Today it is grey. The weather has turned (at least for now) and the leaves rustle gold and rust under my feet. My thoughts swirl like the autumn breeze and I wonder if, maybe, this season is my favorite. I think about the beef and noodles that will fill our bowls and the Honeycrisp apples ready to crunch for dessert. My mind twirls the places of the week. Soccer fields and Scout hall and church and football fields and after school pick up. I wonder how we will ever keep… Read more Real Life Now (SOLS) →
The world tells us to want everything pristine and ship-shape and perfect. We go to great lengths in order to keep things whole. But what if it is in the… Read more where the story leads {for the Two Writing Teachers Community} →
“You’re a left winger! You’re a left winger!” The coach runs along the sideline of the scrimmage. “You’re not trees — move! You need to protect the goal. Move up! Attack!” His feedback is constant. “You’re a left winger! Over here, this is your territory! Be ready for the pass. You’re a left winger!” He directs according to position. “You’re a goalkeeper! That’s how you protect the goal!” He knows soccer. He talks soccer. There are no worksheets on the positions.There are no lectures about what each player does.There isn’t… Read more don’t let establishing routines sacrifice readers and writers →
Airplanes are the current rage around the Ayres’ house. PaperCardboardStyrofoamLegoWood The material is in constant flux.The ideas revised.The testing constant.The passion permeable. They sent cardboard and duct tape home with… Read more discover within the mess (sols) →
There are people in this world who thrive on a schedule. They love order. Predictability sustains them. There is security in minutes counted and to do lists checked. I’m not really one of these people. Last Monday I returned to school. I didn’t prepare, but instead, I just jumped in — cold turkey, so to speak. Four days in and I’ve converted. My kids (not the ones I spend the day in school with, but the ones who live in my house) don’t start school until next week. They are… Read more summer ends →
{I made this.} Art is always good for the soul. Especially on the last official day of summer, which for me was last Sunday. I spent the afternoon playing with… Read more surrender (sols) →
If I’m gutsy-honest, the kind of honest that is see-through and stark and you wonder if people are still going to like you when you’re done being honest, then I’d… Read more the book stack: where it’s been →
I am fortunate to have many people who encourage and inspire me. Sometimes I hesitate to write about a few because of the automatic result of leaving others out. This… Read more these women →
There was a theme of risking and failing; succeeding and doubting; creating and producing throughout the All-Write 2013 Conference last week. It was almost eerie the way each session and… Read more {secure} #allwrite13 reflection →
