Leaping Into A Successful Writing Year In The Classroom
My fervent hope for this year, as it is every year, is for student writers to encounter teachers who are focused on teaching the inexperienced writer how to write, rather than what to write.
For this to become a reality, teachers of writing must be prepared to commit to being writers too.
Writing alongside your students sends a vital message regarding the importance of being someone who chooses to write. it immediately elevates writing in the minds of impressionable, curious learners. I urge everyone who is responsible for teaching writing to be bold and brave. Become the risk taker you want your students to be.
I can say this with full confidence; every teacher possesses the potential to be the most influential writing mentor students will encounter in any school year.
You don’t have to be a published writer to successfully mentor young writers, but you most certainly need to be a teacher who writes. You must be someone who makes time to write. Someone who keeps a writer’s notebook. You must be someone who understands the challenges and the joys of writing. If you are a fellow writer you develop a clearer appreciation of the young writer's struggle. Writing is essentially problem solving- so, how do you solve the problems arising from time to time in your own writing? How do move forward as a writer? What is your process? Student writers benefit enormously from having access to this information.
When you make a decision to share your writing life, you are helping to build a sense of community and risk taking, and risk taking is essential for creating a classroom where writing is seen to flourish.
On day one of the new school year you can set the ball rolling by sharing your notebook. Talk about what it feels like to be able to collect ideas in this special book. Let them know where you found your ideas. Share insights regarding your particular writing territories and influences. Leave them in no doubt about your writing intentions.
For this to become a reality, teachers of writing must be prepared to commit to being writers too.
Writing alongside your students sends a vital message regarding the importance of being someone who chooses to write. it immediately elevates writing in the minds of impressionable, curious learners. I urge everyone who is responsible for teaching writing to be bold and brave. Become the risk taker you want your students to be.
I can say this with full confidence; every teacher possesses the potential to be the most influential writing mentor students will encounter in any school year.
You don’t have to be a published writer to successfully mentor young writers, but you most certainly need to be a teacher who writes. You must be someone who makes time to write. Someone who keeps a writer’s notebook. You must be someone who understands the challenges and the joys of writing. If you are a fellow writer you develop a clearer appreciation of the young writer's struggle. Writing is essentially problem solving- so, how do you solve the problems arising from time to time in your own writing? How do move forward as a writer? What is your process? Student writers benefit enormously from having access to this information.
Attitude is everything. If you present as a brave and fearless writer, chances are your students will replicate your courageous stance. You will be joining them on a learning journey. You will be doing what they are doing. Your credibility will skyrocket. So will student engagement. Levels of teaching satisfaction will be greatly enhanced. I say these things from personal experience.
When you make a decision to share your writing life, you are helping to build a sense of community and risk taking, and risk taking is essential for creating a classroom where writing is seen to flourish.
On day one of the new school year you can set the ball rolling by sharing your notebook. Talk about what it feels like to be able to collect ideas in this special book. Let them know where you found your ideas. Share insights regarding your particular writing territories and influences. Leave them in no doubt about your writing intentions.
Read some entries and invite questions and responses.
Assure students they will be given the opportunity to create their own writer’s notebook.
Choice actually begins here. Each writer should be afforded the opportunity to choose a notebook that best suits their individual needs as a writer.
Every notebook will be different because every notebook should reflect the individual writer’s focus and style.
Students should be encouraged to develop a vision regarding the kinds of things fellow writers might see them working on in the notebook.
Have them talk in small groups about the possibilities for their writing.
Assure students they will be given the opportunity to create their own writer’s notebook.
Choice actually begins here. Each writer should be afforded the opportunity to choose a notebook that best suits their individual needs as a writer.
Every notebook will be different because every notebook should reflect the individual writer’s focus and style.
Students should be encouraged to develop a vision regarding the kinds of things fellow writers might see them working on in the notebook.
Have them talk in small groups about the possibilities for their writing.
Once every student has a notebook of their choosing you can invite them to further personalize the books. Encourage them to decorate the covers in ways that reflect their interests and passions.
Suggest they begin by gathering the materials- words, pictures, drawings, photographs, tickets, cards they need to create a unique cover design.
Suggest they begin by gathering the materials- words, pictures, drawings, photographs, tickets, cards they need to create a unique cover design.
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