Red Rubber Ball

Last week, I gave a writing workshop to third through sixth graders.  I based the workshop on creative writing and how to bring that into our student's lives.  There is so much stress on proper writing in schools, using correct grammar and punctuation, writing for fluency, etc.  All great things and certainly necessary, but somehow the fun of writing gets a back seat and students learn to write because they have to and not because they want to.

A friend passed along a book to me that really inspired my workshop.  The book is called "Rules of the Red Rubber Ball". 

Written by a man named Kevin Carroll, he has inspired many through his "red rubber ball" theory, implenting the idea that you can do anything you want as long as you follow your dreams and discover your passion.  This book reminded me of how important it is to let kids be kids and give them their chance to find their "red rubber ball", whether it be writing, basketball, or singing, that door has to be open and able for their passion to be found.

Young writers will not exisit if we don't show them the path to creative writing, writing for pure enjoyment, anytime, anywhere.  If the only writing experience they have is in their classrooms at school, practicing for the ISAT, then how will they ever know what its like to write for pleasure?  How will they know if writing is their passion?

I ended the workshop by giving each student a journal and stressed how important it is to write each and every day, even if it is a little something.  Daily practice is essential to improving creative writing skills and tutoring can be a great place to let that happen.  If you would like a journal, please come see myself or Jenny, we will be happen to pass one along to you. 

So if you get a chance to get your hands on a copy of the book I mentioned above, please read it.  I promise it will open your eyes to the importance of being young again and finding a dream that is yours to be proud of.