Writing Article #2-10 Use-Right-Now Ideas

After reading this article it definately came as a big relief to me that I am already incorporating these ideas in my classroom. It made me feel good to know I teach writing by applying some of these suggested guidelines. The article stated, "The best antidote to the insecurity writers feel is to work with a teawcher who will share his or her own work, even when it seems less than wonderful." I think this is one of the most important points in this article. I strongly believe, that just as much as we model good reading strategies, and think aloud for students while reading to them. It is just as crucial for us to share our writing with students, and our thought process to creating a piece of writing. I don't necessarily think that this is something that is pushed as much as reading, and it should be. I can recall several students who I've had in my classroom who are very skeptical, uncertain, embarrassed, or unmotivated to write, or share a piece of writing. It is very important for students to be in a classroom environment where they always feel comfortable to write and be proud of what they produced. By modeling writing and writing with students, there is a crucial opportunity for kids to see that their thoughts and ideas do not have to be perfect the first time they are written.
"To think like an author: a child has to learn to relate his or her life experiences to the craft of writing. When each assignment is of my design, there is no ownership or investment in the process." I strongly believe this and it is true throughout everything we teach in the classroom. In order for children to reach goals, produce meaningful writing, and stay motivated to keep writing, they need to take responsibility for their own learning. They need to be given the opportunity to make choices. I see kids faces light up in the classroom when they feel their writing belongs to them and they can take ownership. Many students will get turned off from writing if they are constantly told what to write about. This is true for reading too! I had a student in my classroom this year, who was very reluctant to write anything. He did not have the confidence when he came in my room and he would often write two sentences anytime he was asked to write. Even being provided with choices, he struggled with staying motivated to write. At the end of the year he thanked me for helping him so much with his writing, along with his parents, and presented me with a nonfiction book he wrote, on a topic he loved learning about. I never saw him so excited to share a piece of work.
Writing with children and giving them choice are the two most important pieces I pulled from reading this article.