Where do your prompts come from? Are you inspired to write without them or do you need a little push? Inspiration? Motivation?
I’ve been participating in The Stafford Challenge as well as Laura Shovan’s 12th Annual February Challenge, so I should not complain about needing or wanting a prompt for writing. My complaint, I suppose, is that there are too many prompts, too many things to write about. How do I choose the one? Not to mention, how do I keep up with it all?
I am lucky to be teaching ELA to different groups of children. We begin each class time with notebook writing. My students are loving this quiet, sacred writing time. I recently bought a collection of washi tapes and throw them out on the table for their use. My students are making color-coded pages, drawing, and writing, and embracing their creativity. They inspire me every day.
My student Sadie inspired this notebook poem. She came in singing. My heart drawing became a love poem I didn’t know was inside of me. The surprise of writing is addictive.
Dreams in my heart fly over the waves crashing onto the shore of your love. I am yours. You hold me like sea glass, soft and crystal, a gem, a gift from a broken world.
Margaret Simon, draft
Here is a page from Marifaye’s notebook. I marvel at her patience to write in two colors. She loves writing acrostics. Her notebook pages are beautifully created. She inspires me. She inspires her classmates. Maybe she will inspire you.
Reflections on the Teche 
Very fun! Love the use of the tape to motive and enliven a writing. I could use a bit of that motivation today. Struggling with a painting – not the topic but the how to – new learning is hard. Love how your young writers seem to jump into the task!
Margaret, I love Marifaye’s washi tape inspiration. So sweet. I love the idea of “stepping outside to the wonderful breeze.” Your beautiful valentine poem is precious. I’m sitting here thinking about the sea glass, gift from a broken world and hope that compares to the gift of love. Wow.
💙 all about your post, the inspiration, your being held like “sea glass, soft and crystal, a gem, a gift from a broken world.”
And the ending so beautifully bittersweet. And Marifaye’s creatively written and embellished poems, thanks for sharing all Margaret!
“held like sea glass” – sigh!
Yes, we were all moved by your sea glass comparison, Margaret! How lovely when we, as writers, are taken somewhere we didn’t expect to go. Marifaye’s notebook is beautiful.
How cool that Marifaye is letting the washi tapes inspire her theme each day. You can see that that’s the notebook of an artist. In 6th grade, I had a teacher for gifted who gave us so much freedom to be creative and problem solve and try different things. What a gift that was for us students, and I remember that class and some of the things we did and the things I felt so well. Your students will remember the things you are doing with them their whole lives, I bet. And your sea glass! Mercy.
Margaret, I love hearing about what your students write. It is always so impressive and inspiring!
“hold me like sea glass” – so so beautiful, Margaret.
And Marifaye’s joy is CONTAGIOUS!
Love truly is “a gift from a broken world.”
Hey, Marifaye! Thanks for the inspiration! Time to break out the washi tape and play!
Margaret: Yes, she has inspired me. My grandgirls would love some washi tape, and I must get some for them! Ideas bloom! Thanks for sharing this…
That washi tape is such a creative gift. I love your page and Marifaye’s dreamy flower page. Thinking of flowers in February is a good thing to do! I’m missing Laura’s birthday writing for the 1st time ever, just do not have enough hours to do it this year. I’m sure you’re having fun with those prompts, Margaret!
Wow! I love that you begin class with quiet writing time. I long for some quiet time. I seem to have very little at work these days. I have spent all day (today Sat. 2/10) just enjoying quiet. I’m just getting to reading and writing now. It’s such fuel for me. Your students are fortunate. I love the beauty that Sadie puts into her journal that then sparks you and us!
I love every single thing about this post! You are lucky to work with these students, but the students are lucky to have you as their teacher, and you obviously inspire each other. What a beautiful way to start the day, with notebook writing! (And why don’t I do that? ha) Your draft is so beautiful. Poetry expands the heart.
“a gift from a broken world” —how beautiful! I love that washi tape is another way to inspire poetry and as always, I enjoyed the peek into your teaching life and your students’ work.
Margaret, oh the beautiful wonder of a heart poem evolving from inside your soul to paper! Students often inspire teachers to different levels of thinking. I enjoyed reading your poem as I spinned it around. Sadie and Marifaye’s notebook pages are beautiful. Please give them my compliments. I am off to find the tape you shared. (I am not sure why my first post yesterday did not make it to your response page.)
I *am* inspired … by you, by your students. Your poem goes so beautifully with the poem I shared on Friday — gifts in and from a broken world. ❤️