Recently, I discovered journaling with my students. I want to encourage my students to think outside the box (gasp!) and get more comfortable expressing themselves in English. In addition, journaling gives me a chance to breathe and maybe even catch up on some grading.
The other day we started our entries with “If I were a tree . . .” and “I wish trees could . . .” Check out what Jin, my Korean student, wrote:
If I were a tree, I would grow different kinds of fruit so people don’t have to go to tree to tree. I would grow watermelons and Iwould drop it on my enemy’s head. I could also give oxygen so people can breathe fresh air.* I wish trees could grow potato chips [that] fall in your mouth. And grow money. Nobody would ever be poor! I wish trees could be time machines so that I can go to the future or the past. I also wish trees could have arms so it could do my homework.
*We learned about photosynthesis in Science earlier this year.
Or how about this one about cell phones, also by J-:
What would happen if no one had a cell phone? What if you wanted to know your friend’s birthday? What if you and your friend is 5 miles apart! You walk 5 miles just to say, “When is your birthday?” You walk 5 miles for just a little thing. [Or what if] you get lost. How can you call your mom and dad? That would happen if no one had a cell phone.
Pretty cute, huh?
shift 
I love how all it takes to do homework are two arms! :p
Also, the one about cell phones is amazing. Our kids won’t even be able to fathom how we functioned before. It strangely hilarious and simultaneously scary.
I know! I didn’t even get a cell phone until I was probably 16. Kids now have cell phones at 5! Hard to believe.
Also, I thought the two arms thing was pretty cute, too. That, and growing watermelons so you could drop them on your enemy’s head. :P
This reminds me of my teaching days. Kids have a pure vision of the world around them.
Isn’t that the truth? My kids cracked me up sometimes, reminded me of my own “simpler” days… I loved teaching. Being around kids keeps you young. :)
I, too, wish trees grew potato chips. Or Doritos, preferably. I would SO have a Dorito tree in my yard. I’d also weigh about 400 pounds, but I’d be happy…:o)
Lol. Yes, trees that grew potato chips would be dangerous! For myself, I’d really just like a money tree. :D