation. Booking the trip. Scheduling the days. Looking for the best deal. Reserving a spot in the kennel for Bella. Doing laundry. Deciding what to bring. Packing. Shopping for traveling essentials. Stopping the mail. Making sub plans. Sigh…


I’m in the midst of that experience now. Getting ready to attend NCTE and ALAN. I can’t wait until I’m THERE. It’s just that getting there is the challenge. I have made some lists (and I’m not usually a list maker). I’ve started some piles. Plans are in the works for my students and I can see it…I’m getting closer. 


Once I’m on my way, on the plane or in the car, it’s that first moment, I always take a deep breath and smile! The adventure is about to begin. That moment, that breathe is coming closer and closer! 


If you’re attending NCTE, I hope I’ll get to meet you in person. I’m volunteering at registration, so please say hello if you see me. I can’t wait to meet all of my fellow slicers at the dinner. I’m off to make some more lists…

 

Here’s my brand new notebook for NCTE. Notebook #60. WOO HOO!!!


Notebook

Markers

iPad

Snacks

 

Category: NCTE, OLW, slice of life, writing notebooks | 5 Comments on Planning and Packing Slice of Life
December 4 2012

Disappeared…AKA…Blogging is hard!

Where have my posts gone? I had such high hopes this year to blog everyday. Then it changed to a few days a week. And finally to once a week. Now, I’ve been MIA for too long. I’m sad that I haven’t been able to keep up this blog like I wanted to. The beginning of the year started off so STRONG and then just… nothing. How do I change this and keep up? After attending NCTE and learning about so many teachers who are successfully integrating technology with their students, I thought I’d come back stronger than ever, but alas, nope.

So…to my students….here’s my lesson. I’ve chosen a goal that’s really hard for me to achieve. I don’t always do a great job, but I’m sticking with it. My hope is that you do the same with your goals.

Speaking of goals, the past few days we’ve been meeting in reading conferences and you have inspired me with your hard work and your reflection. Getting an opportunity to chat with each student is a treasured time in a teacher’s busy day.

FInally, book trailers…we’ve watched a few. I’m going to post some of the trailers we’ve watched here. Please let me know if you have created your own! I’d love to post those too!

Category: book trailers, goals, My writing, NCTE | 1 Comment on Disappeared…AKA…Blogging is hard!
November 25 2012

Happy Thanksgiving!

I’m back from my conference and rested after a wonderful Thanksgiving. How was your Thanksgiving? Were you able to spend time with family and friends? I am looking forward to seeing everyone tomorrow. We will talk about what happened when I was gone. Please make sure you log everything you read over break so we can add it to our totals. We are going to talk about our November goals for reading. I learned lots of new things to make reading and writing meaningful and interesting. We will be trying out some new things together. Get a good night sleep. See you tomorrow.

Ms. Haseltine

P.S. Look who I met at the conference:

 

NCTE

Category: NCTE | 1 Comment on Happy Thanksgiving!