Creative Writing Class Summary 12/8/14

with Kim Rodgers and Jayne Besjak

A Poetry Reading

We began class by having a poetry reading lead by those who wrote a poem during the week. What wonderful rhyme and creativity!

Defining Memory

We moved into talking about memories by discussing the definition of the word. After many thoughts were shared we read the book “Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge” by Mem Fox. In the book a boy shares his experiences forming special relationships with inhabitants of a nursing home, which is right next door to him. He singles out one woman who has four names, as he does. He overhears his parents discussing the fact that she has lost her memory. He then decides to find out what a memory is. After asking several of his neighbors at the home (where they each answer differently...something warm, something as precious as gold, something that makes you laugh, something that makes you cry, something from long ago) he sets off collecting items that describe each one of these in the hopes of helping Miss Nancy find her memory. As he shares each item with her, her memory is ignited and she recounts stories fulfilling each description of memory.

After reading the book together, the students set out to remind themselves of memories they might have relating to each one of the definitions. After they had four or five memories, they met with a partner and shared their memories, paying close attention to the memory they had the most details for. We came together as a group and they each shared their favorite, most descriptive memory. Their goal this week is to write that memory down, including as many details as possible to share with the class next week. You might need to help them with some of the details as some of their “memories” have come from you telling them stories of their younger years! Ha! 

Looking forward to hearing all of their memories next week!