This one is easy breezy!
What's the first thought, word, or phrase that comes to your mind when I say weekend?
I'll go first:
cheesy potatoes
You want to know why cheesy potatoes was the first thing that came to my mind? I guess it's because I know I have to get up early and make our family potato recipe for an OSU football game potluck!
YOUR TURN!
Showing posts with label bloggers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bloggers. Show all posts
Friday, November 6, 2009
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
One Wonderful Sentence Wednesday!
You remember that list of city words we created last week? Well get ready! We're going to use them to paint a picture. We really are!
Take this sentence:
She lived in the city.
Now rewrite the same sentence but don't use the word city. Use any words that you want to SHOW....really SHOW... that "She lived in a city."
I'll go first:
She tipped the taxi driver generously, grateful that she didn't have to park in the crowded garage.
OR
She loved to walk her dog around the block just before dark.
Does "she" live in the city? Yes she does. Your turn!
Take this sentence:
She lived in the city.
Now rewrite the same sentence but don't use the word city. Use any words that you want to SHOW....really SHOW... that "She lived in a city."
I'll go first:
She tipped the taxi driver generously, grateful that she didn't have to park in the crowded garage.
OR
She loved to walk her dog around the block just before dark.
Does "she" live in the city? Yes she does. Your turn!
Saturday, October 3, 2009
AS FAST AS I CAN!
Okay. I'm gong to do this post as fast as I can because my computer keeps coming and going. The cable man was going to come today to work on the cable lines, but now it's going to be tomorrow...darn!
Thanks to Tweedles we can write together on the fly! I don't know about you, but I have to hurry before it's too late...
Meet Tweedles!
Give the photo a caption!Sunday, September 27, 2009
Take a Trip On an Owl!
Once again I've been inspired by Tweedles. She sent me a photo of an owl in her backyard and asked, "Would you like to ride him?"
I didn't even take the time to think about the fact that I probably couldn't ride Owlbert...at least not tonight...I just began to think about where I'd like to go!
So, with Tweedle's permission, I'm going to share the photo that she sent me and ask you the same question. Forget that you're all grown up and let your imagination run away with you!
Would you like to ride Owlbert? Don't be shy! Let your inner-child take over and have the trip of your lifetime! Where will you go on Owlbert? What will you do? How will you feel? How will Owlbert feel? HAVE FUN! No need for a long explanation...unless you want to.....just a few words about where you're going on your adventure! You can travel lots of your journey in your mind's eye!
Teachers: Ask your kids the same question! Creating an environment that says it's okay to be joyfully imaginative lends itself to lovely colorful creative writing!
I didn't even take the time to think about the fact that I probably couldn't ride Owlbert...at least not tonight...I just began to think about where I'd like to go!
So, with Tweedle's permission, I'm going to share the photo that she sent me and ask you the same question. Forget that you're all grown up and let your imagination run away with you!
Would you like to ride Owlbert? Don't be shy! Let your inner-child take over and have the trip of your lifetime! Where will you go on Owlbert? What will you do? How will you feel? How will Owlbert feel? HAVE FUN! No need for a long explanation...unless you want to.....just a few words about where you're going on your adventure! You can travel lots of your journey in your mind's eye!
Teachers: Ask your kids the same question! Creating an environment that says it's okay to be joyfully imaginative lends itself to lovely colorful creative writing!
Monday, September 21, 2009
What Do You See?
Pictures evoke all kinds of thoughts. They can stir up our emotions or make us feel peaceful and calm.
If we can be in the moment, images can take us anywhere we want to go. Sound contradictory? Look at the photo and then close your eyes and let your mind wander...for a moment.
How do you feel? Do you want to reflect on the past or plan for the future? Do the colors in the picture make you feel happy or angry? Enthusiastic or lazy? If you let your mind's eye take over, what is happening? Exactly what are you thinking about right now as you look at the picture?
How do you feel? Do you want to reflect on the past or plan for the future? Do the colors in the picture make you feel happy or angry? Enthusiastic or lazy? If you let your mind's eye take over, what is happening? Exactly what are you thinking about right now as you look at the picture?
Our writing activity is simple:
Give this photo a caption.
I'll go first. My caption is: There's always tomorrow.
Your turn. What's your caption for this picture?
Teachers: Good creative writing is based on a combination of wonderful imagination and eventually... technique. Stir up your students' imaginations with this activity. Ask your kids to bring in photos from home or magazines. You bring in some too. Promote words. Champion word play. Have fun with writing!
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Dig Deep! More About You and Me
We change from day to day, minute to minute, and even second by second. Great writing comes from delving into our memories and recalling how we felt during different times of our lives.
Here's an easy writing exercise for us. Just fill in the blanks again!
I used to be _________but now I'm __________.
It's as simple as that. I'll go first.
I used to be shy but now I'm rowdy!
The thing about these writing exercises is that they trigger other memories. They make me want to write more. I honestly did use to be shy. I can remember hiding behind a piano in my first grade class when I got to school before everyone else. I'm not sure when I figured out being rowdy was more fun, but once I did the laughter never stopped. I've always been a prankster...just ask my husband, kids, and Joan! Joan has known me since I was 5-years-old.
See what I mean? One thing leads to another. Teachers, if you can get your kids on a roll with an exercise like this, there will be no stopping them!
Here's an easy writing exercise for us. Just fill in the blanks again!
I used to be _________but now I'm __________.
It's as simple as that. I'll go first.
I used to be shy but now I'm rowdy!
The thing about these writing exercises is that they trigger other memories. They make me want to write more. I honestly did use to be shy. I can remember hiding behind a piano in my first grade class when I got to school before everyone else. I'm not sure when I figured out being rowdy was more fun, but once I did the laughter never stopped. I've always been a prankster...just ask my husband, kids, and Joan! Joan has known me since I was 5-years-old.
See what I mean? One thing leads to another. Teachers, if you can get your kids on a roll with an exercise like this, there will be no stopping them!
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
More About You and Me!
Some people are ageless. My granddaughter is an old soul yet she is a child. She can talk to adults and play with her friends. She's wise, yet she's innocently free. She's who she is and doesn't try to impress others with great knowledge. Ahhh...the beauty of honesty. I wonder how young or old she feels? I'll have to ask her!
How we feel about ourselves helps to define who we are too. If we feel old we act that way. If we feel young we behave much more lightheartedly. The challenge for most of us is that we feel differently from day to day or even minute to minute.
As you fill in the blanks in the sentences below really think about how you feel in terms of your age. Children can have the weight of the world on their shoulders and feel like an adult. Adults can feel carefree and like teenagers again.
Paint a picture with your words to show how young or old you feel.
It's playtime! Finish these sentences:
Right now I feel as young (or old) as _______________.
This morning (or yesterday) I felt as young (or old) as ____________ .
Have fun with this! Think outside the box for things that define young and old.
Teachers, kids can do this too! Involving children in this kind of activity says, "What you have to say is important. I respect you!" Wonderful writing evolves from an environment that allows hearts and souls and minds to develop.
How we feel about ourselves helps to define who we are too. If we feel old we act that way. If we feel young we behave much more lightheartedly. The challenge for most of us is that we feel differently from day to day or even minute to minute.
As you fill in the blanks in the sentences below really think about how you feel in terms of your age. Children can have the weight of the world on their shoulders and feel like an adult. Adults can feel carefree and like teenagers again.
Paint a picture with your words to show how young or old you feel.
It's playtime! Finish these sentences:
Right now I feel as young (or old) as _______________.
This morning (or yesterday) I felt as young (or old) as ____________ .
Have fun with this! Think outside the box for things that define young and old.
Teachers, kids can do this too! Involving children in this kind of activity says, "What you have to say is important. I respect you!" Wonderful writing evolves from an environment that allows hearts and souls and minds to develop.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
All About You and Me Week!
I thought it would be interesting to write about US all week long! Since know one knows us better than us, we should do a pretty good job!
Five words can tell a lot. They can paint an honest to goodness picture when you throw in a little imagination. My daughter-in-law is a second grade teacher. She asked her students to use only five words to tell about themselves. You may think that's not a lot, but it is...especially if you can read between the lines. One boy in her class wrote: My dad is in jail. Those five words told me a lot about this young man. They painted a picture of his life for me.
I know we did it before, but let's do the same activity as the kids in that second grade class. Use only five words to tell about yourself. Try not to think too hard!
I'll go first: I need to be busy! (What does that tell you about me?)
Your turn! Use five words to tell us about you.
Teachers and parents, as usual, you can do this activity orally or in written form. Don't forget to model the exercise first or you'll get responses like: I have long brown hair. That's not the kind of picture we want to paint! Rejoice in the good time that a simple writing exercise can offer.
Five words can tell a lot. They can paint an honest to goodness picture when you throw in a little imagination. My daughter-in-law is a second grade teacher. She asked her students to use only five words to tell about themselves. You may think that's not a lot, but it is...especially if you can read between the lines. One boy in her class wrote: My dad is in jail. Those five words told me a lot about this young man. They painted a picture of his life for me.
I know we did it before, but let's do the same activity as the kids in that second grade class. Use only five words to tell about yourself. Try not to think too hard!
I'll go first: I need to be busy! (What does that tell you about me?)
Your turn! Use five words to tell us about you.
Teachers and parents, as usual, you can do this activity orally or in written form. Don't forget to model the exercise first or you'll get responses like: I have long brown hair. That's not the kind of picture we want to paint! Rejoice in the good time that a simple writing exercise can offer.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Playtime! Paint a Picture With Your Words
Once again, reading something that Tweedles wrote gave me an idea. That's what writers do...we inspire each other. Tweedles started a story with: The raging sea was roaring like a lion. What a picture that painted for me!
Tweedles could have just said: the sea was rough or the waves were big. She would have told me something. I might have yawned and read on. Instead, Tweedles showed me. She used her words as though they were art on a canvas. Her words excited me and made me want to read more.
Her words inspired the following writing exercise! Chose one or two of the following words to describe by painting a picture:
sea
clouds
sky
mountains
dog
husband
wife
boyfriend
girlfriend
best friend
brother
sister
I'll go first.
The sea rolled in like a bowling ball thrown in the gutter.
or: The sea washed away like water down the drain.
My sister curled up on the couch like a tired kitten.
or: My sister squirmed on the couch while she twisted her curly hair around her finger.
Your turn! Show us with your words. Paint a vivid picture!
Use your senses help you. Let's your mind's eye go crazy. Think outside the box! Have fun. Take chances. Let yourself go! If you want to describe another word that's fine. Put it in all caps so we'll notice your word right away.
Teachers, do this exercise with your kids orally first. Remember, creative talking leads to exciting writing!
Come back as often as you think of ideas. I'll leave this post up through the weekend. Let's inspire each other!
Tweedles could have just said: the sea was rough or the waves were big. She would have told me something. I might have yawned and read on. Instead, Tweedles showed me. She used her words as though they were art on a canvas. Her words excited me and made me want to read more.
Her words inspired the following writing exercise! Chose one or two of the following words to describe by painting a picture:
sea
clouds
sky
mountains
dog
husband
wife
boyfriend
girlfriend
best friend
brother
sister
I'll go first.
The sea rolled in like a bowling ball thrown in the gutter.
or: The sea washed away like water down the drain.
My sister curled up on the couch like a tired kitten.
or: My sister squirmed on the couch while she twisted her curly hair around her finger.
Your turn! Show us with your words. Paint a vivid picture!
Use your senses help you. Let's your mind's eye go crazy. Think outside the box! Have fun. Take chances. Let yourself go! If you want to describe another word that's fine. Put it in all caps so we'll notice your word right away.
Teachers, do this exercise with your kids orally first. Remember, creative talking leads to exciting writing!
Come back as often as you think of ideas. I'll leave this post up through the weekend. Let's inspire each other!
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Move It!
Movement is art. It allows us to really show what is happening by creating pictures with our words. Today's writing activity was inspired by the howling, swirling wind that almost toppled the trees in my backyard.
Writers: Choose one of the groups of words listed below to include in a quick sentence or paragraph. As you work on your own writing this week, think about how these "moving" words awakened your creativity and inspired your ideas.
lumbering, meandering
slinking, slouching
gushing, leaking
sauntering, swaggering
scampering, scurrying
If any of the "moving" words on my list inspire other "moving" words for you, go right ahead and use your own words in a sentence or paragraph.
Please share!
Teachers and Parents: You can do this same activity with your kids, but first you have to arouse their imaginations. Talk to them about how a cat moves. Remind them that cats like to hunt and sleep in the sun. Create a list of some of the movements cats make before, during, and after hunting and sleeping. Hopefully, your list will include things like:
stalk
prowl
slink
pounce
stretch
curl, etc.
One more thing. Before you have your kids write about a cat, ask them to move their own bodies like one of the words on the list. You move too. In fact, show your kids how a cat stretches!
Now your kids should be ready to write with you. You might want to provide a writing prompt to start them off. Something easy like: The lazy cat was curled into a ball on the porch. Then......
Please share your kid's work. It will inspire all of us!
Writers: Choose one of the groups of words listed below to include in a quick sentence or paragraph. As you work on your own writing this week, think about how these "moving" words awakened your creativity and inspired your ideas.
lumbering, meandering
slinking, slouching
gushing, leaking
sauntering, swaggering
scampering, scurrying
If any of the "moving" words on my list inspire other "moving" words for you, go right ahead and use your own words in a sentence or paragraph.
Please share!
Teachers and Parents: You can do this same activity with your kids, but first you have to arouse their imaginations. Talk to them about how a cat moves. Remind them that cats like to hunt and sleep in the sun. Create a list of some of the movements cats make before, during, and after hunting and sleeping. Hopefully, your list will include things like:
stalk
prowl
slink
pounce
stretch
curl, etc.
One more thing. Before you have your kids write about a cat, ask them to move their own bodies like one of the words on the list. You move too. In fact, show your kids how a cat stretches!
Now your kids should be ready to write with you. You might want to provide a writing prompt to start them off. Something easy like: The lazy cat was curled into a ball on the porch. Then......
Please share your kid's work. It will inspire all of us!
Monday, March 23, 2009
You Made the News!
Thank you for all the comments you left concerning Tango and Tilly....MY BOOK! I promise I will update you as things unravel.
Now back to the business....I mean fun....of writing!
If tomorrow's headline in the newspaper was about you, what would it say? Feel free to take artistic license...tell a whopper if you like!
I'll go first. My headline would read:
Local Redhead Battles Farmer During Daring Horse Rescue
Writers, your headline doesn't need to be silly like mine, but we've been much too serious for the past couple days. After you come up with a quick headline, feel free to turn it into a short article or column. I think there's a columnist in all of us!
Teachers and Parents, let your kids see you reading a newspaper. Read a few appropriate headlines out loud. Then make up a headline for yourself. It could be something like: Rambunctious Teacher Seen Using Training Wheels. If your kids see you being adventuresome, they'll be quick to join in on the fun. It won't take long to get their creative wheels turning! By the way, don't be afraid to use vocabulary that is unfamiliar on a regular basis. Kids love big words!
Please share!
Now back to the business....I mean fun....of writing!
If tomorrow's headline in the newspaper was about you, what would it say? Feel free to take artistic license...tell a whopper if you like!
I'll go first. My headline would read:
Local Redhead Battles Farmer During Daring Horse Rescue
Writers, your headline doesn't need to be silly like mine, but we've been much too serious for the past couple days. After you come up with a quick headline, feel free to turn it into a short article or column. I think there's a columnist in all of us!
Teachers and Parents, let your kids see you reading a newspaper. Read a few appropriate headlines out loud. Then make up a headline for yourself. It could be something like: Rambunctious Teacher Seen Using Training Wheels. If your kids see you being adventuresome, they'll be quick to join in on the fun. It won't take long to get their creative wheels turning! By the way, don't be afraid to use vocabulary that is unfamiliar on a regular basis. Kids love big words!
Please share!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Why?
A while back, I asked you what stopped you from writing. You left lots of comments that were thought provoking and relevant to all of us.
Writers, I have another question for you now: Why do you write? Please be honest. I'd really like to know. Even if you only write because you have to, that's okay. Once again, it will be interesting to see how we are the same and how we are different.
Teachers, go ahead and ask your students this same question. Save their answers. After you've spent a month or so wallowing in glorious words and playful language, ask the same question again! I think you'll be surprised.
Writers, I have another question for you now: Why do you write? Please be honest. I'd really like to know. Even if you only write because you have to, that's okay. Once again, it will be interesting to see how we are the same and how we are different.
Teachers, go ahead and ask your students this same question. Save their answers. After you've spent a month or so wallowing in glorious words and playful language, ask the same question again! I think you'll be surprised.
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