Slice of Life: Happiness is Found with Other Writers 3 of 31

Here we go!  It's time for the March Slice of Life Challenge hosted at Two Writing Teachers.  It will be a busy month of writing, commenting, and learning with this community.  This year I've decided to try to focus my writing around happiness.  Stop by today's link up to join the conversation or find some great reading.   

You can find student writing here.
I love Tuesdays.  Tuesday is the day I meet with an after school Slice of Life writing club.  Before the challenge I set up dates for writers participating in the challenge to meet to talk together about writing.  I opened 25 slots, and they filled up quickly.

Today after school the 25 students, grades 1-5, came racing into the room.  We began with a snack and lots of conversation.  I went around the room to check in with students and see how the challenge was going so far.  

Students buzzed with excitement as they talked to one another.  We finally headed to the carpet to chat for a bit about the challenge.  It wasn't long until someone said, "I noticed someone put a picture in their post.  You can do that?"  

"Yes," I said as I pulled up the post where the image was located.

The student who had inserted the image spoke up to tell about what she did.  "If you want to know how to put images in, see R.  She's an expert on that."

Another voice asked, "How do you change colors and the size of your writing?"

"Who can do that?  Do we have any experts?"  I inquire.

A few hands shoot up into the air.  I direct everyone's attention to the experts on font.  "Look at these students.  They can help you if you want to change the size or color of your writing." 

"How do some kids have avatars?" one of the first graders in the group asked.

I placed our blog roll on the screen so students could see which friends had an avatar.  "See these students with an avatar.  I'm guessing they can help you if you want to do that."

Kids smiled at one another, and continued to talk about their "expertise."  We finally headed back out into the room to write.  Grabbing iPads or laptops students settled into comfortable spaces with friends.  

There's something about the energy of a group in which everyone has chosen to be there.  There's something about listening as children ask each other for help and give each other new ideas.  This group came out strong on the first day of the challenge, and continue to make me smile.  Happiness is found in time with other writers.  

Comments

  1. I had never thought about an after school Slice of Life club...but now your post, with its infectious energy, has me thinking. Fun!

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  2. Love your post! You can hear the excitement in your voice and the smile on your face. Thanks for sharing.

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  3. What marvelous ideas! I love the idea of writing around a theme for the challenge and an afternoon writing club is just brilliant. I particularly liked the way you have grades 1-5 working together. Thanks so much for sharing. I look forward to reading more about your slicers' club.

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  4. What marvelous ideas! I love the idea of writing around a theme for the challenge and an afternoon writing club is just brilliant. I particularly liked the way you have grades 1-5 working together. Thanks so much for sharing. I look forward to reading more about your slicers' club.

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  5. How great that your kids are learning from each other! You make me want to try this!

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  6. Yea for the SOLSC in your after school club!!! So much excitement and I love the experts stepping up to help out! How proud they all must feel -- I want to join in this excitement too!

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  7. Very cool! A writing Club! Sounds like they are very energetic writers.

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  8. I am enjoying reading all of their writing!!! I think this club is a really great idea!! You kind of have your own old fashioned one room school going on.. You go girl!!!

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  9. Love this post! Just the encouragement I needed to try again tomorrow! I agree with your mama (Sharon?) it does look and sound like a one room school house going on there! Thanks for sharing!

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