In like a lion, eh?
I could've used a bit more heart behind this roar of a storm. Boy, oh boy, was I ever yearning for a snow day. It was pretty while it was snowing, but didn't amount to much trouble after all was said and done. And my body is having a devil of a time adjusting to being back to work. In the beginning of the year they ease us into it, you know? the first 'week' of school is only like two days. Then the next week is probably four. Then, when we've finally adjusted they begin with the real work weeks.
I could've used a little of that toe-in-the-water approach this week. A snow day would've been a great little reprieve from what has proven to be a rather punishing week.
But here I am.
And this week we're working on personal narratives. The kids are flailing. Their schooling thus far has been so singularly focused on standardized tesing that they've forgotten their imaginations. They don't know how to just WRITE. These are personal stories; non-fiction, but in story form. And the kids are asking me: What should go in my first paragraph. And: how many paragraphs is this supposed to be?
Sigh.
It's been tricky trying to undo this slavish adherence to formulaic, strictly-constructed writing. And it feels so rushed and half-assed, too, because right after we get done with this is when we move on to strict MCAS prep, as they take the exam on March 21st and 22nd.
But this week has actually been somewhat enjoyable. Talking about descriptive writing. Imagery. Dialogue. Making the story come alive!
Makes me want to sit and write, myself. ;)
One of the kids said to me, as I was giving an extemporaneous example of descriptive writing--describing in graphic, juicy detail a scene from a horror film--: You got a big imagination.
She said it almost as if it were an insult, or as if it were something for geeks, or as if it were a weird trait. I thanked her. I do have quite the imagination.
I only wish theirs hadn't been drilled out of them.
Well, keeping the old fingers crossed for a snow day.
I could've used a bit more heart behind this roar of a storm. Boy, oh boy, was I ever yearning for a snow day. It was pretty while it was snowing, but didn't amount to much trouble after all was said and done. And my body is having a devil of a time adjusting to being back to work. In the beginning of the year they ease us into it, you know? the first 'week' of school is only like two days. Then the next week is probably four. Then, when we've finally adjusted they begin with the real work weeks.
I could've used a little of that toe-in-the-water approach this week. A snow day would've been a great little reprieve from what has proven to be a rather punishing week.
But here I am.
And this week we're working on personal narratives. The kids are flailing. Their schooling thus far has been so singularly focused on standardized tesing that they've forgotten their imaginations. They don't know how to just WRITE. These are personal stories; non-fiction, but in story form. And the kids are asking me: What should go in my first paragraph. And: how many paragraphs is this supposed to be?
Sigh.
It's been tricky trying to undo this slavish adherence to formulaic, strictly-constructed writing. And it feels so rushed and half-assed, too, because right after we get done with this is when we move on to strict MCAS prep, as they take the exam on March 21st and 22nd.
But this week has actually been somewhat enjoyable. Talking about descriptive writing. Imagery. Dialogue. Making the story come alive!
Makes me want to sit and write, myself. ;)
One of the kids said to me, as I was giving an extemporaneous example of descriptive writing--describing in graphic, juicy detail a scene from a horror film--: You got a big imagination.
She said it almost as if it were an insult, or as if it were something for geeks, or as if it were a weird trait. I thanked her. I do have quite the imagination.
I only wish theirs hadn't been drilled out of them.
Well, keeping the old fingers crossed for a snow day.
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1 comment:
no snow days! where were you thursday?
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