I am new to the whole blogging thing, but I wanted to get back into writing. I love words. I love learning new words and I love using them. Yes, I am a talker. I enjoy teaching big words to little children. My children didn't bother each other when they were small, they "antagonized" each other. They "apparently" wanted something or didn't. One of my friends named Laura summed up my word philosophy when she told a cursing, drunk person to "Get a bigger vocabulary." Our language is rich with clever phrasing and deeper meaning if we take a little time to really know what it is we want to say. I love the Grinch song because the descriptions create fabulous imagery in the depths of my mind. I think how often we use the word dumb when we could be expounding that you are "as cuddly as a cactus" or "as fun as a seasick crocodile."
When I was in third grade, I had the great privilege of having a teacher who taught outside the box. We had a living pond in our classroom that we participated in creating. We had tarantulas, we had gerbils, we had fish and frogs. He taught me to be courageous enough to try new things. He also taught me how to say and spell a very long word. Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis.
We referred to it as "The Word." I have adored spelling ever since. If we had a class infraction, the offender would have to write "The Word" a specified number of times. When you completed your five, ten, or perhaps fifty times, he would wad up the paper and throw it in the trash with the comment, "you waste my time, I'll waste yours." I learned that time was precious. I discovered learning time was even more precious. He read us "The Hobbit." He taught us to make hot air balloons. We were challenged to figure out how he made a machine out of things he found in the classroom. That's where I learned that twisted up rubber bands can generate power when they untwist. He always gave us the vocabulary to support our knowledge. It was exciting. During sixth grade I got to be in his science class where we assembled a geodesic dome inside the classroom. Probably the only time geometry made sense to me.
My love of learning continued throughout school. I had an amazing English teacher in the seventh grade who opened language up through verb/tense agreement. She taught me how to conjugate verbs! I could also dissect sentences like a surgeon. She was my history teacher as well and she started the Mock UN at our junior high. It was such an incredibly stimulating experience. All this time, I was still adding to my vocabulary.
In high school, I had two of the best English teachers ever. Ms. Miles opened up the world of Shakespeare and classical literature to me. I understood the flow and rhythm of words and the beauty of a well-turned phrase. We delved into Steinbeck and Chaucer and she encouraged our creativity and modern applications. Ms. Nordlund was all about the process of writing...and vocabulary. How on earth did you turn a noun into an adjective or adverb? We learned how to really use a word. Her weekly vocab tests provoked fear even in those who were very prepared. They were crosswords where we had to determine the appropriate part of speech from the definition and then apply the appropriate ending for the word. I remember my friends and I trying to use as many of those words in a coherent sentence as we could. After her class, I felt literate.
Ms. Nordlund taught me to organize my thoughts and to express myself with supporting evidence for my ideas. I learned words were power. I discovered that words can persuade, teach, and explain.
In College, I learned to apply everything I had previously learned and take it to new levels. The thoughts and ideas ran deeper and my vocabulary continued to grow. I learned about where words came from and how they were created. I learned to understand who my audience would be. I discovered I had a talent for helping others get their ideas down on paper.
So to sum up, I love words. I love learning them. I love using them. I love writing them. I love understanding them.
