How Do You Communicate with a Writer?

You don’t raise your hand when you have a question. You wait until I’m across the room and yell, “HOW DO YOU SPELL ‘COMMUNICATE?'”

As patiently as possible I walk between rows and groups of desks, breathing slowly, trying not to let your disruption drive me crazy.

People are writing! I want to tell you. Don’t you know how difficult that is? What can’t you get a dictionary and figure it out for yourself? Or don’t worry about spelling at all. Just get your ideas down!

I know saying these things won’t do any good at all. I know that will produce writing without any scars. I’ll read about a really great summer vacation you took when you were in fourth grade.

When I get to your desk, I kneel down so I’m at eye level with you. You hold the pencil, ready.

“C-O,” I begin, and you write. I notice you still have a child’s hand. Not quite an adult, and not a baby anymore, but you’re living between those two worlds, trying to merge them. Trying to make sense out of a world you’re leaving and a world you’re entering.

I finish spelling the word, and you ask if I’d like to see what you’ve written.

“Sure,” I say, and you slide your paper toward me. I read it aloud softly and smile at the funny parts.

“That’s great,” I tell you. “You’re a good writer,” and I can tell by your eyes I’ve surprised you. “Do you like to write?” I inquire.

“Yes,” you say as it dawns on you that you do like to write, that you are a writer.

Try It

This week write a poem titled How To Spell “Communicate” and try to show the conflict of two perspectives. What merges? What emerges?

Photo by Paul Creative Commons via Flickr. Post by Callie Feyen.

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I have been a fan of Callie Feyen’s writingfor quite some time but I finished this book in almost one sitting. If you have ever been in 8th grade, fallen in love, had a best friend, or loved reading, you will love  this book. As the mother of an 8th grader, my other genuine hope is that my son will one day have a teacher as gifted as Callie.

—Celena Roldan

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Callie Feyen

Callie Feyen likes Converse tennis shoes and colorful high heels, reading the poetry of Gerard Manley Hopkins, and the Twilight series. Her favorite outfit has always been a well-worn pair of jeans and a white T-shirt, but she wants hoop skirts with loads of tulle to come back into style. Her favorite line from literature comes from Sharon Creech’s Absolutely Normal Chaos: “I don’t know who I am yet. I’m still waiting to find out.” Feyen has served as the At-Risk Literacy Specialist in the Ypsilanti Public Schools and is the author of Twirl: my life with stories, writing & clothes and The Teacher Diaries: Romeo and Juliet.

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