Posts tagged day in a sentence

As I began to gather up this week’s Days in a Sentence, I realized that I had not written my own (which I usually do with my call for words). So, here is my Day in a Sentence:

I’m seeing the world in frames and punchlines this week as I develop and continue to tweek my new comic strip adventure about teaching, technology and kids in a digital age.

And without further ado, here are your words:

My friend, George, with whom I have followed on a few projects (including the Darfur and the Space initiatives), shares not only a sentence, but also a picture as he writes, “Taking care of Marisa’s brain-injured father.” — See the picture (our thoughts are with you and your family, George)

Janice went looking for books, but found a few empty spaces on the shelves. It must have been those library elves again. “My (voluntarily undertaken) paperback fiction inventory is almost complete and depressingly, hundreds of books are missing from the middle school library collection of the school I start working at in September.”

Bonnie had another jam-packed week of teaching and family, and still, she finds a way to balance it all with joyfulness. The sun always shines on Bonnie. “We officially ended the third week of our Summer Institute with flowers, stipend checks and the sun and I begin a weekend of family celebration: our first wedding from the next generation and the sun is still shining.”

Mike is digging deep into video editing (always a fun but slow process, in my opinion) and at least thinking of getting into shape. Or maybe he already is in shape. That’s the problem with virtual community — I can’t see him.   “Most of my week was spent editing a wedding video that I shot last week, and I also bought a new weight set off Craigslist, which is pretty fun.”

Michaele is back in the classroom this week. She wrote down her sentence in the short time when kids were going home for lunch. As you see, she has some mixed emotions about her new position. “Returning to the classroom this week after a one-year hiatus has been fulfilling, social, busy, and deeply reflective due to my employment circumstances: I’m replacing a teacher whose husband was killed in the war overseas last spring.” (Good luck — we are sure you will do great)

sara smiles (cue music from hall & oates). i can tell. she writes, “i love summer, when my greatest concern is balancing out the wicked farmer’s tan i’m getting from my nursery job!” (sara is determined to keep everything lower case in her online persona, so i am following her suit here)

Gail D. continues her various quests for knowledge and new ideas and now she returns back home to reflect on the experience. “I’m back home in California after an amazing two weeks in New York City, during which most days included a stroll through Strawberry Fields – Imagine!“

I think I saw Jenny yawn. Time to pull the shades and take that cat nap. “Not enough hours in the day; I need at least 8 hrs more to get that much needed sleep.“

Amy sees some light and some clearance. Possibly.  She certainly gets more than the allotted sentence. “The sun breaks though the clouds as my master’s project nears completion. –Maybe. My project advisor approved the project, but after a brief look my grad advisor thinks it needs more writing. Hopefully, she will change her mind before my committee meeting next week. “

Nina poses the question that has long plagued the minds of every teacher everywhere. “Back to work a week from today–why is it that no matter how long one’s vacation is, it is never long enough???“

Tina teaches, but she also golfs, and she is great at both. “I didn’t win the Club Championship, but had way too much fun trying — and celebrating afterwards with my pals!“

Jane provided me with plenty of purposeful alliteration and, bonus, she created a comic for her Day in a Sentence (see it over at her blog). “The Petal Pounding Presentation at the Garden Walk proved to be a great success as all the people proclaimed that the petals they pounded provided the perfect past time.“

Lynn is overseas, in England, taking pictures and breathing in the history. “10-day AP Lit tour of England concludes—Alas. 700 pix to sort—egads. London, Canterbury, Bath, Oxford, Stratford, Howarth, and Lake Country. Students were great, guide—delightful. Pace just challenging enough. Will post Flickr links when pictures are sorted and duds removed.“

Vacation is almost a memory for Karen. Sorry about that. “One more week visiting family out of state, then one more week of summer vacation; where did it go?“

Mother Nature reared her beautiful head for Delaine. And for us, too, in New England. “After days of gloomy overcast, the sun finally made an appearance this morning, although slowly, over the Bay Bridge.“

I want to welcome Gail P., who teaches kindergarten at my school and who submits her sentence for the first time (but hopefully, not the last). As always, her focus is on kids. “The four year old twin boys are bouncing, racing, riding, laughing, sneaking, sometimes whining, and often testing their old aunt as we freewheel our way through the adventures of summer.“

Rick revels in the sun and in being with the energetic kids of his clan. “The best day of summer was filled with playing whiffle ball, running through the sprinkler, and stepping on each other’s shadows. Grandkids keep me young.“

Susan has been thinking and writing about “power” these days. “Reflecting on my work last week, I can’t stop thinking about the barriers schools put up between secondary teachers by separating content areas in a system of hierarchy; when we’re battling each other for power there’s little time or energy left for collaboration and change.” She invites you to add your thoughts to this discussion over at her blog.

And Stacey, who will be our guest host this coming week, has been knee-deep in planning a session for the fall conference. “I’m ready to spend hours working hard, and having fun, with Ruth preparing for NCTE.“

Thanks to everyone who submitted a sentence this week and thanks to those of you who are just reading the words and thinking, I should do that, too. You should. And you are welcome with open arms to participate in this Day in a Sentence.

Peace (in community),
Kevin

It was another fantastic week of receiving your sentences and words through Days in a Sentence and we continue to have a trickle of new writers in the group. I love the sense of slow growth that happens in this sort of project. So, welcome to anyone new to the project this week and if you are just lurking, please consider joining us next week or sometime in the future. Your words are welcome!

Here are your days in a sentence:

Bonnie has been busy with work at the Hudson Valley Writing Project, which is in the midst of its Summer Institute (same here in Western Massachusetts).

“A second exhilarating and exhausting week of our summer institute 2008 and I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else, it’s a great ride!”

Tracy is finding beauty in the quiet things of life, which is a nice reminder to all of us to “see” the world through such eyes.

“Grateful for my present setting: the sun and the garden, my dog teasing the ball at my side while I listen to music, read, and play all day long.”

Ken had what he called “a day of love” with his daughters and once again tapped into his poetic talents (of which he has many) to compose a sort of poem in a day in a sentence.

“Look for the simple thing, that’s where it’s at -
On one brief syllable so much depends -
Value its presence; know the sign off pat -
Each joy is a jewel and sadness ends.”

Mr. Mansour (a new friend) seemed to be juggling many different things, including family and connections with his neighbors.

“After filming a wedding and reception all day Saturday, I spent the rest of this week uploading all the footage and figuring out how to mix SD and HD video while also taking care of my 13 month old daughter, putting together a new website for a presentation to some teachers in training, and attending a neighborhood meeting on energy conservation.”

Lynn J. confronts the past in the clean-up routine as material goods spark something deeper.

“Clearing the clutter takes me deep into sorting through old memories before I can take the clothes to the Salvation Army, donate the hardback books to the public library and turn in the paperbacks for used bookstore credit.”

Ben D‘s plate has been full with the Writing Project work (see reference to Bonnie above).

“This week has been spent digesting the pedagogical casserole I just finished (a.k.a. the Red Mountain Writing Project).”

Jane S. has found beauty in the pounding of nature.

“The process of releasing the natural pigments found in flower petals, leaves and even grass to fabric or paper by pounding with a hammer creates a fun floral project but it also provides an outlet for those crazy days when all you want to do is hit something.”

Janice has caught her breath. Finally.

“It has taken until now for me to relax, and realize I have the opportunity to completely waste away hours, if I so desire.”

Susan had an eye-opening experience in a retreat with the Writing Project.

“Returning from a week engaged in collaborative learning with NWP colleagues, I keep thinking: It’s all about POWER!”

Nancy, the new mom, has already discovered one aspect of her new life. Sometimes, it feels like Groundhog Day.

“My week: sleep, feed, change dirty diapers. Repeat. “

David says, and I agree, that a beer sounds good right about now.

“Crushing deadline, aching limbs, need more water, could do with a few beers…”

Matt is finding time with loved ones to be beneficial.

“Enjoying a week spent with visiting family.

Illya sent the kids packing and now eager awaits their return. Just like a mom.

“I’m sitting on an anthill waiting for my boys to return home from 2 weeks of camp. One is back, now just two more to go.”

Stacey went for a hike, but in the wrong shoes. It must have been one of those days.

“I cannot figure out why I ruined a perfectly good pedicure by walking over three miles in dressy sandals.”

Kristi (welcome!) has some advice that might be used for kindergarteners, but can I say that it works well with sixth graders, too? (And maybe some adults)

“I teach kindergarten and my Day in a Sentence (or even my year in a sentence) is most often “If it’s wet, and it’s not yours, don’t touch it.”

Deb has a sentence that is short, but powerful.

“Don’t take family love for granted!”

Elona has gratefully found some time to gaze skyward and in good company, too.

“This week my granddaughter and I spent time doing things like lying on the grass at the Credit River and looking at clouds and finding one that looked like a hippopotamus. “

Talk about meandering minds! Sara fills us in.

“working at my local plant nursery is the perfect summer teacher’s job – the plants stay where i put them, no one supervises my watering, there’s an utter lack of lesson plans (yippee!!), and my mind wanders down any path it cares to, getting lost in tasks like deadheading petunia baskets for hours.”

Break is over for Anne but I bet new adventures await her and her students.

“This week has been rather a crazy, hectic and time-consuming week, as our school settles in to the first week back after a two week break.”

Mary (who I believe another newcomer and so, I welcome her, too) has some mixed emotions this week.

“Happy thoughts of new faces and smiles. Sad thoughts of summer ending.”

Peace (to all of you),
Kevin