There are a million reasons why we don't have time to write. What are yours? What is keeping you from putting words on the page?Today take some time to think about the things that are holding you back. Put them on the page so you can move on and spend the summer discovering, playing, and… Continue reading {Discover. Play. Build.} What’s holding you back?
Author: Ruth Ayres
Unhurried. Finding the magic in the middle of living. Capturing a life of ridiculous grace + raw stories.
Sundays for the Soul: Get Ready
Last Monday I wrote something on a whim...in a blog post...about offering a writing prompt. Your responses have had me thinking all week. Thoughts like this: Can I offer worthy prompts? Can I offer worthy prompts multiple times? What if it isn't worthy to anyone but me? And things like this: Do I believe in prompting… Continue reading Sundays for the Soul: Get Ready
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Words that are Speaking to Me
Fiction is not a dream, nor is it guesswork. It is imagining based on facts, and the facts must be accurate or the work of imagining will not stand up. ---Margaret Culkin Banning
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Work Day
"I still like the first day better than the last day of a school year," I said this morning to Nat and Noah, our babysitters. As a high school junior and seventh grader they were flabbergasted. "Well, I did choose this as a career," I defended, "So I probably have a little different view than… Continue reading Work Day
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Full Circle (Ruth’s SOLS)
Today I had the privilege of working with the Warren Writing Project in Indianapolis. They invited me to present a keynote and a few breakout sessions about meaningful minilessons for their first annual summer institute. I was honored. My first year of teaching I attended a keynote session at a conference and left thinking what a cool… Continue reading Full Circle (Ruth’s SOLS)
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Start a Notebook (Or Dust Off an Old One)
Summer always gives me a chance to reflect on my practice in a little more relaxed kind of way. For one thing, I'm pretty much caught up with my school work. This doesn't happen between the first day of school and the last. Even over breaks there is work to do. And yes, I have… Continue reading Start a Notebook (Or Dust Off an Old One)
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Best Book Ever Party
When authors have a book published, they often have a book party at a local library or bookstore. When Day by Day came out my school hosted a book party for me. For the end of the year celebration, two second grade classes and one first grade class came together for the Best Book Ever… Continue reading Best Book Ever Party
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Goodbye May? (Ruth’s SOLS)
May how can you leave already? It feels like you just arrived. Really, our time together has passed too quickly. I'm reminded of the importance of documenting the little things. The sweet smiles and silly sayings that fill my days will someday be replaced with requests for gas money and strenuous practice schedules. An abundance… Continue reading Goodbye May? (Ruth’s SOLS)
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Summer Writing Plans
I've been seeing a lot around the blog world and on Twitter about summer reading plans. I think it's also important to help the writers in our classrooms think about their summer writing plans. Here are some ideas to encourage summer writing. I'm hoping you add to the list in the comments. Help students think… Continue reading Summer Writing Plans
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Words that are Speaking to Me
I focus on creating situations that force the character out of her comfort zone, raising the emotional stakes as I go along. If I've developed conflicts that are organic and in keeping with the character's world, her response to conflicts will naturally lead to internal growth. --- Laurie Halse Anderson
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Celebrate!
I feel like I have to apologize. Because of the storms, I keep coming home to no Internet. Boo! So like Monday, today's post is from my phone. (I'm hoping there won't be any errors!) Tonight we went to Sam's preschool graduation. On the way, he requested we play Kool & the Gang's Celebration. "Turn… Continue reading Celebrate!
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This One’s For Me: Ruth’s SOLS
It's been one of those days where I've spent too much time wishing I were something else. Wishing I were older, with the luxury of experience. Wishing I could walk away without caring so much. Wanting to be less sensitive. More patient. I think we all battle days like these. The days when we feel… Continue reading This One’s For Me: Ruth’s SOLS
