Today my post is on being a word lover! I love words! Maybe that is kind of unusual, I don't really know! I do know that I've always been this way! In most things that I do, I try to pass on my love of words.
"What do I do that shows I love words", you ask? Here are some;
I love to write; my blog has really helped this past time for me! I have always wanted to have something published and have written numerous articles, editorials, letters, tutorials, and even started some children's stories. I know that to become a better writer, you must write every day! While I'm not up to every day, my blog posts help me to do that several times a week!
I pass on my knowledge of words and language to my children and to the children I see at school. Just the other day, my teenager called me a "walking thesaurus" when I suggested a phrase for his forensics speech! I took this as an odd compliment....maybe he was really being smart-mouthed with me! In garden club, with second to fifth graders, each month I try to provide a multi-levelled lesson, complete with new vocabulary for those that "have a need to know". I know....I was one of those children, a long time ago! When I see my first grade book club, once a week, we talk about words and how strange they are; to, too, and two; who knew they could all be so different? And how about homophones and homonyms? This week in my third grade writer's circle, we will be starting poetry! The third graders are smart and most working above their grade level. Our concentration there will be on making wise word choices to make our poetry descriptive and aesthetically pleasing to the ear.
I am fascinated by our language and the decoding process. Some children learn that so quickly, while some never seem to be able to unlock the key to all the codes. I recently started to substitute teach for ESL (English as a Second Language). Our community has a large Hmong population. I really enjoy this! It is enlightening to me to be able to try and describe a word and its meaning and/or use in English. I recently joined Merriam Webster's word of the day. This word is automatically e-mailed to me and there is even a pod-cast link for the word! It helps that the pod-caster has a very nice, deep, soothing voice!
Now, you are thinking; "well she probably has some college degree in language arts". I don't. However, I did take Latin in high school (a very long time ago) and have a medical/nursing background. Although, I'm not sure which came first with either of those; the love of words or the necessary immersion in the discipline. Surprisingly enough, I do not speak another language. However, have been thinking about learning one!
In any case, I know I am a logophile. And that is my word for the day as I had to look it up this morning! I did not know what a lover of words was called! Now, I do.
Thanks for tuning in! Please visit my other blog on my jewelry website;
I posted there about my newest creations! Just click on Carol's Blog on the menu.
Have a Sunny Day!
~Carol~
