Tuesday, June 3, 2008

For the Writers....or not


This is a poem. It is a wonderful poem.
I discovered or rather rediscovered it a few days ago.
I knew when I saw it that I needed to use it in a storytelling program.
The problem is that I haven't figured out just how to use it or in what program.
In case you were wondering, and I know you were(admit it!), yes...this is how I come up with my scathingly brilliant (says who? says me!) storytelling programs.
I stumble upon one item that is just begging to be used/told and work a program around it.
Which leads back to my problem...I have yet to figure out just what to do with this poem. I am thinking it would work well with 5th graders through Middle schoolers.
But what exactly to do with it? Since I don't teach writing, as if I could (well there is a program I have done where we add on to a poem or write our own version of a folk/fairy tale). I am thinking I need to create a program of stories involving writing but I don't know any. YET!!
If anyone has any ideas or suggestions feel free to let me know.

So, about this poem. It was written by Shel Silverstein. To see more about him, check out this link to a previous blog featuring one of his poems, Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me, Too .
I love this particular poem because it definitely expresses how I feel sometimes when I face the computer.

Writer Waiting

Oh this shiny new computer-
There just isn't nothin' cuter.
It knows everything the world ever knew.
And with this great computer
I don't need no writin' tutor,
'Cause there ain't a single thing that it can't do.
It can sort and it can spell,
It can punctuate as well.
It can find and file and underline and type.
It can edit and select,
It can copy and correct,
So I'll have a whole book written by tonight
(Just as soon as it can think of what to write).

3 comments:

Spiral_Thoughts said...

Yanno? I can't think of a single story about writing? But, if you wanted to write your own.. how about a magic notebook (could be a laptop) that you type a sentence and it makes up some fabulous story?

Wait.. didn't Poe do a couple bits about writing.. I'll look.

La, Storyteller/Storysinger said...

OOO...thanks Spiral!
Not a bad idea...maybe I could just do some and find a way for the kids to do the rest of the work!
Yea!!!
And the Poe idea sounds interesting. Especially for middle schoolers.

Spiral_Thoughts said...

Yeah, i can't find any Poe stories or poems regarding the angst of writing .. but I thought there was one.. must have been someone else.