The Teacher And The Writer's Notebook


As another school year commences here in Australia, an increasing number of teachers are taking up the challenge of becoming teachers who write. As proof of this notion, they have committed to maintaining their own Writer’s Notebook. 
If your writing life is just beginning to develop you may appreciate being alerted to possible types of entries. Notebook entries one might gather when starting out. Entries, that will serve as examples to share with their students. Entries that will show students how you as their teacher interacts with the world. Once the writing habit forms, you will no doubt develop a greater sense of independence and self direction when it comes to collecting notebook entries. By then you'll hopefully be carrying multiple pens and seeing writing ideas everywhere you look. 

If, for some reason you are experiencing trouble on the writing launch pad, maybe these ideas might prompt your thinking. They may spark a connection to a topic/idea you feel strongly about; -enough to get the pen moving across the page...

Creating classrooms that hum with rich conversation about what is important to write about for each individual writer is a most worthy pursuit in the early days and weeks of a new school year. It sets the tone and the expectation. It will assist both you and your young writers. 

Time invested in pre writing activities such as -storytelling, drawing, discussing, brainstorming, listing, planning, researching and reading, enables student writers to gather the necessary ingredients to write about what matters to them. These are the necessary preliminaries! Writing outcomes are enhanced by such investment. 

 The student writer receives a clear message from the teacher -I trust you to think about ideas for your writing. I'm not going to tell you what to write, but I am going to do everything in my power to support you to find out what it is you want to say as a writer! I want you to find your true voice as a writer. I want you to write about things that matter to you, that are close to your heart. You are not writing to please me. 

All the time this pre-writing is going on, the teacher is simultaneously sharing examples of their writing, talking openly about their writing process and guiding inexperienced writers to find a focus for writing. Simultaneously the teacher is asking questions and establishing a conscious sense of community. Ideas begin to float on a sea of talk.

So, I urge you to dive straight in and start filling the pages of your own notebook with words, drawing, maps, photographs, quotes and the like.  Your own writing is such a powerful model for your students. This is where your influence lies. This is where you establish your credibility as a teacher of writing. This is where you demonstrate you are a brave writer.

To further support you, I offer up these possibilities. If you have your own topics, themes, ideas -that's even better:

Write about the first book you remember reading
Create a Life Map to show events in your life so far
Write an entry about one of the items on your Life Map.
Write an entry over any topic of your choosing. Write about your personal opinion
Write a response to a book you are currently reading
Write about the meaning behind a treasured object - what memories do you associate with that object?
Create a plan for a memoir piece
Write a memoir including all the sensory details and what you discovered about yourself from that slice of life experience
Make a list of your personal choosing. E.g. Things that take too much time
Write to influence - Choose an issue that is important to you, and write an opinion piece
Respond to an issue in the news
Write a short narrative about being sick as a child
Write about a place you would go right now and why
Write about something that was no fun at all
Make a list of things you still wish to do
Write about a time when you knew you were in trouble
How did you spend your pocket money?
Write about an embarrassing moment
Write about your relationship with weekends
Write a list about things you don’t need
Write about noise
Write about silence
Write about pretending
Write about disappointment
Write about joy
Make a list of settings you have been in during the holidays
Make a list of questions you wished you had asked
Write about your feet
Write about your treasures
Write about something that has changed
Write about something you consider to be fake
Write about something you wish you could still do
Write and DRAW about a place that is important to you
Create a map of a place you recall from your childhood

Alan j Wright

A single entry will start you on your way...



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