Elementary Woes

I posted this over at Romance Divas. Since I'm too lazy to write something profound for my blog, I'm just going to copy and paste it over here. :-)
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My 5th grade son brought home a writing folder from school. Apparently, the school keeps several pages of each student's writing from first to fifth grade. I just have to share some of what he wrote. I did not correct spelling or punctuation.

June 12, 2002

Dear Reader,

I have learned many things in writing this year. I haved leared three parts of a story: a beginning, a middle, and an ending.

I am a good writer. I can do lots of good senses {sentences}. I can do lots of wrting veary fast. We wrote lot of storys like toys summer. Wate {wait} you can just look at my stores instade {instead}.

Your student,
Matthew Welborn


May 18, 2004

Dear Reader,

This year I have worked on my writing. Some areas in which I have improved as a writer are: I have gotten better at my cursive. I have learned new and better words. I have been writing longer stories.

I know that I will continue to grow as a writer. Some things I would like to improve are: My printing I would like better and neater. I would love to write a longer paragraph. I would like to like writing.

Sincerely,
Matthew

LOL. I can't believe my son wrote "I would like to like writing." I have to give him his props because many writers never honestly evaluate their own writing to see where they need to improve.

Do you remember the day when you learned there were three parts to a story (and hopefully that your story had all three)? Have you learned new and better words or are you using the same generic word choices, like big, small, short, tall, handsome, beautiful? Do you produce more pages per sitting than you did a month, a year ago? Are your stories longer, deeper, more fragrant and lush?

Okay, this is turning into an article-length post. Oh well. I have an exercise for you.

ALL ABOUT (fill in your name here)

I am _______________________.
I wonder _____________________.
I hear _______________________.
I see _______________________.
I want __________________________.
I pretend _______________________.
I feel ______________________.
I touch _____________________.
I worry ___________________.
I cry ______________________.
I understand _________________.
I say __________________.
I dream ________________.
I try ____________________.
I hope I am __________________.
I am ________________.

Here's what my son wrote on April 23, 2003. He was 9 at the time.

I am Matthew Welborn.
I wonder what will happen in the future.
I hear my thoughts and things around me.
I see what I see.
I want to have a great life.
I pretend to be everything.
I feel happy sometimes.
I touch things if I'm allowed to.
I worry about a lot of things.
I cry when I'm sad or hurt.
I understand how people feel.
I say a lot of good things.
I dream about the future and the past.
I try to do my best.
I hope I'm a youth minister.
I am full of joy.

Not bad for a 9 yr old. He did a pretty good job describing himself because I "see" him in his words. He's optimistic, literal, obedient, tender-hearted. I wonder what my daughter would answer.

What about you? What would you answer? What would your characters answer?

I could have saved this for a WOES article, but then I wouldn't get to hear your responses. And I'd love to hear your responses. Your answers don't just show your personality and character. They show your "voice."