My Brother and I Were Different

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My Brother and I Were Different
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• My Baby Brother Wills First Word

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• I want down now.
• (Yes, he didnt speak early on, but he started
  with sentences.

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• Well, given that my younger sibling began his
  love affair with the English language in such an
  intense and dedicated way, it stands to reason
  that my first words were equally, if not more,
  impressive.
• My first word was indeed memorable.
• My first word, the daughter of an actress and
  business man and granddaughter of two well-known
  area thespians, was

"supercallifragilistic expialidocious
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• WOOF!

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My Mother Used to Read to Us
I remember how she gave each character in the
Francis Books a different voice and inflection.
They were real, they were my friends. When I
started teaching preschool I knew that I had to
share those books.
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• She read us Les Miserable out loud
• before we went to see the musical.
• (Well, most of it, we were young.)
• She took us to plays.
• Later, when Mom took up theater herself again, we
  would all help her run lines. We would dissect
  the language together to help with memorization,
  clarity, and meaning. We learned through doing.

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They Didnt Know What to Do With Dad
The National Guard couldnt understand my father.
During a contraband check of personal items
they found disturbing reading material in his
possession. Thats right, my father was caught
RED-HANDED
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They Didnt Know What to Do With Dad

• Reading
• Regency England Romance Novels
• during his stint in the Guard.
• He liked the language and the plots.

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I know that my father read to us, but mostly I
remember him reading. He was always reading.
The Spencer for Hire books, Tom Clancy, John
Sanford, Georgette Heyer. Really, anything that
he could get his hands on. There was always a
different one on the coffee table, in his car, in
his office.
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I know that my father read to us, but mostly I
remember him reading. He was always reading.
The Spencer for Hire books, Tom Clancy, John
Sanford, Georgette Heyer. Really, anything that
he could get his hands on. There was always a
different one on the coffee table, in his car, in
his office.
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I know that my father read to us, but mostly I
remember him reading. He was always reading.
The Spencer for Hire books, Tom Clancy, John
Sanford, Georgette Heyer. Really, anything that
he could get his hands on. There was always a
different one on the coffee table, in his car, in
his office.
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I know that my father read to us, but mostly I
remember him reading. He was always reading.
The Spencer for Hire books, Tom Clancy, John
Sanford, Georgette Heyer. Really, anything that
he could get his hands on. There was always a
different one on the coffee table, in his car, in
his office.
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I know that my father read to us, but mostly I
remember him reading. He was always reading.
The Spencer for Hire books, Tom Clancy, John
Sanford, Georgette Heyer. Really, anything that
he could get his hands on. There was always a
different one on the coffee table, in his car, in
his office.
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(No Transcript)
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My Parents Never Spoke to Us inBaby-Talk

• They exposed us to a rich and varied language,
  full of fun, color, and shading, from the very
  beginning.
• Dad used to tell us stories. (I didnt even know
  they werent true until laterhe added so much
  detail.)
• They took us to the theater.
• We used to read together in separate chairs on
  rainy, weekend afternoons.

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Then There Was School
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Mr. Retzer read us Where the Red Fern Grows

• I can still see him reading. I remember how
  eager I was to hear the next paragraph, how
  devastated I was at the end.
• I used this book for my Thematic Unit because it
  had such an impact on me as a kid.
• (Mr. Retzer gave me my own copy of the book for
  my Wedding.)

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Actually, I was a Teachers Nightmare

• I didnt do homework very well.
• I mean, I did it, but not the reading. I dont
  know why, I love reading, but I dont do it. I
  have trouble sitting still.
• Also, I hated rote grammar practice. (Maybe I
  should have paid more attention though, I still
  have no idea where to put a comma.)

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I Did Enjoy Projects
I liked doing things that were creative. I
remember once, in high school, Mr. Daly assigned
us to write a closing argument for the trial of
Heathciff from Wuthering Heights. I got him
off scott-free!
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I Should Mention That I Went to College for
Theater

• I guess that has affected me
• I read stories differently, because I learned
  how to cast them with my friends or famous
  people.

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Also, I LOVE Words

• Theater gave me a deep appreciation of them.
• They are fascinating and fun and useful.
• In English there is always
• just the right word.
• Plus, they often give away their meanings just by
  how they sound.

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AND, THE NOW.

• Most of my current writing includes revising
  forms and documents so that they read more
  smoothly or catch attention. (I work in a
  Day-Care.)
• I never enjoyed writing. Even as a drama major I
  always said that I could add depth to other
  peoples words, but not write my own.

WRITING
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AND, THE NOW.

• I wish I was a better listener.
• Actually, Im pretty good at hearing what youre
  actually saying. When I do listen, I can usually
  listen with my heart.
• But, Im also a huge talker. Sometimes, I can
  actually see myself talking and I think Shut-up!
  Youve made your point and now youre just
  rambling. Strangely, that usually doesnt make
  me shut-up.

LISTENING
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AND, THE NOW.

• I dont mind being on stage. Thats comfortable,
  easy, but sometimes giving presentations is
  harder. On-stage Im someone else- no pressure.
  When I present my work its about me being
  judged.
• Still, Im much more comfortable being in front
  of a crowd than some people. I just get a little
  shaky around the knees.
• I do alright in small groups and one-on-one as
  well. A lot of that is the acting training. I
  can sort-of become a chameleon, blend wherever.
  (within reason ?)

TALKING
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Thats my story

• And Im
• Sticking
• With It!

A Literacy Story by B. Kate Wiig June 28, 2003