Academics were really tough for me when I was a kid. One thing I was good at was speeches and poetry reading.. my version of Garbage Delight by Dennis Lee was an award winner! I had so much trouble with tests that I would use every trick in the book to survive, often it felt like the information was in my brain, but it just wouldn't come out! My Mom taught me a trick. I would sit down to write the test, clear my mind and recite a poem that I knew off by heart in my mind thus reminding myself that I could remember information! It was a way to open the door to my mind and let the knowledge out when I needed it! I would like to report that this brought me great success in tests.. not really but it has become a useful tool when feeling unsure of myself when tackling a task. To this day I recite the first poem I ever memorized in my head if I feel myself starting to panic..
The Swing
How do you like to go up in a swing, Up in the air so blue?
Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing Ever a child can do!
Up in the air and over the wall, Till I can see so wide,
River and trees and cattle and all Over the countryside -- Till I look down on the garden green, Down on the roof so brown-- Up in the air I go flying again,
Up in the air and down!
Robert Louis Stevenson
Posts
2 comments:
I don't remember you reciting "The Swing" at all - but "Garbage Delight"? Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh yes. I think I ended up learning the whole poem too, just by hearing you say it over and over and over and over and over (shall I keep going?)
Let's talk about the whale speech next! Tee hee. When Dory is talking to the whales in "Finding Nemo" I always think of you... (in a loving way, of course) *insert groaning whale song here*
OK.. I actually snorted at the *insert groaning whale song here* I was SO proud of that speech on Blue whales! Do you remember the speech on "Death" when I spelled it out to start? Everyone that knew me held their breath waiting for me to spell it wrong!!
Post a Comment