Tuesday, June 21, 2016

You Just Revise


Thank you Two Writing Teachers for creating this space for me to share my corner of the world.


My sister Janis and I are only a year (and 19 days) apart in age.  When we were little, our mom would dress us alike, and people would ask if we were twins, although we looked and acted nothing alike.  We still don't look and act anything alike, contrary to what many people say.

My daughter, older sister, younger sister, and me! (l to r)
Four years after I was born, my brother was born, and my little sister came along five years after that.  Janis and I shared a bedroom from the time I was born until the year she went away to college.  We had a huge bedroom, big enough for two twin beds, two chests, two desks, and two nightstands. Plus room to draw an imaginary line down the middle to designate "my side" and "her side."  Walking in, a person could immediately tell which side belong to whom. Her side was neat as a pin, and my side had piles and piles.

Fast-forward many years, and today a person could tell which house belongs to which sister.  In her house everything is in its place, and in my house everything is in its pile. It is funny to see how those behaviors or personalities still exist.  

And given our personalities, I don't think it is a coincidence that she is a math teacher and I am an English teacher.  

We have many, many conversations about teaching.  The other day she was talking about how she gets frustrated using Jigsaw because she has to change her groups depending on how many students she has in each class.  When she said, "They don't always work out the same for every period" I started laughing.

She asked me why I was laughing.  I replied, "Because I am an English teacher and when groups don't work out...you just revise!  Groups aren't suppose to be an algorithm with one right answer like math."

I guess there are some things in life...or in people...you just can't change!

6 comments:

  1. Hahaha. this is too funny. I have also been a piler all my life. My older brother was a principal and my twin sister is the Superintendent for elementary schools in her district. Although we were born the same day, she is 4 minutes older and always took the lead when we were young, since she is an extrovert and I am an introvert. I like to joke with people that I an the family underachiever and that she became a principal and superintendent because she was
    the bossy twin! She doesn't think that is funny.

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  2. It was so fun to read your words again! I've taken a long sabbatical. My house sounds much more like yours:). I'm currently avoiding piles right now.

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  3. So, so funny, Leigh Anne. My daughter and I marvel over the two young daughters and how different they are, just like you & your sister. I love that she is a math teacher while you are an English teacher-does seem to fit. Although I have to tell you that our main math teacher at my school was rather messy! Have a fabulous time at All-Write-will miss seeing you.

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  4. I love this. So many piles in my house. My sister, the Dr. of Pharmacy is quite analytical and needs things to work just so. I'm more of a revise as a I go girl. :)

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  5. I love that this captures the difference in your personalities. It is funny how personalities are formed at such a young age and remain with us. I do think you and your sister look alike!

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  6. Leigh Anne, it is really very ironic how siblings can have such different personalities. I have two younger sisters and our personalities are drastically different.

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