Let the Writing Begin

We're starting a new semester of English II and have had a productive first week with lots of writing. If I can get a hold of the photos that students took of our whiteboard covered with potential topics I'll post those here. Meanwhile, here are excerpts from reflections written by students at the end of one week of writing and reading and thinking. There's a lot to write and read and think about, with most students taking at least two college courses--and, in some cases, as many as five. I think we're off to a strong start.

About Writing and the Daybook:
At first I didn’t know what to write but after a while I learned to just let go while I watched my hand fly across the paper to its own accord.

Writing is powerful. When you write something down you can see it and it is no longer just a thought floating around. By your thoughts being on paper, they have a meaning.

Writing helps me show my emotions the same way as when you make a painting.

One of my revelations that occurred this week was that writer’s block is really just your inner critic refusing to let your creativity reach its fullest potential.

I feel like writing is a better thing to do [as opposed to reading and interpreting] even though my hand says the opposite of this.

The daybook helps me to douse my insecurity.

The daybook takes away those “handcuffs” so you can write what you want, when you want.

About the Self:
I have found out more about myself as a writer over this last week than I have in the last nine years that I have been writing. Which makes me wonder, what took me so long to be able to try to figure myself out?

I am the kind of writer who draws inspiration from books, songs, other people, and past experiences; the kind of writer who now knows techniques to tell the inner critic to go away and go get coffee or something.

I’m the type of person who likes to ball everything up inside. And it’s not good when a person does that. It creates wrath inside. I believe if the world didn’t know how to read or write the world would go mad.

I struggle most with being Mr. Summary. You know, the kind of guy who takes a four page narrative essay and turns it into a one page summation.

My first reflection paper says that I am the type of writer who likes to write poetry and is inspired by music, emotions, and everyday life. I had never realized this was true until you asked that question. At that moment I realized that my life revolved around poetry. Every day I am looking for new things to write about and I don’t even realize it.

When we were going around the classroom sharing I was hit by a memory from elementary school so vividly it was like I was really there for an instant. It was Valentine’s Day, and all the children from my class had gone outside to play duck duck goose. I don’t remember seeing people and faces, all I could see were the trees and the sky. This short glimpse, though, showed me the difference between the way I saw things as a child and how I do now.

One activity this week triggered an epiphany. During the timeline, I was writing down memories and as I looked back over it I realized that the bad memories I had all played a part in shaping the kind of person and writer I am.

About English Class:
This class makes you think a lot. You have to stay outside the box.

I can share my writing or I can choose not to. I can read out loud or I can choose not to. There is a choice. Everyone likes to have a choice. It makes them feel important.

My favorite part of this course is that I don’t have to share unless I feel comfortable. A lot of teachers try to force students into sharing and that makes me really nervous. I feel a little bit shy right now, but I have a feeling I’ll be more comfortable in a couple of weeks.

About Reading:
A topic always has a meaning about what one is about to read and is also connected to the author and how he or she feels. Although I knew this before, I’ve never given much importance towards whether my assignments have a significant meaning to me. After this week I learned that I can always relate to what I am writing about, making the assignment more entertaining.

About the short chapter, “Stories Matter”:
I could picture everything in my head. I could see the mother’s agony in her eyes. The kids pulling on their mother’s clothes begging for food or a drop of water. People coming up to the reporter thinking she’s a doctor. I picture it all. This is great because if I start picturing things then I start writing more which is a great way to start.

About the essay, “The Silk Parachute”:
It was random and messy, but done in a very proper fashion where it all made sense in the end.

About the Week:
But the high expectation coming from my dad is almost life threatening. I mean, yeah, I made it look easy in K-5, but who can’t make it look easy then?