Joy Reflection

As I look around the room during Joy Write time I see pencils moving rapidly.  I see a few students talking about new ideas and asking each other for advice, others are reading what they are proud of, and 2 students joined together to continue a story together.  This story is one that they started after morning work one day, one that they continued at a playdate, one that has traveled to recess a few times, and one that they are so proud of.  This puts a huge smile on my face. A few kids have come over to see me while I’m writing to share, ask questions or just say “this is so fun.” They were given 3 choices today…choice, word of the day (burst) or nature objects.  Most chose choice but there is a variety going around…jokes, letters to grandparents, lists, true stories, character drawings, etc.

When I get home that night I sat to write my slice (or to add to what I wrote during school today (see above)).  I sat to think of what caught my eye today.  Nothing really jumped out.  Then I thought to myself…I’m so close to the end of March.  Don’t give up now.  So I thought again.  I thought about how quickly my students came up with ideas today during Joy Write time.  How did it come so easily to them?  And then it hits me.  It has gotten easier for me to come up with ideas.  I had noticed many things throughout my day, I was just being stubborn about picking one small thing because I want it to be perfect.  It doesn’t need to be perfect though.  Then I realized there was my slice…my reflection on Joy Writing.

It makes me smile to think that maybe, just maybe, joining this Joy Write group over the summer, challenging myself to write more has helped foster this classes love of writing, and mine too 🙂