Pronouns, Code-Switching, & Beyoncé

Today I learned about pronouns, code-switching, and Beyoncé. It’s a long day; we cover a lot of ground.

Pronouns: Pronouns have always been close to my heart. Well, to be honest I probably firmly learned what a pronoun is last year, but I’ve always loved them, even without knowing their proper label. Why? Because they’re so telling. I love the moment in a relationship when you’re no longer you or I, but we or us. If you’ve been around me enough you’ve probably heard me comment, “love the pronoun,” especially when I see the move to a we or us. Weird, I know.

Today, when we were thinking of ways to revise our memoir pieces, looking at mentor texts, we noticed that sometimes authors will purposely switch from We to I or They to We as a craft move. Using these words influenced the reader’s connection with the text. As I looked through my piece, I noticed there were places I wanted my reader to connect with me in my reflection and other places where I felt the need to stand apart. By playing with the pronouns, I was able to create this effect in different places within my piece.

Code-Switching: This topic was actually covered in more than one of my classes today. And while I have addressed this topic with some of my kids before, it was never with any more intention than passing on some teacherly good advice. Code-Switching is simply this, when people make choices to change the way they speak, act, dress, or write depending on the audience. When I was in middle school this would have been called being a poser. Now, I realize it’s just smart. It’s also smart to have this conversation with our kids.

Let’s face it, when I’m with my friends I talk one-way, but when I’m working on business my vocabulary changes. In fact I dress differently at work, at church, and at home—and it’s purposeful. I’m not being a poser; I’m being smart. In writing, the way I write this blog is different than how I would write a research paper or a business plan. Having this conversation with kids, and then having them practice code-switching with different audiences in mind gives them valuable tools for the future.

Beyoncé: One of the things I have become more aware of this year and this week is that I need to pay more attention to the media, pop-culture, and maybe play a few video games? Anyway, I laughed when my teacher put the music video “Single Ladies” on the screen and asked us to generate ideas for writing from it. But seriously, what a great idea!

Nonfiction: How to Walk in Heals

Narrative: A story about a time you tried really hard for a long time but still couldn’t make work

Poetry: How it feels to be loved

Persuasive: Why it is important to respect women

Comic: Guy is a jerk. Girl finds new Super Guy with Ring.

The whole Beyoncé thing makes me laugh, but you could do it with any video and if the kids all share-out their ideas, someone is likely to grab something great. It’s the end of— I don’t know what to write about today!