February 25, 2005
blocked writer
because our house is loud and small, my sister marley has taken to doing her homework in the laundry room. the other day i walked in and found her on the floor crying over blank papers. her class is working on their creative writing, so she's had to write a new story almost every night. she says she likes making up stories but she hates writing for her teacher. anyway, she spent the entire evening in the laundry room with little to show for it. i forgot she was there when i opened the door later and found her asleep on the washing machine. i remember all too clearly having similar feelings of bitterness concerning school.
Posted by red clay at February 25, 2005 01:45 PM | TrackBackAwwwwwwwww poor thing!
Our oldest is 12, in her first year of Junior High, and loves creative writing. She is always writing stories and such, but when it comes time to write something the teacher assigns, she gets so upset about it. She likes to write, but on her terms only. Needless to say it's been a rough year! lol
Posted by: Liesa at February 25, 2005 02:59 PMWell, Kelly, we homeschool and my kids still act that way about writing. I think the only reason teachers assign stuff like this every night is because they don't have to see the kid fall asleep on the drier or crying over the empty page. In our house, if you can't write it, act it out, dictate it, draw it, but get it out there.
Because it's the GETTING THROUGH IT that matters. Sure, there are times when you just can't write a thing and you'd rather lay around and feel like a slug than do anything productive. I feel that way on a daily basis. But if you can find a way to get through it--to get through the writing, or doing the laundry, or washing the dishes, or solving the problem, or making the painting, or settling the argument-- THAT'S a life lesson.
It's a hurdle that can be jumped. It really can.
Press on, Young Marley!
Posted by: thicket dweller at February 25, 2005 05:21 PMPoor thing! I just don't understand telling a child to write a new story every single night. That seems excessive. There has to be more to creativity than just getting through it, although I'll admit that's a part of it.
Posted by: Beth at February 26, 2005 12:30 PMa lefty thumb sucker - she's bound to be a great writer.
How sweet. I hope her dreams provided some wonderful writing material!
Posted by: Deb at February 28, 2005 10:00 AMliesa. i too always only wanted to do things on my own terms. i still do, and it really gets on my nerves about myself.
michael. i know. her homework woes are one thing i'm very empathetic about.
thicket dweller. i wish you could have home schooled me. i would have loved getting things out in my own way. and i agree that's it's good for her to push on and work through it. i have the tendency to want to quit half-way through things. i've been slow to learn this lesson myself.
beth. this is one instance that i really didn't agree with the teacher's methods, but it's almost over. all these stories were preparation for some state test, which marley can't wait to take this week and have behind her.
steph. she's left and right handed in writing and thumb sucking. a very talented girl.
deb. i can't remember what she wrote about that night. i used to have dreams that i was getting all my homework done, only to wake and find that i hadn't started. it was very disappointing.
I'm emailing this to Marley's teacher!...
Posted by: Joseph at March 7, 2005 09:03 PM