Dear Writing,
I hope your summer has been as rich and full as mine. The biggest part of my summer has been the four weeks I have spent getting to reconnect with you. What a gift it has been.
Remember those days when we visited daily? You were part of the long letters I wrote from college and then from Oregon to connect my loved ones to my life. You were there when I needed to journal about being a new mom and all the fears that it held. You held my hand while I vented, calmed, then made new discoveries about myself.
I am forever grateful for your company while I was in graduate school. We learned about computers and the internet together. I know we are both better for having discovered spell check.
I don't know what happened, but we seemed to have drifted apart. Sure, I ran into you at work where we met over IEP's, progress reports and assessments, but you seemed cold and so matter-of-fact. Though you were always very professional, I missed our old relationship. Those nights when we stayed up late together studying my life and early mornings when everyone was asleep were my favorite times with you. When did my journal get lost amongst the pile of books next to my bed? I used to carry it everywhere.
This month gave me the opportunity to renew our old relationship. We started off stiffly and formal, but now I look forward to being with you and sharing my life once again. We were quite the team when it came to the autobiography, but I am feelign some hesitation when it come to the inquiry paper. Is it because you are afraid to go back to the business relationship? How about if I go out and buy us a new, beautiful journal so that we can start over? I promise to carry it everywhere. How do you feel about the sweet pink netbook? Can we try to use it a couple of times a week before we leave work?
I look forward to spending more time with you in bed, and in the hammock before school starts. I know you are concerned that the cross word puzzles will get in the way, but I think I can balance the two of you.
I am so glad we spent time together and I look forward to spending the rest of my life with you.
Love,
Tina
Thanks for posting this, Tina. It's incredibly validating to know that people have these types of experiences with the OUAWP.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your letter, Tina. It helped me to see the quest of that prompt. I was really having a hard time grasping it, but you made it sound so easy and natural. Thanks! Your teaching demo was great too! Working with little ones is really a great learning process on it's own. You were right about the physical aspect of working with little ones too that we talked about in our reading group yesterday. Up and down and bending and kneeling are all quite tiring motions that are necessary with younger children. Your excitement made it quite evident that you love your kids! I know your preschoolers love you and learn much from you.
ReplyDeleteI loved your lesson Tina! You certainly engaged us in a creative lesson. The time flew by. Lots of great ideas will spring forth in our classrooms as we remember your lesson.
ReplyDeleteI made an attempt at a letter, but could not completely get my head around it. Yours was wonderful. Thanks for sharing it.
Tina, your letter was very moving. You are a gifted writer and I am looking forward to hearing your narrative.
ReplyDeleteTina, you were terrific today. First with your creative lesson that really stretched my artistic talents. I'm sure your students love you because you are so innovative and knowledgeable about how to approach them with assignments that make learning fun.
ReplyDeleteSecond, your letter truly captured the essence of the prompt and you used your friend "Writing" as a true character to whom you wrote such a poignant and candid letter. I felt somewhat guilty when you read it because I felt like I was eavesdropping on a private conversation, but I'm very glad you shared it with us, both in class and on the blog. Thanks so much for a great day!
My girl Tina-
ReplyDeleteYour lesson was great today. Everyone had a smile on their face. I also loved your letter. Maybe I need a tiara too!