We have students participating in the Slice of Life Student Challenge. I was part of the initial conversation, starting the month long experience, but have felt pretty disconnected since. Some kids are staying in from recess and writing in various areas of the school. I’ve heard that their energy and dedication is magical. Unfortunately, my busy schedule has kept me from witnessing this in action.
I try to stay connected to the work the kids are doing by logging in and commenting on their writing…which can be a bit overwhelming! We have nearly 50 students blogging on any given day spanning multiple classes and grades. Some entire classes were invited to participate and some random students ended up joining for one reason or another. Just from logging in, I can tell we definitely have more committed students slicing this year that last-our first year participating.
Tonight, stuck for my own idea to slice about, I logged into our Saugatuck Slice Kidblog and got lost reading student pieces. One piece made me laugh and transported me back to college. Skyler wrote about getting a phone for her birthday and her sharing her number with her grandmother, who promptly began texting her.
When I was in college, my Grandmother tried desperately to learn to use a computer. She would often call me in frustration, asking how to enlarge a font or navigate their new technology. One of the gifts of my grandmother’s attempts to learn new technology is a folder with a number of emails that she sent me while I was away at school. I had forgotten about this folder but thanks to Skyler and her Slice of Life, I remember.
I remember the patient tone I tried to take, trying to explain how to highlight a body of text to my grandmother. Somehow, this was just more than she could comprehend. I think she was trying to enlarge a crochet pattern. My grumpy Grampy ended up on the phone, when my Nanny’s voice began to rise with anxiety. I remember his stern voice yelling at me, “She can’t figure the damn thing out,” as if that were my fault.
I shared a bit of this memory with Skyler, in a comment tonight. I ended by saying, “Grandparents are treasures.”
Where There Is Joy 
I love the way a student writer reminded you of your grandmother.
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One of the amazing outcomes of slicing – whether in March or in April – is how we can each become connected through our stories. This is a prime example – in no other situation would you have the opportunity to know this story and be in a state to make the connection to your grandmother – this slice of life challenge at SES is breaking down walls and connecting stories! Thanks for sharing!
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🙌🙌🙌
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…and now *I* am remembering my own grandmother’s struggles with the computer. At one point, my mother threw in the towel and just started going over once a week to print everything out for her. Still makes me smile. So Skyler’s story => your story => my story and, as Dawn said, connections thrive. Love this.
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What it funny that yesterday was a day we struggled with something to write. Reading others’ writing is a great way to bring that around. The students bring so much energy! Grandparents are a treasure.
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Yes, grandparents are treasures. One of our book club members who is 90 plus sends and read WhatsApp messages. I always pray that I will be as alert and keep learning as I grow older.
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I think a lot about the older generation trying to keep pace with a fast-changing world. Years ago it was those automated voices, when you dial a business or office; my grandmother tried to talk to them and became so frustrated. In the year before my father died, he was beginning to email – I saved those messages, too. Deeply grateful for that reminder today – and for how you took inspiration from the kids.
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I’m the grandparent who needs guidance!
Your memories about helping your grandmother are probably similar to those of my children and grandchildren. Thank goodness we old folks have you whippersnappers to aid us along our way.
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I love how my mind wanders to different aspects of my life while reading other people’s slices.
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It is amazing how any writer can bring us back to another time. Thanks for sharing.
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It’s fun to hear about how your school is doing the student slice of life challenge, and also fun to hear about your memories with your grandparents. I am so amused with your ending–where your grandpa got on the phone to blame you!
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