Teaching Writing

As I sat down to read the first assignment, I was excited – excited for ideas to use in my classroom.  Before starting this class, a few of my peers at school mentioned how great the class was, how much they learned, and how much information they received that they could apply in their own classrooms.  To top it off, the first chapter was on persuasive writing, one of the writing types we are supposed to cover, but a topic that I’m not comfortable in introducing and teaching.  However, I was pleasantly surprised with the examples presented in chapter one by Lane, ones my second graders could even connect with.  I know all of them have convinced their mothers or grandmothers into buying them something and now all I have to do is pull the information out of them!  Writing can be easy especially when the writer has experiences and can make connections.  When I thought about persuasive writing, I tended to think more about big topics as presented in chapter two, but the first section of reading helped simplify things into language and concepts my second grade students could practice.  I am excited to try out the activities presented by Lane and Bernabei.  Although I will end the year working with the simpler persuasive concepts, next year could bring more complex issues from chapters two and three if the style is taught earlier in the year.  Lane and Bernabei have wonderful lesson ideas that will spark interest and excitement in young kids and hopefully help them to develop into a writer beginning at a young age.