I Dropped a Ball or Two

March 23, 2023March 24, 2023 ~ Book Dragon ~ 12 Comments

“To drop the ball means to make an error, usually involving a missed opportunity through carelessness or insufficient attention. When someone drops the ball, it often involves letting others down. The expression drop the ball came into use in the 1940s-1950s, and is related to a sport that involves the carrying of a ball.” grammarist.com

I dropped a ball or two.

Ever since my concussion, I have been in the habit of dropping balls. These balls are silent, quietly absorbing the impact of the Earth when they are dropped, rolling out of my field of vision. I only notice them when I walk around a corner and spot them huddled in a crevice.

As soon as I see a ball, I go, “Oh, oh, What did I forget?”

Emails I thought I responded to are stuck in the detritus of my inbox.

Text messages I thought I replied to, become apparent when a friend texts me again.

Both instances I apologize.

You know what else has dropped out of my field of vision?

Comments posted to my Slices.

I apologize profusely if I haven’t liked or responded to your comments in a timely manner.

What did I find this evening when logging into WordPress from my desktop computer? Pending comments from 17 days ago! Comments in the spam folder! (I didn’t even know there was a spam folder.)

I truly appreciate your comments! They are the golden nuggets mined from our collective experience. They are insightful, validating, and helpful. Your input makes me a better writer. Thank you!

So it is apparent I have dropped more than a ball or two.

If you are able to help catch and hold the others for me, I’d appreciate it.

Walk and Talk

March 18, 2023March 21, 2023 ~ Book Dragon ~ 9 Comments

A habit that a friend introduced me to during the height of the pandemic is the Walk and Talk. Rather than calling a friend for a natter, pair up your head phones with your cell, and go walk and talk.

About every month or so my friend Patricia and I do this, and invariably we talk about books, both of us being avid readers. I state I am 6% of the way through The Maid and am not too sure about it. Patricia opined it is not worth it – she read it and she couldn’t understand the hype about the book. So I immediately opened my Libby app and deleted the title.

I mused that recently I haven’t been really reading novels. Then it dawned on me, that I have been reading – Slices! I discussed the challenge and encouraged her to join us next year. She said that she doesn’t know about committing to a month of everyday slicing. I informed her she is welcome to jump in on any Tuesday SOLC. Patricia responded that could be doable . . .

Hopefully she will dust off her blog and join us.

How Do you Slice?

March 5, 2023 ~ Book Dragon ~ 17 Comments

“Blogging is a conversation, not an editorial.” Glenda Funk

This statement gave me pause and had me reflect on how I Slice. In fact, Slicers sharing their experiences and perspectives during our Zoom Slicer meet up gave me food for thought.

A consensus is that SOLSC is about community, learning, reciprocation, and communication.

This is why I am back this year, despite my writing chops being glitchy due to my concussion. (See my previous Slice, Malfunctioning Software)

The topic may be our individual slices, but the issue is much bigger than our individual slices. This gives me comfort.

Glenda gave me the advice of revisiting past words for inspiration. Upon doing so I discovered a draft I started 4 years ago – a collection of mentor texts and ideas collated from SOLSC. I spent the afternoon sifting through them and formatting a new page, Writing Structures & Ideas, on my blog to share with others. Unfortunately, the page isn’t populating on my site, despite showing published in the editor. Any WordPress tech savvy people out there with suggestions? This page is one small way for me to give back to the community.

This brings me back to the title of this post. What is your process? Where do you garner your writing ideas? Where do you get your inspiration? How do you see yourself as part of this community? How do you Slice?

Change Sings

June 13, 2022June 13, 2022 ~ Book Dragon ~ 15 Comments

Books + art = winning combination

Better yet, a poet laureate + talented artist = stunning picture book

The answer to the above equation is Change Sings, A Children’s Anthem.

I love this book so much it was a quick addition to #ClassroomBookADay The book provided a rich springboard for discussion. I informed students we all have the potential to be a change maker, even with something as simple as a smile can make the world a better place.

The next day, I followed up the read aloud with an art lesson. I started by rereading the book and pausing to show how the artist’s use of colour, shape, and line enhanced the story. We then set out to emulate the artist’s work.

Materials Required:

White crayons, water colours or diluted food colouring, brushes, Sharpies, crayons, large sheets of heavy paper, pencil

Process:

1. Use white crayons to draw brick background.

2. Select bright colours to do the colour wash over the crayon. (I used diluted food colouring.)

3. Let dry overnight.

4. Use a pencil to write a word that you will do to be a force for change.

5. Colour in word with crayon then outline it in Sharpie.

6. Optional – use Sharpie to draw cracks on wall.

Results:

Priceless!

These 3rd Graders are a force for change. Change sings.

Fib Poem

April 25, 2022April 25, 2022 ~ Book Dragon ~ 6 Comments

What’s a Fib? Math plus poetry.

Greg Pincus, a writer and librarian, created Fib poetry in 2006. He wanted to write something which highlights the importance of word choice and how you can say so much with so little. He figured if he could write poems like this it would help him be a better writer.

A Fib is a six line, 20 syllable poem with a syllable count by line of 1/1/2/3/5/8 – the classic Fibonacci sequence. In short, start with 0 and 1, add them together to get your next number, then keep adding the last two numbers together for your next one.

I wanted to write a fun poem that second and third graders would enjoy. I used today’s lunch for inspiration. (We had a professional development day and organized a favourite meal.)

Yummy Lunch

Chomp

Munch

Baked

potatoes

Loaded with toppings!

Gobble gobble munch munch – whiz gone.

What is the product?

March 23, 2022 ~ Book Dragon ~ 7 Comments

7 more days til the end

7 more days filled with chicken scratch (AKA random thoughts in writing journal)

7 more days of reading, writing, learning.

What is the product?

Self satisfaction

Growing confidence as a writer

Connections with a special community

The product is priceless.

Food Family Fun

March 19, 2022 ~ Book Dragon ~ 1 Comment

Food Family Fun is the tagline for my friend’s new café bistro. She served it up for her inaugural musical evening – an Irish sing along. Capacity limited to 25 made for an intimate evening of raucous laughter and smiles.

I’ll be sure to come back next month for another special evening of food, family, and fun.