Why Not Write Wednesday: School Year Memories

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Why Not Write Wednesday: School Year Memories

Today is one of the last Why Not Write Wednesday's of the school year. It's a good time to pause and think back on all the fun times you've had this year. Was there a field trip or special activity that you really loved? Do you have special memories of hanging out with classmates or with your teacher?

Now is the perfect time to sit down and capture some of these memories on paper. If you can't remember a specific moment, try writing about what makes your teacher special. Or maybe you are worried about how next year will be different? Capture your worries on paper and you might just find you feel a little better. 

Share with us! Post your writing in the comments section of our blog! Better yet, share your memories with your parents, teachers or friends, they will really appreciate it!

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Read It Here First! Waxing Poetic at Commodore Sloat

The lucky students at Commodore Sloat are finishing up their fifth year of a TMWFI poetry residency. We have seen these young poets learn, grow and create some powerful works of poetry. This week they had a poetry reading at school lead by our Teachers Emily and Celeste. Thanks to our Sloat 3rd graders and parents for being such a respectful audience.

Scroll down to find your child's poem and ask them to perform it for you. If you have time read all the pieces, they are profound, wise, silly and great windows into these kids' minds.

 

Commodore Sloat 4th grade Poets.

Poems from Mr Kenney's Students:

Poems from Ms. Kabash's Students:

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SPOTLIGHT! WORDS OF WISDOM FROM INSTRUCTOR Q!

We've been talking to our instructors about what makes them tick - as teachers, as writers and as language lovers! Enjoy learning a little more about Northern Virginia instructor Qinglan "Q" Wang.

What do you learn from your students? I love learning how my students see the world as a place full of color and endless possibilities!
 
How has teaching impacted your craft? Teaching has brought the art of improvisation and sharpening of writing technique to my personal writing.

What is a favorite word of yours? Use it in a sentence!  Mesmerize -- The glint of sun from the pond mesmerized the girl.
 
Share with us a quote or a poem that has been meaningful to you.

Porcupines by Marilyn Singer

Hugging you takes some practice.

So I'll start out with a cactus.

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Why Not Write Wednesday: Shakespeare 400

 

This week, language lovers around the world are celebrating 400 years since the death of Shakespeare (and 452 years since his birth!). Celebrations of Shakespeare's life and work have been happening across the globe and will continue through this year. In honor of the Bard, try your hand at writing (or re-writing) a sonnet. A Shakespearean sonnet has 14 lines - 3 quatrains of 4 lines each followed by a rhyming couplet that resolves the theme or problem set in the quatrains. The rhyme scheme: ABAB CDCD EFEF GG

If thou needs inspiration, here is Sonnet #18:

Shall I compare thee to a summer's day

Thou art more lovely and more temperate:

Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,

And summer's lease hath all too short a date:

Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,

And often is his gold complexion dimmed,

And every fair form fair sometime declines,

By chance, or nature's changing course untrimmed:

But they eternal summal shall not fade,

Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow'st,

Nor shall death brag thou wand'rest in his shade,

When in eternal lines to time thou grow'st,

So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,

So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.

Share your writing with us! Post your sonnet in the comments section of our blog!

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