Well the drawers weren't really that bad.
I found quite a few manila tag folders and I said "Oh ya. I know what's in this." I found quite an extensive family tree that I had made up on my Mom's side of the family. I had completely forgotten that I'd done the family tree. I even had my auntie go through it and add things. I started making the same family tree once I got Ancestry.ca.
What really caught my eye was a tremendous amount of writing I had done. I did know that the writing was there. What surprised me was how much writing was there.
I taught Middle School language arts. When I gave the kids any kind of writing assignment , I did the same assignment along with them. Many times I did my writing on the chalk board or overhead. There were literally dozens of pieces of writing. They were on old writing tablets , graph paper and old yellow scratch pads...what ever was handy on my desk for me to pick up.
Some of the same topics I've used for blog posts, not realizing I had written them before.
We did more sharing with writing. Kids would pick a buddy and share their writing. Kids would read their piece to the class. Kids would edit and correct what I wrote.
We would usually start out by making a list like your uncles. We'd narrow the list down to one uncle that they would write about.
Other assignments were responses from fiction. For example, what did this character teach you.
.
Some of the writing was done in workshops I attended.
I even found a poem or two that I had written. Oh yes, I had kids write poetry.
Well it took me a long time to go through that material. Did I throw much away? Nope!
So stuff has gone away again. I find it easier to remember stuff if I put it away.
I think I'll find some of these pieces to share with you.
Sounds like you made some fun discoveries, thanks to your wife "making you clean out" drawers. Now do you wonder what other treasures spring cleaning might unearth?
ReplyDeleteThis is it for me! I don't think I have anything else. You can laugh now!!!
DeleteOh yes, please do share! And I'm with you - if I put something away, the location goes straight to my memory bank. Not so if someone else is tidying up.
ReplyDeleteYes, it's easier to remember if I put things away myself.
DeleteI'm glad you rediscovered some of the things you'd forgotten about. I'm getting to that stage where I forget things I've put away too, lol. I guess we all get to that stage. I do like your vintage photos too. I don't go through my old photos very often.
ReplyDeleteSome of the photos taken at school were with a good camera and quality film so they turn out fairly nice.
DeleteHello, you did find some great things while spring cleaning. I would like to see the poems! Enjoy your day!
ReplyDeleteI only found the one poem. I promise I'll post it.
DeleteI was going to say, it definitely sounds like blog fodder! It's fun to come across old writing. I have a folder of stuff I did for classes in college, most of it pretty terrible.
ReplyDeleteWell I was past college and this stuff isn't great but then I'm not a great writer period.
DeleteYes, I'd like to read your pieces. I'd also like to know how much similarity there is between the old and new writings on the same topic.
ReplyDeleteYou bring up an interesting topic about writing and what happens as you age. It would certainly be different if I wasn't writing on a regular basis on the blog.
DeleteHi Red, Good for you going through those drawers. It does sound like an assignment I could get here. :-) Now, looking at those photos ... That first one reminds me of my "uniform" when I first started teaching ... white shirt and tie. I'm trying to remember ... was a tie required or did I just follow the lead of the other male teachers?
ReplyDeleteThese photos were from the eighties. We had become very informal but once in a while I would wear a shirt and tie. When I started in the fifties shirt, tie and jacket were mandatory.
DeleteI look forward to your sharing some of those pieces with us later. At least what was in those drawers is neatly placed back in them, right? :-)
ReplyDeleteOh yes things are very neat !!!
DeleteI love the treasures you found! I am looking forward to reading what you share here. Oh yes, definitely stuff for future blog posts.
ReplyDeleteSince writing the pieces I've changed my mind on some things.
DeleteThose would certainly make good blog material.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny that on many of the topics have been used on the blog.
DeleteLove the photos from your teaching days. Isn't it fun to find things we've forgotten about. I bet you can get some great blog topics out of those drawers!
ReplyDeleteMy teaching days are from another age. I retired in 1997.
DeleteI'm looking forward to reading some of your poems. Sounds interesting and fun.
ReplyDeleteI only discovered the one poem that I'd forgotten about.
DeleteLooking forward to your blogging material! You always share fun and interesting things.
ReplyDeleteWell, I hope you find some of it interesting.
DeleteLooking forward to you sharing. I use to write assignments with my students, too. I doubt if i kept any of them, though.
ReplyDeleteYou must have so many memories from your teaching days Red. I look forward to more of your writings.
ReplyDeleteWell I am loving the photos of you in your teaching days - especially the second picture where you appear to have adopted a ballet pose. Did you teach ballet?
ReplyDeleteYou were one handsome dude!:)
ReplyDeletehow amazing that spring cleaning turned into such big fun for you dear Red :)
ReplyDeletei liked you old images ,you look like wonderful inspiring teacher to me if i look as student :)
it happens to me sometimes that i keep store stuff for safety and completely forget about it
rediscovering pleasurable things from past that reveal our side of personality that get undercover of the dust of time is pleasant surprise often and i am happy you had the chance my friend!
Out of sight...
ReplyDelete