I planted a little story seed in the mind of a child, “If you could plant any tree, what story would it tell?”
Her brow wrinkled in thought until an idea sprouted.
“I’d plant a family tree to tell the story of our lives.”
“A family tree?”
“The roots would be the family growing strong. The trunk would the home in which the family lives. The branches would be each person and the love they share. The leaves would tell the stories of each life.”
“Trees need water.”
“The water would be their tears of joy.”
“What a beautiful tree.”
She smiled, “We’ve added another leaf.”
Ross's Writing Blog 
claudia
October 23, 2011 at 07:27
Well done…a nice and pleasant take on the prompt this week. I like the “new leaf”!!!
Ross Mannell
October 23, 2011 at 09:10
Thanks for the comment.
I had a few thoughts on where the prompt might lead but decided to keep it as a child-centred story in keeping with the purpose of this blog, i.e. stories for primary school aged children. I decided, “We’ve added another leaf” added relevance to the child’s explanation. 🙂
grannysueo3Sue
October 23, 2011 at 08:05
I really love this one, Anna. Thanks!
=)
grannysueo3Sue
October 23, 2011 at 08:07
Oops! Sorry!! I was looking at Anna’s name when I clicked on your Centus, and I didn’t realize I had it wrong until I actually clicked on hers a minute later.
So let me try again…
I really love this one, Ross. I am a big fan of families and genealogy, so this was especially meaningful for me.
=)
Ross Mannell
October 23, 2011 at 09:13
Thanks for the comment.
No problem with the mix up. I done the same thing commenting on blogs more than once. 🙂
The traditional meaning of Family Tree came to mind. I used the idea but explained it in a way a child might understand the concept. 🙂
Judie
October 23, 2011 at 08:25
Ross, your posts are always uplifting. Great take on the prompt!!
Ross Mannell
October 23, 2011 at 09:14
Thanks for the comment.
I try to keep the posts G rated and uplifting or at least with some sort of positive message. 🙂
Nonna Beach
October 23, 2011 at 11:43
Wonderful take on the prompt. I really enjoy your positive and lovely metaphors…so heartwarming, families are forever and to treasure !!!
Ross Mannell
October 23, 2011 at 17:58
Thanks for the comment.
I always try to make my writing family friendly. 🙂
Jo
October 23, 2011 at 14:25
What a beautiful little story! I enjoyed this post!
Ross Mannell
October 23, 2011 at 18:00
Thanks for the comment.
I enjoy how children can sometimes explain things in their unique way. That helped the idea come to mind. 🙂
Anita Terry
October 23, 2011 at 14:35
very nice! I love the idea of planting the seed in a child’s mind.
Ross Mannell
October 23, 2011 at 18:01
Thanks for the comment.
Plant the seed of a story in a child’s mind and you never know where it will lead their imagination. 🙂
Karen S.
October 23, 2011 at 15:10
Oh but yes a family tree is a lovely tree to begin from, always! Nicely done, thanks!
Ross Mannell
October 23, 2011 at 18:02
Thanks for the comment.
The Family Tree can be a strong one if the child in the story has the correct explanation. 🙂
Mikayla 2KM and 2KJ
October 23, 2011 at 17:52
@ Ross,
I like your blog and blog post.
I like the idea of a family tree that is a great idea Ross.
I like your blog and blog post again.
Your new blogging friend,
Mikayla and 2KM and 2KJ
Ross Mannell
October 23, 2011 at 18:16
Thanks for the comment, Mikayla.
Just like you, I like to write. Each week I write a short story for each of two blogs. This one is based in USA and is called Saturday Centus. The other is in the UK and is called 100 Word Challenge for Grown Ups. The stories I write are always with primary school children in mind. I like to make them positive.
There is a writing blog for primary children called the 100 Word Challenge. It has a new prompt every week on Wednesday our time. You can see what children are writing if you would like to visit it. Check with your teachers if you are interested in entering. As a Year 2 you would be one of the youngest….
http://www.theheadsoffice.co.uk/100-word-challenge-week-7-2/
This is the current prompt. You have to write up to but not more than 100 words about the picture. The stories are fun to read. On Wednesday there will be a new prompt. It could be some words or a picture.
Have fun writing. You’ve become one of my favourite post commenters on this blog. 🙂
Ross Mannell (teacher)
NSW, Australia
Mikayla
October 24, 2011 at 17:07
@ Ross,
Thank you for repling to me on this blog post.
I will tell my teacher to see if we can do it in class at school.I mite do it at home as well I will see if I can frist.It sound’s like fun I will let you now when I have ride it at home or at school.It sound’s tricey to do a story with just 100 words.As a gread 2 will be very hard for me to do it I think Ross.
What graed do you teach?
Why do you like to teach?
Chech out the blog post to see if any one has reaplyed on the 2KM and 2KJ blog post about Our storyis,Our world blog.
Your blogging pal,
Mikayla
Ross Mannell
October 24, 2011 at 18:11
Hello again, Mikayla.
What grade do I teach?
In my career, I have taught all grades from Kindergarten (Prep) up to Year 6. I’ve also tutored students up to Year 12 in Maths a number of years back. Mostly, I taught Years 3 to 5 with my last full time class being a Year 3/4. 🙂
Why do I like to teach?
When I was in Year 2, I first said I wanted to be a teacher. I know many children say that when they like their teachers but I meant it. By high school I was already collecting resources to use in teaching. I still have a copy of a newspaper front page put out the day people first stepped on the moon in 1969. I always wanted to work with children in class and had a sense of sun in learning. Very quickly I found I had a talent for it. Many times parents had told me their child didn’t like school until they were in my class. These days, a number of my students are teachers, many saying because of me. Others are into IT (Computers) because of the computers of my own I have had in classes from the 1980s. These days I no longer have a full time class but help out with holiday child care groups as well as make DVDs for school performances. Next week I will be again at a school to film their two nights of a show for parents. That means I will be busy making two DVDs for them.
Keep posting blogging buddy,
Ross Mannell (teacher)
NSW, Australia
Mia
October 24, 2011 at 17:16
@ Ross,
i like you blog post that you did.
I’m for Mrs Morrius clas in Autalia.
i like the blog post you did again.
Your blogging friend,
Mia
Ross Mannell
October 24, 2011 at 18:15
Thank you for the comment, Mia. It’s always nice when people take the time to comment.
As you probably know, I often drop into your 2KM and 2KJ blog to see what’s happening. I also visit Mrs Yollis’ Classroom blog. Your classes seem to be having fun with the Student Blogging Challenge. Now I see your class is going to be working with even more schools around the world. This is fantastic! 🙂
Ross Mannell (teacher)
NSW, Australia
Mia
October 25, 2011 at 19:24
@ ross,
thankyou for rreepling tpo me on thr blog post.
I loks fdhe got you own blog postr angf nbloor bjcvb ab dhgbd gbre fgv qedgvb w vx dsbhjbqw, asfvbvhj dhdfv rd h cdy tydb rg rhjny.
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f4om,
Mia
Mikayla
October 25, 2011 at 19:16
@ Ross,
Thankyou for repling to me at home or at school.
I went on the websit at home I fogot to tell Mrs Morris and Miss Jordan sorry Ross.
That is great that you wanted to be a thecher when you were in grade two.
I wont to be a teacher when I was in perp.I really like school becouse I just love to lean new things.
When I be a teacher I whould like to teach grade sixs, fixes or just prep those are the grades I whould like to tech when I grow up like you did Ross.
I whould like you to go to the 2KM and 2KJ’s blog chose some people has replyed to you on the blog post you left a blog comment thous people are Hannah and I we were the ones how replyed back to you Ross.
Yes we are haveing fun with the Student Blogging Challenge at our school.
Sorry got to go now Ross.
Your blogging pal,
Mikayla
Ross Mannell
October 25, 2011 at 20:07
Thanks to you and Mia for replying.
It is always a good idea to let your teacher or parents know you are going to contact a blog. That’s the best way to be safe when on line. 🙂
Ross Mannell
Annas Adornments, Sweden
November 2, 2011 at 20:55
Hi Ross,
I enjoyed reading both your SC-post and the comments back and forth afterwards.
I am late with my comments. I really like the ‘seed’-prompt, so I go around now and read what everyone has written.
I like the iimage of a family as a tree. I my trying to give my children the feeling that we belong together as a family even efter the divorce and separation from my former husband, their father.
I had a happy childhood with loving parents who stuck together; so I am saddened that my own children won’t have the same kind of happy memories of their childhood that I have of mine.But I read a lot to them and listen to what they want to tell me.
I like your blog, so I’ll be back!
If you have the time, you can look at my story for this prompt, even though it is not a text meant for children to read, maybe older children, teens.
Best wishes,
Anna
Anna’s SC wk 77 ‘I planted a little story seed’
Ross Mannell
November 14, 2011 at 18:04
Thanks for the comment, Anna. I only saw it much later.
As we trace our families back, we can see how interconnected we all really are. When families are concerned, a stable family may be better but this isn’t always possible. Modern stresses can play havoc with families. What is most important is the children always should feel loved and know, if there is a break up, it isn’t their fault.
In my case, from the age of 12 my brothers and I were raised only by my mother. My father had died. We always felt loved but the loss was hard on us all. the most important thing for your children is to be there for them. That you have achieved. 🙂
Jenny Matlock
November 14, 2011 at 09:01
Ross, this was lovely.
I really enjoyed your genealogy references here…so important for all of us.
Sometimes it helps to find your direction when you know where you’ve come from!
Thanks for participating.
I really enjoy your unique style.
Ross Mannell
November 14, 2011 at 18:13
Thanks for the comment, Jenny.
I agree, knowing the past can help with the future. In my case, I have a number of links across the UK and Europe. Being connected to a long time Australian family, there are even a couple convicts in our past who had arrived here in 1789. The area where I live now had the first members of my mother’s side of the family arrive as free Scottish settlers in 1847.
Genealogy cna be a fascinating study. 🙂