4.14 Imagining What’s Possible and Reaching For It

CONNECTION Sunday Afternoon on La Grand Jatte by Seurat Took 2 years, drafting and revising Used 3 dogs, 8 boats, and over 40 people as models Any kind of meaningful work takes drafting and revising!

TEACHING POINT Today I want to teach you that readers grow their ideas by following a process of drafting and revision.

TEACHING GOOD INTERPRETATIONS… Connect with the entire arc of the text Account for craft decisions that the author made Matter beyond this one text and one day

TEACHING By Eloise Greenfield Things Went to the corner Walked to the store Bought me some candy Ain’t got it no more Went to the beach Played on the shore Built me a sandhouse Went to the kitchen Lay down on the floor Made me a poem Still got it By Eloise Greenfield

TEACHING Things Went to the corner Walked to the store Bought me some candy Ain’t got it no more Went to the beach Played on the shore Built me a sandhouse Went to the kitchen Lay down on the floor Made me a poem Still got it Interpretation by one student: “Things” by Eloise Greenfield is a poem about poetry, and it says that poetry lasts forever. By Eloise Greenfield

TEACHING Things Went to the corner Walked to the store Bought me some candy Ain’t got it no more Went to the beach Played on the shore Built me a sandhouse Went to the kitchen Lay down on the floor Made me a poem Still got it Interpretation by one student: “Things” by Eloise Greenfield is a poem about poetry, and it says that poetry lasts forever. GOOD INTERPRETATIONS… Connect with the entire arc of the text—NO! This interpretation doesn’t account for the first and second stanza. Account for craft decisions that the author made Matter beyond this one text and one day By Eloise Greenfield

TEACHING Things Went to the corner Walked to the store Bought me some candy Ain’t got it no more Went to the beach Played on the shore Built me a sandhouse Went to the kitchen Lay down on the floor Made me a poem Still got it “Things” by Eloise Greenfield is a poem about poetry, and it says that in a world where many things—sand castles, candy—don’t last, poetry lasts forever. GOOD INTERPRETATIONS… Connect with the entire arc of the text Account for craft decisions that the author made Matter beyond this one text and one day By Eloise Greenfield

TEACHING Things Went to the corner Walked to the store Bought me some candy Ain’t got it no more Went to the beach Played on the shore Built me a sandhouse Went to the kitchen Lay down on the floor Made me a poem Still got it “Things” by Eloise Greenfield is a poem about poetry, and it says that in a world where many things—sand castles, candy—don’t last, poetry lasts forever. GOOD INTERPRETATIONS… Connect with the entire arc of the text Account for craft decisions that the author made—NO! What did Eloise do to write the poem? Matter beyond this one text and one day By Eloise Greenfield

TEACHING Things Went to the corner Walked to the store Bought me some candy Ain’t got it no more Went to the beach Played on the shore Built me a sandhouse Went to the kitchen Lay down on the floor Made me a poem Still got it “Things” by Eloise Greenfield is a poem about poetry, and it says that in a world where many things—sand castles, candy—don’t last, poetry lasts forever, and is available to us all. GOOD INTERPRETATIONS… Connect with the entire arc of the text Account for craft decisions that the author made—Author uses slang and informal wording Matter beyond this one text and one day By Eloise Greenfield

ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT Our Idea: In “Bud, Not Buddy,” Bud carries his home with him in his suitcase. GOOD INTERPRETATIONS… Connect with the entire arc of the text Account for craft decisions that the author made Matter beyond this one text and one day

ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT Sometimes in life people lose their homes, must carry their sense of home with them, and then must find a new sense of home where they feel they belong.

LINK Ask yourself, “What is this book really trying to teach me about life? What is this book really about?”

MIDWORKSHOP Read on, thinking of your club conversations. Does one member always challenge your wording? Does one member always remind you to connect your ideas to the beginning of the book? Anticipate conversations you would have with your club members and allow that to guide your reading and thinking.

SHARE TALKING AND WRITING TO LEARN I’m changing my mind… I’m starting to think… I’m realizing… So, if that’s true, then… Can we try that idea on for a bit? If that’s true, then how come… Could it be that…?