Albert Einstein once said, “It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative impression and knowledge.” That much is true, but what he didn’t say was how teaching awakens that same joy in ourselves as well.
We all remember great teachers in our lives. Their dedication and contribution to their students’ personal and professional development will always stay with them as they grow and mature into young adults. It is easily one of the most noble and admirable professions out there. During my time with Carroll ISD, I had an incredible opportunity teaching and fostering these kids as a substitute teacher. It was those experiences that inspired me to pursue my passion project of writing and publishing my very first children’s book.
I pulled my experiences from watching the most talented educators work their magic with their students at Carroll ISD. The inspiration for my first book “Smiley, Happy Planet Earth” came while helping my daughter learn about the many wonders of the solar system, planet Earth and its seasons. It’s no surprise that the main character is, in fact, a school teacher himself, sharing the educational experience with his students in the same way that I have with my own daughter.
In my experience, I have learned that there are two useful elements when it comes to both teaching and writing: rhymes and personification. When you present information in a rhyme, it helps young readers follow along while memorizing facts at the same time. This allows them to comprehend and retain a larger amount of information all at once. Take, for instance, this one example that shares how many countries are on the Earth:
Planet Earth has many countries.
Some have snow, and some have palm trees.
We can fly through them or drive,
All one hundred and ninety-five!
Personification is also helpful with bringing character and personality to a story. It allows inanimate objects to be filled with their own life, much like the four seasons in my own book. Emotional qualities can help establish a connection to physical characteristics of a certain season. It helps imagine what they might say or feel based on their physical properties. For instance, fall may be a little sad because we associate rain with teardrops, while summer may be happy because of the brightness of the sun.
For me, creative writing combines some of the most essential things we all strive for: generating ideas and connecting not just with our own feelings, but with those all around us. It helps us strengthen the relationships with our family and friends while exploring subjects and sharing insights about them. That creative environment taught me that everyone I know has their own story to tell or share, even if they don’t know it yet.
Life is full of inspiration. Mine comes from establishing connections with my beloved community and exploring our creativity, passions, ideas and dreams together. So share your story. You never know how important it may be.
Anya Beltsina is an educator, wife and mother to a daughter in middle school.
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