Friday, January 25, 2008

Share Your Writing Life

This chapter spoke to me in a number of ways which gave me thought on how I can improve my teaching strategies to benefit my students. When thinking about my individual students I feel I need to make more time for conversation before writing. I have a tendency to want to get started and I think this is a great encourager, the conversation. I also agree with the author as she states, "Demonstrating the writing process does bond the classroom together into a community. " This type of classroom setting then provides a safe haven for writers. When reflecting, every year I need to make my students more successful so they will relax and stop asking, "How long does it have to be?" I did find myself writing guilty in the column of my book when reading and thinking about my teaching style. I don't want to be guilty of draining my writers. I am looking forward to writing with my students next week in a better tone.

4 comments:

Tammy Gilley said...

Janice, I started conferencing with my students when I was teaching L.D. It makes a huge difference. Hang on to your hat because your going to see some shinning stars, when you use this strategy

Mrs. Babcock said...

I had never thought about shared writing building classroom culture, but it does have merit. During our shared writing time, I have found that students are opening up more and more. I also noticed that one of my classes is more willing to share their writing, and I wonder if the culture of the classroom feels safer to them.

PHuston said...

Janice,I was also encouraged to take more time for conversation before writing. And modeling to them was a lesson on seeing the students being helpful and even correcting me. It was a bonding experience, too. I am wondering if the students are noticing the change in our writing.

astambaugh said...

I thought that the writing you just shared at P/T conferences with our students was wonderful. I don't know if you tried conversation before writing with the two pieces I saw, but something is clicking.