There it was, glistening like a coin dropped to the bottom of a pool. She glanced down and shrugged her shoulders – probably not worth the effort to pick up. I mean, she thought, after all, she considered, what on earth, she pondered, would I even do with it? She thought a moment at thisContinue reading “#SOL20 Day 2: The Find”
Tag Archives: writing
#SOL20 Day 1: On Carrying Stories
Today begins a commitment to thirty-one days of writing. Thirty-one days of stories from my life, from school, that I am putting out into the world. It makes me think about stories, and how very much I talk and think about them. I carry them with me, and I encourage my students to do theContinue reading “#SOL20 Day 1: On Carrying Stories”
Poetry, Found
If you had asked me today whether or not writing poetry should be on my to-do list, I might have laughed at you. But knowing that the universe has a way of conspiring, and knowing that grocery list poetry is a thing in this world, I felt compelled. What I loved were the ways thisContinue reading “Poetry, Found”
Exhibit Q, R, S
“So, Lainie. How do you know you’re working with gifted kids?” I present to you an obituary for…wait for it… an EXPO marker. People, I can’t make this stuff up. Earlier this week, we read Leo Lionni’s obituary to learn more about him as an artist and as a person. To understand that text, weContinue reading “Exhibit Q, R, S”
Steering My Craft: Short Sentences, Revisited
This blog post is part of an effort to refine my own work as a writer, and to strengthen my practice as a writing teacher. For each exercise, I’ll provide the directions, my effort, and a short reflection. The Assignment: I’ll get real here. I wasn’t a huge fan of how things turned out for my shortContinue reading “Steering My Craft: Short Sentences, Revisited”
Steering My Craft: Long Sentences
This blog post is part of an effort to refine my own work as a writer, and to strengthen my practice as a writing teacher. For each exercise, I’ll provide the directions, my effort, and a short reflection. The Assignment: Craft a passage (up to 350 words) within a single sentence. Punctuation and complex clauses are welcome! SheContinue reading “Steering My Craft: Long Sentences”
Steering My Craft: Short Sentences
This blog post is part of an effort to refine my own work as a writer, and to strengthen my practice as a writing teacher. For each exercise, I’ll provide the directions, my effort, and a short reflection. The Assignment: Craft a paragraph using short sentences (maximum 7 words each). No sentence fragments are allowed! FIRST ATTEMPTAmong itContinue reading “Steering My Craft: Short Sentences”
Steering My Craft: Am I Saramago
This blog post is part of an effort to refine my own work as a writer, and to strengthen my practice as a writing teacher. For each exercise, I’ll provide the directions, my effort, and a short reflection. The Assignment: Craft a passage using NO punctuation. Gulp. Here was my go: He tied his shoes yes allContinue reading “Steering My Craft: Am I Saramago”
Steering My Craft: Sound of Words Part 2
This blog post is part of an effort to refine my own work as a writer. For each exercise, I’ll provide the directions, my effort, and a short reflection. The Assignment: Write a(nother) passage that wants to be read aloud, this one dealing with a particular action, feeling, or emotion. Here’s where I landed: Yes.Please.Thank you.Tight words,Continue reading “Steering My Craft: Sound of Words Part 2”
Steering My Craft: Exercise 1-The Sound of Words
This blog post is part of an effort to refine my own work as a writer. For each exercise, I’ll provide the directions, my effort, and a short reflection. The Assignment: To craft a short passage that asks to be read aloud. The object is to have fun playing with words and their sounds. Here’sContinue reading “Steering My Craft: Exercise 1-The Sound of Words”
Soapbox: The Way I see Things 