I really do try to teach writing every day. We have a writing block set up from 2:30-3:10 every day where the students write using Writer's Workshop. Here's the problem, there are times I am grasping at straws as to what to have the students do. We work through different genres of writing, Poetry, Fairy Tales, Narrative Writing, Fantasy Stories, Nonfiction, etc, but there are days when we are wrapping up, or we do not have the time to write, that I struggle with what to do.
I believe that part of my problem stems from the fact that I do not really "plan" my lessons. I go into class, thinking about what my students are going to do, but I do not have a clear focus, or plan of action. When it comes time to teach writing, I am acting like a crazy woman coming up with children's literature and topics to inspire the students. This is a major flaw of mine. I need to sit down and actually process through what am I going to have students do with this unit.
One thing that grabbed me from this chapter is that students can write every day and it can be great writing. I do not need to lower my expectations of my students at all. Also, I need to be more diligent in establishing the purpose and audience for the students. So many times, they know that they are only writing for me, and I think that their writing could be so much more powerful if they knew others were going to read their work.
You sound like me in a lot of ways! I have been pretty loosely organized about writing, seizing the opportunity when it arose, which sounds great, but then hitting the same dilemma you mentioned, not having clear plans for feedback and shaping the students' efforts for real growth. We wrote about a lot of stuff, but I don't think we did nearly as much with writing as I now realize we could have to make it a much more valuable use of our time. I think the relaxed atmosphere is great, and I realize that we can have a structure for writing and make real progress without losing that relaxed atmosphere.
ReplyDeleteComments by: Jacinda
ReplyDeleteYou mention that you believe part of your problem is not having a set plan ready to go in your class. I don’t make official lesson plans either. I sometimes feel like I run around with a chicken with a head chopped off. I am constantly grabbing things to do off my shelf. When I start my year, I have lots of plans in mind, but by the time I am ready to use them I draw a blank at which to do and what to do first. I feel like this book has really helped me in preparing for my upcoming year. Students need to write everyday and have an audience in mind when they write. Thank you for being so honest in this chapter about what you do. I am thankful to know I am not the only one who feels like that.