And what do you know? Comments work again.

Since I’m out of time for posting (my final is due tomorrow), I’d like to open up the comments and ask you all a question:

What has worked this fall? Share your stories in the comments section.

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7 Responses to “And what do you know? Comments work again.”

  1. Lora Wolke says:
    December 19, 2006 at 4:16 pm

    Hi Bravemoms!
    I have a small writing club going with our family and another family. We meet very spontaneously and often miss a couple of months HOWEVER, we have done some very successful writing exercises. We learned about Edward Lear and read many of his Limmericks and alphabet nonsense poems (A was once an Apple Pie….). After inhaling those for several days, I had everyone get a notebook and something to write with and told them to meet me at the kitchen table. I laid several random “things” on the table such as an enamel ladle, cowboy vest, plastic cow, an onion…
    I told everyone to pick one and touch it, smell it, listen to it and maneuver it if possible. The writing then began. It was a fun and easy exercise and we all did it together – ages 4 – 37(me). Here’s an example:
    V was once a little Vest
    Fringy, Dingy
    Swingy, Browny
    Cowboy Downy,
    little Vest

    Then we moved on to Limmericks and wrote and illustrated them.
    Here’s one from my 9 year old son:
    There once was a person of pity
    Who grew up to be extremely witty
    But when he remembered, He forgot in December
    That stupid old person of pity

    and one from my 7 year old:
    There once was a person of Ding
    Who dreamed he could always be King
    He stomped on the table and thought he was able
    That dumb old person of Ding.

    I hope this is inspiring especially to a mom who has little ones. I always feel that we barely do anything but, we DID do something and my little 1 year old and 2 year old were right there with us the whole time!!
    Enjoy!
    Lora, mother of 8

  2. willa says:
    December 19, 2006 at 9:55 pm

    What worked for me is trying seriously to limit how much academics I planned for the kids. I always seem to have a tendency to start piling it on whenever I have the energy, which leads to, hmm, depleted energy… wonder why?? : ). When I try to keep it to a minimum, the flow of the day is better and we have more space for pursuing interests and family activities.

  3. Sarah says:
    December 21, 2006 at 6:42 am

    My children are still young, 3, 5, and 7. I started the oldest on copy work this fall. I could tell that she was behind her peers with regards to writing and it was starting to bother her. First, she started with Mad Libs Junior and is now working her way through her third book. Then, we added true copywork and she is copying jokes onto LARGE note cards for our family annual talent show. I know that it is helping her as I hear less audible copying. You know “S-P-I-C-E-Y.”

    At Halloween, the kids won 2nd prize in the local coffee shop pumpkin carving contest. The prize was 2 cups of cocoa a week for a month. I capitalized on the opportunity and kicked off our Tuesday Teatimes which more often than not does not occur on Tuesday. I am amazed at the variety of children’s poetry available. We mix in whatever else they are interested in at the time and have spent several cozy mornings sipping cocoa and coffee and reading. Our free cocoa is almost spent but I think that I will have to add Tuesday Teatime cocoa money into our budget. If for no other reason than because by going there, Teatime really happens.

    Sarah

  4. Diane says:
    December 21, 2006 at 8:59 am

    The just one idea at a time! Julie, my boys took your class in the KWB in the fall, but I am struggling to get up and moving with the revision aspect. The one idea I am committed to is the freewrites. I give my boys the option for me to pick a topic, but they always pick their own. I’m glad they are at least up and writing! Hopefully this spring I can start one more thing, revision.

    Diane

  5. Liz DeRoos says:
    December 21, 2006 at 8:11 pm

    What has worked this fall has sprung from what has not worked. With two teens and two elementary kids still at home, I had thought that my teens were beyond being read to. Yes, they need tutoring in math and science, but their language needs were fairly disparate (word-loving, social girl, and laconic sports-lovin’ son). Two things emerged as touchpoints: reading once again to them, but shorter things: short stories, essays, mini-bios. In essence, higher level thinking stuff, not novels like I read to my younger ones. The second is more “planned insidious:” talk radio. I need it to stay mentally stimulated, but having it on in the car, or during breakfast or lunch provides a sort of external stimulation and breaches that concrete/abstract line on subjects that my teens needs to hear and talk about. Thanks for the discussion on language and thinking in teens this fall!

  6. A Brave Writer’s Life in Brief » Blog Archive » Can you spell f-r-u-s-t-r-a-t-i-o-n? says:
    January 6, 2007 at 4:03 pm

    […] I have opened comments but for some reason they are coming as needing moderation. As a result I missed all the ownderful comments made in this thread. Please click that link and read them. […]

  7. Jamirkuai says:
    May 1, 2007 at 8:27 pm

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