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Figurative Language: Hope You Are All Ears- by Donna

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“There is a guy stealing IPhones around town. At some point he’s going to face time.” (pun)

Did you laugh? I did. I absolutely love a play on “words”. In fact, I like the many things you can do with words. Now that may sound strange to you and maybe I stick out like a sore thumb (simile), but words can be fun and interesting.

“Is it crazy how saying sentences backwards…. ….creates backwards sentences saying how crazy it is.” 

Being a reading and writing teacher, I love teaching figurative language: metaphors, hyperboles, alliteration, personification and idioms. The origin of many idioms is fascinating. I have googled a kazillion times (hyperbole) where a phrase or idiom comes from. Take these for example:

I’m all ears!

Idiom Origins

Example: Johnny was a thief his whole life, but decided to turn over a new leaf. 

Turn over a new leaf: In the 16th century the pages of a book were called leaves. The saying refers to turning over to a blank page and starting over. This saying came about centuries ago.

Example: The doctor gave Carrie a clean bill of health.

A clean bill of health: In the 1800’s, a ship from another country could not dock until all the passengers on the ship were cleared from the possibility of carrying a disease. After the ship’s captain was handed the paper, a bill of health, stating that there was no sickness on the ship, he was given permission to dock.

Now you have to admit those were interesting, intriguing, and informative idioms (alliteration).  My computer even enjoyed the repetitive stroke of the letter I (personification). I am sorry if this overload of information makes me a walking textbook (metaphor). Snort, giggle, snort. (onomatopoeia) 

Karla and Donna

Read the paragraphs below about Karla and me. I know that sounds like an assignment, but after all I am a teacher.

Karla and I have never had an argument, but we don’t always see eye to eye. If we have different perspectives on something, we talk it out getting to the root of the matter. We never use each other as a scapegoat or put words in the other’s mouth. Usually, we start laughing and simply wash our hands of the matter and move on. 

We love life and like to eat, drink, and be merry. But, neither one of us has a sense of direction; we are like the blind leading the blind. Sometimes we are at our wits end by the time we make it to our destination. To those who know us, that is nothing new under the sun. Sometimes we even have to go the extra mile –honestly, it might be many extra miles. But what is a mere hour lost, it’s just a drop in the bucket of time.

From the Good Book

The bold phrases/words are ones we use often. Where were they derived from?  The BIBLE! Yep, awesome isn’t it. I hope you enjoyed your lesson for today!

Eye to eye: (Isaiah 52:8)

Root of the matter: (Job 19:28)

Scapegoat (Leviticus 16: 9-10)

Put words in one’s mouth (2 Samuel 14:3)

Wash our hands of the matter (Matthew 27:24)

The blind leading the blind (Matthew 15:13-14)

Wits end (Psalms 107:27)

Nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9)

Go the extra mile (Matthew 5:41)

A drop in the bucket (Isaiah 40:15)

For alliteration fun, view this video of Johnny Carson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgYbogp1Ha0

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Influence: Hand-Me-Down Genes -By Donna

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While walking down the hallway with my kindergarteners yesterday, a little girls grabbed my hand, looked up at me, and said, “Mrs. Tumlins, teach me to be just like you.” I laughed to myself and thought, Why would you want to be like me? Then I thought, who am I really? What makes me, me?

I came to the conclusion that  I am a bunch of hand-me-down genes. They say I look like my great-grandmother on my mother’s side. I have her olive complexion and dark hair. But others say I look like my Aunt Hattie on my daddy’s side. I know I have my mama’s pointy nose and small stature. The dimple on my daddy’s chin also graces my face.

Personality wise, I have my daddy’s easy-going temperament. My mother’s feisty disposition is buried deep inside me and rarely gets to rear its head. I am not sure where my quiet side came from, but I think I was given a double dose.  

My granddaddy was a school teacher and loved children. I follow in his footsteps. My grandmother loved to read and write, as do I.  She was always humming a tune in the kitchen, and there is always a song in my head.  

Humor? Well I believe that comes from almost every single member of the family, as does the love of food. I have a plethora of good cooks in my extended family. My compassion for animals may come from my Uncle Lynn. Being kind to all people, maybe Aunt Marlene. The desire to do for others, Aunt Kathy. And well, Aunt Carol, I too enjoy acting like a fool when I am with those I love

Influence

Over the years, my genes were influenced by my families’ behaviors.There are some things about me I was not born with, but have learned from my family over the years. Kathryn, Karla’s mom, influenced me to always look my best. I never saw her looking slouchy. Even when she was ready for bed, she was dressed to a T, in her satin pajamas. I have surprised people with my knowledge about car parts, thanks to countless hours watching and listening to my daddy. And I know a lot about clothes, from the material to the stitching. I think my mom could have sewn the Emperor’s New Clothes.   

However, my family members failed to pass down musical talent to me. I missed that gene. I sit at family reunions and listen to the banjo, guitar, harmonica, spoons, piano, and other instruments wishing I could play. But what they didn’t fail me at was planting the seeds of faith in my heart. Generation after generation passed down their faith in God.


To my little student I could say, “to teach you to be like me would be impossible. I am one of kind. God made me and surrounded me by people to mold me into who I am today. How lucky I am.”

And thank goodness, they handed down their genes and not that bonnet!!




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Southern Dialect: Summer Mouth -By Donna

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As an elementary teacher, the end of summer and the onset of a new school year means change. Shoes must be worn at all times and no more tank tops and shorts for my daily outfit . I must apply makeup everyday, not just on Sundays. And oh how awful to return to setting the alarm clock for 5:30 in the morning! But the most difficult adjustment is getting rid of my “summer mouth”.

 In June and July, I talk differently. However, “summer mouth” is not appropriate for little ears. While student teaching my senior year in college, I discovered it was not acceptable. The first time my professor observed me he stated, “You can’t talk like that,” 

Really! I can’t talk like that? Tell that to my daddy. When you grow up listening to it your entire life, it is going to rub off on you. 

However, the first day of teaching, I realized Dr. Walker was right. As I stood in front of my students and addressed them, a cute, blond, curly-headed little girl’s eyes widened! “Bo-wees! Bo-wees! What’s a bo-wee?” I looked at her in shock. Everyone knows what a Bo-wee is. Don’t they? Girls and bo-wees! As a result of her comment, I watch what I say.

After eighteen years of teaching, I have mastered the summer mouth transformation. It’s as easy as turning off a light switch. “We ain’t gonna do that” becomes “We will not do that.”, “What in tarnation are ya’ll doin’” turns into “What are you two doing?”, and “Reckon we best get goin’ ’cause it’s fixin’ ta come a ‘show’r” translates to “We better go because it is about to rain.”

Southern Dialect

Each year gets easier because along the way, I have lost a lot of my southern dialect and slang. When you spend hours each day teaching phonics, it’s important to say it right, or shall I say “correctly”. As my professor warned, “No more extra syllables in words, no more exaggerated long vowels, and no more dropping the g on –ing.”  

But I treasure the sound of the south. It is a part of my heritage and my family. Summer mouth reminds me of those I no longer hear talk, like my grandparents. However, if you want to hear what the old South sounds like, my daddy is your man. And I quote, “Well, Golly bum, Isa tryin’ tu put that thang in that there bucket, and I swanny if it didn’t get stuck, and I like ta never got it out.”

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