Next year will bring a new adventure for me – I am moving on up to fifth grade. This 
means a new curriculum, a new developmental age, and a new group of writers. In preparation, I started reading Write Like This by Kelly Gallagher.
After the first chapter, the chapters are organized by purpose. Already, I am trying to figure out how I can blend this with Lucy and my Writing Workshop.
Chapter 2 is focused on Express and Reflect and it is filled with so many great strategies to teach the kids. I can’t wait to use them during the first month of workshop in August/September: Bucket List, Neighborhood Spot, Family Photo…
The one that got me writing in my notebook: Childhood Game. Gallagher suggests that writers make a list of childhood games and then choose one to write about that “Taught you something beyond the game itself.”
Here is my draft:
I loved playing Monopoly, but I was never any good until I learned what the word monopoly means – one person owns everything. Then, I crushed it.
If I landed on it, I bought it (even if that meant mortgaging my properties). It payed off in the long run. I’ve only lost one time since that realization.
Looking back on it – Monopoly taught me that you can only win if you go all in. You have to put everything you have into something – 120% if you want to come out on top. No playing it safe. It gets scary, but don’t give up until you’ve got nothing left. That ca$h will come rolling in!
