Back-to-School Thoughts on Education

Illiteracy
Ill Litter I See
©Ruth Cox

I ran across this photo of a school bus today. I read the photographer's comment, "This item has been decaying into the landscape forever." I couldn't help but think, Yes, as is our educational system. I thought of illiteracy ... Ill litter I see.

And what a timely reminder as many of us prepare to send our children back to school to be instructed by our educators to the tune of The Three R's - Reading, wRiting, and aRithmetic. Let us all remember there are three more R's of importance - Right, Responsibility, and Respect. Education should be considered a Right for one and for all; education should be considered a Responsibility by one and by all; education should be treated with Respect by one and by all.

Education empowers. As we gain knowledge, we also gain self-confidence, self-respect, and self-satisfaction. Let us put education back on the bus and in the driver seat by encouraging the three R's and then some.

Let not our funds for education shrink; let not the numbers of our educated sink; let not our minds be left untrained to think.

NOTE: I have now put this in a postcard version as the first in a series of Postcards for a Purpose. I encourage everyone to send a postcard to their state and local representatives!

Education Empowers -- BUY NOW

cafepress abitosunshine: Guest Giveaways -- The Vintage Nest

cafepress abitosunshine: Guest Giveaways -- The Vintage Nest: "I just ran across one of the most fabulous and creative giveaways ever and just had to share it with you! Now, do hurry over to The Vintage ..."

A Great Way to Meet and Greet at Associated Content

Tracie Walker and her Word Game

First impressions often hold true when meeting someone new; our first thoughts regarding words may do same.

I couldn't resist getting in on the Word Game and I was delighted to receive my five words from Tracie Walker. My first impression of Tracie -- delightfully fun and friendly!

I decided to immediately freewrite and share my first thoughts for each of my words. I'd planned to elaborate afterwards, but have now decided against doing such, for the moment at least, though I may do so in later posts.

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Romance: Happenstance; perchance a dance of two tangling into a woven web of one; for a moment in time romance feels like taking a stance, a you and me together.

Boat: Float your boat, doing whatever floats your boat; but I must wonder do we want to float alone or at someone else's expense? Shall we sink or swim, alone or together on our boat sailing out to sea?

Expect: Expectations often lead to dissapointment; expect nothing and be surprised at the wonders received.

Cheer: Spread good cheer, (my favorite way is to spread a bit o' sunshine); you'll be delighted with it bouncing back at you at just the right time, and generally tenfold -- Cheers!

Specific: Nothing in life is purely specific, but everything in life can be terrific when we welcome with sensitivity and deversity rather than specificity.

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Here's my referral link to Associated Content so you can sign up and join the fun:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/join.html?refer=296462

And if you're already an AC Contributor, let's hook up and support each other in the community!

Flash Fiction Writing, Freestyle

Once again combining my passion for Love and Writing, in response to my friend Len's writing prompt.

This Week’s Challenge:

Write something using EXACTLY 500 words. It can be a poem, a story, an article, an essay, anything you want, but make it EXACTLY 500 words (excluding the title).

My Response:

What's in a Word or Two or Three or More?
©Ruth Cox

Be it a quest for new information, by definition fact nor fiction; a tale of truth of the ages old, awaiting its time to be told; or, a promise in the pages of novella worlds to unfurl: the answer to the query depends upon what it is one may be longing for.
READ MORE HERE


Freestyle Saturday (Saturday Writing Essential)
Word Count Tool

Writing Style Analyzer

Blogging and author friend, Charmaine Clancy, shared a great and fun link on her blog, Wagging Tales, and I just had to share it with you, too. The link is to I Write Like, a writing style analyzer, where you simply insert your writing into the analyzer tool and it will tell you which famous author your writing style resembles.

I decided to have three samples of my writing analyzed and was quite pleased and amused by the results. First was a sampling of my poetry, since it is my preferred choice of writing. I inserted the following poem:


Timeless Travel O' Truth
©Ruth Cox

In pre-dawn hour ship spirits hail;
Gypsy o' the sea is bade, "Set sail."
Atop the water's underworld,
All time and space constraints unfurl'd.
Sun o' yon morrow now arisin'
To claim what lies beyond horizon;
Schooled seafarer drew up a mind blank,
As earth fell flat walkin' the gangplank.
Astern swam ol' soul o' history;
Ahead held sol, breachin' mystery.
Sea gypsy caught by ray o' fire
Rode on heaven's burnin' desire.
Master o' the sky cried an "Ahoy!"
Mate now rides tide o' truth to enjoy.


The I Write Like analyzer said:

I write like
James Joyce

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

 
Next, I had my true story/ghost story analyzed, which you can read here on my blog:
Shades of Summer on a Leather Leash
 
The I Write Like analyzer said:

I write like
Lewis Carroll

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

 
Lastly, I selected one of my recent book review writings, which you can read on my blog, Ruthi Reads!:
Book Review: Ghost Words and Other Echoes...
 
The I Write Like analyzer said:

I write like
H. P. Lovecraft

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

 
The writing analyzer results were interesting and fun and I do hope you'll share the results of your own writing analysis, too!

Once Upon A Time

Once upon a time, on a Tuesday... way back in November, I posted one of my poetic creations on Gather, entitled Once Upon A Time. This creation called out to me several times, as though directing me to "Do" something special with it. So, in need of a special creation for an upcoming event, I "Did" something...

Product Details:

One front adjustable clasp closure.

Main compartment has inside slip pocket.

Front panel has zipper compartment.

Adjustable 2" shoulder strap.

600 Denier Polyester

Size: 14 1/2" x 12" x 5"

The photo above does not do this Messenger Bag justice. So I do hope you'll have a closer look at it at my shop, where it is available for purchase..:-)

CafePress abitosunshine

Friendship Balls

Let's teach our children about colors ... and a bit about friendship, too!

Who knows ... we may even learn a thing or two.

Picture Books (Saturday Writing Essential)

Len's Prompt Rules:

Write the text for a children’s picture book (prose, poetry, fiction, essay, whatever).

You must have only sixteen sentences.
Each sentence can have one to fifteen words.
You can have a word of three syllables in only four of the sentences.
You can have only one word of four syllables in the work.
There can be no words of more than four syllables.


Photo used in this creation courtesy of morgueFile.

Lost Kindred Souls

This post is dedicated to my baby brother ... I love you.

Every single day, in every possible way, show your loved ones the love you feel for them, before life or death snatches them away...

This was first posted here and you're encouraged to read the discussions that took place, sign up and comment, too.