1. Capturing Memories

2. There’s so much to write about in your writer’s notebook:

3. current events in the world,

4. happenings in school,

5. friends,

6. feelings,

7. dreams,

8. and random thoughts,

9. How about memories? Does it ever happen to you that an old memory suddenly bubbles up in your mind?

10. Your mind records memories throughout your entire life. Capturing these memories helps us to appreciate our lives.

11. The writer’s notebook is the perfect place to unearth and write about your memories because it’s safe and private. Nobody has to read it unless you want them to.

12. Kelsey, a student in Fairfield, Connecticut, used her writer’s notebook to capture a special memory about going to the coffee shop with her father. Let’s read it together:

13. Coffee and Hot Chocolate By: Kelsey I was sitting on my bed waiting. I saw little sparkles fall from the sky and leave drizzles of water sliding down the window like tears coming from my eyes, just waiting. I heard the running and the pitter pattering of the rain, and me, just waiting. Suddenly I saw my Dad stand right next to my bed. Finally it was ready. I whipped on my jeans and shirt and threw on my rain slicker, and ran into my Dad’s car to the coffee shop we were going to go to. When we got there we ordered two bagels, poppy seed and everything. We also got a coffee and hot chocolate. After that, when my Dad was ordering, I tried to look for the best ever to sit. Just then, in the blink of an eye, I saw the perfect place, a small table with tree chairs. The both of us started to eat and drink. My warm hot cocoa tasted soooo sweet in my throat, my bagel so crunchy with the poppy seeds and so creamy with the cream cheese. My Dad read the paper and I scanned the Cherry Blossom Festival paper. Then I would just stare at my dad happily, and as I sipped my hot cocoa warm thoughts slid into my mind slowly. That’s what happened on that Saturday morning. I’ll never forget that Saturday morning when I went to the coffee shop with my Dad! How we got hot coca and coffe and poppy seed and everything bagels. How it took so long to find a table for me and my Dad, I’ll never forget when I went to the coffee shop with my Dad.

14. What did you notice about Kelsey’s piece? What details did she include that made this writing strong? I was sitting on my bed waiting. I saw little sparkles fall from the sky and leave drizzles of water sliding down the window like tears coming from my eyes, just waiting. I heard the running and the pitter pattering of the rain, and me, just waiting. Suddenly I saw my Dad stand right next to my bed. Finally it was ready. I whipped on my jeans and shirt and threw on my rain slicker, and ran into my Dad’s car to the coffee shop we were going to go to. When we got there we ordered two bagels, poppy seed and everything. We also got a coffee and hot chocolate. After that, when my Dad was ordering, I tried to look for the best ever to sit. Just then, in the blink of an eye, I saw the perfect place, a small table with tree chairs. The both of us started to eat and drink. My warm hot cocoa tasted soooo sweet in my throat, my bagel so crunchy with the poppy seeds and so creamy with the cream cheese. My Dad read the paper and I scanned the Cherry Blossom Festival paper. Then I would just stare at my dad happily, and as I sipped my hot cocoa warm thoughts slid into my mind slowly. That’s what happened on that Saturday morning. I’ll never forget that Saturday morning when I went to the coffee shop with my Dad! How we got hot coca and coffe and poppy seed and everything bagels. How it took so long to find a table for me and my Dad, I’ll never forget when I went to the coffee shop with my Dad.

15. Let’s hear what Ralph Fletcher has to say about using his writer’s notebook:

16. This is yet another way to use your writer’s notebook. Remember, you can write the whole memory, as Kelsey did, or you can use shorthand as Ralph Fletcher describes.

17. Either way, try to jot down the important details that will make the memory come alive.

18. Conference Questions As you wrote about this memory, what feelings did it bring up? How did you use the details to help you picture it again? Why do you think you’re remembering this now?

19. Taken from “Lessons for the Writer’s Notebook”, Ralph Fletcher (firsthand publications)