For the Birds
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The Art of Writing
Words. Spoken or written, they surround our lives. We see them on billboards and hear them on the radio. Scratched onto the concrete as mementos of new cement, or spray painted on freeway overpasses to declare political views. We use them to keep track of what we need to pick up at the store and explain to our boss why the presentation won’t be ready by the original deadline. While they serve mundane purposes, they can also elevate our understanding. They can transport us to far away worlds or allow us to empathize with people across the globe, or even across the street. Strung together rhythmically and set to music, they can bring us to tears or to our feet. So why is writing not considered by many to be an art? Merriam Webster defines art as “the conscious use of skill and creative imagination especially in the production of aesthetic objects.” In the definition alone, so many words that have multiple meanings: conscious , use , imagination . And don’t get me started on producti...
Becoming a Community of Learners and Writers
First days are nerve-wracking. Students sun-kissed, with a hint of green in their pool-doused hair, cling to their parents, seemingly shy. I feel that shyness too, yet know that I must make the first moves to begin the year-long process of becoming a community: one of learners and one of writers. I have no illusions that my students will grow up to be published authors–that isn’t the point of becoming writers. But I do want them to embrace the identity and the confidence that they are all writers with stories to tell. My students are an intricate tapestry of abilities, temperaments, and experiences. Even as first graders, they know how to read the world of school. They know already if they are seen as smart and capable and they know whether school feels like a comfortable place for them. And it’s up to me to learn to read them, to find out where a boost of confidence is needed, where some academic support would help, who needs an opportunity to stretch to reach new heights, ...
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