Thursday, March 31, 2016

I am a Writer! DAY 31 OF THE MARCH SOLSC #SOL16

I am participating in the Slice of Life Story Challenge (SOLSC; #SOL16) 
hosted by Two Writing Teachers
Each day for the month of March I will be posting a "Slice of Life". 
Please feel free to stop back and check out my other posts here.


I am a writer.

I had forgotten that! For the past many years, I was a teacher. I was a parent. I was a wife. I was a learner. But everything else kind of took a back seat....and I forgot!

About 2 years ago I remembered I was a reader. (I had forgotten that too!) I rediscovered books and the joy that could be found in them. Now, I am a (re)certified book nerd!

But, I still wasn't a writer. I went to a conference and was almost insulted that there was a session of writing. We were teachers...not writers! (I'm still trying to figure out where & why this perception seems to be so prevalent.) I was looking for sessions about teaching writing...not time to actually do writing. I just thought that was crazy. Why would they assume teachers would be writers?!

Fast forward 2 years, and here I am.  If only I knew then what I know now! 

It finally started to click over the past year as I read, watched, and followed online through twitter, blogs, and Teachers Write last summer. I realized that teachers MUST be writers and that actually writing would be the best training ever to make me a better teacher of writing. Then in August I attended the Pacific Coast Literacy Institute with Kylene Beers, Bob Probst, Penny Kittle, & Linda Rief. We began each morning at 7:30am...writing! It was incredibly scary...but it was wonderful. It was powerful. It was transformative. 

And 7 months later, I am typing my 31st consecutive blog post for the 2016 Slice of Life Story Challenge!

I am a writer. I had forgotten that! But doing this writing challenge has reminded me. In high school, I always had my writer's notebook with me. I wrote collections of poetry. I filled journal after journal. I chose creative writing as my #1 elective choice. I thought about writing children's books in my future. Where has that writer been all these years? I had truly forgotten! But, now, I am excited to have that writer back...to be that writer again. 

I am a writer!

I am so thankful for this experience and to those who organize and participate in it. All those who commented on my posts, all those who allowed me to read and comment on their posts, and all those who I knew were out there writing along side us even though I did not have the opportunity to directly cross your paths. Keep writing...I know I will!

3 comments:

  1. Yahoo! What a great and powerful reflection. This being a writer gig is so important for us and our students. It is great that you have been able to rediscover an earlier love and are now passing this on to your students as well. I hope you will continue slicing on Tuesdays.

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  2. I was able to connect with your writing because I feel the same way--I am a writer!! I felt I had put that part of myself on a shelf long ago. It makes me so happy I get to pull that part out, dust if off and grow it. I am so glad you found that part of yourself, too.

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  3. Congratulations on your first March SOLSC AND for rediscovering your writing self. When we see ourselves through the lenses we want our students to see themselves they know we are authentic. Hope to see your writing self on Tuesdays as wel..

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