Nurturing Literacy

It’s common knowledge that May 1st is known as May Day. However, in the literary realm, National Mother Goose Day is celebrated on May 1st. In 1695, Charles Perrault published his collection of fairy tales, with an English version of these stories published in 1729. Even today, these traditional tales and verses hold a place of importance. They form part of what is known as our cultural literacy. “Cultural literacy is a term coined by E. D. Hirsch. The culturally literate person is able to talk to and understand others in that culture when they use allusions, references to past events, idiomatic expression, jokes, names, etc.”

Truth be told, prior to taking coursework to become a reading specialist, I’d never heard the term cultural literacy. I learned that it refers to that body of stories, poems, movies, historical events and more that are readily familiar within a particular culture. Without thought, we use references based on our cultural literacy with the expectation that meaning will be clear to others within our culture. Here’s a few examples…

“Mary is so good with children. She is the Pied Piper of the neighborhood.” 

“You better watch out for him. I think he’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing.”

“Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn.” 

“You don’t want to go down that rabbit hole again.”

All of these sentences allude to a story, movie or book familiar in our culture. Additionally, cultural literacy includes expressions and references people within that culture are expected to understand. Cultural literacy is acquired through our schooling but also through exposure to books, poems, movies, conversation and experiences in all the other aspects of our life.

Back in the early 2000’s, when my daughter and I were teaching in the same school, we decided to do a unit on fairy tales. Prior to starting the unit, wanting to assess prior knowledge, we asked seventh graders to match characters with the title of the fairy tale they were in. We were shocked at the results. A large percentage of the students had very low scores, demonstrating that they lacked exposure to prominent tales that are part of our cultural literacy. We gathered tons of books and other resources and designed a unit to acquaint kids with these stories. They read fairy tales, wrote original fairy tales, discussed fairy tales and ended the unit watching Shrek and eating popcorn. That was a long time ago, but I still remember how delighted we were by the positive reaction of our middle school students.

Are your children seeped in cultural literacy? Throughout their lives, they will be confronted with allusions to stories, characters, and events. A lack of familiarity will become an obstacle. Perhaps today is a good day to pull out that old book of fairy tales or Mother Goose rhymes. Perhaps this time of social distancing offers an opportunity to watch some classic movies together. Cultural literacy is accrued when something can withstand the test of time, usually because it resonates so deeply from one generation to another. Don’t let your kids miss out on this important aspect of their education. Discuss historical events, seek out classic movies, visit notable places and read literature that has withstood the test of time. In this challenging environment, we might all find comfort within the pages of a Mother Goose book.

I’ve chosen the two winners of this book by Aimee Chase. I will announce their names after I contact them personally.                                   

BOOK SUGGESTIONS: 

The Real Mother Goose by Blanche Fisher Wright – Offers all the essential rhymes handed down from generation to generation along with lovely illustration to entice readers.

The Land of Stories series by Chris Colfer – Imaginative tales that take you into a world populated by fairy tale characters. Great for Kids from Grade 3 up. Two of my grand kids read the entire series and loved it! 

For Adults:

Cultural Literacy, What Every American Needs to Know – Delve into this important text to discover why building cultural literacy is essential.

Photo by Ena Marinkovic on Pexels.com

By now you know that April is National Poetry Month, but do you know that today is Poem in Your Pocket Day? This special day to celebrate poetry was begun in April 2002 in New York City. In 2008, The Academy of American Poetry shared this initiative with the rest of the country and encouraged participation.

This year, more than others, I believe it’s important to honor the place of poetry in our country, our homes and our hearts. We find ourselves sharing a common enemy, trying to survive in a unique historical time, searching for ways to navigate a “new normal”. Words have power. Poetry has a magical way of communicating deep feelings in a concise, clever manner. Poems can uplift, explain, reveal, unravel the breadth and depth of our experiences and feelings. Poems can tell stories, save memories. Poems can touch our hearts and ease our minds. So, today, won’t you take a few minutes to celebrate the gift of poetry in your life and encourage your family to do the same? Here are few suggestions…

Participating in Poem in Your Pocket Day

• Write a poem
• Share a poem you love or a poem you’ve written
• Read a poem aloud to someone special
• Record and share yourself reading a poem and post it online
• Create a drawing to accompany a poem you love.
• Play a game: Give each player a certain amount of time to find or write poems. The one who comes back with the most poems, wins the game.
• Use your creativity to come up with other ideas.

In the spirit of day, I am proud to share a poem written by my grandson, Patrick…

Even though we are in this mess,                                                                                                  We can still find things to play, like chess.

I know the Quarantine is getting boring.                                                                                        But at least we get to do some extra snoring.

Right now, I know, we have to distance.                                                                                          But I guess this is kind of a good experience.

Just a reminder that tomorrow I will announce the two winners of this book. Anyone who has become a follower of this blog during the month of April will be eligible to win a copy and another copy will go to readers who have followed this block prior to April. FOLLOW by midnight tonight to participate.

Happy Poem in Your Pocket Day, Everyone!

Apologies for being off my blogging schedule this week. A beloved relative is in serious condition and the past few days have been an emotional stew for my family and me.

As we conclude National Poetry Month, poetry will be the topic of my next two posts. This week, I was asked to be a guest speaker in someone’s “virtual classroom”. Since Mother’s Day is around the corner and Father’s Day not far behind, I thought I’d teach the students how to create a gift poem. It occurred to me that this lesson plan might come in handy for teachers who read this blog or parents looking for creative activities to share with their kids. Here is the script (lesson plan) for my virtual lesson, along with a few notes (in red) for you.

BE A POET:  Learn the magic of creating and sharing poetry

INTRODUCTION:  

 Hi, Everyone. I am so glad to be with you today and the share the magic of poetry. I love poetry and to me a poem is like a little piece of magic. In just a few words you can share your feelings and ideas. What’s even more magical, is the effect your poem can have on another person. Let me show you what I mean…

I love to “work my magic” and create poems for people I love and for special occasions. Here are a few of the poems I’ve created. I give them as gifts or sometimes sell them so others can use my words to convey their emotions. Let me show you some sample gift poems I’ve created…  

SHOW SAMPLE POEMS:  Find some examples of poems written about someone to share

BRAINSTORM: Can you think of someone you would like to write a poem for? Here are a few ideas…                                                                                                                                  Mothers’ Day is only a few weeks away, how about a poem to your mother? 

How about your Dad?

Is there a grandparent, special aunt or uncle that you haven’t seen for awhile?

Are you missing your teacher or friends? Perhaps you could write a poem for them. 

PLEASE TAKE A MINUTE TO JOT DOWN TWO OR THREE  PEOPLE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO WRITE A POEM FOR, THEN PICK ONE OF THEM.

Welcome back. Did you choose a person that you will write about? Please put the name of that person at the top of the page and I’ll show you how to begin the magic. You know, being a magician requires preparation and practice. The first step in writing our gift poem is to brainstorm. I’ll show you what I did and then you will have a chance to do the same thing.

I am choosing to write a poem about my grand-daughter, Shannon. First, I’ll jot down words that describe Shannon:  Curly hair, shining blue eyes, a tilt to her nose, giggly, funny, smart, tenderhearted, loves basketball, plays rugby, Girl Scout, looks like her mom, crafty, plays the piano, sings, friendly

I used some of my ideas to create these poems about Shannon:

I feel a little achy, deep inside my heart,                                                                                        Because it’s been a while now that we’ve been apart. 

I miss your shining blue eyes                                                                                                       and the giggles that we share.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           I’m sad that I can’t hug you                                                                                                          and show you how much I care. 

I miss watching your play basketball a                                                                                      and singing in the car.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            I miss your piano music                                                                                                              and seeing you close, not from afar. 

Our many Facebook visits                                                                                                            are the best part of a day.

It’s fun when you pop up on zoom                                                                                              and we find games to play. 

Soon this will be over.                                                                                                              We’ll share hugs,and games and fun. 

Shannon Rita you are a grand daughter,                                                                                        Who is second to none.  

Remember, poems don’t have to rhyme. Here’s an example…

Who can light the room with a smile?                                                                                   Who can make my heart dance with glee?                                                                            Who’s a super baker and basketball player?                                                                                Who’s a friend to you and to me?                                                                                                   Who is a lovely young lady?                                                                                                           Who’s filled with love and with joy.                                                                                               Who plays the piano and sings her songs?                                                                                   Who’s  a special grand daughter to me?                                                                                  SHANNON

TRY IT…Boys and Girls, you can make magic from words. You can also touch the heart of another by writing a poem and sharing it with them. Take the rest of our time to begin your gift poem. 

1. Brainstorm
2. Draft one or two versions 
3. Revise until you are satisfied with the final copy
4. Publish: Share this poem in some way with the person for whom it was written. It’s guaranteed to bring a smile to their face!

Remember, tomorrow I’ll choose the two winners to receive this book by Aimee Chase. One winner will be chosen from new people who have opted to follow this blog during April and one for readers who have followed prior to April. Follow to day and get in on the fun.      

Have you begun the adventure of journaling? I hope so. If not, today is a good day to start. I’ve been looking at quotes about journaling found a few that might fuel your spirit and inspire you to give this a try.

Today, I’ll share two more suggestions to foster your creativity and encourage you to consider topics you may want to write about.

Lesson 3 – What do you think?

Writing Off Text                                                                                                                         This is one of my favorite ways to jumpstart my journal. Normally, I journal in the morning, after I read the “thought for the day” in two or three of my inspirational books. Sometimes, a quote, a line or even a word resonates with me.  When that happens, I copy it at the top of my page and write my reflection. This practice has taken me on unimaginable inner journeys. I’ve surprised myself with the insights, solutions or simple wonders that come to the surface. Sometimes, it leads me to memorizing the quote, so I can etch it in my heart and head. In a tough situation, these quotes can come in handy.

This week, pay attention to that novel you’re reading, a quote you heard from TV or the movies, a line from the newspaper, a word that stands out for you. Just jot it down or bookmark it so it is at the ready when you begin to journal. It’s fun, it’s surprising and often yields remarkable insights or lessons.

Make a Timeline: This is one of the techniques I learned back in 2004, when I took the Pennsylvania Writing and Literacy Project course. I’ve used it personally and in the classroom with great success. Here’s how it works…

1. Think of a topic   Here are some examples, hairdos, shoes, cars, vacations, major life events, teachers, friends – You get the idea, the sky’s the limit.
2. Make a timeline, jotting down a word or phrase related to the topic.

Here’s a personal example:   CARS

     1967                   1968                     1970                1971                   1977

  Red Rambler/Green Dodge/White Corvair/Orange Vega/Buick Station Wagon

These are the cars I had in my late teens and early twenties. Believe me when I tell you every one of them carries a story. Kids love this activity because it’s often hard for them to find a focus. Obviously, it can prompt not only a powerful journal entry, but fodder for a personal narrative. It’s a fun exercise and I urge you to give it a try.

Time is marching on and continuing to practice social distancing is not getting easier. Please stay well and stay busy. The day will come when we can safely share time with loved ones face-to-face. Remember that I am giving away two copies of Present Not Perfect at the end of the month. I’ll randomly select from new followers that have joined in April and Nurturing Literacy followers that have been around for a while. Thanks for your support.

Here’s a few book suggestions to help you pass the time while you’re sheltering-in-place:

ADULTS:  Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann   My husband started to read this and suggested I give it a try. I’m only about 20% along, but it’s true murder mystery, involving the Osage Indian Nation in Oklahoma during the 1920’s. Ultimately, there is a tie-in to the FBI at that time. My husband is enjoying it and I have to constantly remind him not to spoil it for me when he rambles on about it. The subject matter is different for me. I don’t know too much about Indian life in our country and I’m finding it unique and fascinating. Maybe you will, too.

Youngsters (Grade 5 and up)  Blended by Sharon Draper, is a moving story of a young girl living with the turmoil of her parents’ divorce. Sharon Draper “keeps it real” and I would highly recommend this poignant, realistic and sometimes humorous story.

Hopefully, you’ve had a chance to read Lesson 1 and at least consider beginning a journal. Please keep in mind that a journal (or writing notebook) as it’s often called in school, is a great tool for your children, as well.

Today I happened upon a quote by Rumi, a 13th century poet and scholar, whose words still resonate today:

“The quieter you become, the more you are able to hear.”

That has certainly been my experience, especially when I journal. Settling down and allowing myself to get in touch with my thoughts and feelings enables me to “hear” the secrets of my soul and ultimately impacts the way I live my life. In these posts I will share suggestions and techniques for journaling. More importantly I hope to share the personal benefits I’ve experienced and entice you to give it a try.

Lesson 2 – Write Big, Write Small

Writing Big: More often than not, I simply open my journal and begin. I write for at least ten minutes, guided only by where I am in that particular moment. My only goal is to capture and reflect on my experiences. Sometimes, I wind up writing about something that occurred days or even years ago. Sometimes, I am very much in the present and my entry reads like a diary. No matter. I am in a sense “saving my life”. I love that idea. Literally, I am saving the day. Figuratively, journaling often enables me to regain my balance, gain clarification, or solve a problem. It feels like I’m saving my life. Don’t be afraid to “write big”. Just let it rip.

The element of surprise is one of the best things about “writing big”. It’s like getting in the car and just taking a drive with no destination in sight. You start the car and trust the process. That same sense of fun and freedom can be yours when you simply begin to write, enjoy the journey and allow it to surprise you.

Writing Small:  Young children have a tendency to write “bed to bed” stories. You know what I mean. They are stories that include every detail of an experience from the very beginning to the very end. Cute, but often filled with boring details. As a teacher of writing, I often help kids to “narrow the topic”. Once they realize they can zero in on just one aspect of their story, their writing improves dramatically.

Perhaps there is a big topic on your mind today. You feel as though you could write a book about it. Feeling overwhelmed right from the start can deter progress. Here’s a easy technique I picked up somewhere along the way…

1. Trace your hand in your journal
2. Write the topic in the palm of the hand
3. Then, on each finger, write one aspect of the topic
4. Pick one finger and write about that idea

Give yourself a hand and start small, jotting down your ideas about one simple aspect of the larger topic. I used the topic, “Sheltering-in-place” as an example. This is about Day 36 for my husband and me. Undoubtedly, it’s a big topic. Here’s how it broke down for me:  1) Things I miss, 2)Benefits, 3)Fears & Worries, 4)What I’ve Learned and           5) Feelings/Beliefs about how it’s being handled. Give it a try!

Want to Win a copy of this book? 

  On April 30th, I will be giving away two copies of this delightful book by Aimee Chase. I will randomly pick one current follower of this blog and will also pick one new follower of this blog to receive a copy. If you not already following, just click and you may win. Present not Perfect can be used either as a journal or simply to garner ideas. This colorful book is chock-full of information, quotes and prompts to spur you on. 

Someone special shared a great little poem with me. Whatever your religious persuasion, I think everyone can take to heart in the meaning in this verse. Enjoy! 

How the Virus Stole Easter
By Kristi Bothur With a nod to Dr. Seuss 😊

Twas late in ‘19 when the virus began
Bringing chaos and fear to all people, each land.

People were sick, hospitals full,
Doctors overwhelmed, no one in school.

As winter gave way to the promise of spring,
The virus raged on, touching peasant and king.

People hid in their homes from the enemy unseen.
They YouTubed and Zoomed, social-distanced, and cleaned.

April approached and churches were closed.
“There won’t be an Easter,” the world supposed.

“There won’t be church services, and egg hunts are out.
No reason for new dresses when we can’t go about.”

Holy Week started, as bleak as the rest.
The world was focused on masks and on tests.

“Easter can’t happen this year,” it proclaimed.
“Online and at home, it just won’t be the same.”

Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, the days came and went.
The virus pressed on; it just would not relent.

The world woke Sunday and nothing had changed.
The virus still menaced, the people, estranged.

“Pooh pooh to the saints,” the world was grumbling.
“They’re finding out now that no Easter is coming.

“They’re just waking up! We know just what they’ll do!
Their mouths will hang open a minute or two,
And then all the saints will all cry boo-hoo.

“That noise,” said the world, “will be something to hear.”
So it paused and the world put a hand to its ear.

And it did hear a sound coming through all the skies.
It started down low, then it started to rise.

But the sound wasn’t depressed.
Why, this sound was triumphant!
It couldn’t be so!
But it grew with abundance!

The world stared around, popping its eyes.
Then it shook! What it saw was a shocking surprise!

Every saint in every nation, the tall and the small,
Was celebrating Jesus in spite of it all!

It hadn’t stopped Easter from coming! It came!
Somehow or other, it came just the same!

And the world with its life quite stuck in quarantine
Stood puzzling and puzzling.
“Just how can it be?”

“It came without bonnets, it came without bunnies,
It came without egg hunts, cantatas, or money.”

Then the world thought of something it hadn’t before.
“Maybe Easter,” it thought, “doesn’t come from a store.
Maybe Easter, perhaps, means a little bit more.”

And what happened then?
Well….the story’s not done.
What will YOU do?
Will you share with that one
Or two or more people needing hope in this night?
Will you share the source of your life in this fight?

The churches are empty – but so is the tomb,
And Jesus is victor over death, doom, and gloom.

So this year at Easter, let this be our prayer,
As the virus still rages all around, everywhere.

May the world see hope when it looks at God’s people.
May the world see the church is not a building or steeple.
May the world find Faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection,
May the world find Joy in a time of dejection.
May 2020 be known as the year of survival,
But not only that –
Let it start a revival.

It’s been difficult to give up regular visits with our grandchildren. With that said, I am so grateful for the technology that is bridging the gap.  Since my older grand kids no longer have school followed by activities, I actually connect with them more frequently. Face Time and Zoom have been my friends!

Two brother, Carson and Jackson, are the youngest of the grand kids. It’s wonderful to see them on Face Time and we welcome the regular calls. However, they are still babies. Now that we can’t connect in person, I wanted to find a more structured way to interact with them. On Saturday, I decided to video myself reading a story to them. I chose a simple, short rhyming book, propped my phone up next to my chair and began. Of course, I was able to show them the pictures and draw their attention to certain things. Now Carson, who is two and his nine-month old brother will able to listen to Mimi read them a story. Not ideal, but “any port in a storm”.

In keeping with our poetry challenge Are you up for the challenge? I had a Zoom meeting with two of the other “grands” yesterday. Since everyone is grappling with emotions these days, (including children) I figure I’d share an easy way to write about emotions. This was a simple process that I’ve used many times with students and within a half hour, these eight and nine-year-olds had crafted an amazing free-verse poem. Tuck these steps away in your tool box. Perhaps they will come in handy as you help your own children handle their emotions.

Grab a pencil and paper before you begin and allow time for kids to write and then share between each question…

1. Brainstorm various emotions                                                                                                        There should be nouns:  joy, disappointment, anger, surprise, etc.
2. What color is that emotion to you?
3. What does it taste like?
4. What does it smell like?
5. What does it feel (touch) like?
6. What does it make you want to do?
7.  7.At this point, share a sample. You can write one of your own or use these.

        Surprise is a burst of yellow                                                                                                                      that jolts me like the taste of lemon juice.                                                                                           Surprise grabs me like a splash of cold water.                                                                                     She wears a sneaky smile                                                                                                                           and makes me want to dance. 

      Anger barges through the door, wearing a dress of red.                                                                 She dances through the air spreading shots of heat and hate.                                                      Anger calls forth my fear and makes me want to hide. 

Both of these use personification, as well as similes and metaphors. It’s a good chance to review these forms of figurative language, but not necessary. Just let the kids have at it and go from there. Perhaps they’ll want to draw a picture to go along with their poem. Have fun with this and stay well.

We’d love to read poems you or your kids have written. Feel free to share in your reply.

Photo by energepic.com on Pexels.com

“I find out more and more every day how important it is for people to share their memories.” – Fred Rogers

It seems like the right time to share this quote. Now, when we are all sheltering-in-place. Now, when we have to time to write and reflect. Now, when we are faced daily with rising deaths and a virus that is devastating our country.

In January, I received one of the best gifts ever from my youngest son and his wife. The concept is fairly simple. Each week, my son sends me a question. I write my response directly onto his blog or the Storyworth site. At the end of the year, this company will curate all of my responses and create a book. If I choose, I can upload pictures and I have a chance to go back to each response and edit them before the book is published.

I can’t tell you how much I’ve enjoyed this project. This provides a structure that enables me to share family lore, memories and information that I want to leave my family. Like most of us, I wanted to write some type of memoir, but I simply didn’t know where to  begin or how to structure it. “You can eat an elephant if you do it a bite at a time.” A bite at a time, I am plowing through and creating a permanent legacy.

Through this project, I am also bonding closely with my son. The site offers suggested questions, but together we decided that we want to “go deeper”. To that end I came up with some possible questions, as did my son. At first, I was going to address it to all five of our children, but I decided to write this book as a series of letters to my youngest son. Obviously, the text will be there for him to share with his siblings. It’s been a rewarding experience for both of us. Recognizing its value, my goal is to continue and create a book in conjunction with the other four kids.

This Great Pause in life is the perfect time to get started on a project like this. Many of my friends are rummaging through their photos and mementos so they can share them with their families, as well. Don’t let this time pass you by. Remember Fred Roger’s meaningful quote. Storyworth is the name of the company for the book I’m writing. Check it out if you are interested.

No matter what your age, writing your thoughts and memories is a cathartic and important experience. If you are home with your children during this time, it’s an easy and enjoyable way to show them the value of writing. Grab an old copy book, jot down what it’s like to live during this challenging time, pour out your heart on the page and invite your kids to do the same. There are many ways to nurture literacy. Encouraging your kids to write for authentic reasons is a great one!