A Writing Prompt to Really Get To Know Your Students

 Three Things I Want You To Know About Me
I came up with this prompt while teaching high school, but it works with younger kids, too. It gives the students a choice of what to comment on, and allows them to use their own voice to tell it like it feels. You may learn a lot about music, sports, and their dog; but sometimes you will also learn about very serious topics like family crisis or illness. And at times the school can help the families. But you will know the students better, especially if you actually read the essays and comment on them. The kids feel very validated, and more willing to write the remainder of the year no matter what the topic.

Jim Abbott of the Yankees, pitching a no-hitter.

I especially enjoyed when the students shared their dreams for their future. You would be amazed how many major league baseball players (of the future) were in my seventh grade classes. Far be it from me to say otherwise. Who knows, anyway? If Jim Abbott, who had only one hand due to a birth defect, became a major league pitcher, shouldn't I be like his grown-ups and be filled with encouragement?

Going to My High School Reunion-see you in a couple days! (update)

Chula Vista High School Class of 1969 (yes, 1969!)

I'm in the center front, looking a little leggy. I was Senior Class Secretary, so I got to sit in a good spot.

About one third of our class is meeting up in San Diego this weekend. Many of us have been FB friends for 10 years or so. I have to say it is kind of trippy to have found ourselves again. I left my hometown to go to college in LA and did not return-how cool to be able to meet up again and see how everyone is. I really love it when my classmates' grandkids look just like them!

My school was lower middle class in an area of San Diego County that started out as a Navy town, so when we were there, the majority of us were being raising by Navy retirees from WWII. Could be why it was peaceful, organized and we had such a good chance. Many of my class had scholarships (myself included) and education has brought us a good life. I feel that the scholarships California provided for us was a good investment-we've provided service in many ways-military, education, business, the Arts, medical, science, engineering.

Lots of fun opportunities at CVHS- I got to edit the school newspaper, The Spartan Campus. Could be why I'm still writing. The Speech/Debate Team was a very important influence, too. I'm grateful.





So, I'll be driving down in the morning to a nice resort in El Centro (the desert area of San Diego) for a chit-chat with kids I graduated with fifty years ago when The Beatles' Get Back just came out.

Linda and I did meet up!

As we get back to where we once belonged (so to speak), I'll be able to pay back the $1.38 I borrowed from my BFF Linda for that hamburger and chips at lunch on the Senior Lawn.