Tag Archives: words

Hard, but not as hard as the hardest thing imaginable

Posted on December 14, 2011 by

Bradbury’s diction is quite recognizable. His penchant for consonants and invented words makes for a unique accessibility for 8th graders. His “contrasedative” that is given to Mildred to get her back to her normal shallow self, imagined “upflailing” arms of … Continue reading →

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Paradox about paradox

Posted on December 3, 2011 by

Yesterday in my afternoon class we were discussing Part I of Fahrenheit 451. We were examining the paradoxes both in content and in style/ diction that Bradbury uses and why. In a conversation the day before, DS mentioned that this … Continue reading →

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Rail foamers

Posted on November 16, 2011 by

I learned a new double word today from one of my students. She was telling the story of how her Dad and everyone on his side of the family (and now she includes herself) are rail foamers, people who are … Continue reading →

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Who knew?

Posted on June 29, 2011 by

Before settling in and getting going on some artwork, I emptied my briefcase from work—mostly files and miscellaneous papers, much of which got trashed. Then I pulled out a blue-covered compilation that one of my students handed me on the … Continue reading →

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“What Bee Did” by Julie Larios

Posted on June 27, 2011 by

Bee not only buzzed. When swatted at, Bee deviled, Bee smirched. And when fuddled, like many of us, Bee labored, Bee reaved. He behaved as well as any Bee can have. Bee never lied. Bee never lated. And despite the … Continue reading →

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What happens when 8th graders are only a few weeks from graduation

Posted on April 27, 2011 by

We took a vocabulary test today. I think my students are ready for summer… When we use the word caliber in reference to a person, what are we referring to? How big they are around? Their waist size? What is … Continue reading →

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Oxymorons by William Matthews

Posted on April 19, 2011 by

Summer school, and jumbo shrimp, of course. Friendly fire, famous poet, common sense, and, until very recently, safe sex: Blind date, sure thing, amicable divorce. Also there’s loyal opposition, social security, deliberate speed. How about dysfunctional family? Eyes blackened, hearts … Continue reading →

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To blind someone by placing a red-hot copper kettle near their eyes

Posted on March 1, 2011 by

I have a thing for dictionaries. I really love them. In fact, I have a collection of old dictionaries and even use them in my art. Some years ago I created a shaman jacket that is covered with images from … Continue reading →

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William Kentridge- Automatic Writing

Posted on February 24, 2011 by

Animated, smudged, and morphing language, visuals, words, imagination, motion, reverie, images, poetry… Kentridge is a remarkable animator, artist, playwright from South Africa. I’m so grateful a friend of mine reminded me of his work and sent me this link.

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Visual antis

Posted on February 21, 2011 by

One of my students, in a paper entitled “The North won the war, but the South won the peace” wrote, “In 1866, a group of white southerners, who were upset about losing the Civil War and the direction of Recon- … Continue reading →

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