Mentor Texts with Lynne & Rose
  • Home
  • About Lynne & Rose
  • Our Books & Video
  • Grammar Matters
  • Presentations
  • Bookings
  • Blogging with Rose
  • Blogging with Lynne
  • Your Turn Lessons
  • Notebook Entries
  • Books Too Good to Miss
  • Endorsements
  • Links

Through the Years

3/21/2016

10 Comments

 
Picture
Yesterday I spent some time organizing the many books, papers, projects, and accumulated stuff that littered my office. I find I can’t work well if my space gets too cluttered, so it was definitely something I needed to get to. And surprise – I was inspired to write about this space using a scaffold other slicers have used.
 
The room that is my office is on the second floor of our house. It houses a wrap-around desk with a hutch, an overstuffed bookcase, a file cabinet with a printer on top, and a futon. Although the futon was meant to provide me with a relaxing place to read, it mostly provides a comfy place for Cyrus to sleep while I work (it is one of only two pieces of furniture he is allowed to be on), or an extra bed when needed.
 
Before that, it was Brian’s teen-age bedroom. Posters of rock musicians filled most of the available wall space and different titles lined the book case shelves. A larger and sturdier desk replaced the desk that was mine growing up.  Mostly it was messy, but it was his domain.
 
Before that, it was Brian’s toddler bedroom, created for him to make room for his sister in the nursery. Bunkbeds, a record player (yes, an old one that played the Sesame Street albums he loved), an aquarium, and the desk that was mine growing up are some of the items that came and went or stayed during that stage.
 
Before that, it was a guest room with a double bed, an old bureau, a hand-made bookcase, and the desk that was mine growing up. Since we didn’t often have overnight guests, it doubled as my office while I was teaching and pursuing a graduate degree.
 
Before that, for a few months after we moved in, it housed waiting-to-be-unpacked boxes and furniture that needed a more permanent home. It was one of the first rooms we cleared, mostly to give me a place to work at the desk that was mine growing up.
 
Writing this, I realize this space has come full circle. It started as an office/bedroom and is now an office/bedroom, but oh how it has changed through the years.

10 Comments
Lynne Dorfman link
3/21/2016 03:50:05 am

That scaffold really worked for you! Now I am wondering if it will work for student writers. An interesting piece - I love the organization of the piece - and it matches what the piece is about, too - how the room was organized! Such an interesting ah ha! That room has come full circle. Great description of each phase. Happy Monday!

Reply
Janie Fahey link
3/21/2016 03:50:45 am

It's funny how things seem to come full circle more often than not. I love how this room has seen so many memories!

Reply
Judy Jester link
3/21/2016 04:40:57 am

I really liked how this evolved, Rose. I might try this same scaffolding plus spend some time on tidying my own office.

Reply
Clare link
3/21/2016 04:50:53 am

Rose - I love this! The structure and the story it tells about you and your life. I agree with Lynne - this would be a great scaffold for kids. I think even for older writers as an exercise to think about layers of meaning, symbols or turning points. So many ways to use this. Thank you for sharing your process.
Clare

Reply
Cindy
3/21/2016 05:05:46 am

As I'm sitting in my own home office in our new house I realize that I'm only on your "step 2." Will this become our child's bedroom with bunk beds? Your post really lets me see this room through the future's eyes. Thanks for this!

Reply
arjeha link
3/21/2016 08:06:27 am

Rose, I love the full circle...back to what it started out as but different. I have not yet tried this format but someday will. I like the reflecting aspect of this type of post.

Reply
C.Crouch
3/21/2016 01:22:44 pm

This structure was the perfect vehicle to chronicle the timeline of this room. I felt like a mouse in the corner witnessing the room growning and evolving through the years. Great piece. I smiled every time I noticed the inclusion of the "desk that was yours growing up".

Reply
elsie
3/21/2016 02:19:31 pm

I love reading how writers discover their slice. Here I sit at my desk that needs to be organized, but I'd rather read and respond than organize. This format was perfect and that repeating line was the thread that tied it all together.

Reply
Shelly
3/21/2016 04:04:26 pm

So many memories in one room! I love how you repeated the line "the desk that was mine growing up!" Perfect scaffold for you!

Reply
Tara link
3/21/2016 04:12:11 pm

My office went through a process like this - and that makes me love it all the more.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Rose shares her observations and reflections on teaching and learning.

    Archives

    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

    Picture
    Picture

    Archives

    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.