Comments on: From the Archives - Part 3 http://www.teachopedia.com/blog/from-the-archives-part-3/ From your friends at Teach Kentucky Sun, 23 Nov 2008 10:51:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.3 By: Robin Swisher http://www.teachopedia.com/blog/from-the-archives-part-3/#comment-130 Robin Swisher Tue, 16 Sep 2008 05:17:00 +0000 http://www.teachopedia.com/blog/from-the-archives-part-3/#comment-130 For the unique culture our little section of the US affords us, it lays out in the attitudes of ours students mountains we expect never to overcome. I am happy to read of your inspiring victories Mr. Barnwell. The comments of Ms. Yost sound like my own experiences when I entered the classroom. Our task in teaching writing is daunting without state jargon and the lack of motivation and support from students and families, but small victories are enough. Meeting deer hunters and four wheeler riders at their hearts assures them that what they do is just as poetic as a Shakespeare sonnet. I am in extreme southeast Kentucky -- as down home as it gets -- and live for months off of one instance of student inspiration or realization. I understand. And if you are blessed to share a space with Ms. Lyon, you will see the heart of a writer generously open to draw you in and prepare you to write who you are. This is what we must continue to do for our students. Great blog! The students comments are wonderful* For the unique culture our little section of the US affords us, it lays out in the attitudes of ours students mountains we expect never to overcome. I am happy to read of your inspiring victories Mr. Barnwell. The comments of Ms. Yost sound like my own experiences when I entered the classroom. Our task in teaching writing is daunting without state jargon and the lack of motivation and support from students and families, but small victories are enough. Meeting deer hunters and four wheeler riders at their hearts assures them that what they do is just as poetic as a Shakespeare sonnet. I am in extreme southeast Kentucky — as down home as it gets — and live for months off of one instance of student inspiration or realization. I understand. And if you are blessed to share a space with Ms. Lyon, you will see the heart of a writer generously open to draw you in and prepare you to write who you are. This is what we must continue to do for our students.
Great blog! The students comments are wonderful*

]]> By: Sarah Yost http://www.teachopedia.com/blog/from-the-archives-part-3/#comment-68 Sarah Yost Tue, 18 Dec 2007 02:05:22 +0000 http://www.teachopedia.com/blog/from-the-archives-part-3/#comment-68 I, too, have had great success with Ms. Lyon's poem as a scaffold for getting reluctant writers to write poetry. This year my kids were so inspired, their own organic and original poetry sprung from initial "I Am From" drafts, and I received the most beautiful and authentic poetry I'd seen in three years. Also a success: Ms. Lyon's memory mapping exercise and opening myself up to my kids by sharing my own journals and scraps of writing. I saw George Ella Lyon present at the Louisville Writing Project (LWP) in the fall, and she shared her journals with us. I was inspired to do the same with my students, and the results have been amazing. It helped us become a closer knit, more honest and open writing community. By my willingness to "bare my soul", they too were encouraged to open up. Many thanks to George Ella Lyon and her inspirational attitude toward what it means to be a writer! I, too, have had great success with Ms. Lyon’s poem as a scaffold for getting reluctant writers to write poetry. This year my kids were so inspired, their own organic and original poetry sprung from initial “I Am From” drafts, and I received the most beautiful and authentic poetry I’d seen in three years.

Also a success: Ms. Lyon’s memory mapping exercise and opening myself up to my kids by sharing my own journals and scraps of writing. I saw George Ella Lyon present at the Louisville Writing Project (LWP) in the fall, and she shared her journals with us. I was inspired to do the same with my students, and the results have been amazing. It helped us become a closer knit, more honest and open writing community. By my willingness to “bare my soul”, they too were encouraged to open up.

Many thanks to George Ella Lyon and her inspirational attitude toward what it means to be a writer!

]]> By: George Ella Lyon http://www.teachopedia.com/blog/from-the-archives-part-3/#comment-65 George Ella Lyon Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:51:33 +0000 http://www.teachopedia.com/blog/from-the-archives-part-3/#comment-65 Just wanted to let you know that i wrote the poem-- "Where I'm From." Your students can hear me read it on my website, <a href="www.georgeellalyon.com" rel="nofollow">http://georgeellalyon.com/</a>. All best, George Ella Lyon Just wanted to let you know that i wrote the poem– “Where I’m From.” Your students can hear me read it on my website, http://georgeellalyon.com/.

All best,

George Ella Lyon

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