tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-457770996873224278.post3251442223459128359..comments2023-08-03T00:59:37.590-06:00Comments on All-en-A-Day's Work: Remembering Donald GravesPatrick A. Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18098594501502756880noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-457770996873224278.post-10134688650934836922010-10-13T22:06:34.420-06:002010-10-13T22:06:34.420-06:00I remember reading that same little brown book, an...I remember reading that same little brown book, and realizing 'This is how my kids can all write different things at the same time!' At the time, I was team teaching with two friends in a pre-primary/Grade 1 classroom. We began by creating time for each of us to have a small group to work with, to play, to try out what Don was pushing us to do! What magic. Now all these years later, his books and talks remain a cornerstone for my writing practice with my older multi-age students. We have been fortunate over the years to have him here in Winnipeg to share his passion and knowledge with us. The last time I saw him was several years back at a conference in Toronto. He shared a group hug with our little Winnipeg contingent, embracing us all with his incredible warmth and love. Thank you, Patrick, for this lovely tribute, and yes, Linda, he will forever sit at our shoulders...Beth Albers-Jonesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-457770996873224278.post-59492350681264696582010-10-08T14:06:03.107-06:002010-10-08T14:06:03.107-06:00Donald Graves was a man I knew extremely well even...Donald Graves was a man I knew extremely well even though I barely spoke to him 5 times in my life. His brilliant work has given us so many tools: so much vibrancy as teachers, so much faith in children and what they can do. We will miss you Donald Graves, but thank God you put so much of yourself on the page. And thank God for DVDs and the internet; if we ever need a boost you are still there to help and guide, energize and inspire. You barely knew me, but you impacted my life as a teacher and a person in huge ways. I mourn your loss as I would a dear dear friend or family member. We are so lucky, those of us who have read your works and heard you speak and learned from you how to be more intelligent, compassionate and skillful teachers. Thank you, Don. You gave so many gifts to the world and so you will live on. My heartfelt condolences to his family and legion of caring friends and colleagues.<br />Janet Fagal Skaneateles, NYskanny17https://www.blogger.com/profile/07488350213473016250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-457770996873224278.post-64253520619250164742010-10-07T13:19:15.747-06:002010-10-07T13:19:15.747-06:00Thank you all for your wonderful comments!Thank you all for your wonderful comments!Patrick A. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18098594501502756880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-457770996873224278.post-45146676893436424612010-10-06T20:31:45.654-06:002010-10-06T20:31:45.654-06:00Patrick, this is a wonderful tribute to Don. To be...Patrick, this is a wonderful tribute to Don. To be happy for all he has taught all of us. Every time I see a child in a classroom, sitting so seriously, pencil in hand, putting pictures and words on paper, I think -- Don Graves is sitting on his shoulder, as he so often is on mine, nudging this little boy or girl with sincere words "Tell me more.... Tell me more." It is sad that life is so short-- but so many, many of us have been so lucky to have learned so much from Don. He will be sitting on all of our shoulders as we continue his legacy as we write and read, and as we let children show us how much they have to tell us as they write and read. Thank you.Linda Riefnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-457770996873224278.post-12664150755821781342010-10-06T11:50:32.289-06:002010-10-06T11:50:32.289-06:00Thank you, Patrick, for this beautiful piece of wr...Thank you, Patrick, for this beautiful piece of writing. It captures Don in so many ways. He was a treasure. I am passing this on to the family because I know how much it will mean to them.<br /><br />Clearly Don led you to find the writer you are...Penny Kittlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04655909998933785937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-457770996873224278.post-55523060854760662702010-10-05T20:07:25.737-06:002010-10-05T20:07:25.737-06:00HI Patrick-
Such a lovely and thoughtful tribute t...HI Patrick-<br />Such a lovely and thoughtful tribute to our Don. I treasure my collection of Don letters. PRE-email, we popped letters back and forth to each other during the 2 years Mark and I live in Houston. His spirit lives on in countless schools and classroom. We are blessed to have Don in our lives.Colleennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-457770996873224278.post-25064430198267274082010-10-05T16:29:39.861-06:002010-10-05T16:29:39.861-06:00He was such an amazing educator that really unders...He was such an amazing educator that really understood children and teachers in an elementary classroom. Every time I read a new book, I thought ...this is a person that I would love to meet. Hopefully, that day will be in heaven and I can thank him for working his whole life to encourage readers, writers and thinkers everywhere. He valued the stories that children have to tell and how conversation and conferring get to the heart of what we need to be doing in our classrooms. Thank you so much for your tribute.Nanchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13135130889558068676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-457770996873224278.post-15128972005899429222010-10-02T18:25:55.114-06:002010-10-02T18:25:55.114-06:00My favorite undergrad class in the late 80s requir...My favorite undergrad class in the late 80s required the reading of Writing: Teachers & Children at Work . I still have the book - it's the only book left from my college years. A few years ago, I wrote a book about fostering learner independence - I made reference to this book, Energy to Teach, and Inside Writing. Donald Graves has influenced my professional beliefs and practices for over 20 years. His influence will never end.Roxann Rosehttp://www.bridgeway-christian-academy.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-457770996873224278.post-37074219703247117222010-10-01T18:07:06.110-06:002010-10-01T18:07:06.110-06:00Thank you for sharing this wonderful tribute. I n...Thank you for sharing this wonderful tribute. I never met Don Graves, but I have read his work and been inspired and haunted by his teaching. I will be revisiting them now also. I teach kindergarten and often hear teachers talk about how "they can't write." I teach kindergarten and it is my favorite part of the day. They do love it and they love to "share themselves." Their love for writing inspires me to be a better teacher of writing. <br /><br />Thanks again for this. I am sorry for the loss of your friend and colleague and for the loss of an incredible writing teacher. Fortunately he lives on with his words and will continue to influence writers, young and old, for years and years to come.melaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01126553997715104853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-457770996873224278.post-41895867972054316112010-10-01T15:08:14.261-06:002010-10-01T15:08:14.261-06:00Thank you for writing this wonderful tribute Patri...Thank you for writing this wonderful tribute Patrick, it's a moving personal reflection on the influence of this great man on your career and life. There are so many things you mention that remind me of Don including your comment that he "made everyone feel like his best friend". All who met him will miss him. Trevor CairneyTrevor Cairneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10743409298855125040noreply@blogger.com