1. Write the following heading at the top of a new page
Writer’s Notebook
Write the following heading at the top of a new page
12/4/ Nails in My Fence

2. Think about what the fence represents and the message of the story.
12/4/ Nails in My Fence
Read the short story “Nails in the Fence” to yourself as I read it to you.
Think about what the fence represents and the message of the story.

3. Nails in the Fence
There once was a little boy who had a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back of the fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence.
Over the next few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.
Finally the day came when the boy didn’t lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper.
The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone. The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said, “You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one.
You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. It won’t matter how many times you say I’m sorry, the wound is still there.” A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one. 
~Author Unknown

4. 12/4/ Nails in My Fence
In your Writer’s Notebook under the heading draw a picture of your fence.

5. 12/4/15 Nails in My Fence Consider these questions:
After you have finished your drawing, write for 5 minutes about your fence.
Consider these questions:
How does it look right now?
What caused the holes in your fence?
How did you feel when the holes were created?
How do you feel about the condition of your fence?
Write whatever comes to mind as you think about your fence.

6. In your Writer’s Notebook skip a line and write the following title:
12/4/ Mending Fences
Now focus your attention on repairing fences.
Can wounds heal?
Are there ways to mend your fence?
Consider what it would take to heal or shrink your fence.
Time?
Forgiveness?
The support of a loving friend or family member?
Realize now that we have ALL nailed holes into the fences of others. With words, dirty looks and unkind deeds, we have hurt others.

7. 12/4/ Mending Fences
Think about someone whose fence you have damaged. Try to put yourself in his/her place and imagine how he/she must be feeling about the hurt you caused.
In your notebook write a letter to that person, saying whatever you need to say.
Your entry should start with the word Dear and then the person’s first name. While writing your letter give thought to the hurt you may have caused and the lesson of the story Nails in the Fence.
***Remember that this is YOUR writer’s notebook and you do not have to share this with anyone.