In the beginning of the school year, we always begin with teaching the students to write about their own lives. Ā (They are the experts, after all!) Ā I have taught units before where students write a small vignette (which I always feel is similar to a prose poem ā and actually kind of difficult for middle … Continue reading Teaching the Personal Narrative
Author: Melissa Morris Inoa
“Feeling gratitude…”
āFeeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.ā Ā ā William Arthur Ward Being grateful for what is good about our lives is an important thing we can each do for ourselves.Ā It helps makes anything that is not-so-good-at-the-moment easier to deal with, and keeps us in a … Continue reading “Feeling gratitude…”
1,000 Word Pledge Update – Day 6 and Challenge!
I have to say that this has been a really good decision on my part to listen to the advice of others! Ā (Pat on the back for me.) Ā And, I would like to extend the challenge of the 1,000 Word Pledge to anyone else who wants to finish something that they are working on. … Continue reading 1,000 Word Pledge Update – Day 6 and Challenge!
“Happiness comes when…”
āHappiness comes when your work and words are of benefit to yourself and others.ā -Teachings of Buddha I really like this quote because it does seem to capture the fundamental quality of whatĀ āhappinessā is.Ā It also reminds me of how essential balance is for true happiness.Ā We need to be mindful of what is … Continue reading “Happiness comes when…”
1,000 Word Pledge Update -Day 4
Today is a "work day" so it is a good test of my commitment to the pledge...and I passed the test! After working all day, I wrote 262 words for the thesis, 735 words for the novel and 315 words for miscellaneous projects (not including lesson plans or blog posts) for a grand total of … Continue reading 1,000 Word Pledge Update -Day 4
1,000 Word Pledge Update – So far, so good.
I think this goal is going to work out really well for me. Ā (Two days is a considerable indicator, right?) Ā Well, I wrote 601 words for the novel and 409 words for the thesis today. Ā That's over the 1,000 mark and now anything else that I might do is just extra. Ā I also like getting … Continue reading 1,000 Word Pledge Update – So far, so good.
Random Acts of Kindness and Gratitude #2 – Donate Clothes
I tend to be a "saver." Ā I hate to throw anything away. Ā Now, this bad habit of being a pack-rat left me with a closet crammed full of clothes that I didn't ever wear, and boxes of off season clothes that I didn't really even have room to store. Ā In the beginning of the summer, … Continue reading Random Acts of Kindness and Gratitude #2 – Donate Clothes
New book by Nicholas Sparks
I have been a huge fan of Nicholas Sparks since his first book, The Notebook, was out in paperback. Ā It was funny how I learned about the book because I was actually given a free copy from a book vendor who sold books to pharmacies. Ā (I think that I also got a reference book about … Continue reading New book by Nicholas Sparks
Stargirl
Ā Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli I promised a review of this book in my recent reading post, and here it is. I loved this book very much.Ā I have to say that right away.Ā I had heard about it for a while and knew that Jerry Spinelli was a good writer, but never really thought that … Continue reading Stargirl
Let me count the ways…
adoration, affection, appreciation, ardor, attachment, besottedness, bliss, care, cheerfulness, compassion, concern, contentment, delight, desire, devotion, doting, ecstasy, elation, endearment, enchantment, euphoria, exhilaration, felicity, fondness, friendship, glee, happiness, idolization, intimacy, joy, jubilation, keenness, lightheartedness, love, merriment, passion, penchant, predilection, rapture, regard, satisfaction, tenderness, triumph, warmth, worship... ~Melissa š
Melissa Morris Inoaš± 