Lingo-Lounge...

On the day before school started this year, class lists were posted in the office windows at school.  We all anxiously trooped over to the elementary school to get the kids classroom assignments.  Promptly after reading her teacher's name, Lorien burst into tears.

She cried all afternoon and into the night.

When she could finally discuss her sorrow with me she explained:  "All summer long, on every dandelion, on every star on every-everything I wished I'd get into Mrs. Eplin's class for 5th grade.  And now I know wishes don't come true!"

Oh the horror.

Apparently, Mrs. Eplin is the creative writing expert at school.  She is a published author and gives her students plenty of time to express themselves through spoken and written word.  Alas, Lorien was placed in Mr. B's class...Mr. B. is the math expert at school.  He has a wall clock with all of the numbers replaced with mathematical symbols (for example, 3:00 is marked by the symbol for pi).

If you know our little Lorien, you might know that her heart beats for creative writing.  She has hundreds of stories started (and a few finished) on our computer.  She is always telling me about her most recent story idea and wants nothing more than to be a published author when she grows up.

If you know our little Lorien, you might also know that she loathes math.  Numbers are the bane of her existence.  She would rather eat pencil erasers than solve math equations...and she frequently does eat her pencil eraser instead of doing her math homework.  She struggles with many of the basic math facts making  her loathing even stronger.  Sigh.

You can see why being placed in Mr. B's class was not welcome news.  She has warmed up to Mr. B over the last few months.  Her math skills have improved even if her tolerance level for the subject has not.

Fortunately for Lorien and her word-filled heart Mrs. Eplin hosts a poetry reading night at a local Starbucks. Any 5th grader is allowed to read their own original work or a memorized poem by someone else.  It is a great opportunity for these kids to "preform" and share their ideas.  Lorien has been beside herself with anticipation for this evening.

So, Colter and I escorted our budding poet to Starbucks and hung out while she shared an original poem she had written a few days ago.  She was one of the most animated, well rehearsed and all around entertaining poets.  Moreover, her poem was brilliant.  (No, I am not biased in the least...)  You can see for yourself in the video below.

The nervous cheek-chew before her turn was up.

Waiting her turn, excited now.

A deep-breath to begin...

See, I told you so.