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Aynslee beginning her paper bag story!
Our writing journey began today and it began with an unexpected twist. Students were given a simple assignment: Write a story and include these three objects: peanut butter, a motorcycle, and a Chihuahua. Simple, right? Well, it starts to get complicated when I won’t tell them any more than that. Anytime a question is asked, my answer is the same, Write a story and include these three objects: peanut butter, a motorcycle, and a Chihuahua.I want the students to take risks and figure out the answer on their own. As if this isn’t enough, we used unusual tools for this piece of writing.
Tejas writing on a paper bag with a sharpie!
Each student got a black sharpie and a brown paper lunch bag. {I wish you could’ve seen the expression on their faces. I think some of them thought that I’d lost my mind!} Students wrote for ten to twelve minutes. Once writing time ended, we debriefed. I asked the students how they felt about the writing and the tools! Here are some very wise sixth grade responses:
Macy and Caitlin thinking hard about their writing!
Caitlin said, “The sharpie forced me to pay closer attention. I made fewer mistakes.” Another girl commented that she liked the craziness. She said, “I like thinking outside the box…or outside the bag.” Riley declared, ” It was interesting, unique and fun! Writing like this inspired me to find different ideas. It wasn’t just a boring piece of paper.”
When asked about the directions for the writing, here are some inspired responses: One student in seventh block said, “It was interesting. It really showed what we could do with our imaginations!”
Alex creating a masterpiece!
Rachel creating art and writing on her paper bag.
Haley said, “It was hard. You wouldn’t answer our questions and our parents weren’t here to help us…we had to figure it out on our own!” She smiled as she realized that she had done just that, figured it out on her own. I am a proud teacher today. My classroom is filled with amazing authors. I know they all have their own stories to tell and I can’t wait to hear them!
Thank you to Patti Digh for the idea and inspiration to compose our writing on paper bags. My students are inspired today because of Y-O-U! Thank you for being MY teacher! 🙂
As the car pulls up by the green house, I leap out and sprint up the driveway, through the screen door to my favorite place in the world. The wooden table holds a bowl of plastic fruit in the middle of the placemats carefully arranged. I run past the table and stop for a moment by the shelves for my very own special slice of Parmesan cheese. I turn around and the giant roosters hanging on the wall watch me enjoy my treat. I walk over to the table and plop down on the green vinyl seat anxiously awaiting my instructions. Coming to Grammy’s house on Sunday was my favorite part of the week. Grammy always had me help and I couldn’t wait to see what my job was today.
“Michelle, would you help me clear the table so we can set it?” Grammy called to me. I gathered the placemats into a pile and moved the bowl of plastic fruit. Grammy brought over the pile of plates and forks and knives. I arranged them carefully on the table. The whole family gathered around this table every Sunday. As I placed plates, I decided where everyone would sit. (Of course, we always sat in the same places.) The aroma of garlic filled every molecule in this space. Macaroni, meatballs, eggplant, sometimes braciole or artichokes would join the party. One thing was for sure, everyone got their favorites: mine was cucumber salad, just for me. Papa always had his hot peppers, Auntie Jo got a piece of steak, Mom had her black olives, and Auntie Ann got her artichoke.
Funny, Grammy didn’t even get a seat at the table. She served the meal and fussed and cleaned as we ate. Once people finished and got up from the table, this was the best time, she would join those of us left. We’d sit around the table and talk and laugh and tell stories. The tastes unparalleled, the smells delicious, but nothing compared to the feelings, comfort, acceptance, joy, love, family.