Community

Today, I have a Two Writing Teachers post that goes live entitled Rallying a Community of Writers. With the Slice of Life Story Challenge approaching, I always think of February as a time to rally writers. Just last week I texted Dawn, “Next week is February. You know what that means…”

She replied back, “Time to make a calendar.”

This will be our fourth year rallying our school community to write with us in the month of March…and I think they’re ready for it.

In grade level on Wednesday of last week, as soon as Gabby walked in, her first grade team began singing happy birthday, very harmoniously (I mouthed the words, not wanted to throw the whole thing off with my tone deaf singing!). As the team settled in, sharing flowers and treats with Gabby, Gabby told us how her dad had appeared on her doorstep that morning to wish her happy birthday. Gabby is new to our school this year, from the school up the hill. “I know you did a version of Slice of Life at KHS last year, but we all write together in March. That sounds like a slice to me!”

“Kristine already wrote hers,” someone chimed in as our eyes moved from Gabby to Kristine.

“I think Jen has one too!” Jess said. “You can write about that crazy experience of getting stuck in the snow last night…”

To which Jen retold a hilarious account of all the people that stopped to try and help her out of her snow day predicament. We were all laughing and wiping tears from our eyes before the team was ready to jump into their agenda items…which happened to be math.

I sat for a few more minutes just thinking about the joy that had just transpired- all the stories waiting to be written and shared.

We are a community of writers, which makes us a stronger community.

Published by Jessica Carey

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I'm a mom of three daughters and a literacy coach in CT. I love to learn and share with others.

13 thoughts on “Community”

  1. This is what enables us to write, reflect, record history, and find peace. Writing is an eternal blessing and sharing it with others is a miracle…really. I loved this reflection. It’s a beautiful, thank you!

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  3. I write on my own, but feel the JOY of writing “in community” through TWT. I love this phrase: “all the stories waiting to be written and shared” – it perfectly captures the power of not just writing (words on the page) but sharing out (words in the world!) as the super power of March. Thanks for sharing this moment of joy with us!

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  4. Amen, Jess! It is privilege to be in a sharing and writing community, and to have that community with the teachers you work with is priceless. Thanks for nurturing that in your school.

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  6. There is something powerful that comes from sharing in a community of writers that keeps some of us coming back again and again and again…….There is the excitement and the self-doubt before hand that we all feel as any adventure begins but then there is an amazing transformation that turns at least me into someone who notices life a little more closely! Here is to T-26 days

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  9. What I would give to have a community of writers in my school! I write alone, but I enjoy the TWT community and the poetry group at my local library. There really isn’t any better inspiration than being a part of a writing community.

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  11. I love this SO MUCH. Did I tell you that my current principal said no when I suggested a community of writing for the month of March. I told him I would help people write & would vet their slices and etc. I explained how it brings people together. Nope. He doesn’t want to have to read it. GRRR.

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