I Write to Freeze Time by Tynea Lewis

Photographs capture moments in time. So do paintings.

I’ve always wanted to be an artist (but I am not artistic).

I’ve always wanted to be able to capture moments in a visual form. That’s not my gift, but I write to freeze time.

It started when I was in high school. I began keeping a journal to capture events that I wanted to use for a story I was working on, but the habit continued.

In those four short years, I filled dozens and dozens of composition books. My life was being recorded in front of my eyes.

The more I wrote, the more I wanted to write. I became inspired by being able to capture key moments of my growing up years. There were tears, heartbreaks, triumphs, and exciting moments of being a teenager. They are stuck between the pages of decorated notebooks.

Looking back on those entries now, I have to laugh at the thought process of my young self. I have to cringe at some of the things I did, and I have to wipe away tears remembering such angst and heartbreak. But looking back on who I was helps me to know who I am now and how the events of my past have influenced my present.

It’s like a time capsule, and it’s an incredible treasure.

I have a chance to stop time. Don’t we all want that? We want to freeze those outstanding moments so the memories of those events don’t become like a foggy dream.

In college, my boyfriend (now husband) went away one summer on a nine week training course. It was at the beginning of our relationship, so it was a make or break event for us. I found solace in writing one entry every day to him while he was gone, and when he returned, I gave it to him. Sure, he’s not into writing (or reading, for that matter), but it meant a lot to him that I took the time to write encouraging messages. It’s stashed away in some box in our basement, but I have it. Those nine weeks are frozen in time, and what a treasure they are.

Now I have two little ones. My girls are 19 months apart, so sometimes it feels like I have been raising twins. There’s a lot that I don’t remember about the first couple of years, and my oldest is only 4. Motherhood is a blur. Filled with long nights, poopy diapers, tears from babies and momma, and crazy hormone changes.

A month after the first daughter was born, I started keeping a journal for her. The second time around, I started one as soon as I got pregnant.

Writing to them is a way for me to freeze time. They’ll get the journals when they are older, but right now I get to look back on all their milestones and remember the silly things they did or the fears they had. I get to write entries about the strengths I see in them. Hopefully one day my words will be an encouragement to them. What a treasure that will be.

Looking through my writing is like flipping through old pictures. It takes you right back to that moment, and that’s what keeps me writing.

I write to freeze time. I write to remember the past and the lessons I’ve learned. I write to be an encouragement to others.

That’s what keeps me going when I feel like there are no words on my tongue.

The pictures that mean the most to me aren’t ones of perfectly staged moments. No, they’re the ones of daily living. They’re the candid shots.

That’s what my writing is. It’s a snapshot of the messy parts of life, but the simplest things end up being the most important.

That’s what inspires me to write.


Tynea Lewis is a former Title I teacher from Pennsylvania. She was named a 30 Under 30 honoree by the International Literacy Association in 2016 for her work with LitPick Student Book Reviews, an online reading and writing program. When she’s not busy overseeing the program, she loves to spend time with her husband and young daughters, write for a variety of audiences, and escape to the quietness of the mountains. You can connect with her on Twitter and Instagram at @TyneaLewis or on her blog at tynealewis.com. 

I Am Writing by Mark Levine

Writing is hard.

I have wanted to be a writer since I was in the 7th grade.  I wanted to write about the teen experience through my eyes.  There was one main thing standing in my way: Writing is hard. 

Writing takes commitment.  Writing takes time.  To write, writing must become a priority in life.

Through the years, I have collected many starts to novels. In fact, one can track my writing journey through the subject matter of my writing, and of course, the quality. Many years later, I am still starting novels.  The difference is that I now have intention and a voice.  I am much better read and prepared.  The problem, as of late, has been my self-confidence.

Writing takes practice.  As a teacher of writing, I have been able to live this idea.  I have watched students grow as writers.  I have seen students go from incapable to amazing.  Yes- I have learned from my students.

A few years ago, I got an idea for a professional book for teachers.  Again, I started it and stopped.  Restarted and stopped. An editor at a large publisher liked the idea a lot, but my voice was missing. Actually, my voice was not yet developed. Working on my voice became my priority.

Over winter break this past year, I was frustrated with myself. While frustrated, it was time to choose my One Little Word.  My word was obvious: Persist.  If I was going to write, really write, I was going to need to push through my self-talk and make writing a priority.  I was going to create a writing habit. 

In this habit, I write daily.  I write a brief piece for a blog each day.  I write articles for a major online literacy site weekly. And, I write for my real book project.  I am writing between 2-5 hours a day.

Now I am not just a writer. 

I am writing.


Mark Levine is a middle school teacher in the Chicago suburbs. He teaches literacy-based social studies.  He is also a writer, a presenter, and an avid chatter on Twitter. Follow him @LevineWrites or at his blog http://mindfulliteracy.blogspot.com/

Finding Time to Write by Georgia Parker

Finding time to write is a big obstacle for many teachers. Most of us are not just teachers but wear many hats and there is always something that must be done. Grading papers, planning lessons, and working with our team of teachers are all part of the daily routine- not to mention what's going on at home - so carving out time to write is a challenge. Here are some strategies to help put pen to paper or fingers on the keyboard:

Put writing on your To Do List and make it a priority - just like exercise. Get up 30 minutes early or stay after school for an hour. You would be surprised how many words you can get under your belt.

Change your mindset. Guilt often plagues us when we make time to write because we feel like it’s pulling us away from other responsibilities, but in the long run, writing helps us be a better teacher, parents, colleagues, and friends.

Find a writing partner that you can write with even if you don’t share what you are writing. Having a writing partner to meet at a designated time each week helps make writing time official.

Before you give your students a prompt, try it yourself. Share it with your students. It is good practice for you and shows that you aren’t asking them to do anything you aren’t willing to do yourself.

Remember that if you are writing, you are a writer. Just because you aren’t published doesn’t mean it’s not real. Write for the joy of piecing the words together and making them dance on the page.

Georgia Parker has taught English in grades 6-9 at various times in her career. She has spent the last 23 years teaching English at Trinity Preparatory School in Winter Park, FL. For the last 20 years she has taught English 8, and in the last six years has added YA Lit. Parker is a member of NCTE and ALAN, serves as a state representative for ALAN, and has presented at numerous conferences. She is also the Co-Director of the Trinity Prep Author Fest and is the current Diane & Michael Mayer Endowed Chair of English at Trinity Preparatory School. Find her on Twitter at @gksparker.

How I Stay Motivated to Write by Molly Hogan

Let's face it: Teaching does not leave much time for other activities. Carving out consistent writing time is a commitment that can be challenging to uphold. I have my ups and downs, but here are a number of things that help me to write regularly.

1. Being part of a writing community:
Having a supportive, authentic audience and contact with other writers makes all the difference in the world. I can't emphasize enough how TwoWritingTeachers and Poetry Friday Roundup (and the writers I’ve met there) have supported and influenced my writing. Having one or two weekly “deadlines” to post is just the nudge I need.

2. Writing Morning Pages:
I've been in the habit of writing morning pages for a while, and it’s become a key part of my writing routine. Every weekday, I get up at 4:30 am and I write. I like the idea that I'm coming to writing from my dreams, before I have time to filter them through the day and my own skewed lenses. Often I have no idea what I'm going to write until I begin. Starting my day with writing centers me.

3. Recognizing that Some Moments Beg to be Written About:
The moments, phrases or ideas that pop into my head over and over are the ones I need to write about. I've learned that if I keep thinking about it, there's something there, some gold to be mined or a seed to cultivate. Sometimes I can't see it or find it until I begin to write. That process of discovery is an intoxicating part of writing.

4. Writing Something/Anything:
In Anne LaMott's wonderful book, Bird by Bird, she writes a whole chapter on "Shitty First Drafts." Reading that chapter is liberating. "Almost all good writing begins with terrible first efforts," she writes. Or, as Jane Smiley said, "Every first draft is perfect because all a first draft has to do is exist." When I get discouraged, I remember this and it takes the pressure off and allows me to get something, anything, down on paper. Once I have a first draft, even a crummy one, I can really begin to write. Once I've written something, I'm more apt to revisit that writing and write more. It's a beautiful, messy, self-perpetuating cycle.

5. Recognizing How Writing Enriches My Life:
Writing opens my eyes to see the world in fresh and unusual ways. It keeps me tuned in.
Recently, I was walking on the beach with my husband. Small white and purple shell fragments littered the tide-dampened sand as far as we could see. "It's like a star-lit sky," I said. "Just flip your world upside down. It looks like we're walking on the stars!"

If I didn’t write, I never would have appreciated that moment in the same way. Writing primes me to look at things differently and more intently, and opens me up to nuances and possibilities. I keep writing because looking at the world through a writer’s eyes can, in an instant, transform a walk on the beach and create a galaxy under my feet.



Molly Hogan is a fourth grade teacher at a rural K-8 school in Maine. She lives in an empty nest with her husband, two cats, lots of books and too many dust bunnies to count. She shares poetry and prose at her blog, Nix the Comfort Zone.

Experimentation is the Source of Inspired Writing by Andy Schoenborn

Last week my 12th grade students and I launched into a learning experiment.  The idea: connect with Central Michigan University pre-service students, explore trending topics in YA Lit, and publish the results.  My colleague, Dr. Carlin Borsheim-Black, and I strove for three things: relevancy, agency, and authenticity.

We aimed for relevancy by posing the question: What are the topics trending in your life?  Our students responded with #MeToo, Free Speech, Mental Illness, Gender Roles, Diversity, Black Lives Matter, Poverty, LGBTQ+, and Body Positivity.  All relevant topics in need of exploration.

Pushing further posed a question to be answered in small groups: Why, specifically, is your topic relevant to your life?

The question created vulnerability and deep meaning began to form as students tapped into their personal connections.  We collected and shared ideas - it is important to know you are not alone.

To achieve agency students formed literature circles based on the topic trending highest in their lives.  Then they searched for and chose YA Lit novels interesting to them and on topic.  We were impressed with the titles they chose and ordered them.

The end goal was to share student explorations by reaching out to authentic audiences.  In this case, we decided to ask students to write guest blog posts which will be submitted to The Nerdy Book Club.

Will they get published?  We don’t know.  We do know authenticity exists when writers push the submit button and go for the rejection letter.

Staying inspired as a writer means to question, read, write, risk, and share.

My students inspire me, my writing, and my willingness to take risks in the classroom.  Colleagues willing to plunge into the unknown inspire new writing territories.  My PLN inspires me to keep pushing, exploring, and sharing what is possible in the classroom.

Though my voice is small it can be heard if I stay inspired, write, and share.


Andy Schoenborn is a high school English teacher in Michigan at Mt. Pleasant Public Schools.  He focuses his work on progressive literacy methods including student-centered critical thinking, digital collaboration, and professional development.  As a past-president of the Michigan Council of Teachers of English and National Writing Project teacher consultant for Central Michigan University’s Chippewa River Writing Project he frequently conducts workshops related to literacy and technology.  Read his thoughts on literacy in the elafieldbook.wordpress.com and follow him on Twitter @aschoenborn.

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The #TeachWrite Twitter Chat Blog is dedicated to providing a space for our community to connect and share their voices about writing and teaching writing.  We are looking for guest bloggers who would like to blog on topics related to being a teacher-writer. Educators and writers of all levels are invited to join us in this space. More information can be found here. 

Need a Jumpstart? by Tamara Letter

Like many educators around the world, I embraced the #oneword2018 mindset and decided to choose one word to guide and push me as we turned the calendar page from December to January. In my first post of the new year, I shared my journey from writing lists of resolutions to whittling it down to a single word. This year I chose the word INSPIRE.

As a writer, I find inspiration through reading, listening, and observing. I love being connected to others on Twitter, Instagram, and the TeachWrite group; it’s such a joy to learn more about one another and delve deeper into our passions.

But there are times when the digital ink runs dry and the ideas stall out.

You get busy.

You get sidetracked.

You start to doubt your ability to write.

Let me reassure you - you are not alone. Every writer has hit a similar roadblock. Writing takes patience. Persistence. Endurance.

It also takes a little jumpstart, especially if it’s been sitting idle for a while.

If you find yourself needing a little inspiration to get the creative juices flowing, check out Jennifer Hogan’s post, in which she shares 50 writing topics for educators.

Another suggestion is to create a draft blog post when inspiration strikes, adding a few sentences to jog your memory. Let the topic sit and simmer, then when the time is right you’ve got a ready-to-serve post that’s just needing a little seasoning.

Keep writing. 

Keep sharing.

Your words inspire and we need more inspiration in this world!


Tamara Letter is a technology integrator from Mechanicsville, VA with more than 20 years’ experience in and out of the classroom. She shares her stories to lead, love, and learn with a passion for kindness at http://www.tamaraletter.com. She is also writing a book about kindness to be published by Dave Burgess Consulting, Inc. Connect with her on Twitter or Instagram (@tamaraletter) or join her Facebook group “A Passion for Kindness.”

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Loving the Writerly Life by Carol Varsalona

My mind wanders down corridors of time, reflecting, wondering when the passion for writing began. Words float on by. I imagine this parade of thought to be like snowflakes cascading onto earth. I wait patiently for words to crystallize. They rise from the quietude of my writing space. Stillness surrounds them. I pause to listen to their thoughts murmuring to each other. Fingers sweep the keyboard. I scroll backward, searching for snippets of thoughts.

Childhood, a photo of winter in Central New York appears. Second-grade noticings come to mind. It was in handwriting class that the need to write with a flourish was developed. I move through time to poetry class in college. A nurturing writing professor supported my urgings to put pen to paper and my photographer professor encouraged my need to be inspired by nature. Moving forward to now, a winter photo sparks my thoughts. My digital notebook comes alive. I write.

  

Writing is an art form that moves consciousness to paper. It is sometimes hidden in layers waiting for the inner self to reveal itself. It is an act of creation and letting go, an unabashed, purposeful lifting of the soul. It can be a messy arrangement of words that need refinement or an elegant rewrite. With faith in the writerly life, my writing uncovers thoughts, processes them, and lets voice fly. 

There is magic in writing. Since I was a small child, I was smitten by the writerly life. I wrote to creatively express myself. But then, there was a time of silence. Daily life intersected. The writing life took on a new form. It became quiet in the face of challenge. Now, I continue the journey, realizing that there is still much to uncover, craft moves to explore, and connections to be made.


Carol Varsalona, ELA consultant has extensive experience as a districtwide literacy administrator, educator, and presenter/staff developer. In addition, she is a blogger, poet/creator of online global galleries, moderator of #NYEDChat, and Wonder Lead Ambassador. Varsalona is dedicated to impacting K-12 teaching and learning concentrating on the development of voice. She can be found on her blog, Beyond Literacy Link, on Twitter, and on Facebook.

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Inspired by Possibility by Krista Senatore

On National Writing day, Paula Bourque (the wonderful Litcoach Lady) asked that we tweet why we write. Her request led me to reflect on the role writing plays in my life and to set the intention to make it a daily practice. Though my tweet was one line, I’ve expanded the reasons I  write below. I write because writing helps me to:

pay attention to life, to show up and be truly present in any given situation.

take a breath, be aware of how I am feeling and respond with care.

process life’s difficulties and celebrate its beauty.

ponder, reconsider, ask questions.

evolve in my thinking.

hold myself accountable. 

share my thoughts and ideas.

connect and bond.

live a joyful life.

Revisiting and adding to this list fuels my daily writing and gives me the courage to take my writing out of my notebook and share it with my writing tribe.


Krista Senatore is a literacy coach in Schuylerville, NY where she collaborates with teachers and serves students in grades K-8. She specializes in balanced literacy, supporting struggling readers and using technology in literacy. Krista is a certified yoga teacher and enjoys bringing mindfulness to teachers and students. You can connect with Krista on Twitter @kmsenatore.

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What's In Your Little Black Book?: Collecting Inspiration to Write by Jacie Maslyk

The Little Black Book was the name of a 2004 romantic comedy.  It’s also known as the place to write the addresses and phone numbers of your past girlfriends or boyfriends. 

My little black book is the place where I collect all of my writing ideas.  I jot down curious quotes or phrases that strike me.  Sometimes I write a word or two and other times I fill pages.  My notebook is a collection of ideas that I revisit and tinker with.  Often times, it serves as a place of reflection and rejuvenation, while other times it is a stumbling block.   

I carry my book with me most places that I go.  You never know when you get hit with an idea!  I’ve been known to write things down when I’m sitting in traffic or in a meeting.  My notebook helps me to capture new ideas.  It gives me inspiration for new blog posts or topics for articles.  The book is a compilation of bulleted lists, sketchnotes, and paragraphs.  It serves as a reminder that I have set goals to write regularly, for myself and for others. 

   
My little black book is a way for me to collect my inspirations in one place. I guess I’m old-fashioned in the way that I write everything down on paper, but it keeps me on track with all of the ideas in my head.  It allows me to organize and categorize my wonderings and consider the pathways to extend these thoughts.  Some ideas stay in my book, while others turn into blogs posts, educational articles, or even a proposal for a new book.  Any journal or notebook will do, but find a place to collect your ideas to inspire your writing.

Jacie Maslyk is the author of STEAM Makers: Fostering Creativity and Innovation in the Elementary Classroom.  She blogs at Creativity in the Making at https://jaciemaslyk.blogspot.com/ and has been a guest blogger for Corwin Connect and ILA’s Literacy Daily.  Her website www.steam-makers.com houses a variety or resources for educators.  Jacie hosts a monthly Twitter chat called #STEAMMakerChat.  Follow her on Twitter @DrJacieMaslyk

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Saying My Magic Word by Mario Kersey

When Billy Batson, a boy, gets in a jam, he utters the magic word Shazam! and is instantly struck by a bolt of lightning which transforms him into the mighty muscled Captain Marvel.

I wish I had a magic word to give me an instant six-pack and a cool costume.  However, as a teacher-writer, I do have my one little word which gets me out of a writing jam: Grandma. Remembering my grandma, Martha L. Thomas, keeps me inspired when life appears to ready to thwart me from carving out time to write.

The life of a teacher-writer (I call myself a writer-teacher) can be daunting when teaching high schoolers.  The other duties and responsibilities of a teacher can crowd out other thoughts.  Much like Billy, I whisper “grandma”, and I am in that proverbial happy place.  It takes me back to those humid summer evenings under Uncle Oscar’s pecan tree telling stories to grandma.  Before I ever met Aristotle, grandma unknowingly taught me story structure and how to keep the pages turning by asking “then what took place?”  Today, if I’m stuck on a project or attempting to begin one, I say my magic word, and I begin writing.

Also, I realize the word puts my inner critic on mute for a while. I think by tapping into those memories my childhood with Grandma makes me slightly more insouciant about time deaf to my inner critic’s dirty taunts. Thank you, Grandma.


Mario Kersey currently teaches Advanced Placement Literature and Composition and British literature.  He finds time between the ticks of the clock to write poetry and micro plays. He can be found on Twitter as @syntaxpaladin.

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The #TeachWrite Twitter Chat Blog is dedicated to providing a space for our community to connect and share their voices about writing and teaching writing.  We are looking for guest bloggers who would like to blog on topics related to being a teacher-writer. Educators and writers of all levels are invited to join us in this space. More information can be found here. 

Writing Inspiration is a Two Way Street by Sandra Stiles

Inspiration can come from many places. I want to be one of those teachers who inspires students to love writing. I love hearing students who have told me they hate writing, declare that writing is fun. I have a special student who has told me how I inspire her to write. She is a fabulous writer. She often is my inspiration. She shares her writing with me daily.
           
As teachers, we must find a way to connect with students and writing. Round robin writing is one way to do this. Students are given a prompt or story starter. They begin their story and then after a few minutes, they pass their papers to their neighbor. They read their new paper and continue the story putting their own spin on it. This continues until there are ten minutes left. They get their paper back and then finish their story. 

Another thing I do is find pictures for writing prompts.  I collect them from the internet, magazines, or even their textbook. They can even mix and match the pictures to create their story.
           
For me, nature is an inspiration. Sitting in my swing, on a beach, or taking a walk in the park can give me ideas for something to write. I try taking my students to different areas around the school for writing inspiration. Even setting writing goals is inspirational.
           
Sometimes just spending some time with students discussing their writing is all it will take to inspire them to write.

Find what inspires you then write.

Sandra Stiles is a teacher at Johnson Middle School in Bradenton, FL. When not working to inspire others to write she loves to read and write. She is the author of the book ”Steps to Courage”, available on Amazon. You can connect with Sandra on Twitter @skstiles612, Facebook at SandraStiles or her website SandraStiles.com.

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Finding Opportunities to Write by Michelle Olson

Goals and motivation go hand in hand. One must have the motivation to work towards achieving goals. When I think about writing goals, my number one goal is to write every day. This can be any sort of writing from texts to emails to journal entries to poems to stories and the list could go on. Writing is a form of communication that takes on so many forms. We are all writers!

Writing every day is something that I encourage my students to do. When given consistent opportunities to write, many students learn to love writing every day. Their motivation becomes intrinsic as they learn to find joy in writing. I have seen this happen with several classes that I have worked with during this school year. When I say, “Let’s go be writers!” students move quickly to get started on their writing! Students have learned the value of writing and have learned to enjoy the writing that they do each day.

Here’s to a year full of finding time to write each day. That is my goal. My motivation is being a role model for my students as well as my two young girls. What is your motivation for writing?

Happy writing!


Michelle Olson is a reading specialist by day and wife, mom, and Usborne book lady by night. She recently earned her doctorate and focused on students’ attitudes towards themselves as writers and their own writing. You can connect with Michelle on Twitter at @molson414.

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The #TeachWrite Twitter Chat Blog is dedicated to providing a space for our community to connect and share their voices about writing and teaching writing.  We are looking for guest bloggers who would like to blog on topics related to being a teacher-writer. Educators and writers of all levels are invited to join us in this space. More information can be found here. 

Writing Heals by Sarah J. Donovan

“im sorry your mom wasn’t their for you…”

This was blog comment on my poem left from a seventh-grade boy who frankly gave me a pretty hard time last year. It was my tenth poem of the month (a third of the way into our thirty poem challenge), and Jesus chose my poem to read that April morning. He was enticed by the title, I guess: “Confession: I Am an Orphan”. 

When I noticed Jesus was reading my poem, I knelt beside his desk and asked him if he knew what an orphan was.  He said he knew but was confused because my mother was still alive. We talked about how my father had died, and my mother broke-up with me, in part, because of that. He wasn’t sure what to say in that moment, so he wrote a comment on my poem instead. I was moved by his compassion. I was moved so much that I wrote a lot of poems that month about my family and growing up the ninth of eleven children.

When our thirty days of poem-ing came to an end, I began to feel what I can only describe as withdrawal. The daily engagement with words and lives in the virtual space of our class blog and the physical space of sharing them in class nurtured me psychologically and kinesthetically. The mental and physical work of creating poems impacted my well-being. So when I felt that withdrawal, I looked for ways to re-engage with poetry beyond the classroom and discovered that within my collection of poems rested pieces of a story. I decided I would write a verse novel that summer, imagining and reshaping my past into fiction.

When one makes a decision, a commitment, the world seems to respond in rather beautiful ways, and, for me, it was in the form of people:  Gae Polisner read the first pages of my book and, encouraged me. My husband, who is not a reader, began to read my book -- the first book he’d read since high school -- and we had lovely dinners discussing the kissing scenes. I shared the book with four of my seven sisters, and we Skyped to discuss the characters and how they helped us make sense of our own childhood. I began to really experience the way writing heals the writer and, in some cases, the reader. Such a privilege and responsibility to create.


Sarah J. Donovan is a junior high ELA teacher and adjunct professor in teacher education at DePaul University. She is the author of  Genocide Literature in Middle and Secondary Classrooms and a young adult novel, Alone Together. She writes a weekly blog, www.ethicalela.com, where she shares stories about the ethics of teaching English and some YA book reviews. Follow Sarah on Twitter @MrsSJDonovan, Instagram @donovan_sd, and Facebook. 

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The #TeachWrite Twitter Chat Blog is dedicated to providing a space for our community to connect and share their voices about writing and teaching writing.  We are looking for guest bloggers who would like to blog on topics related to being a teacher-writer. Educators and writers of all levels are invited to join us in this space. More information can be found here. 

Just Write Something by Tynea Lewis

Setting writing goals is a little intimidating, but it wasn’t always that way. Years ago, my goal was to write 2,000 words each day. I even participated in National Novel Writing Month a few years in a row. I wrote 50,000 words in a month, yet it didn’t feel overwhelming to set that goal because I knew I’d be able to reach it.

My season of life looks nothing like it did in college. Juggling work and kids have changed things, and I haven’t made the time to write like I used to.

But 2018 is the year to make a change. My passion for writing has always been there, but it’s time to make it a priority instead of something I get around to whenever the other items on my to-do list are checked off. Who am I kidding? My to-do list is never complete. 

It’s time to allow myself to get lost in the written word.

It’s time to find myself in the written word.

It’s time.

I’m making this change by writing a little bit every day. It doesn’t have to be the 2,000 words I set for myself when I was in my late teens and early twenties. It doesn’t even need to be 500. I am writing a little bit each day. Even if that means it’s only two sentences. Writing something is better than writing nothing at all.

A few years ago I started a blog. It has been a place to share my heart with others and be an encouraging voice to those in a similar season of life, but I’ve allowed every season to distract me from what I set out to do.

My goal this year is to post regularly. I’d like to post once a week. I know there are going to be challenging weeks, but it’ll keep me writing. Aren’t goals meant to stretch us?

Writing is my form of self-care. Some moms go out with friends, get pedicures, or take cooking classes. Writing is my escape from my everyday demands. It’s what refreshes me, so when I don’t do it regularly, I’m not my best self.

This year it’s time to make writing a priority. While it won’t look like it did in college, I’ll still write. I don’t have a handful of hours each day to devote to a large project, but I can steal five minutes here and ten minutes there. For too long I’ve kept myself from creating a writing habit because it felt pointless if I couldn’t do what I had done in the past. I was discouraged that I couldn’t keep up with my 2,000 word goal, but I need to keep reminding myself that the smallest amount of writing is better than no writing at all.

Join me this year and start writing. It doesn’t have to be much. It just has to be something.

I’m excited for this journey to rediscover myself.


Tynea Lewis is a former Title I teacher from Pennsylvania. She was named a 30 Under 30 honoree by the International Literacy Association in 2016 for her work with LitPick Student Book Reviews, an online reading, and writing program. When she’s not busy overseeing the program, she loves to spend time with her husband and young daughters, write for a variety of audiences, and escape to the quietness of the mountains. You can connect with her on Twitter and Instagram at @TyneaLewis or on her blog at tynealewis.com.

Write for Us!

The #TeachWrite Twitter Chat Blog is dedicated to providing a space for our community to connect and share their voices about writing and teaching writing.  We are looking for guest bloggers who would like to blog on topics related to being a teacher-writer. Educators and writers of all levels are invited to join us in this space. More information can be found here. 

We've Been Given a Voice by Amy E. Casey

Writing is a way to pay attention to your own thoughts. It’s a way to memorialize the otherwise ephemeral small beauties, tangled outcries, and glowing connections of our human existence. Writing matters. I tell my students, “You have been given a voice, so use it.” Words can change how we think. Words can change the very courses of our lives. I believe this; therefore, I write. By being a teacher writer, I hope to show my students how valuable writing can be for them.

Some of my writing, especially that which contributes to my profession, is very public. This writing might be a post for my blog or an article in a professional journal. I try to reach a wide audience because I have things to share that I hope will benefit my professional community. My motivation here is to engage positively and give back, to keep energy buzzing in my ever-growing digital network of fellow teachers.

But writing doesn’t have to be public to be valuable, and that’s something that I always tell students as well. Sometimes the value of writing is deeply personal—we write to figure out problems, to express ourselves creatively, to memorialize our lives--indeed, some of us fill pages because we need to do it to stay sane. This more secret form of writing practice cultivates insight and happiness.

For all these reasons, I am committed to a writing practice in my life. The best motivator I have found is to seek out fellow writers. That community of other teachers in your building, within your professional network, or even in the wild world of the social media landscape is filled with creativity and kindness. Find them!

Amy E. Casey is an educator, UW-Milwaukee Writing Project teacher consultant, and writer from Port Washington, Wisconsin. She currently teaches English at the high school level. Amy shares her teaching adventures, insights, and convictions each month on her education blog, www.universeastext.com.

Write for Us!

The #TeachWrite Twitter Chat Blog is dedicated to providing a space for our community to connect and share their voices about writing and teaching writing.  We are looking for guest bloggers who would like to blog on topics related to being a teacher-writer. Educators and writers of all levels are invited to join us in this space. More information can be found here. 

What Are You Writing About Today? By Shelley Fenton

As the literacy coach in our district, I often get asked, “What are you reading, Shell?”

Anyone that knows me well knows that without much prompting I will pull my latest favorite book out of my bag. Whether it is a professional read or a book for students I am eager to accommodate. It has been my mission to give “Book Talks” wherever I go and share with whoever will listen. I'm always trying to convince another reader to give this new favorite a try. From Stephanie Harvey's Striving to Thrive to The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin (a must read), I am ready to oblige.

Then one day when I was talking with a dear friend and colleague, she shared a very interesting story about her life. She often shares amazing stories in a voice all her own. When she finished I said to her, “You should write about that!” My friend and I often share professional and personal book selections but when I suggested that she write her story down and she realized I was serious, she gave me a bewildered look. This appeared to be a foreign thought to her -- perhaps even frightening.

It is a little scary even as adults, to put our own words down on the page for a reader to read.

Since this conversation, I have found additional opportunities to make this suggestion to others all with the same response. I began to wonder about the responses I had received.

Then I began to think about myself: if I am given the gift of 30 minutes without an expected task at hand, I often choose to read over choosing to write. I started asking myself, “How can educators of writing not write for themselves?” I know some teachers that choose to write with students as part of their instruction, but I know very few who choose to write for themselves.

This deeper reason, for educators to write about their lives and share their stories with each other is critical.  Writing and sharing narratives of our own experiences helps us understand how our lives in and outside of the classroom are shaped by our own writing identities.

Recently, after reading The Teacher-Writer: Creating Writing Groups for Personal and Professional Growth, by Dr. Christine Dawson, I asked some colleagues from my literacy coach group if they would like to try to form a writing group. With only three takers (it was summer), we set out with a Google folder to place our in-progress pieces, a plan for when drafts were due, the technology we were going to use and a date for “meeting.”

As many times in life, things get in the way and one of our friends had another commitment, but with just two we were still determined to give it a try. We both had chosen pieces to share that were personal and meaningful to us.  As I met with my friend I didn’t realize how hard it would be to offer feedback to an adult. Often I am in classrooms and share my thoughts on how to move student writers forward at the elementary level, but I had never spent time in a similar setting with a friend and colleague.

The best part of the experience is that we both have vowed to take that next step forward and begin writing for an audience. Once this first step was taken it doesn’t seem daunting it feels almost liberating.

Truly for perhaps the first time in my life, I identify as being a writer.

A writer that writes for myself, not for a task given to me, not for work just for me. I find myself each day thinking of something else that I want to write about and actually choosing to take the time to write. But it is like any new habit -- that first step is the hardest.

My suggestion to you today is to ask those six simple words to yourself, a friend or colleague, “What are you writing about today?” It may be just the inspiration that they may need to begin their writing journey.

Shelley Fenton is a K-6 literacy coach in South Glens Falls CSD in upstate New York. She is also an adjunct professor in the Department of Literacy Teaching and Learning at the University at Albany. Her professional work focuses on supporting students and teachers in strengthening elementary literacy instruction. You can connect with Shelley on Twitter at @fentonsann.

Write for Us!

The #TeachWrite Twitter Chat Blog is dedicated to providing a space for our community to connect and share their voices about writing and teaching writing.  We are looking for guest bloggers who would like to blog on topics related to being a teacher-writer. Educators and writers of all levels are invited to join us in this space. More information can be found here. 

A Slice of Sustenance by Leigh Anne Eck

As a young girl, my writing life consisted of writing stories and poems and entering them in writing contests.  In high school, one of my favorite classes was a creative writing class.  My childhood was filled with words and stories.

My adult writing life came about because of a writing community.  I had followed a few blogs and eventually was led to Two Writing Teachers and the Slice of Life Community.  I had no idea how this community would change my life as an adult writer and as a teacher of writers.

This community is where I found teachers who believed in the importance of teacher-writers, who lived in the power of story, and who recognized the need for moral support of a writing life.  The four of us #TeachWrite Chat creators "met" through the Slice of Life Community and have since become friends across the miles.

You may be asking just what is this Slice of Life Community?  Where do I find it?  And do I really need it?

What is A Slice of Life?

A slice is a piece of writing from a small part of your day.  It's a storytelling technique that can be captured through narratives, poems, pictures, lists, or words.  The mission is to tell the story, but the possibilities are endless.  The Two Writing Teachers' graphic below explains what a slice is and is not.

Graphic provided by Two Writing Teachers

Each week, the Two Writing Teachers Blog calls for slices, and slicers (another word for writers) post and share their slice for others to read.  Reading other slices and leaving comments is what builds the community.

But even more important, it is what builds the writing habit and becomes the inspiration to continue to write each week.

What is the Slice of Life March Challenge?

If you are looking for more than a weekly challenge, then maybe the Two Writing Teachers' Slice of Life March Challenge is what you need.

For the month of March, slicers write and link up every single day.  Yes, it is a challenge, but it is so rewarding.  When I look back and see that I wrote every day for the month of March for the last four years, I am proud of myself. Creating a writing habit takes stamina, dedication, and perseverance.  The Slice of Life March Challenge is just the place to help build that habit.

Graphic provided by Two Writing Teachers

As we move into this second month of the year and look at our goals we set in January, why not consider taking part in the Slice of Life Challenge for March?

Let's connect with new writers and get reacquainted with writers you may already know.

Let's build community and find inspiration between the words.

Let's find that slice of sustenance and continue to build our writing habit!

Last year over 300 teacher-writers signed up for the challenge.  You can find more information at the Two Writing Teachers Blog.

I'll be there; will you?


Leigh Anne just started her 11th year of teaching.  She has taught 4th, 5th and currently teaches 6th grade ELA at a middle school in Indiana.  She is currently working on her Master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction at Western Governors University with a goal of becoming a literacy coach.  Leigh Anne has a passion for connecting kids with books and helping teachers develop a writing life.  You can connect with her on Twitter @Teachr4 or find her slicing for the month of March on her blog, A Day in the Life. 

Write for Us!

The #TeachWrite Twitter Chat Blog is dedicated to providing a space for our community to connect and share their voices about writing and teaching writing.  We are looking for guest bloggers who would like to blog on topics related to being a teacher-writer. Educators and writers of all levels are invited to join us in this space. More information can be found at https://teachwritechat.blogspot.com/p/write-for-us.html.

Thanks Mom, I'm a Writer! by Michelle Haseltine

I'm a writer. I've been a writer since I was a kid. My life as a writer started with my first notebook, when I was ten years old. My mom bought it for me. The blue and white-flowered fabric cover took my breath away. It was hard cover. 

I could hardly believe that these blank pages would be filled with my writing. My pencil scratched out diary entries and doodles. Pages were filled with poems and musings of an adolescent. 

This book opened up a world of possibility for me. On these pages, I was free to express myself. I figured out problems I was having with friends. I struggled with my self-image on these pages. I used words to help me cope with the world around me. Writing in this notebook became a new world for me to discover.

Since this first notebook, I've written in many, many more. Currently, I'm writing in notebook number seventy-five. These pages call to me. They are home. Wherever I am, I open my notebook and I've come home.

Writing in a notebook allows me space to be messy and ugly and silly. It frees up my creative mind. It gives me permission to see the world and to value my own unique vision of it. I've kept up this practice for the past thirty-six years. This ritual has turned me into a writer. Here's a peek into some notebooks and pages of mine throughout the years: 

Notebook page from high school when I was living in Spain

Poetry

Processing my first writing group

Whenever writing becomes a struggle and I'm not sure what to do next, I return to the pages of my notebook. They sustain me. They support me. They inspire me. Thanks for that first notebook, Mom!

Michelle Haseltine spends her days with middle schoolers in Loudoun County, VA. Together they write, read, think, and create every single day. Michelle is a co-facilitator of our #TeachWrite twitter chat and a Teacher Consultant with the Northern Virginia Writing Project. She owns Selah Writing and blogs regularly at One Grateful Teacher and Your Story Matters. Michelle tweets regularly at @Mhaseltine and instagrams at @Mhaselti

Falling In Love with Poetry Friday by Margaret Simon

Sustaining a writing life is both a struggle and a pleasure. I struggle to keep ideas flowing and to stay motivated.  I found a community that helps with both--Poetry Friday.

Poetry Friday is a weekly blogging community specifically designed around teaching, writing, and sharing children’s poetry. Renée LaTulippe wrote a blog post in 2015 that answers many questions you may have about Poetry Friday.

I’ve been posting and linking up to Poetry Friday for around 5 years. When I was new to the blogging scene, fellow teacher/blogger Linda Baie took me under her wing.  She commented regularly and led me to the Poetry Friday community.  “You like to write poetry, so you might enjoy linking up with Poetry Friday.”  One of the best gifts ever.  I found my tribe, so to speak.  Writing and linking up each week not only encouraged me as a teacher/writer, I also made new friends, friends whom I now work with in a writing group or in presentations at NCTE.

There are three main reasons Poetry Friday sustains me as a teacher/writer:

1.  A community of writers:  Writing is usually a solo activity.  Finding your tribe is important to sustaining your life as a writer.  Connecting with other poets and teachers of poetry has enriched my life in many ways. I’ve grown a writing group and have poets I can turn to for honest critique. At conferences like NCTE, I’ve met them face to face, raised a glass of wine, and celebrated friendship.  This community, in particular, is full of kind and generous people who communicate to make you feel welcomed and loved.

2.  Feedback: Comments sustain me.  Receiving a comment like this recent one from Ramona Behnke pushes me to be the best poet and the best teacher of poetry that I can be: “I love your “Popcorn Poetry” especially the phrase “magical words wander.” Your wand extended to the students in front of you. They wrote beautiful poems.”

3.  My teaching is enriched: Exploring posts on Poetry Friday leads me down different paths from writing my own poems to teaching a form to students.  Last week, I read a post by Irene Latham and used the prompt that day with my students.  I sent her a link to my students’ poems, and she kindly responded to each one.  Being able to reach out and touch a poet on any given Friday is a gift to my students.

In order to sustain a writing life, I need to be in close contact with other writers.  Finding groups of writers that feed my writing spirit is important and inspiring.  If you are looking for more poetry in your life whether to read and appreciate or to write and teach,  turn to Poetry Friday.  You can find the line-up of hosts listed here.

Find this week’s Poetry Friday posts with Donna Smith at Mainly Write.

Be a brave writer; Jump into Poetry Friday.  I promise we will welcome you with open arms!


Margaret Simon is a teacher-writer who lives on the Bayou Teche in New Iberia, LA.  She teaches gifted elementary students in Iberia Parish. With a Master's degree in gifted and National Boards in early childhood literacy, she offers her love of reading and writing to her students.  She writes about her teaching and shares her poetry at reflectionsontheteche.com. Margaret tweets @MargaretGSimon. You can also connect with her on Facebook at Margaret Gibson Simon.

Write for Us!

The #TeachWrite Twitter Chat Blog is dedicated to providing a space for our community to connect and share their voices about writing and teaching writing.  We are looking for guest bloggers who would like to blog on topics related to being a teacher-writer. Educators and writers of all levels are invited to join us in this space. More information can be found at https://teachwritechat.blogspot.com/p/write-for-us.html.

Inspired to Become a Teacher Who Writes by Jennifer Laffin

Have you been bitten by the writing bug yet?

I remembered when I was. It was the summer of 2011. I had just started the National Writing Project's Summer Institute at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee.

Before becoming a part of the NWP, I had toyed around with writing. But I never took it seriously.  That all changed that summer.

Working with the NWP and the 13 other teachers who were in the institute with me, I began to learn how important it was for me -- a teacher -- to also write. We had dedicated writing time every day. We learned how to give each other feedback. We taught writing lessons and learned from each other. We dove deep into a passion project about writing instruction. It's where I learned that teachers who write make the best teachers of writing. Period.

When the three weeks with the institute were over, I continued growing my writing life. I began blogging more, writing professionally, and teaching others about writing. I kept researching best practices for teaching writing and each time, the idea of the writing teacher also being a writer came up. I am such a firm believer in this that I started my own company -- Teach Write -- to help teachers and their students grow their writing lives.

That summer working with the NWP changed my life and it can change yours too. Whether or not you have an active writing life, I encourage you to seek out an NWP Invitational Institute near you.

The inspiration is endless.

What inspires you? The #TeachWrite Chat blog wants to know!

Our February theme is Staying Inspired to Write and we are currently seeking posts for publication that are related to our theme.

• How are you continuing your work towards meeting your 2018 writing goals?
• What inspired you to become a teacher-writer?
• What tools do you use to keep moving forward on your goals?
• Why are your writing goals still important to you? Have you adjusted your goals? Created new ones?
• What are some of your earliest memories of your writing life that still motivate you today?
• How do you stay motivated to write?
• Do you have a One Little Word for Writing? If so, what is it and how does it continue to help?
• How do you measure your writing progress?
• What are some affirmations/positive quotes that keep you inspired?

Is it time for you take the leap and share your thoughts here? If so, please fill out this form and we will be in touch with more information soon.

Jennifer Laffin is a teacher of teachers, the owner of Teach Write LLC, and a co-moderator of the #TeachWrite Twitter Chat. She is committed to helping teachers and their students grow as writers because she has seen how writing can transform you both personally and professionally. You can find her learning with others on Twitter at @laffinteach and @TeachWriteEDU or at www.teachwrite.org.