Effects of Stories

Thesis:  Stories have negative and positive effects on culture.

Paragraph 1

         Stories have negative effects on culture.  One negative effect would be...  This means...  For example...  Another negative effect of stories on culture often is...  For example... This also means...  Therefore, in conclusion, ...

        Stories more often has positive effects on culture.  One such positive effect would be...

3: My Early School Years

In Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout has early memories of school that resulted in some painful reflections.  Unlike Scout, I always enjoyed school...loved those years.  Take a journey with me back in time...to Mammoth Spring Elementary School...where my earliest memories of 40+ years of education all began.

Headstart brings back memories of that then unwanted nap and missing school for about two weeks.

First grade...sitting on the back row...

Second grade...Mrs. Estes...

Third grade...overhearing my teacher talking about my test scores in the hallway to another teacher...

Fouth grade...Mrs. McMillian...

Fifth grade..."You can do this.  None of my kids accomplished this, but you can."

Sixth grade...Mrs. King...

1: My One Word

Since 2011, I have participated in the MyOneWord...what a journey!

How do I choose a word?  I like to the think the word chooses me...or more specifically, the Lord chooses the word for me.  I wait until the word will just not leave me; every time I think ponder on this...that one word is just there.

My Words

• 2011:  Peace
• 2012:  Quiet
• 2013:  Fit
• 2014:  Smile
• 2015:  Complete
• 2016:  All
• 2017:  Diligent
• 2018:  Less
• 2019:  Birth

What an interesting mix of words.  Out of all the words in our language, He chose these for me for specific reasons that I could even foresee.

MY WORD:  Birth
Just to clear the air...fairly certain this has nothing to do with my birthing any babies! Physically (hysterectomies...had two partials...took care of that!), age-wise (am happy to be 52!), mentally/emotionally (time is full with all my students!)...just not going to happen!

In anticipation of 2019 and this word, how might I encounter this word?  I do plan to "birth" new projects:  quilts, paintings, flower beds.  Maybe other "new" events are to take place?


As JT just noted, our classroom design is new!  Yes, we are birthing a new theme and thematic layout.  Just Keep on Trucking!  Trucking with Class!  Flashback in Time!  Keep It Classy!  Currently, the kiddos are voting on a theme for us to use.  Interesting!

I have given birth once; therefore, from experience, while I know birth brings tremendous joy, first come the birthing pains!  Oh, my.  Thus, here I begin my thoughts for wisdom and courage and diligence to endure through whatever is coming my way in 2019.

Please tell me!  Have you chosen a word?  Better yet...has a word chosen you!?