by the Educator Collaborative Fellow, Janet N. Y. Zarchen
Every house on our street recently received identical sales flyers in their mailboxes. The flyer described the items for sale, when and where the sale would take place, the discounts offered and other details about the event. The flyer generated a lot of buzz among the neighbors with people discussing their plans to attend, whether they needed to bring any items to help them with their purchases, and praising the entrepreneurs who organized the sale. Residents from almost half the houses attended the sale, and the vendors made an excellent profit! What was this sale and who were the merchants? Ice cold lemonade sold by Nina and Olivia, both age 9!
Whether or not Nina and Olivia realized it, their hand-written, 8×5 inch flyer accomplished something that marketing firms spend thousands of dollars on – influenced a neighborhood of busy adults to take time out of their day, show up to a sale, and make a purchase.
This is power.
A week later, I was walking my dog when I saw pink bubble letters in the street that read “Tacos and Flowers!” from one curb to the other. I followed the chalk line to a house three doors down. In front of the house was another chalk sign “Tacos Flowers Rocks.” I got the neighborhood discount for a woodchip taco in a leaf tortilla, a homemade pet rock, and some dandelions. Later in the day, the signs caught the attention of neighbors who stopped their car in front of the house to see what was happening.
This is power.
During a gathering on another day, the sign on the guest bathroom door upset several of the young visitors to the house. “What happened?! Why is the toilet smoking?! What’s the problem? Which bathroom are we supposed to use?”
They opened the door, despite the warning on the sign. Their laughter and groans could be heard throughout the house, and the prank was the highlight of the afternoon.
This is power.
Do your students know how powerful their writing can be??
