Here we go…first day of March. Time to begin a daily writing practice. The Slice of Life Challenge begins today!
This is my fourth year to join the challenge. When I first started, there were only two writing teachers at Two Writing Teachers, Stacey Shubitz and Ruth Ayres. Now there are six, Stacey, Beth, Betsy, Tara, Dana, and Anna. They make a pretty awesome team. At NCTE in November, I had the pleasure of meeting most of them. They are real people! That is the beauty of this blogging community. Everyone is real. We all support one another. We challenge each other. We engage each other.
If this is your first time, I understand totally how you feel. I still wake up at night wondering if what I wrote was junk, and nobody will like it. I still carry my phone with me all day checking my alerts for comments. That never gets old.
I volunteered to be a concierge for the classroom SOLC along with Linda Baie. (Linda is one of those blog commenters who keeps us all connected. I don’t know how she does it, but she’s been my top commenter for years. One day we will meet face to face.) Together we are here to help answer any questions you have about blogging with your class.
In my own classroom, I have set up a Kidblog site. I like this format, much like WordPress, and it allows my students to all post in a common area. I do not have to do any linking to an outside site. Anything that cuts out a step helps when posting daily. I have stored the SOL logo in my photo file, so I can attach it to every SOL slice.
With my students, I made two anchor charts: What is a Slice? and How to make a slice tasty. We will continue to add to these charts. They help my students verbalize their practice. I have set up incentives for different levels of accomplishment. For 15-20 slices, the student gets a pencil. For 21-26, a journal. And the grand prize is a book for 31 slices. I have only 12 students, so I am able to afford the prizes. Some teachers set up a celebration with food at the end of the month.
On Friday, March 13th, the Alliance for Excellence in Education sponsors a Digital Learning Day. On this day, consider joining me in a comment challenge. My students will be reading blogs like crazy and competing for a Crazy Commenter prize.
Here are a few things I have learned over the years about the Slice of Life Challenge:
- Write a day or two ahead. Have some drafts ready just in case. I preach this better than I do it.
- Add photos whenever possible. I try not to post anything without a visual. Something more than just the SOL logo. This appeals to the reader and gives you an anchor if you post to Facebook.
- Don’t quit. Even if you miss a day or two, jump back in. The prizes are nice, but in the long run, the value is in the daily practice of writing.
- Comment. This takes time, so you may want to set up a method. I usually click on the person above and below my name in the list. I also try to return comments to those who comment on my post.
- Use your comments to connect to the writer. We make friends by making connections. I changed my tune this year with my students. I once told them to make a criticycle (a critique sandwiched with positive feedback.) Now I feel the connection is the most important thing.
I started this round-up for Digital Literacy. Here every Sunday, you can link their digital literacy posts. We learn from each other. Join in anytime. On Twitter, @MargaretGSimon, #k6digilit. Please leave your link in the comments and I will add to the post.
Cathy Mere writes about the growth of community through digital connections. http://reflectandrefine.blogspot.com/2015/03/digilit-sunday-growing-communities-in.html
Julianne slices about using podcasts to fuel writing. https://jarhartz.wordpress.com/2015/03/01/sol15-day-1-listening-love/
Okay Margaret, I’m commenting… and want to say what a wonderful post so filled with advice. I hope you don’t mind if I link to you on my post because I didn’t do that at all! I love the idea of the commenting frenzy. Maybe? See you in the slices… And thanks!
Thank you for the advice. I will sit down today and draft out a few to help me on those busy days. It’s the discipline I need to get back into writing.
Thank you Margaret for being one of my supporters. It is the connections we make that matter most.
Very good advice. I think the connections are the best! Over the last few years I have learned so much about writing. Thank you
Great advice for all! I think most important is to just write sometimes posts are clever, heartfelt or just some thoughts about nothing… But all are important, all matter.
I’ve done other daily blog posting challenges before and you’re totally right about having some drafts tucked away–I’ve got a few traveling days in March so I know I will need them. Using photos is something I’m terrible at doing, so I will need to work at increasing those too. Excited to be Slicing with you all this March!
I was seriously considering bowing out this year… but now I’m excited to jump into the fray. I’m on my 4th year as well! I started posting a daily photo to a Flickr board as inspiration for my posts. I’m hoping that will keep me going through the month.
It’s so good to “see” you again!
Hooray for you – and your thoughtful post for all those new slicers joining us today.
I couldn’t figure out if I could also do a DigiLit this month. I have decided against it. I want to focus on my SOL time. I’ll be right back at joining in April though, hopefully without so much snow. These are such good things to think about. I was feeling like writing ahead and scheduling the time was cheating, but now maybe not.
Thank you for all the advice! This is my second year, so I’m still new at this. I love to write, but you are RIGHT, the CONNECTIONS are the best thing about the “Slicers”. I have so many new friends, and I also hope to meet you all someday soon! Have a great March!
Great advice! I have more than 30 students voluntarily slicing!! We are so excited!! I love the chart, “How to Make a Slice Tasty”!!! That’s awesome. Happy slicing!
This is such a useful post. I’m going to post it up on TWT’s Facebook page. 🙂
These are wonderful tips! I especially liked what you said about connections – I, too, think that connections are the most important part of this month. I agree with you about Linda. HOW does she do it?! She is an amazing commenter. Thank you for your help and encouragement about student blogging. We’re ready to join in this year!
Margaret – I love the 2 charts, and I LOVE the advice to NOT QUIT. That’s the wisest advice I’ve heard yet, I think!
And we’re off….
I’m excited to be back for another Slice of Life Challenge. March is going to be really busy! Thanks for being there to help people out!
Your suggestions are great ones..I still wonder if my slices are junk and WHY anyone would read them!
Margaret, since I have never been involved with a Slice of Life Challenge, I am considering writing but know that I would not be able to write everyday since there seems to be so many talking channels I am involved with. I want to do due diligence to all that I am committed to now so let me see what takes place. I thank you and Linda for being the prophets of SOL writing.
I hope you will participate in some way. Your blog is always an inspirational place you should share.
Margaret, with inspiration from above, I will participate.
Margaret,
I look forward to following your journey. You have much helpful advice here. I really appreciated your helpful tips. For me, commenting is always the challenge. The first year I commented, but was most worried about being able to write every day. Across the years, I have found I gain more from reading the posts of others than writing my own so commenting has been my focus. It’s hard to keep up with student blogs and blogs of adult writers in the challenge. Having a plan is smart advice. I usually comment on the three posts that added right before me on Two Writing Teachers. I try to comment on at least one “new to me blog” each day and return comments from those who have stopped by. This year I’m considering dedicating a certain amount of time to commenting instead. I will play around with it in the first days of the challenge.
I hope you’ll share your class charts with our community. I know my students might find them inspiring.
Cathy
Thanks for your comment. I’ll have to take pictures of our charts. They are so personal to my students that I didn’t think they’d be that valuable. But I have learned in this journey that sharing is valuable.
I really liked your tips. They were so helpful. Photos also make your post pinnacle if you use Pinterest.
Mary
I find Pinterest overwhelming. But I see your point. Photos can be pinned. I think there is a slicer board.
Margaret,
I just had to stop by and say, “Happy March.” I’m glad you are connecting people. You make the world smaller for us all.
Ruth
Isn’t it so true that we all become comment junkies! I love your suggestions for collecting ideas and keeping the energy going all month long. Looking forward to the month!
Hooray for March! I’ve been thinking about how to plan ahead and make sure to make time for this challenge. I’ve already thought up more than 31 topics for posts and am thinking of setting up the posts on my blog so I just have to write. I maybe even do some brainstorming/free-writing ahead of time so when I get there I already have something to work with. I already feel behind (I didn’t get my post up until late today) but it’s still the 1st so I’m not going to feel too badly.
I find it hardest to make it to blogs to comment. It’s been on my mind as something to work on for a loooooong time. Maybe too long. That’s as much a challenge as the writing is but I’m totally in this year. Thanks for sharing your advice. 🙂 xo
You are ahead of me if you already have 31 ideas. One of the benefits I didn’t mention is how we become more aware, more in tune to our lives as we look for things to write about. Looking forward to this month of sharing.
Margaret, this post is so helpful even for returning slicers. It’s comforting to know that I’m not alone in some of my worries (is this junk?) or my habits about planning ahead. I’m so glad that our connection has grown stronger over the past few months. Your insights are always so helpful to me. And we can look forward to NCTE in Minneapolis, right?
Margaret,
Thank you for all of your insight! This is my first year taking the challenge personally and with my class. I am very excited! I will definitely be putting your ideas and advice into practice this week! I love how supportive the Slice of Life community has been!
Thanks so much, Margaret, for the support you and Linda are already giving me! I loved this post, as I’m going “live with my class” starting tomorrow for the very first time. We have a lot of interruptions to our schedule in March, so I’m setting the amount of blog posts required a little lower this first time around so that the kids won’t get discouraged and more of them will reach their goal. I really like your anchor chart ideas. You’ve given me an idea to add to this week’s lesson plans! Thanks so much! 😉
We have a week of testing, so that will interrupt the flow for sure. I’ll be looking for your class.
Great advice. After reading it, I’m thinking of changing up the way I have my students link to my blog. Thanks for sparking some new ideas!
I think I still have you on our blog roll. Has the address changed for this year?