Teachers grasp at every possible straw to prompt a student to write. Go on a field trip, write about it. Have a pet, write about it. Snow yesterday, write about it.
That's what one teacher in the mid 1950's had in mind when she taught a writing lesson using the week long snow break the children had just experienced. Her class discussed snow. They drew pictures of snowmen. They listed possible snow related words on the chalk board. Then she had them write a "What I did during the snow" story.
That night she read the stories. No snowmen here. These stories were about staying cold, walking to get wood from the woodpile, shoveling coal, water pipes breaking and candles on the tables. She expected delight. She received reality. Third grade reality.
Catch of the day,
Gretchen
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