#SOLSC23: House – Home
(It’s March and that means the Slice of Life Story Challenge has begun. 31 consecutive days of blogging. Thanks for being here.)
What’s in a name? What are the differences between “house” and “home”? Both are nouns referring to structures that could take many different formats and have configurations specifically tailored to the needs of its own residents.
This house began its existence in 1970. Construction seemed slow. We were eager for it to become our home. We had outgrown our previous home despite its remodeling. Christmas vacation meant it was moving time as we moved our possessions by the truckload into the house (sans deck, garage, and extended garage). At that time it was a modest five bedroom, 1.5 bath, 2 kitchen rural residence. There were many advantages to having a new house. Only one room was green and that was the master bedroom. Our previous 1 bathroom and 3 bedroom house had green in every single room: wallpaper, paint or memorabilia of many types.
When did it become a home?
When we moved in? When we had family celebrations and ALWAYS the family picture? When the kids began to leave the nest and head off to college? When the grandkids spent time at Grandpa and Grandma’s?
The stories that these walls could tell if only they could form the words:
Of adventures,
Ball games,
Sibling spats,
Family celebrations,
Roller skating in the garage,
Watering trees,
Farming trials and tribulations,
Milking cows,
A pony,
Chickens,
Old hens,
And stinky (“Smell the money”) hogs.
The house still stands
With new owners
And new stories.
What are the best poems about homes?
How would you explain the differences between a house and a home? How does word choice impact the meaning and tone of the written words whether in poetry or prose?
Process: Consider two words with similar and contrasting meanings in definitions and poetry.
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Thank you, Two Writing Teachers, for this daily March forum. Check out the writers and readers here.
Added:
“A House is Not a Home” – Norcross/Bacharach link
“Homeless” – Anna Quindlan link
#SOL21: Autumn
What are the signs of Autumn that you watch for?
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Thank you, Two Writing Teachers, for this weekly forum.
Check out the writers and readers here.
#SOL20: #BookLove
Are you ready?
What is one of the best books in the world? What is a book that will surprise you with each reread? What book will nurture your soul? What book will allow you to write beside the poems and unwrap your own stories . . . your own life?
I believe the answer is found in this book that is the initial book for elementary teachers participating in the Summer Book Love Book Club!
Franki Sibberson wrote about this book by Irene Latham and illustrated by Charles Waters in her blog post here. As I read Franki’s post, I was nodding my head to every statement. And like Franki said, this week’s discussion in Book Love Foundation’s Summer Book Club is already underway. (Seriously, go read what Franki said!)
You could still see these amazing speakers.
And interact with the almost 1,000 folks in the Book Club.
You might write or see examples . . .
Like my first draft poem for the beginning of #BookLove.
Week 1 has begun.
We wrote poetry Monday.
#BookLove learning has begun.
What is on your learning agenda?
What is your favorite poetry book?
Is there a book club in your summer plans?
Thank you, Two Writing Teachers, for this weekly forum. Check out the writers and readers here.
Addendum: Amy Ludwig VanDerwater Resources bit.ly/2YU6Ifi
#SOLSC20: Day 28
Time
Still 60 seconds in a minute
And 60 minutes in an hour,
Yet hours slip by.
Alarms buzz,
Snooze is pressed,
And time slips by.
Schedules adjust
Days become monotonizingly the same
TGI . . . what? And time slips by.
School buses remain in bus barns,
Churches are shuttered,
And days slip by.
Home 24/7 and tasks remain unfinished
Deadlines seem relaxed,
And weeks slip by.
Time, adrift without a schedule,
Time, unprioritized externally,
Time slips by.
How have changing schedules impacted you and your community?
How are your keeping track of time and days?
How are you maintaining goals and purposes and mental sanity?
Thank you, Two Writing Teachers, for this daily forum in March. Check out the writers and readers here.
#SOL19: Beautiful Sparkles
Sparkles
Intermittently
Hitting the windshield
Gently falling from the sky
As my travel path shifts
Visibility decreases
No center line
No edge of the road
Bright lights
Ominous
Like darts pelting the windshield
Visibility nearing zero
Dim lights
Seem clearer
Creating a false sense of security
Momentum slows
A semi passes
Swirling the snow
Total white out
Wondering where and
when this weather will break
Perspective:
Dim lights? Bright lights? Of course it depends! If you are driving into the snow, dim lights are often more effective. A lack of a center line removes vision, safety and security.
(Tips for driving in a white out.)
How to Avoid a “white out” in your classroom:
Reflect: During this last week before the winter holidays, what is your perspective?
Will you be forging ahead with bright lights shining as you head straight into the heart of the action?
Or will you dim the lights, pause, observe, collect some field notes and then “ACT” on that data?
Thank you, Two Writing Teachers, for this weekly forum. Check out the writers and readers here.
#SOL19: Day 29 SOLSC
Day 29
Rise and Shine
Walk the narrow line.
Check out the view
What is there to do?
Two days ago the temp was 72
Tonight the forecast includes snow
and wintry mix with winds that will blow.
How will the rest of the week go?
I fear March may yet go out like a lion . . .
The uncertainty of wintry possibilities
Makes for a leery traveler.
But maybe it will reduce that TBR pile.
Thank you, Betsy, Beth, Deb, Kathleen, Kelsey, Lanny, Melanie, and Stacey for this daily March forum from Two Writing Teachers. Check out the writers, readers and teachers here.
#SOL19: Unexpected
Forecasts warned
Weather maps with new colors
Falling temps
Records anticipated.
Piles of snow
Rhythmic slapping of tree branches
Blowing snow – sometimes hazy, sometimes white outs
And cold.
Can’t catch your breath cold.
Hurts when you breathe cold.
No tracks in the snow cold.
Pristine snow.
The Weather Channel says:
Unexpected?
Yes
Unprepared?
No
The ticker tape at the bottom of the TV screen lists the school closings. Plans to keep all safe. Time to tackle that TBR or TBW list. Check for extra supplies.
Check on a neighbor. And a neighbor’s pets.
What plans do you make, in times of weather uncertainty, for you and your household?
How do you prepare for the “Unexpected” in your life?
Thank you, Betsy, Beth, Deb, Kathleen, Kelsey, Lanny, Melanie, and Stacey for this weekly forum from Two Writing Teachers. Check out the writers, readers and teachers here.
#SOL18: Signs of Spring
Signs of Spring
What do I see?
I see slivers of green
peeking through the brown grass
in the yard, the fields, and along the road.
Hopeful for fresh asparagus, daffodils and mushrooms.
What do I hear?
I hear choruses of birds
loud and excited
quiet and steadily constant.
Hopeful for woodpeckers and their staccato beat.
What do I smell?
I smell the earth
fresh-plowed and ready for seeds
anticipating the new growth.
Hopeful for abundant, fruitful crops to feed the world.
What do I feel?
I feel the sun’s rays
as day temps finally rise to 70s
and nights remain in the 50s.
Hopeful for no more sleet, slush, or snow.
Signs of Spring
What signs of spring are present in your region?
How will you celebrate spring?
Thank you, Betsy, Beth, Deb, Kathleen, Kelsey, Lanny, Melanie, and Stacey for this weekly forum. Check out the writers, readers and teachers here. 
Poetry: Love/Hate
Today’s post is based on the mentor text, “I Hate Poetry”, by a Virginia middle school student. Her poem can be found here (and all the comments that she responded to individually. The comments tell exactly why she “hates” poetry!).
How do you feel about poetry?
Which version best matches your experiences?
Happy Poetry Friday!
( Click here for more info about Poetry Friday.)
Process:
- Read student’s poem.
- Studied the rhyme scheme.
- Jotted down some ideas to include.
- Decided that I wanted definite stanzas (so drafting outside of WordPress).
- Used the student’s ideas for the first stanza.
- Decided to repeat part of the first stanza in the closing stanza.
- Drafted, revised, drafted!
#SOL18: March 28
Drip! Drip! Drip! Drip!
Gently, slowly,
Each drop distinctly different.
Read, comment, read, comment,
Catch up, catch up, catch up,
A slicer’s work is never done!
Booming thunder
Loud and rhythmic
Not just white noise.
Write, read, write, revise
Let it rest, let it brew
A writer’s work is never done!
Pounding, roaring, louder and louder
Mya crouching and hiding
Lightning has arrived.
No time to nap, relax
Or read for fun today
A PD presenter’s work is never done!
Thank you, Betsy, Beth, Deb, Kathleen, Lanny, Melanie, and Stacey for this daily forum each March. Check out the writers, readers and teachers here.
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