Dear Grandpa, July 13, 2003

It’s time to go fishing again. Except this time, you have to let me sit on the right side of the boat! The fish kept striking your line! Do you have a special trick you’re not telling me? I’ll keep buying the gas if you keep the poles busy.

I am attending a writing program this summer. A great deal of emphasis is placed on teaching strategies for writing. It’s preparing me for next year, like putting new line on the reel and discussing different kinds of bait for different fish. Some fish go for the Wickiup Sandwich and others like a dainty mosquito fly floating on the surface. Some fish like the flash of a trolling fender. Learning the student’s behavior on what works is the key. I got a set of barbless hooks for those I may need to release. Catch them to show the joy of writing and then let them loose. I’ll be ready come August.

The class had an abundance of books on writing for all age groups. There were familiar authors I recognized from different workshops I’ve attended throughout the years. There were many interesting references to writing in different points of view, graphic organizers, poetry and strategies for instruction. The directors shared their own books, enough to fill a boat! I did as much reading as I did writing! The directors complemented each other beautifully. One had elementary experience while the other was a college professor, well versed in research and literary theories. They had a perfect combination of knowledge working together.

One thing I’m going to try is free verse poetry. We usually recite a poem once a month and only write a couple per year because it’s so hard. Exploring word families is language building, but rhyming words and maintaining a story theme is frustrating to me and hence, hard for me to teach. A greater exposure to free verse poetry made me realize all poems don’t need to rhyme. Free verse poetry makes the writer think of detailed description though imagery, similes and metaphors. We force-feed these elements in reading. Combining writing and reading magnifies the lesson objectives and can also be fun.

Do you remember that sensitive reel I showed you the last time we bobber fished? It had a whistle that went off when we got a nibble. You liked the little bell on the tip of your pole. I still laugh now thinking of that. Talk about bells and whistles! This class was focused on technology. We didn’t use much paper! All my reports were mailed electronically. Quicker than you can flip your bail, I can beam a report across the room without going on-line. You can get these little memory banks called Pen Drives that store huge amounts of work. With expert assistance, I made a web page as a final product.

One of the hardest things for me is to keep up with technological advances. I know you like that old bamboo pole, but you hook a salmon with my featherweight fiberglass, you’ll be in for a ride! Using it for nostalgia is one thing, but if you want results molded for the future, I think you have to keep updating your equipment. Fishing with your pole is like writing with a quill pen! But I have to say - you do bring in the fish, so I’ll try writing with a feather. Who knows, I might get tickled.

Remember the story about the Royal Coachman? You couldn’t get that fly to work until Richard, whom you’ve only fished once with him, walked over to the mules and slapped a horsefly. Handing it to you with a thin grin, he said, "Ain’t nothing like the real thing, baby", and danced a little Spin and Glow when you bagged that monster. You still call him Royal Richard.

"Gander, you tell me, fishing with the same partner sometimes stales the bait. Bring new people to the river and you might learn something". I found this to be very true with the summer writing class. I met some dedicated colleagues with a great deal of experience. We shared ideas and presented some favorite writing lessons. I met some great contacts that I can call upon. I’ll try to bring back to the classroom the value of buddy revision. I found my strengths and weaknesses during this portion of the writing process. They don’t know much about fishing, but they sure can cast a line.

Well Gramps, I must close. Watch out for slippery rocks.

Gary the Grander Gander