March 2024 SOLC–Day 28
A huge thank you to Two Writing Teachers for all that they do to create an amazing community of writers and a safe, welcoming space to write, learn, share and grow.
http://www.twowritingteachers.org
I’ve been enjoying some “Top 3” lists lately. I first saw this on Terje‘s post and she linked back to a few others. I believe the idea originated with WOWilkinson. He used it in his high school classroom so kids could then select items from their lists to do a “comparative analysis” about. I’m already thinking how I might tweak this in my second grade classroom. For now, though, it’s serving as a fun way to cross another slice off my list. 😉 Be advised that I’m literally plucking these off the top of my brain right now, and I’m just going with the first things that come to mind.
Comfort Foods:
1. macaroni and cheese
2. pizza–preferably with spinach, tomato and feta, but always with lots of cheese
3. soup–nothing brothy, but stewy, thick vegetable-rich soups with a big chunk of crusty bread (which could have been #4 on this list, but that would be cheating)
Books I Finished and said “WOW!”: (not at all a complete list, but the first three that come to mind)
1. Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury (Oh–and in another bending of the rules, his short story “All Summer in a Day” is absolutely one of these–it slayed me!)
2. Gone with the Wind (It traumatized me when I was in my early teens and read it. I still remember feeling shell shocked as I closed it after finishing it one summer day. )
3. The Nightingale
Poets:
1. Mary Oliver
2. Wendell Berry
3. Shel Silverstein
Ways to Procrastinate:
1. Play word games on my phone*
2. Bake
3. Take pictures, download pictures, share pictures
*Word Games to play on my phone:
1. Wordle (Two of my sisters and I share our scores daily.)
2. Spelling Bee (I hate “nice”!, but I’m comfortable stopping at “Amazing”. I strive to get “Genius” every day. I may be in a bit of a “friendly” competition with my son.)
3. Connections
Breakfasts:
1. steel-cut oats with a dash of pumpkin pie spice
2. whole wheat pumpkin pancakes topped with ginger jam
3. Cheerios with granola and blueberries
Smells:
1. baking bread
2. the air outside after a solid rain
3. all the Christmas-y spices–cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, etc.– with a whiff of molasses thrown in (maybe I just should have written: the smell of gingerbread baking…)
Ways to unwind:
1. get outside (marsh, beach, river, our yard, etc) and take pictures
2. read
3. write
Winter joys:
1. the first snowfall and how the air seems to glow
2. the geometric formation of ice on water and the frosty filagrees on windows
3. the heart of blue inside deep snow piles
Spring delights:
1. the first time I hear the peepers
2. the sudden burst of color after winter’s limited (albeit dazzling) palette
3. catnapping outside in the late afternoon spring sun, tucked in a wind-free corner on our front deck
What top 3 lists would you choose to share?
Nix the comfort zone 
I like the top three lists going around– just read Peter’s last night. I think it would be awesome to do in the fall when you’re getting to know kids, as well! We also do Wordle as a family. I broke a very long streak yesterday that is still stinging me.
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I think it would be a fun way to build classroom communities, and also a great way to generate some writing ideas that we could tap into all year long. PS Sorry for the Wordle sting. I know that pain!
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Great structure! You share so much about yourself and this is one to read in the future. I notice all of your breakfast favorites have multiple flavors 🙂 All of your spring favorites, especially the peepers, make me so excited.
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I just realized I should probably have included an everything bagel with a thin layer of cream cheese, spinach, tomato and a liberal dose of pepper. It probably beats out #2 and #3 on the breakfast list!
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A lovely format for sharing. I agree with Melanie about using this with kids! I think they’d love it.
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I think it would be a lot of fun to create these lists, and I also think they could be a great assist when searching for writing ideas later in the year.
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I am loving these ‘Top Three’ lists. And they are great conversation starters, too. Oh my goodness, we have so many favorites-mac&cheese, Wordle, Shel, baking, photographing outdoors, and that first snowfall! Kindred spirits!
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It’s interesting to see what I have in common with others. I was very thankful for this idea when slicing today. It was fun to think about.
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Thanks for sharing this! I’ve been reading lots of others too and hope to add mine tomorrow. So much is reveled about the writer through their lists! Yours will act as another mentor text as I decide on my 10 categories. Thank you.
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I’ll be interested to see what lists you choose when you respond. I wrote quickly this morning, and didn’t allow myself much time to second guess anything!
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Thanks for sharing. I’m a big fan of Ray Bradbury too! I like how even the categories we choose can be revealing. I agree with one of the commenters that this would be a good activity at the beginning of a semester, especially for a group who maybe isn’t as social.
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That Ray Bradbury book and short story are actually all that I’ve read by him. Considering what a big impression they both made, I should really read more!
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I love this format, and I love that it inspires others to think of their top 3 favorites. I’m there in the poets, for sure. Mary O is number one. I’m also there with the word games on phones as the best way to procrastinate. Some things just have to be done, and Wordle is one of them, and so is Connections and so is Red Herring and Spelling Bee once in a while. Thanks for charging my brain to think this way today!
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This month’s challenge is actually messing with my word game habits! I mean the time to slice has to come from somewhere! My morning routines are really unraveling and although I’ll miss the daily connection, I’ll be thankful to regroup and settle back into a more relaxed morning.
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Loving this format and looking forward to chiming in tomorrow with mine. Love your spring delights and winter joys. It’s fun to see what categories people choose.
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It has been fun to see what categories people choose!
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Love the format and your favorites!
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It’s fun to consider what to list about. I’m sure it would have been very different if I’d had some more time to ponder. I was in a writing rush!
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I’ve been enjoying these lists so much–I love all the different top 3’s people choose to include. I especially love your Winter Joys–you’ve written about each item so poetically! –It’s almost (almost) enough to make me want winter to go a little longer so I can appreciate those sights again.
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Maybe loving the winter scenery is sort of a defense mechanism? lol
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I really love these lists & may have to jump on the bandwagon. But first, “whole wheat pumpkin pancakes topped with ginger jam” – um, recipe? That sounds delicious!!
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The ginger jam is purchased, but I’m happy to share the pancake recipe. I do alter it a bit though–using 3/4 whole wheat and 1/4 white flour and subbing in 1/2 oil and 1/2 unsweetened applesauce for the butter. Oh and I add powdered ginger, too.
https://cookieandkate.com/pumpkin-pancakes-recipe/
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I love the randomness of your lists! Here’s my top three comfort foods: breakfast for dinner (tonight was pancakes!), pizza and a glass of wine, and my husband’s mac and cheese (a baked version that uses my mom’s recipe). Yum!
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I could get behind all of those favorites! 🙂
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Top Three breakfast places
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I love how all your breakfast favorites involve companions. 🙂
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