A few months ago, my good friend and colleague Kurt came to me with an idea. Kurt teaches music at one of my schools, and he’s a guy who likes to take an idea and run with it.
And if there’s anything I also like doing, it’s taking ideas and running with them.
It is, quite honestly, the only running I find myself willing to do.
Maybe running late.
But I digress.
Kurt came to me with an idea: what if we take the concept of choice writing, and use student work for the basis of a show that they create ?
Well twist my arm, why dontcha.
Of COURSE I said yes. And in the weeks that followed, I got to visit the 3rd and 4th grade music classes. We talked about writing, about letting ourselves be quiet enough to hear our thoughts, about letting writing take us wherever it wanted to go.
From there, Kurt and the kids got to work, choosing written pieces that wanted to be dance, or drama, or music. Our incredibly talented art teacher, Kristin, guided the kids in creating abstract art based on a piece of their writing.
Parents would then be invited to a performance followed by an art showcase.
And yes. In case you were wondering, it was as incredible and powerful as you might expect.
Tornadoes in the gym? Check.
Ducks beating up alligators? Check.
Family annoyances, performed as body percussion? Check.
Flying pigs? Do you even have to ask?
It may be snowing to start our spring break, but my heart is warm.
Soapbox: The Way I see Things 
That’s a whole lot going on. Have to say, I enjoyed the quick digression and the return to the story on hand. Enjoy your break!
Thanks! Now only if the snow would go away…
Oh, wow! That sounds amazing! I loved reading about this idea taken to fruition! I also loved your writing, particularly this section: “And if there’s anything I also like doing, it’s taking ideas and running with them.It is, quite honestly, the only running I find myself willing to do. Maybe running late.” So fun!
Thanks! I had fun writing those lines. Hopefully, if I can make myself giggle, that means I can make other people giggle.
And yes, it was incredible to see this idea taken to fruition. It was inspiring to watch it unfold, and I especially loved the way it featured a range of kids who don’t normally get recognized for their talents.
You share your “voice” so well here. From your running late digression to ‘why dontcha.’ You make me want to see the ducks beating up alligators and hear the body percussion (sounds like a great release from family tension!) What wild and goofy fun. Happy Spring break!
Thanks! It also feels good to know that the lines I have the most fun WRITING are the lines my readers have the most fun READING.
The duck story was a funny one. It was a fable, and the moral basically was…don’t pick on people; you never know when they have a bigger friend!
Talk about a thematic cross curriculum unit. This is great. Writing is not only for Language Arts classes.
Exactly! And the arts are not just for specials teachers. I love it when things go all directions.
“Flying pigs? Do you even have to ask?” 😂😂🐷 Your school, and your teaching, and your collaboration, and your students—-all so inspiring. THOSE life-sized character animations are so packed with personality.
Ducks beating up alligators? This is one I would love to see. Honestly, the entire showcase sounds amazing. I LOVE the final photo you included. It made me think of a particular student I had last year who loved all things aliens/UFOs/cryptids.
It WAS amazing! I also loved seeing the parents, and their amazement at what the kids were able to accomplish together. I just wanted to say, see? SEE? Don’t underestimate these young folks. They can do GOOD THINGS.
And their creativity always blows my mind. It’s one of the reasons why I loved creative writing. The last fifteen minutes before recess they’d write the most incredible things.
“And if there’s anything I also like doing, it’s taking ideas and running with them.
It is, quite honestly, the only running I find myself willing to do.
Maybe running late.”
—HA! and, I to this I say, ME, TOO!
I’m enchanted by every bit of this and must say that the element which intrigues me most is “family annoyances performed as body percussion” – whoa! The level of creativity here for this integrated arts showcase is true testimony to educators who love their craft and love inspiring children. It’s so fun even to read about – I can only imagine how fun it was for all who were there.