While learning Bahasa Malaysia, I have discovered that some birds are metaphors in their language. The children’s dictionary says “owl” in English, for example, but the Malaysian translation is two words: XX bird. Owl is “ghost bird” literally. What would it mean to be a ghost bird? What does a ghost bird do that other…
One lesson that I have used to good effect is to give students a list of animals, vegetables, and minerals (meaning multiple kinds of things) and ask them to prepare a grouping. I ask them to know why they put them together. For example, If cow and cat were on the list, would you put…
Abilene is the Storybook Capital of America. Part of the reason for this is the annual Children’s Art and Literacy Festival, CALF. That happened this last weekend and I was able to participate as part of the Write & Illustrate Your Own Storybook workshop. It was so much fun. The children got to make up…
This is a framework for teaching students to write poetry. It’s fun. It has worked multiple times. It’s here if you want to use it. When I want students to write, I tell them to write poetry. If you haven’t tried that, do it. Most children will happily write poetry for hours. Even older students,…
“The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” I don’t know who said that or what they meant, but I like it. I also agree with the aphorism, “Two heads are better than one.” (Though I like my single head on my shoulders just fine, thank you. No reason to be Zaphod Beeblebrox.)…
When you want American students to write, start with poetry. (The international students I have taught seemed more comfortable with creative nonfiction or stories.) If you think they will say they hate poetry, have them tell you their favorite songs. Look some of those up online. Those are poems. Tell them so. That gets their…
