Monday, March 15, 2010

His name is Toast

I did school visits almost every day last week, and they were all much, much fun. But my favorite visit had to be Jefferson Elementary in Redford, Michigan. I got to present to the whole school (in two groups), and have lunch with some awesome kid writers. The best moment, though, was when I started my "Let's Make a Story" bit with the 3rd-5th graders.

The point behind making a story with a whole crowd is to show even when you don't think you have a single idea, if you just think of SOMETHING, the ideas will follow. If you invent a person, questions about that person just naturally arise. And it's your job to write until you find the answers.

So I said, "Let's invent a person. What's this person's name?" And the kid in the front on whom I called responded, "His name is Toast."

Toast. Toast?! That may be the best name for a chapter book character ever. And, oh, the questions! Is that his real name or a nickname? And how did he get it? And, and, and...

I challenged the kids at Jefferson to write me the story of a boy named Toast. But really, I want Toast (and toast) all for myself.

6 comments:

cath c said...

i miss working in elementary when i hear about a moment like this.

kids really are dextrously creative.

i wonder if another kid got fed up with that funny kid and said that to him...

Anna Staniszewski said...

Hm, I think you need to name a character Toast and dedicate the book to Jefferson Elementary School. I feel like he already has so much personality just based on his name!

Anonymous said...

What a fun school visit. Thanks for sharing.

Jacqui said...

cath, I wondered that too, like "this kid is toast."

Anna, exactly! I can totally picture him. Hmm...

Susanne, it was indeed much fun.

J. Thorp said...

Huh. My comment didn't show -- but the current word verification, "alamomp,"makes up for it.

What I said was, I use that name all the time, as in, "When he gets home, that boy's toast!"

Could be a source for the moniker...like the old Cosby skit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSFy8RK-MFg

Anne M Leone said...

I'm so with you, Toast is a GREAT name for a child character. I hope they come up with some brilliant stories to go along with a brilliant name. What a great, child friendly exercise, too, Jacqui.