Free Time Ramble

Guess what. Nope, I’m not relinquishing any money that I may or may not owe you. Nor am I going to dye my hair, wax my eyebrows, or get a tattoo. Even wilder, I actually have a Sunday evening with nothing to do and nowhere to go. So I sat down and decided to write.

...(crickets)...

Yep. That’s about how it’s looking right now. I don’t know what I want to write about. I definitely don’t want to write either of the two papers due next Monday. I don’t want to go digging through old writing to see if something kindles a flame. And for some reason, zombies and Easter just seem a little inappropriate (tonight). I’m rusty.

So, here I go (again on my own—rock out!) with a goal: (Don't hold your breath.)

I am going to do some type of writing (for me) at least three times a week. One of those futile attempts will be posted. Like I keep saying, I just need to get back into the swing of things. This earning another degree while working two jobs is really cramping my style, not that I had any style to begin with. And it's kinda forcing me to adapt a more serious, APA-type style that I don’t know if I like. (But I still won't give up my parenthetical asides no matter what my committee says!)

I do have a different paper that I should probably work on—one that I wrote for a different class. I actually developed it into a short presentation that I presented in March at a CUWP conference. It was a lot of hard, gray-hair inducing cramming and revising on my feet, but I loved it. Coming up with something good, and then sharing it, I think, are what I love best about teaching (and writing). And when I can combine these two passions, crazy-weird things can happen, man. Honestly, I think I'll try to present it again at the UCTE conference this fall and if all goes well, I'll press my luck the next year at the NCTE convention. Yee-ah! Who's a big boy now? Ha. Could you pass me my blankie? I just wet myself.

So, to wrap up this ramble, I had better just shut up. I'm getting tired. But before I leave you, I must share that my ninth graders are finishing Romeo and Juliet this week. I’ve given them a photo essay assignment I created last year. Last year, after deciding that Romeo was nothing but a hormone-driven emo loser, the students ended up loving this assignment. This year when I announced the project, it was if all their Red Bulls kicked in at the same time, heads perking, sparks in eyes igniting. And if you know what students are like after Spring Break, that in itself is a miracle. I can't wait to see what they come up with this go 'round.

If you are interested in the assignment, send me a message, and I’ll email you the student instructions. I’ll also try to attach my example. Anybody know how to attach a PowerPoint to Blogger?

P.S. Romeo is still one of the biggest weenies in all of Shakespearedom!

Selected Writing Prompts Based on Readings

Hey, look at me! It's called following through with a promise, a habit several of my students would do well to adopt. Here is a list of selected reading-based writing prompts. Some I've shared before. Others are new. I'd like to collect as many as I can for my students. Also, it helps with my sanity when I don't repeat prompts year after year. I'd like to end up with three or four hundred prompts. They could be poems, stories, articles, anything.

So I'm asking - no, PLEADING with you - to share what you have with me in return. Just type it in as a comment or send an email. Please submit the title of the piece, the author, and if possible, where it can be found. Also describe what the students should write--options are good.

Thanks.

1. “Wrestling with Reading” by Patrick Jones (from Guys Write for Guys Read)

Write about either what it was that made you a reader, or an experience you’ve had (positive or negative) with a librarian.

2. “The Follower” by Jack Gantos (from Guys Write for Guys Read)

Write about a time you were a follower, or write about what happened when you deliberately disregarded your parents’ warnings.

3. “Predators” by David Lubar (from Curse of the Campfire Weenies and Other Warped and Creepy Tales)

Write about a time when you were afraid, or some encounter with a creepy person.

4. “Do You Have Any Advice for Those of Us Just Starting Out?” by Ron Koertge

Write about your experiences with learning/starting to write on your own, or write about some good advice you have received (whether you followed it or not), or write about when you were the child everyone told to “shhhh!”.

5. “My Name” by Sandra Cisneros (from The House on Mango Street)

Have them write about their own name (likes, dislikes, would they change it, etc.) or someone else’s name. Another fun one would be to ramble about stereotyped names, i.e. Olga=large Scandinavian woman, Dirk=sinister, wiry crook, etc.

6. “I Go Along” by Richard Peck (from Past Perfect, Present Tense)

Write about a time where you went along with the crowd or when you found yourself in a group do not normally associate or when you something you heard/read really made an impact on your life.

7. “Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout” by Shel Silverstein (from Where the Sidewalk Ends)

Write about either a time you were forced to do chores or just something extremely gross.

8. “Listening to Our Shadow” by Susan Goldsmith Wooldridge (from Poemcrazy)

Write a conversation between you and your shadow, or write about things you did when you were about six years old.

9. “Funny You Should Ask” by Rick Reilly (from The Life of Reilly-found in Guys Write for Guys Read)

Write about the meaning of life—what it is that makes life worth living for, or write about a time when you and a parent miscommunicated.

10. “Bring Me Magic” by Susan Goldsmith Wooldridge (from Poemcrazy)

Write about one of the objects you have gathered: name it, describe it—try to use similes and metaphors, then tell it to bring you something: a “bring me” poem.

11. “Something Neat This Way Comes” by Chris Crutcher (from King of the Mild Frontier)

Write about something “neat” you have been coerced into doing, or something “neat” you have been able to convince someone else to do.

12. The Secret Life of Grown-Ups by David Wisniewski

Create your own “secret.” For example- The secret life of teachers, band geeks, nursing homes, etc.

13. “To My Patron” by Billy Collins (from Nine Horses)

Write about what you need in order to do your best work—whatever it is you enjoy creating, or write about what it takes for you to make it all happen.

14. “Tuning” by Gary Paulsen (from The Winter Room)

Write about a strong connection you have made to a particular book sometime in your life. What made it magical for you? Or write about some connection to smell, sound, light, (or one of the other senses) that is seared into your memory. Focus on something particular (i.e. Thanksgiving, a particular sunrise, etc.)

15. What You Know First by Patricia MacLachlan

Write about a time when you have had to leave some place/someone/something behind. Or write about a time when you’ve moved. Or write about what you would take with you if you had to leave and you knew you would never be back.

16. “The Trouble with Poetry” by Billy Collins (from The Trouble with Poetry)

Write about what poetry fills you with , or write about what you think the trouble with poetry is.

17. Introduction to A Maze Me by Naomi Shihab Nye

Write about an age that you would like to be, one that you dread being, or write about an age in your past that you either long to return to or are glad you never have to go back to. Or write about not what you want to be when you grow up, but rather who or how you want to be if you grow up.

18. “A Day at the Zoo” by Jack Prelutsky (from Guys Write for Guys Read)

Write about something stupid you have done, preferably something you have never told your mom.

19. “Mark Pang and the Impossible Square” by Frank Portman (from Baseball Crazy—Nancy Mercado,ed.)

Write about a time where time slowed down for you—the action took a short amount of time, but it seemed like an eternity; replay your thoughts. Or take the easy way out and finish the story in the style of the author.

20. “There’s Much to be Said for Copying” (hand out) and “Tour” by Carol Snow

After copying, write about the possible benefits of copying texts.

21. “The Voice You Hear When You Read Silently” by Thomas Lux

Describe the voice(s) in your head. Talk a bout a particular time where he/she/it helped or hurt you while reading.

22. “Seeing the Future” by Gary Soto (from Facts of Life)

Write about a time when you made a realization about the opposite sex, or write about a time when you made an important discovery or decision about your future.

23. “Boys, Beer, Barf, and Bonding” by Bruce Hale (from Guys Write for Guys Read)

Write about a time where you bonded with a family member, or write about a time you were incredibly sick (in public or private).

24. “A writer should not be ashamed of staring. There is nothing that doesn’t deserve our attention.” --Flannery O’Connor

Write about what this means, or relive a time where you couldn’t take your eyes off something or someone, or perhaps, there has been a time where someone couldn’t keep their eyes off you.

25. “Man Guyifesto—Who We Are!” by Darren Shan (from Guys Write for Guys Read)

Write about a group that you belong to and stereotype; don’t demean, but poke fun at a particular group of people.

26. “Guy Things” by Gordon Korman (from Guys Write for Guys Read)

Write about something that is definitely a “guy thing” or a “girl thing” in your opinion. It could be a “kid thing” or a “sports thing” or an “American thing, ” or whatever. Base it on something you enjoy or disagree with—it could be something current or from when you were younger.

27. “The Meanest Man in Maine” by Rodman Philbrick (from The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg)

Create a list of things that someone you know hates. Create reasons why this person hates so much.

28. Foreword from How Angel Peterson Got His Name by Gary Paulsen

Write about a time where you have done something because it “sounded like a good idea at the time.” It doesn’t necessarily have to be something stupid.

29. “Days” by Billy Collins

Write about a day in your life that you would like to relive, either exactly the way it was, or how you would do it over.

30. “Eleven” by Sandra Cisneros”

Write about a specific moment when you were embarrassed or felt smaller than yourself.

31. “On Turning Ten” by Billy Collins

Write about a particular birthday or other specific turning day in your life. Why was this particular day/age so significant?

32. “My Father’s Voice” by Tom Romano (from Zigzag)

Write about a voice that has been important in your life. Try to imitate the style or at least the structure.

33. The Plot Chickens by Mary Jane and Herm Auch

Write about the discouragement that comes with writing.

34. “C.V.” -2- (from On Writing by Stephen King)

Write about an incident that revolves around babysitting, you being either the babysitter or those sat upon.

35. “A Game of Catch” by Roger Rosenblatt

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,988709,00.html

Write about a time when you were (or were not) able to “play catch” about something important.

36. My Dad is Awesome by Nick Butterworth

Write about one of your parents and how you look(ed) up to them. What are some of their qualities that you admire, or you could write about the qualities you hope not to emulate.

37. “Chapter 4” Gym Candy by Carl Deuker

Write about a time where you had an “a-ha” moment about writing, or write about something you feel passionately about. Be as descriptive as possible. Make me feel it.

38. “How do I know what I think until I see what I say?” --E.M. Forster

What does this quote say about writing?

39. “Brothers” by Jon Scieszka (from Guys Write for Guys Read)

Write about the relationships you have with your siblings, or focus on one particular experience that has cemented the relationship you have with one particular sibling.

40. Epilogue from King of the Mild Frontier by Chris Crutcher

Write about parts of your life that you have fictionalized in the retelling, or write about some aspect of your life that you would like to fictionalize.

41. “The Bloody Souvenir” by Jack Gantos (from Funny Business—Jon Scieszka, ed.)

Write about a time you did something stupid then tried to cover it up and ended up doing something even more stupid.

42. “Kid Appeal” by David Lubar (from Funny Business—Jon Scieszka, ed.)

Write about one of your friends who you think is an idiot, or write about a contest that you have entered (not necessarily one that you won).

43. “Artemis Begins” by Eoin Colfer (from Funny Business—Jon Scieszka, ed.)

Write about something that you have done to get someone else in trouble on purpose, or write about a time when someone has sabotaged you to make themselves look better.

44. When I Was Young in the Mountains by Cynthis Rylant

Write about when you were young. Use the phrasing of the book to discover the details of your memories. Share specific events.

45. Hello Ocean/Hola Mar by Pam Munoz Ryan, trans. Yanitzia Canetti

Write about a place you love, focusing specifically on the five senses.

46. Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late! By Mo Willems

Write a persuasive letter to a parent or some other authority figure, asking permission to do something you aren’t normally permitted to do. Try to come up with creative arguments.

47. “The Death of a Writer” by David Rice (from Guys Write for Guys Read—Jon Scieszka—ed.)

Write about a time where someone’s authority or even their comments caused you to give up your dream or receive some type of negative consequence.

48. “Jump Away” by Rene Saldana, Jr (from Every Man for Himself: Ten Short Stories about Being a Guy—Nancy Mercado, ed.)

Write about a time when you took/refused a dare, or describe a time when someone else took/refused your dare.

49. “American Teen” by Mel Glenn (from This Family is Driving Me Crazy—M. Jerry Weiss and Helen S. Weiss, eds.)

After reading the differently voiced poems, write a poem from your voice about some aspect of being a teenager: your likes, dislikes, wishes, dreams, limitations, etc. Compile them as a class book.

50. “A Valentine for Ernest Mann” by Naomi Shihab Nye

Write about some ordinary or unusual objects that could be considered “valentines,” or write about what a poem is or could be (metaphorically speaking).

Memory of Erica Young

I'm just checking to see if this new account will allow me to post. It's just another sample from today's writing prompt (see previous post).

First grade. One particular afternoon, after I had packed the remains of a smooshed PB and J back into my metal Empire Strikes Back lunchbox, Mrs. Latch had us push back our desks so there was room to do “Mousercise.” This was back when Jazzercise was fast becoming popular and I guess, we were doing the Disney version to songs from The Jungle Book and other favorites. I hated it with a passion. There are very few times when I have felt like a complete idiot in school. This was one of them. But this story is not about Mousercise or Mrs. Latch or me. It’s about Erica Young and what happened after Mousercise on that particularly muggy Arkansas afternoon.

You see, after we returned our desks to their original positions, we were supposed to read independently for a few minutes. I sat on the far side of the classroom, the opposite corner from the teacher’s desk. Since it was my favorite at the time, I think I was reading Where the Wild Things Are. Most of the details are a little hazy. However, I have one vivid memory of that day.

I looked up from my book, toward the teacher’s desk in search of a tissue. In my line of sight, right in the middle of the room, sat Erica Young. And when I saw her, I held my breath and the world slipped into slow motion. Now, before you make any assumptions, Erica was not my first grade crush. She was way too skinny—skeletonesque would be more accurate, with sunken eyes, and on a good day, you would describe her as undernourished. Her long, dark tangled hair hid her face most days. Erica hardly dared speak a word; in fact, I don’t ever really remember hearing her talk. But on that day, just like most other days, she wore a maroon velvet dress with white lacy trim around the collar and black dress shoes.

I think I remember the details so clearly because on this particular day, Erica’s face was not hidden. In fact it stood out—a pale greenish yellowy sallow color that I didn’t have in my Crayola pack. And then it turned white. And then her mouth opened. Projectile vomit bounced once on her desk, once on the next desk, and then splattered onto the carpet.

Erica didn’t make a sound. Mouth and nose and hair now dripping, she put her head down and sobbed. I had never seen anything like it. It bounced! By the time I remembered to breathe, Mrs. Latch had wiped my classmate’s face free from snot and sick and tears, napkined the remaining chunks from her lap and desk into the trash, and had taken the poor girl down to the office. She didn’t come back for over a week.

And I didn’t even begin to describe the smell.

Pause

I'm trying to switch gmail accounts and my blog, so stay tuned for more.

A Personal Ramble about a Certain Dilemma

This feels good. I’m having my students write, and I actually get a moment to write by myself. Of course, these seventh graders need more steerage than my ninth grade lackeys, so this will probably be short. This class of 24 boys (and four girls) seems to open up more whenever I have them write about personal experiences, especially ones that involve injury, flatulence, or some type of other general grossness. Last week they practiced taking notes from Oh, Yuck! The Encyclopedia of Everything Nasty by Joy Masoff. They then had to reconstitute an article from their notes and did a great, disgusting job writing about farts, pee, and vomit.

Today’s prompt came from Bruce Hale’s “Boys, Beer, Barf, and Bonding” found in Guys Write for Guys Read. When I pulled out the book to read the selection, one of my boys whispered, “All right! It’s the cool ‘guy’ book!” I smiled.

Yes, it was one of the cool guy books, and one of the many prompts that I’d like to use on a regular basis in the future. I stand at a crossroads in my classroom. I can keep going along the same path I have trodden for eleven years, or I can blaze a new trail and incorporate the additional writing that I know the students need, the additional writing that I want to do. Sounds like a no-brainer, right? I wish. Teaching writing, just like actually writing, is hard work. Now, I’m not talking about assigning writing—that’s the easy part—but actually spending the time with the students to help them learn the art and the science behind writing well. Not that I’m the expert, but I do have the passion. Again, it’s no question what I should do, right? There’s this little thing called the doctorate program that I’m trying to manage as well. It’s completely kicking my butt, and I’m a glutton for punishment, I know. I’ve heard all the sado-masochistic comments before.

Truth be told: I know where I want my students to be with their writing. I know that this degree will help me get to where I want to be—teaching prospective English teachers how to teach writing—so that passion for writing well can be spread. But! I have to make a living. Working two jobs and going to school is no piece of cake, although a slice of German chocolate with coconut pecan frosting sounds yummy right now.

Looking back over my ramble here, I know what I need to do, and I suppose I’ve known it all along. I’m just a big, fat, yellow, non-San Diego chicken. ‘Nuff said.

So…

I’m doing it. Next year is going to be a structured writing workshop with literature scattered throughout the year. But it will all come back to writing.

But I need some help. That’s where you come in, my few readers. I’m looking for good mentor texts, writing prompts, “real-life” writing applications. Please feel free to flood my post with comments. Usually, when I say this, nothing happens, but I’m going to exercise some faith in my fellow teachers and writers and friends out there.

P.S. I’ll share a few ideas for engaging literature-based writing prompts in my next post.