by Jenn Woolf | Dec 12, 2018 | Writing
Comparing metaphors and similes isn’t quite like comparing apples and oranges. It’s much closer to comparing Honey Crisps to Granny Smiths. In other words, there are more similarities than there are differences, but the differences are meaningful. Metaphors and similes make our writing more persuasive, interesting, and vivid. Even if you don’t know exactly what they are, I’m willing to bet that you use them anyway. Have you ever said something like, “this pie is heaven,” or “she swims like a fish”? I bet that if you tried to get through a day without using any similes or metaphors, you would have a very difficult time. It would be as hard as catching your own shadow. Before we go further, let’s go over the definitions of metaphors and similes. I promise that it will be as easy as pie
Simile: A comparison using the words “like” or “as.” Simile makes a direct comparison. For example: As cool as a cucumber, or as cold as ice.
Metaphor: A comparison between two objects without using the words “like” or “as.” For example: My sister is a superhero, or life is a marathon.
Let’s start with the similarities. The biggest one is that they are both used to compare things. Simile uses the words “like” or “as” while metaphor is a more direct comparison, but they both make comparisons. Simile and metaphor are both elements of figurative language. That is, they are used to make a point in a non-literal way. Figurative language makes common declarative sentences much more interesting, like the salt and pepper of language. In addition to simile and metaphor, figurative language includes hyperbole, onomatopoeia, alliteration and more.
The biggest difference simile and metaphor is the “like” or “as.” Similes are more obvious because of the use of “like” or “as.” It doesn’t take Sherlock Holmes to figure out that if either of these words is in the sentence, it’s a simile. The use of “like” or “as” is a big clue that is like a flashing neon sign! If I say this box is as light as a feather, no one is going to think that the box is actually a feather. Instead, the reader (or listener) is able to visualize a box that is very easy to lift.
The other major difference is that metaphor is much more forceful. Because it is a direct comparison, metaphor is used to make a strong point. If I say, she IS a superhero, that’s much more forceful than saying, “she is LIKE as superhero.” The “like” implies that there are certain traits that she has that are similar to traits that a superhero has. The “is” states that every part of her is actually a superhero. You can see how that would be a much more impactful statement.
There are many reasons to use both similes and metaphors. These devices aren’t just for songwriters and poets. They can be useful in our everyday lives as well as when we write. For instance, if you want permission to play one more video game, which sentence would work best?
1: I would want to play one more game.
2: This game is like a rocket ship to better hand eye coordination.
3: This game is the world to me.
How much do you know about figurative language? Take the quiz to see if you’re a figurative language beast!
by Jenn Woolf | Nov 14, 2018 | Uncategorized, Writing
With a little bit of thought, we can encourage kids to enjoy writing and even have a few giggles along the way.
- Buy a journal: Journaling is so important because it gives kids (and adults) a safe place to express themselves. They can experiment with language, or even just doodle, without anyone judging or grading.
- Let them see you write: When your kids see you journal, or even write a thank you note, it becomes a normal part of everyday life. Give yourselves the same writing prompt and see what happens.
- Play with your words: Make language a game. If you are out to dinner and something tastes particularly good (or bad) challenge each other to come up with similes to describe it. I’m pretty sure you can all come up with something more creative than, “this pasta tastes like cr@&.
- Create a new ending: The next time you go to the movies or watch a tv show together, ask your child to come up with a different ending. This reinforces the notion that real people have written the movie, show or video game, and they can write their own stories, too. This stuff doesn’t just magically appear.
- Take a spelling vacation: Encourage your kids not to think about spelling or grammar while they write. Obviously, spelling and grammar are very important, but the brain is not designed to write and edit simultaneously. This advice goes for adults, too. If you stop to wonder about a comma placement or look up how a word is spelled, you are stopping your train of thought.
A lot of what holds kids back from writing is that same as what holds their parents back. Follow these steps along with your kids, and you might just find yourself enjoying writing, too.
by Snickers | Jul 18, 2018 | Writing
When I started out as a writing tutor six years ago, I had a master’s degree in writing, a love of language and an enthusiastic, almost evangelical, energy about the subject. Instinctively, I knew how important writing is to a child’s future. After all, even the most brilliant scientist needs to be able to communicate his/her ideas. In addition, our first impressions are made in writing today. I don’t want this to turn into a listicle of the top 10 reasons why kids need to learn how to write; suffice it to say that writing is a critical skill.
Thanks to the National Writing Project, I have gotten to spend the last two years studying the way we teach writing. And yes, there’s a lot of science and data that goes into building writing programs. Two summers ago, I was a fellow in the Los Angeles Writing Project Summer Institute at Cal State LA. Since then, I’ve taught in the summer camp and tutored in the Alhambra Unified School District. This summer, I was a fellow at the Cal State Northridge Writing Project and am now officially a teacher leader. I look forward to continuing involvement with both branches of the Writing Project.
Learning about pedagogy, using scaffolding and mentor texts has made me a better teacher. However, I’m going to call myself a coach, tutor, or maybe a cheerleader, because I want my kids to think of themselves as writers, not students.
Look for blog posts about creative spelling, writer’s workshops, 5 paragraph essays, and more.
by Jenn Woolf | Mar 12, 2018 | Writing
It’s pretty hard to write a decent description without using your senses.
Sometimes the right smell will jolt you back in time. The other day, I was walking along the coast in La Jolla, CA (I know, rough life!) when I was hit with a scent that rocketed me right back to childhood. The area was beautiful, but it was also a protected sanctuary for seals and sea lions. I was admiring the beauty when the odor hit me like a wave. It was a cross between rotten fish and cat litter, and even though we were outside, it was extremely concentrated and pungent.
When I was a child, my grandfather used to take us to the Baltimore zoo every Sunday. Every. Single. Sunday. We never got sick of the zoo because the playground had a rocket ship climbing structure. Before ipads were invented, rocket ship climbing structures were a pretty big deal! Every, single Sunday my brother and I had a contest to see who could stay in the hippo house the longest. The hippo house smelled exactly like those seals, only it must have been much, much worse because it was indoors.
Hey, wait a minute! It just occurred to me that I always won that contest.
Let’s play a little game. Head on over to the facebook page and describe the most disgusting thing you have ever smelled.