Tinikling Between Two Wor(l)ds

For this week, I want you to think about a lesson you learned (or taught) while at school that did not involve academic standards. Through that experience, you might have developed character, self-awareness, pride, confidence, or some other attribute. Those are the moments that make my job worthwhile. As Lola Ida used to say, "Teaching is not just a profession; it is a mission."

Now, it is your turn. I want you to think of something that is missing from the classroom. If you are choosing something tangible, do not make a supply list. Focus on one item: tissue paper, markers, flexible seating. It could be something more abstract: a course (art, home economics, woodwork) or even subject matter (SEL, diversity, financial literacy). Whether a student, teacher, parent, or visitor, your observation matters. Why is that item or topic so important? What are the possibilities when it is accessible in the classroom?

CDK: Either they could write about how they have faced a similar hurdle in their life where they struggled with self confidence, or how they would approach someone else going through this—like a close loved one.

KT: I think that would be an interesting spin-off.

CDK: I would like the listeners to respond to how they would approach—say a loved one or just a friend—going through a hurdle in their life, battling self-confidence, and low-self esteem.

This week's prompt is about confidence. Too much of it can lead to hubris, ignorance, and pride. Too little can result in low self-esteem, doubt, and even depression. For your writing, pick an extreme. Life is all about balancing the thin lines between two words, but the reality is we often lean one way or another. The journey is worth telling and exploring.

This week, I want to focus on the sound of language. Students often assume that poetry has to rhyme. When they only consider words by matching the ending sound, their final poems are often limited, forced, and corny. That's where lessons on alliteration, assonance, and consonance come in. The repetition of sounds can either be a vowel or consonant that is placed at the beginning, middle, or end of words. Have your writing explore one or more of these literary devices.

Rather than focusing on the content of this poem, my challenge for this week is to go back to the basics. This poem centered around CVC words and simplicity. Have the majority of your writing include simple CVC words. Enjoy exploring a childlike voice with wonder, amusement, worry, or any other strong emotion. Have fun.

With that said, I want you to describe something that you learned from an older generation. This might be a mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, aunt, uncle, neighbor, colleague. Try to be specific. For instance, if you are going to talk about cooking, then focus on a certain dish. Try to recall what happened that exact day down to the "little-big" moments. I am curious if your story will focus on a certain game, food, art, skill, hobby, or something else I didn't expect.

AK: Write about a time where you realized that you are the only person in your life that is permanent. Because that's an important realization to have. And, I feel everyone should have that realization.

For this week, explore a topic or style that captures you. It does not have to be biographical or true. It can delve into science fiction, fantasy, mystery, and so forth. You do not have to be the center of the writing, but I want the piece to reflect your interests and imagination.

For this week's prompt, I want you to think about style or format. Specifically, palindromes. I suggest that you start small by attempting only one stanza to flip. However, if palindrome poetry sounds too intimidating, you can try a different approach. Instead, you can use as many words that are palindromes within your writing. To get you started, here are a few: Anna, civic, kayak, level, madam, mom, noon, racecar, radar, refer, rotator, sagas, solos, stats, tenet, wow.

The goal is to have fun and try something new.