Friday Reflections

Over the course of this year, countless times I read this: to get better at writing, I must write – definitely a big overarching idea. I get it – and every time I sit down to write I hear a little voice saying comments like: “You can do it. Just get started”; “You have something to say – so say it, and then clean it up”;   “you won’t get better at writing if you don’t put in the work”. I am hopeful that over the years our students who participate in writing workshop won’t struggle with writing the way I do.  And, what does that mean for us?  We need to structure the writing experience in authentic, kid-friendly ways that will fire up kids to want to write.  We need to give them plenty of writing time. The other big reoccurring idea: use mentor texts to show kids what accomplished authors do to produce a good piece of writing.  Jennifer Jacobsen in No More “I’m Done!”  lays out a possible approach and values using what many of you do already – ...

The brother I talked about last week recently went to an art class. I was impressed with what he produced – he would be the first to say that he cannot draw.  He had a great art teacher who walked the class through every step - scaffolding.  A finished canvas stays on display throughout the sessions.  And Mark would readily admit “_______ no!  I can’t draw.” Mark’s experience reminded me of how mentor texts can be used to show our students how to study and imitate author techniques. Mentor texts can help writers take risks.  Ideally a mentor text should be a passage that students can relate to and maybe even read independently. Check out the oral reading of this mentor opinion book Red Is Best by Kathy Stinson . Let me share an entry I wrote about my favorite color – I used Stinson’s approach – and I don’t think it’s “stealing” her style.  By studying Stinson’s approach, I’m learning a fun little way to give enough reasons for my color choice.  ...

WILL READING OUR EMAILS ALOUD IMPROVE OUR WRITING? My older brother Mark reads my blog.  While Mark is not a teacher, his job requires a fair amount of high pressured written messaging. - especially in email form.  Recently he sent me an article by Sam Leith that has helped him with his writing. Mark suggested I might use ideas from the article as a blog entry.  Mark’s comments indicate that while he understands that Leith was talking about many important aspects of content in a written piece, Mark’s greatest walk away from the article was in response to Leith’s suggestion of reading aloud any important written Email message before pushing “Send”.  Pretty good advice for any of us… Mark read the article, the article spoke to him, and, because it spoke to him he heard its message. And, while Mark probably didn’t read Sam Leith’s article aloud, he does now follow the advice Leith gives – he almost always reads aloud any important Email message he needs to convey ...