Getting Started!

For a very long time I have wanted to write regularly on my observations, wonderings, concerns, and opinions but haven't had whatever it took to just get started. I am a co-teacher in a class that has a writing component for the students and I feel I should take part in what I ask of students so here I go! For years I have written in my journals, on scraps of paper, on agendas when I was bored in meetings, and post-it notes that got lost. It is time to get organized and follow through with some of my musings. As part of this writing I plan to gather my journals and mine them for long dormant seeds that may become stories or essays.

I find some of my best (personal opinion) ideas occur in the morning when I am showering. Sometimes I will jot down an idea because I know I will forget what I was thinking about as soon as I start getting ready for work. Unfortunately I don't always take time write the ideas or I write them on some random piece of paper and never find them. I am hoping this blog will help me get motivated to write regularly in one place on a regular basis.

Some recent ideas that may need to be further explored:

1. The influence of parents is never lost (ex. my annoyance with certain grammatical errors - thanks Dad!)
2. I am the same age my mom was when she was diagnosed with lung cancer. Why is this something I've been thinking about -- A LOT!
3. Is it a regional thing or nationwide to add "at" when it isn't needed? (see #1)
4. Get your story "Roger the Ridiculous Rooster" written!
5. Let kids be kids and let them learn how to fail, find their way, be independent -- stop hovering everyone.  
6. What is something that I can do to make a difference (personally, for someone, for the community)?   

Making that list was so motivating for planning some writing. I remember listening to Aimee Buckner speak about teaching writing and one of her suggestions was letting kids keep lists of ideas. When kids were trying to get her attention to tell her something exciting she would direct them to their journal to jot the idea in a special section so they'd remember this when they needed an idea for writing. They knew she would listen at another time and that they'd have something to write when it was journal time! 

Take baby steps, don't be too critical, let yourself experiment, enjoy the moment, share the joy!