Teaching Writing

Once again the link between reading and writing – why is this still a surprise to some??  As I teach second grade, I can see and understand the importance balance and development of both skills.  Reading and writing go hand in hand, building on each other as students develop and further their foundation in both.  In accordance with Marie Clay as stated by Routman, “…as children write they develop many skills and writing abilities and that print awareness develops through both reading and writing.  And the more experience children have in reading and writing, the more meaningful their writing becomes.  Growth in reading positively impacts writing, and growth in writing positively impacts reading.  Since poor readers tend to become poor writers, we need to ensure we work on reading alongside writing” (120).  With this evidence, all teachers should balance their teaching and use the skills from reading to teach writing and vice versa.  While teaching reading, I often incorporate writing activities to further their skill development in both areas.  I plan and prepare for next year and the implementation of writer’s workshop, I often find myself thinking of mini-lessons focused on children’s literature.  What better way than to familiarize students with the idea as well as assist in developing their ideas while teaching writing, too.  It all makes perfect sense!  “Readers of well-written material experience more language, vocabulary, and stories to apply to their writing” (123), and as a teacher it is my job to support this by providing my students with numerous opportunities and shared experiences covering a wide variety of literary genres.  Not only will their reading benefit, but their writing, too!

As a second grade teacher, I often struggle with spelling and how much emphasis to place on correct spelling and when spelling should matter.  After reading Routman, I now will hold my students more responsible and accountable for certain words – no excuse words!  My expectations will be raised, yet reasonable to allow students the freedom to write without worrying too much about spelling.  There are, however, certain words they should always write correctly, and I will be better at making sure that happens.  The proven strategies suggestion listed at the end of the chapter for all writers who struggle will be extra beneficial as I plan and implement writer’s workshop. 

Although I did share write nearly enough this year, it was a start.  I guess I never really thought too much about it, but it makes total sense – kindof crazy that I had never done much of it before.  At the beginning of the year I would model how to write a journal and for writing assignments we would discuss ideas and what they could write about, but I never took a lot of time to actually share write and write an example of what they were expected.  Guess it makes sense now why some kids never got it and never produced a quality writing!  I often worried they would copy the sentences and ideas we came up with together, but I guess that is a start at getting ideas and writing themselves even if it’s not all of their own original thoughts.  As Routman states, “Shared writing builds on what the teacher has already modeled through writing aloud and is the important scaffold students need in order to attempt their own successful writing”  (p. 84).  If I want my students to be successful, I need to model and write with them while explaining the expectations.  They need to understand and see what they should be doing.  This year I found myself doing more of this as I had more English language learners and low academic performing students in my class than previous years.  As Routman suggests, “For all learners, but especially for our English language learners, challenged learners, and economically underprivileged students, shared writing helps provide the rich oral language modeling that stimulates literacy development (p. 85).  Now it all makes sense, and my instinct was right!   It was easier to do this whole group than even small group and much easier than individually.  Students didn’t feel as isolated and all of the students benefited.  Now I know that even though I may not have the same classroom dynamics next year, I will definitely use shared writing as a consistent teaching tool.  Often I will also link reading and writing together which will make the link to shared writing better and easier.  Routman states, “Shared writing is a powerful way to connect reading and writing to improve both reading and writing skills (p. 87). 

Routman’s ideas for using shared writing to do important word work was appreciated since I teach the younger grades and much of the focus seems to be towards middle and upper elementary.  The making words and sentences are wonderful ideas, and ideas I need to make more time for next year.                              

I also loved the lessons and dialogue used.  It reaffirmed the approaches I do use, and also provided suggestions and comments that will be helpful to incorporate into future lessons. The lesson ideas for tried and true ideas will be great for future reference.  The amount of useful tips Routman provides is great.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Managing a writer's workshop has been one of my biggest concerns and one of the
main reasons I have not incorporated such an experience into my second grade
classroom.  However, after reading this chapter, Katie Wood Ray provides many
suggestions that will be helpful as I begin planning for a writer's workshop. 
Her point regarding a strong presence makes a lot of sense.  From personal
experience, students tend to behave better and remain on-task for longer periods
of time when they know someone is 'watching' them by walking around.  Certain
times during the day I do find myself at my desk trying to finish something that
needs to be sent home at the end of the day or brought to a coworker.  During
these times my students seem more anxious, display more off-task behaviors, and
require many more reminders about appropriate behavior and expectations. 
Students especially at second grade need continuous monitoring to enforce
on-task behaviors.  Not only does presence affect their behaviors, but setting
out expectations from the very start is essential.  If students know what is
expected from day one and are provided modeling as well as practice time of the
expectations, they can do it.  Routine is important as well and when combined
with consistent expectations, students will have no reason to question what
their job(s) is/are during the time.  I find myself following this when teaching
classroom rules, routines, etc. at the beginning of the year, and now I will
have to implement it into the workshop experience as well.  Students can be
trained if they are provided with proper training!



Thinking about space and supplies are also important components of the workshop
experience.  As I think about organizing and arranging my classroom for next
year, I hope to make my room more applicable to a writer's workshop with more
independent, quiet areas for students to work at rather than at their groups of
desks.  Some of my students need a quieter area where there are less
distractions. As the supplies were discussed, I am thinking it might work better
to have a central supply basket for each group.  I find that many of my students
have difficulty keeping track of their highlighters, sticky notes, pens, etc. 
With a basket of supplies for each group, students would not have to take the
time to find their things at the start of each workshop.  It would also make
organization easy as all of the supplies could be stored in a covered container
and taken out at the start of each session and the put away at the completion. 
Students who bring supplies will add their things to a community basket from
which group baskets of supplies can be made.  Of course the abuse of supplies
was brought up, but hopefully that can be discussed prior and will not be a
problem.  I feel fortunate that my school does provide each classroom with
numerous supplies from glue sticks and scissors to pens and sticky notes to help
accommodate those students who do not bring the necessary supplies.