I am at a class about teaching grammar, and the discussion of grammar in the novel, "The Elegance of the Hedgehog".
Personally, I think that grammar is a way to attain beauty. When you speak, or read, or write, you can tell if what you’ve said or read or written is a fine sentence. You can recognize a well-turned phrase or an elegant style. But when you are applying the rules of grammar skillfully, you ascend to another level of the beauty of language. When you use grammar, you peel back the layers, to see how it is all put together, see it quite naked, in a way.
Hmmm....never thought about grammar as interesting, but this quote and Jeff Anderson are working in tandem to change my impressions. :)
Monday, August 8, 2011
Monday, June 13, 2011
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Books I have been Reading
So, I finally finished Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. I received the book as a Christmas gift (thanks Max O. and family) but immediately put it in the classroom library, so just have gained access to the book. Due to my detail oriented nature, I found myself inspired to re-read the first two of the trilogy prior to tackling the last, so I have had Hunger Games on the brain as of late. I found myself frustrated that the movie version of the first installment will be rated R, but in re-reading the book, I found that to visualize some of the descriptions would require a significant amount of blood, gore, and violence. I would recommend reading and discussing alongside your parent if you do venture into the world of Panem, but Hunger Games seemed to feature the most blood shed.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Color Outside the Lines
Coloring Outside the Lines
by Craig Kinsley
Something from nothing is where our story begins
When everything was created from beginning to end
Like salt from a shaker, beauty fell on the earth
And with a heart full of love the heavens gave birth
Each plant and each tree held splendor beyond reason
It was a sight to behold the unfolding of four seasons
Like a body with two eyes, two legs and a nose
Each part had a purpose, and their differences showed
Every piece was unique even beyond measure
The Creator said it was good and that it was His pleasure
Even the snow and its flakes were never the same
Each one was distinct as if created by name.
And even when two are created in one
Their fingerprints are different, whether daughter or son.
Not one created twice is His rule of thumb
Different purposes and callings to the earth have we come.
But in this day and age, as children begin to grow
The uniqueness that once was ceases to show
With our big ‘ol green roofs, and SUV’s in the drive,
a white picket fence and we say we’ve arrived
Like a single piece of cloth, we’re all cut just the same
“Become just like us, it’s the American Dream!” they exclaim
“How can we create that which doesn’t exist?
We’ll just follow the crowd, that’s the best” they insist.
Like a cookie or cake, it’s a sight to behold
One would think just by looking that we’re from the same mold
From the first to the last, from the hair to the clothes
There’s not one single difference and that’s good we suppose.
Assembled and packaged, like a gift from a store
They come right off the line and right out the door
Their bows and their braids, their neckties and pants
They’re packed up and wrapped up, not standing a chance.
Do this and do that and don’t say a word
“Could we do something different, well that’s never occurred”
As the years come and go, one after another
Our past hopes and dreams grow further and further
Life’s just too busy, there’s simply no time to think
It’s all passing by, we’re scared just to blink
The new is no more and creation has ceased
Something from nothing? No not in the least
But there once was a boy named Alfie who never did things very plain
Who dared to be different and never quite looked the same
He had the heart of an artist and the spirit of a pioneer
He seemed to always take the narrow road, this much was clear
As he sat there in class, there was no way to know
That this was the day that little Alfie would grow.
The teacher announces, I’ve got a project for you
There’s no need for anything different or to create anything new
I’ve done it all for you with my photocopy machine
You each get 1 color either blue red or green
As the pictures were passed, the teacher exclaimed
“There are lines on the page so they’ll all look the same”
“Just pick up your paper, sit down in your seat
Stay inside the lines where it’s nice and neat
Simply pick up your color, the blue one will do
You don’t have to think, the works been done for you
The work had begun on the coloring sheets
The students worked hard, not missing a beat
But Alfie had a dream, a desire in his heart
It was different from most right from the start
He created his masterpiece quite different from his friends
It might not have seemed pretty, but it was his in the end
As the teacher arrived, little Sally was through
She had used every color from yellow to blue
Her picture was perfect, from bottom to top
She even used paint down to the last drop
The colors were shaded and graded with particular care
All the teacher could do was sit there and stare
As the teacher arrived to Alfie’s small seat
Her stare was quite different and not quite as sweet
“I’m confused little Alfie, I don’t get your designs
Why not look at little Sally, she stayed inside the lines.”
“What have you done, I don’t mean to complain
But it’s new and it’s different, why don’t you explain”
“It’s a tree!” he exclaimed as he held the picture to show
“It’s swaying and rocking as the wind starts to blow!”
“A tree’s not what I see and no blowing wind
What I see is just scribble and scrabble my friend”
Alfie thought to himself, “I don’t understand
I drew it and thought it, it came from my hand”
“It might not be perfect, but what does that mean
Perfect is different when with the heart it is seen.”
“If I do it the same, will I see wonders and signs
No me I prefer to color outside the lines.”
From that day forward Alfie began to create
Something from nothing because a dream did await
He was created and crafted, so he did as well
With every new day he found his dream did excel
Each was quite different and hardly ever the same
Till one day his dream to reality it came
A great generation, that’s never existed before
Millions of lovers and dreamers that prophets called for
They all weren’t the same, they had various looks
But had one heart and mind as foretold in a Book
They had one common goal that began with a picture
That a King would arise and our love would grow thicker
So here is your canvas, made of paper and wood
Do what is different and what you never thought that you could
You see, dreams from the heart, are not a mistake
But cause people to rise and the earth to awake
That earth is now crying and waiting on you
To arise and awake and do something new
by Craig Kinsley
Something from nothing is where our story begins
When everything was created from beginning to end
Like salt from a shaker, beauty fell on the earth
And with a heart full of love the heavens gave birth
Each plant and each tree held splendor beyond reason
It was a sight to behold the unfolding of four seasons
Like a body with two eyes, two legs and a nose
Each part had a purpose, and their differences showed
Every piece was unique even beyond measure
The Creator said it was good and that it was His pleasure
Even the snow and its flakes were never the same
Each one was distinct as if created by name.
And even when two are created in one
Their fingerprints are different, whether daughter or son.
Not one created twice is His rule of thumb
Different purposes and callings to the earth have we come.
But in this day and age, as children begin to grow
The uniqueness that once was ceases to show
With our big ‘ol green roofs, and SUV’s in the drive,
a white picket fence and we say we’ve arrived
Like a single piece of cloth, we’re all cut just the same
“Become just like us, it’s the American Dream!” they exclaim
“How can we create that which doesn’t exist?
We’ll just follow the crowd, that’s the best” they insist.
Like a cookie or cake, it’s a sight to behold
One would think just by looking that we’re from the same mold
From the first to the last, from the hair to the clothes
There’s not one single difference and that’s good we suppose.
Assembled and packaged, like a gift from a store
They come right off the line and right out the door
Their bows and their braids, their neckties and pants
They’re packed up and wrapped up, not standing a chance.
Do this and do that and don’t say a word
“Could we do something different, well that’s never occurred”
As the years come and go, one after another
Our past hopes and dreams grow further and further
Life’s just too busy, there’s simply no time to think
It’s all passing by, we’re scared just to blink
The new is no more and creation has ceased
Something from nothing? No not in the least
But there once was a boy named Alfie who never did things very plain
Who dared to be different and never quite looked the same
He had the heart of an artist and the spirit of a pioneer
He seemed to always take the narrow road, this much was clear
As he sat there in class, there was no way to know
That this was the day that little Alfie would grow.
The teacher announces, I’ve got a project for you
There’s no need for anything different or to create anything new
I’ve done it all for you with my photocopy machine
You each get 1 color either blue red or green
As the pictures were passed, the teacher exclaimed
“There are lines on the page so they’ll all look the same”
“Just pick up your paper, sit down in your seat
Stay inside the lines where it’s nice and neat
Simply pick up your color, the blue one will do
You don’t have to think, the works been done for you
The work had begun on the coloring sheets
The students worked hard, not missing a beat
But Alfie had a dream, a desire in his heart
It was different from most right from the start
He created his masterpiece quite different from his friends
It might not have seemed pretty, but it was his in the end
As the teacher arrived, little Sally was through
She had used every color from yellow to blue
Her picture was perfect, from bottom to top
She even used paint down to the last drop
The colors were shaded and graded with particular care
All the teacher could do was sit there and stare
As the teacher arrived to Alfie’s small seat
Her stare was quite different and not quite as sweet
“I’m confused little Alfie, I don’t get your designs
Why not look at little Sally, she stayed inside the lines.”
“What have you done, I don’t mean to complain
But it’s new and it’s different, why don’t you explain”
“It’s a tree!” he exclaimed as he held the picture to show
“It’s swaying and rocking as the wind starts to blow!”
“A tree’s not what I see and no blowing wind
What I see is just scribble and scrabble my friend”
Alfie thought to himself, “I don’t understand
I drew it and thought it, it came from my hand”
“It might not be perfect, but what does that mean
Perfect is different when with the heart it is seen.”
“If I do it the same, will I see wonders and signs
No me I prefer to color outside the lines.”
From that day forward Alfie began to create
Something from nothing because a dream did await
He was created and crafted, so he did as well
With every new day he found his dream did excel
Each was quite different and hardly ever the same
Till one day his dream to reality it came
A great generation, that’s never existed before
Millions of lovers and dreamers that prophets called for
They all weren’t the same, they had various looks
But had one heart and mind as foretold in a Book
They had one common goal that began with a picture
That a King would arise and our love would grow thicker
So here is your canvas, made of paper and wood
Do what is different and what you never thought that you could
You see, dreams from the heart, are not a mistake
But cause people to rise and the earth to awake
That earth is now crying and waiting on you
To arise and awake and do something new
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