You have expressed the frustration that I have felt for years as a teacher trying to teach writing creatively. We are stretched so thin with all of the "requirements" that most of the amazing writing strategies that I learned during my Master's work are considered frivolous. I was lucky to go to school when responding to literature was the norm. Maybe I should teach a creative writing class...
My dearest Robin. You don't know how upset I am that we did not have more time together at West glades. You are truly a treasure, and I enjoyed every minute I spent listening to you and, in some humble way, sitting at your feet. I support your assessment of the five-paragraph theme essay and what it has done to stifle creativity among our students. For the sake of a "Timed test," we completely re-routed our students' creativity into the smallest common denominator. After eight years at Westglades Middle, I retired for a year. While engaging in online tutoring, I realized I had not finished teaching. So I went back to teaching Language Arts in a Charter school. I am in my third year there (my thirty-fourth year of teaching), and I love my students so much. I am also in the middle of writing my fifth book (third novel), and I can't seem to stop! Truth be told, I don't think I will ever stop writing books. It is my new passion. Please accept my sincerest wish that you are well and doing what you want every day. Life is indeed too short. Please do not waste your time on anything that does not make you happy. I miss our conversations together.
You have expressed the frustration that I have felt for years as a teacher trying to teach writing creatively. We are stretched so thin with all of the "requirements" that most of the amazing writing strategies that I learned during my Master's work are considered frivolous. I was lucky to go to school when responding to literature was the norm. Maybe I should teach a creative writing class...
It would certainly give you the opportunity to use those strategies!
My dearest Robin. You don't know how upset I am that we did not have more time together at West glades. You are truly a treasure, and I enjoyed every minute I spent listening to you and, in some humble way, sitting at your feet. I support your assessment of the five-paragraph theme essay and what it has done to stifle creativity among our students. For the sake of a "Timed test," we completely re-routed our students' creativity into the smallest common denominator. After eight years at Westglades Middle, I retired for a year. While engaging in online tutoring, I realized I had not finished teaching. So I went back to teaching Language Arts in a Charter school. I am in my third year there (my thirty-fourth year of teaching), and I love my students so much. I am also in the middle of writing my fifth book (third novel), and I can't seem to stop! Truth be told, I don't think I will ever stop writing books. It is my new passion. Please accept my sincerest wish that you are well and doing what you want every day. Life is indeed too short. Please do not waste your time on anything that does not make you happy. I miss our conversations together.
Cheers,
Dr. Dennis Wechter