Interesting exercise. I learned I really can't write fast enough to keep up with my thoughts. I'm faster at typing, but typing also tempts me to edit as I go, so this activity really was different. I only hope I can read my stream of consciousness scribbles when I get time to transcribe and interpret what I wrote.
I love this exercise and can’t wait to try it out! I feel like I’ve lost the ability to speak/write critically and coherently about books in particular over the past year or so and this feels like such a good place to begin re-learning that.
Yay! I'm glad this feels like a meaningful exercise. Maybe sparking some remembering around why you're reading and what you believe it does for you might help you start to engage more critically again! Let me know how it goes....!
I loved this exercise. 30 years of being ‘a reader’ and this was the first time I stopped to think about where that came from and what that means to me. Excited for the series!
I haven't done a free writing exercise in ages, so this was a very fun way to get back into it! I surprised myself with the first prompt... I ended up contemplating different types of "reading" that go beyond reading the written word (like reading body language, or reading music). Can't wait for next week's exercises!
haha, i experienced something similar: for some reason, reading x-rays came to mind and i wrote about how first we have to understand the format of the information that is being conveyed to be able to read it
This is fantastic! I might incorporate it into one of my lesson plans for a new subject on the Arts I am writing. Will be keeping tabs and getting students to subscribe! Wonderful resource.
Oh please do!! I would love to hear how that goes and if your students like it. And feel free to send them here for more lessons, if they’re interested! ✨
It brought back a memory of learning to read and being the only ones who really struggled to learn to read. I was sent home with flash cards and homework in the first grade and my mom had to help me. This felt humiliating and it dawned on me I’ve been a late bloomer ever since! Thank you for this lesson!
Thank you for this exercise! I'm a speech language pathologist, so I found myself getting into my beliefs about literacy, language and learning and re-realized how passionate I am about literacy as the key component for good outcomes for all kids. Also thought a lot about how my reading builds community on Goodreads and in my bookclubs and civic engagement. So much fun to think and write about it from so many angles. My mind map made me very happy, thanks for the prompts!
i rediscovered my love for reading this year because i made an effort to pick up reading as a habit. but this free-writing exercise reminded me why i used to love reading when i was a kid: me and my mom would read books together before going to sleep:) thank you so much for this!!
I loved this exercise. It was not easy for me to pull the words out of my head, but I don't think that's a bad thing. I did have quite a few aha moments which is always like getting to the marshmallows on lucky charms. Thank you for this! I can't wait to do the remaining exercises!
Hi Jordan! Okay: I love that metaphor! Great ideas are totally like the marshmallows in an otherwise pretty boring cereal lol. Freewriting like this is totally something that improves with repetition—I'd love to hear if it gets easier the more you do it. Have fun with the rest of the exercises!
I am late to the party, but getting started here and plan to catch up over winter break. I associated the answers to these questions with my different hats/personas: person, professor, parent, citizen, student, partner, and so on. It was exciting to investigate my ideas around reading as related to each area of my life.
Great exercise, like others I have never given any thought to why I read - it is almost like breathing, just something I don’t think about as it is so natural. My sentence: “I believe reading is a highly personal experience that shapes perspective on Life and Big Ideas”. Look forward to tackling the next one!
Interesting exercise. I learned I really can't write fast enough to keep up with my thoughts. I'm faster at typing, but typing also tempts me to edit as I go, so this activity really was different. I only hope I can read my stream of consciousness scribbles when I get time to transcribe and interpret what I wrote.
I love that finding, Maryann! I have to go a lot slower when I am handwriting. I find it's both helpful and frustrating :) Haha
Oh, and you did warn my hand would cramp!
I love this exercise and can’t wait to try it out! I feel like I’ve lost the ability to speak/write critically and coherently about books in particular over the past year or so and this feels like such a good place to begin re-learning that.
Yay! I'm glad this feels like a meaningful exercise. Maybe sparking some remembering around why you're reading and what you believe it does for you might help you start to engage more critically again! Let me know how it goes....!
I loved this exercise. 30 years of being ‘a reader’ and this was the first time I stopped to think about where that came from and what that means to me. Excited for the series!
That is amazing! I am so glad it was a moment to pause and explore for you!
I haven't done a free writing exercise in ages, so this was a very fun way to get back into it! I surprised myself with the first prompt... I ended up contemplating different types of "reading" that go beyond reading the written word (like reading body language, or reading music). Can't wait for next week's exercises!
I love that!! I hope you've been enjoying the other weeks's exercises!!
haha, i experienced something similar: for some reason, reading x-rays came to mind and i wrote about how first we have to understand the format of the information that is being conveyed to be able to read it
I also thought about “reading” body language, temperature readings, maps, charts, graphs, icons, etc.
So cool. This is my favorite thing about free writing. It branches out to so many unique pathways!
This is fantastic! I might incorporate it into one of my lesson plans for a new subject on the Arts I am writing. Will be keeping tabs and getting students to subscribe! Wonderful resource.
Oh please do!! I would love to hear how that goes and if your students like it. And feel free to send them here for more lessons, if they’re interested! ✨
It brought back a memory of learning to read and being the only ones who really struggled to learn to read. I was sent home with flash cards and homework in the first grade and my mom had to help me. This felt humiliating and it dawned on me I’ve been a late bloomer ever since! Thank you for this lesson!
Wow. That is incredible! You unlocked a seriously amazing piece of your history there. Thank you for sharing!!
Thank you for this exercise! I'm a speech language pathologist, so I found myself getting into my beliefs about literacy, language and learning and re-realized how passionate I am about literacy as the key component for good outcomes for all kids. Also thought a lot about how my reading builds community on Goodreads and in my bookclubs and civic engagement. So much fun to think and write about it from so many angles. My mind map made me very happy, thanks for the prompts!
This is awesome. I'm so glad you love your mind map!!
i rediscovered my love for reading this year because i made an effort to pick up reading as a habit. but this free-writing exercise reminded me why i used to love reading when i was a kid: me and my mom would read books together before going to sleep:) thank you so much for this!!
Oh, I love to read this Orsolya!! I’m so glad this writing exercise was meaningful to you!! Thanks so much for sharing.
Thank you for the wonderful exercises to think critically about reading — definitely uncovered unexpected realizations this morning!
I love to read that, Emilie! Thank you for joining in!
I loved this exercise. It was not easy for me to pull the words out of my head, but I don't think that's a bad thing. I did have quite a few aha moments which is always like getting to the marshmallows on lucky charms. Thank you for this! I can't wait to do the remaining exercises!
Hi Jordan! Okay: I love that metaphor! Great ideas are totally like the marshmallows in an otherwise pretty boring cereal lol. Freewriting like this is totally something that improves with repetition—I'd love to hear if it gets easier the more you do it. Have fun with the rest of the exercises!
I am late to the party, but getting started here and plan to catch up over winter break. I associated the answers to these questions with my different hats/personas: person, professor, parent, citizen, student, partner, and so on. It was exciting to investigate my ideas around reading as related to each area of my life.
Oh, Shannon I love that approach!!
Great exercise, like others I have never given any thought to why I read - it is almost like breathing, just something I don’t think about as it is so natural. My sentence: “I believe reading is a highly personal experience that shapes perspective on Life and Big Ideas”. Look forward to tackling the next one!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, John!