All my spring cleaning has brought about some surprises. In moving furniture and cleaning drawers I've found some things that I had forgotten about.
When I retired from teaching, 25 years ago, brought home some treasures that I thought I might look at and throw away. I did look at them but didn't throw any of it away and then promptly forgot about them. My classroom was full of "stuff" that I used. Since I made up my mind to retire a year before I retired, I had lots of time to get rid of things. I had free garage sales where I laid things out and people could take what they wanted.
I taught language arts to middle school kids. I had many prompts to get kids writing. For example , I would say make a list of ten relatives. Then we would go through the ten names and pick the one you wanted to write about.
I always did the assignments that I gave the kids. Sometimes I wrote my piece of writing on the chalk board and got them to discuss it with me. Usually they wrote a rough copy and brought it to me and we talked about a few things and then they wrote a finished copy. I would prompt them for more detail. Maybe change the order. Check the words they chose to see if they could find something better.
Well, all these pieces of writing came home. The other day I got to look at them again.
I wrote about one of my brothers and since it was his birthday a few days ago , I said I would send him a birthday present. When I went to scan the piece of writing the scanner wouldn't work but that's another story.
So here's a piece I wrote about my daughter. Of course, all of you know her.
I hope you can make this darker so you can read it.
You know Red, one of the things I love best about you is how much you love your children. That is a gift I wish every child in the world could have.
ReplyDeleteMy kids are special. They were chosen(adopted).
DeleteMy own father often said: "There's only one thing worth giving to children and that's your time". It's sad that so many children these days, although they have so much more than we ever had as children, are denied this gift.
ReplyDeleteYes, many kids are neglected. Sadder yet is that they lost in TV or phones.
DeleteI "edited" the letter so that I could read it more easily. Who do you think your daughter takes after most with her habit of demanding attention? I am guessing The Micro Manager.
ReplyDeleteOkay, I have to see this edit. I didn't realize the writing was that rough. This kid is all her own.
DeleteAw, such a cute baby. I think most children want the full attention of their parents and they know when they don't get it. But there are probably fewer children who insist on being heard. I'm so glad you were willing to learn to be a listener.
ReplyDeleteShe was passionate about telling the whole story.
DeleteAdorable photo. Love the writing too. I love how you tied it all together!
ReplyDeleteI see with my ten year old granddaughter now how she is learning to write. She quite enjoys it too. How they selected the topic and writing yourself was brilliant I’d say. I was a science teacher so teaching English escaped me.
These methods were not of my creation but picked up through professional development.
DeleteI enjoyed the letter and was able to make out the words. Anything that would make me a better listener would be worthwhile! Thanks for this fun letter. :-)
ReplyDeleteI found out that I had to listen to everybody
DeleteYour love for your daughter comes through your words, Red. A touching tale of father and daughter!
ReplyDeleteIt was an incident I never forgot and changed my parenting forever.
DeleteSo lovely to read that piece you wrote about your daughter. What a sweet look back in time.
ReplyDeleteI have talked about her behavior many times so it was nice to find this piece and share it with her.
DeleteHow fun to come across these forgotten pieces of writing! It's great to think about the ways we all learn from each other.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure that you have many pieces of writing filed away.
DeleteI think we all learn a lot of things from our kids .. and this one is pretty special. As they say, the child is the father of the man.
ReplyDeleteKids have much to teach us but we have to be willing to be a learner.
DeleteYou were a very helpful writing coach with your students. That skill is a gift. I love what you wrote about your daughter! These pieces your wrote from the assignments are a wonderful part of you and your families history!
ReplyDeleteThis method was not my creation. I picked it up through professional development workshops.
DeleteVery nice letter and photo, Red. A touching story indeed.
ReplyDeletethere are many things kids can teach us.
DeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the letter and the cute photo of your daughter.
Take care, enjoy your day!
She was a little cutie!
Delete"... I learned the value of listening." What a great thing to say that you learned from your daughter. You know, that reminds me of learning from my dad. When I was a kid he told me we had two ears and one mounth for a reason. Similar thing, just going in the opposite direction. Neat post and that is a sweet picture.
ReplyDeleteThe two ears and one mouth is a wise saying.
DeleteWhat a treasure to find your unintended letter cache saved.
ReplyDeleteI was surprised that I had so many notes.
DeleteRed - as a retured teacher myself, I think this is a super idea - both the discussion and follow up and also that you have kept them so that you can read them through and maybe recall some of the students who wrote them
ReplyDeleteI did not create this method but picked it up in professional development workshops.
DeleteI was able to read the writing.
ReplyDeleteI was surprised that it didn't scan that well.
DeleteWhat a great story about an important person.
ReplyDeleteShe was a character who demanded attention.
DeleteWhat a wonderful life you lead!
ReplyDeleteI just made the page bigger and read the writing easily. I was impressed and moved. The sentiment is so important and I though some of the comments about children being given time and being loved and how you showed that was very apt indeed.
ReplyDeleteYour style of writing is so direct and it hasn't changed. It's very Keith, unpretentious.
ReplyDeleteYour daughter is clearly a force to be reckoned with and you worked in tandem with her
A keepsake for her!
ReplyDeletewhat a treasure you could relook and share it with us dear Red !
ReplyDeletei could not read it completely but thankfully enough to understand what your daughter meant for you than as a little child ,i bet there are rare people who feel as strongly attached to their little children specially fathers but as i always realized you have kind gentle soul and it is gift that allows to taste such precious beauties of life many are not able to ,
i can see how deeply you are attached to your daughter and boys .
more love to you and your family !
Red, you and your Micromanager have truly awesome kids. I was smiling the entire time when I read your essay. What a truly wonderful daughter you have.
ReplyDeleteI worked really hard with my 1st graders in developing their writing skills too.