Teaching a composition lesson to students compares to writing hub articles. How does one entice an audience to taste the delectable goodness of savoury content and expertise? Provide the wonders of the unexpected! Do audiences want to be entertained; or do they prefer concise, useful information? What is their primary quest? A writer has to establish the purpose and maintain a tone.

Just before the lesson started, a white , feathered visitor dazzled and captured the adventurous hunger of a small group of seventh graders. Since the clouds leaked and drizzled, preserving good health became a priority as an educator. Thus , my students filed obediently into the classroom. Once inside, they stimulated my thought process with a provoking question.

“Did you bring your camera today?”

Of course, knowing the importance of this visual tool, I had packed my Sony Cybershot effective 10.1 megapixels with its charming features- smile shutter and steady shot. How I loved it! Most of all, it fit snugly into a compact Digital Sunflash case. However, trying to squeeze the USB cable into the case with the camera demanded magic that surpasses the proverbial ace up the sleeve!

After my students confirmed that I had brought my camera, they announced the visitor.

“The white bird has returned. Come see! It looks like a duck but it has long, black legs!”

I stepped outside the class to view this morphed wonder. A tall, long necked, white bird strutted across the lower lawn as we watched awestruck. Indeed, it looked and behaved like a duck at times; but in my mind, it appeared to be a snowy egret or crane. The students assured me that  the local name was gowling. Two days before, a larger, similar bird appeared on the upper lawn -  near the classroom where I was teaching the same class. The white bird fascinated us then with its performance; and now it imprisoned us as a captive audience.

When the telephoto lens failed to provide a sharp, close up photo of our rainy weather, feathered visitor, an eager student volunteered. His delightful personality and enthusiastic photographic manners enamored us. We watched in mysterious silence as he sneaked along the foundation of a demolished building.

“That bird is intelligent!” one student remarked.

“Yes,” I agreed.

My cub photographer determined too win and obtained several photos. The bird, aware of his presence, avoided being the subject of any photo! Darting clockwise then changing abruptly, the bird challenged the photographer to an exciting cat and mouse tag game. How I wished I had brought the Bushnell binocular camera too!

Watching the drama filled me with vigor and enthusiasm. After the cub photographer returned to the group, I played back the recent  photos as well as a few of the ones I had taken previously. They marvelled; and I promised a lesson that would include a slide show.

However, in my mind, I envisioned more for my students. How would my class’ learning experience be altered and enhanced if my classroom included a smart board? Imagine my students, each with a digital camera and united in purpose – to prepare a photojournalist’s account of the visit of a ‘gowling’. The poem “Mary Had A Little Lamb” is renown – worldwide. With a little thought as well as some quietness, I could conjure a poem. But their journal, album, collection of photos would be an effective, valuable reminder. One photo can speak a thousand words? How I visualized fluent, enthusiastic, marathon writers!

With a major fraction of the lesson consumed by a 'birdview' memory, I was faced with redeeming the time. Could I capitalize on the vibrant, spontaneous introduction? No need to worry. My eager cub reporters were racing out of the composition gate before the bell sounded! Two topics demanded a letter format; and the remaining three provided scope for their wildest imaginings.  One student asked if he could choose two topics! He received permission to write the second topic as homework. Another student indicated that she could write five instead of the standard three paragraphs. No problem. They were no longer writing for me- the teacher- but for the worldwide web audience. Crooked Island Voices team, though meagre now, would form the nucleus of a writing and photography ripple. These pioneers would blaze a trail of excellence and maturity.

How long can youth keep a secret?  Telling them to remain tight lipped and keep the project undercover provokes a challenge. One student hinted that her composition would evoke emotional responses. Good! The marathon journey- our odyssey aimed at enhancing precise, clear, on topic, accurate writing skills has been launched finally. The vision  of excellence, which demands stirring up gifts, has been written. Now that the stage has been set, my admonition to team members is simply: break a leg!