Many stories matter. Stories have been used to dispossess and to malign. But stories can also be used to empower and to humanize. Stories can break the dignity of a people. But stories can also repair that broken dignity.
—Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
The Best Stories Aren’t Perfect
We adopted Jay just before his eighth birthday. If you are familiar with the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study, then you know that researchers identified 10 specific traumatic childhood experiences that are linked to a higher likelihood of health challenges later in life. The more ACEs a person has, the more stress they experienced in childhood. Any score over two is considered significant.
It’s important to remember that an ACE score is not a sentencing; it is simply a means to help understand the influence of trauma in our lives. Jay experienced excessive trauma in his early life before he joined our family.
It’s not easy to overcome significant trauma. I don’t need to share the horror stories, but let it suffice to say that if you were Jay’s teacher, he likely would have frustrated you. His behaviors and choices didn’t always make sense. This happens when a child is scraped by darkness at the start of life.
Today Jay works in the Gulf of Mexico as a dive tender, on his way to becoming an underwater welder. He is the success story we all want to hear. He overcame the worst of humanity and is chasing his dream—living the best life possible at the young age of 19.
Sometimes I wonder what made the difference. How did he overcome a hard start to life while others are trapped by traumatic experiences? There are many interesting theories. But, I like to think it’s because Jay chose to let stories repair his broken dignity.
He decided that the past wouldn’t have more power over his life than who he is today. He decided to look forward and chase his dreams, rather than look back and blame his circumstances. He allowed people to love him and decided to love back.
Jay is proof that the best stories aren’t perfect. There’s a struggle, and sometimes the plotline gets harder before it gets better. There is power in story, which is why this issue is dedicated to planning narratives. Don’t miss the importance of leaning into story—not just to become a stronger writer, but to become a more resilient human.
Shine on,
Ruth Ayres
Editor in Chief
Cathy Mere nudges us to consider perspective as a craft move and provides a stack of mentor texts in this book list.
Tammy Mulligan promotes independence in her student writers by supporting them in creating writing plans. A download of a planning template is included so your students can create writing plans, too.
Inspired by a stranger on a walk, Jen Court clarifies the importance of sharing our writing lives with others. She identifies three important qualities of a writing community.
Be the Change Accelerator: A Virtual Lunch and Learn: This is a workshop series just for instructional influencers hosted by our sister site, The Lead Learners. Be the Change is focused on intentionally putting structures in place to move through the year with joy and purpose. Find out more and register by clicking here. (Choice Literacy paid members may join Be the Change FREE with the code TLLfree.)
New members-only content is added each week to the Choice Literacy website. If you’re not yet a member, click here to explore membership options.
Melissa Quimby shifts the way she helps students approach narrative writing by focusing on the conflict and encouraging students to unfold it bit by bit. This small shift lifts the level of the stories students write—you can try it, too!
Dana Murphy shares a whole-class conversation about identifying the climax of the plot. She reminds us that defining story elements is not always clear-cut.
In this video, Hayley Whitaker leads a minilesson in kindergarten on story structure.
New members-only content is added each week to the Choice Literacy website. If you’re not yet a member, click here to explore membership options.
Ruth Ayres encourages us to take a second look at the data stories we are telling about students. She shares four areas to help us see a more complete picture of a student.
Hannah Tills and Josie Stewart share a way to open data conversations that humanizes the process and encourages everyone to dig deeper to examine each student’s whole story.
Gwen Blumberg describes a five-step filtering process of student assessment data designed to help make true data-driven decisions in an efficient amount of time. Download a visual guide of the data-filtering process.
When data was flying and difficult to corral, David Pittman sought to create a tool for teachers to use that would encompass all pieces of data as well as align with shifts in instruction. David shares the process of developing a useful tool that honors student learning and provides clarity for next steps for growth.
Quote It:
You cannot wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.
―Jack London
That’s all for this week!
