Metaphors

[jeannineatkins]

Sometimes I wish metaphors weren’t often taught as their own unit in elementary school. It makes them seem sort of precious, like a necklace one would only wear on Very Important Occasions. Or it can make them seem crafty: Hey, anyone can do this! Just draw a line between two rows of words.

Of course anyone can do this and have fun while they’re

Comments

[taramsmith]

I need to share this with my kids when the time comes, Jeannine:We don’t go on metaphor hunts waving nets or pincers, but rather quietly stay alert for flickers of meaning in the shadows.
When metaphor is taught in isolation as a single craft move, it loses its power, I think - it becomes just a convenient strategy to throw in and cross off the writer's check list. Thank you for this reminder to teach effectively.

[jeannineatkins]

Tara, you are the last person who needs to be reminded to teach effectively. I am in awe of what you do. I think we can all have fun as readers or writers just noticing with some humility and wonder and humor -- hey, do you think that could mean something else, too?