Thinking about the morning #sol18

I sat at my desk this morning, but the words wouldn’t come.  I love writing during the time before school starts when everything is quiet.  But I struggled to write this morning.  I stared out the window at Mr. Charles’s garden in the courtyard.  I moved my phone so I wouldn’t be distracted by it.  I listened to the hum of the air conditioner and tapped my foot.  Then, when it was almost time for students to arrive,  I tabled my slice.   I hoped that giving myself some distance would help me find something to write about.  The morning passed by quickly and soon it was time for lunch.  In between bites of salad, I tried again.  Instead of giving up, I decided to write about the morning and identify all of the good things that happened.

My new first grader, M, reminds me (today and every day) why I became a reading specialist.  He’s made tremendous growth in the first five weeks of school and I love seeing his smile when he’s conquered something new.  I look forward to our lessons together because he realizes that he is a reader.  His confidence has grown so much in the past few weeks.  “Can’t” has definitely turned into “can” for M.

One of my fifth graders, who has been with me for a while, has really been taking off.  We’ve worked hard over the years and everything seems to be coming together for him.  I’ve noticed a quiet confidence in him that I’ve never seen before and that confidence is carrying over into everything that he does.

Confidence seems to be the word of the day, now that I think about it, and that’s a good word for me to consider as I work on composing a slice.  I was not feeling all that confident earlier this morning when I struggled to write.  My kids don’t always feel confident in what they’re doing as readers and writers, but with encouragement and support, I see what they are able to accomplish.  I know that I have the encouragement and support of my fellow slicers, and that helps me on days like today.  That sense of community gives me the confidence I need to find the words to put on paper.  I think the same holds true for my students.  They realize that they are a part of a community here at school and that sense of community develops confidence.