Chapter 2 - Start with Celebration

I need more celebrations in my classroom! And I need more short personal stories. Routman's suggestion of using stories was a good one because everyone has a story. As a matter of fact, I often tell my students that we're creating our own personal stories with every choice and action we make. So why not write about those choices and actions? I've been missing this personal link, and should have realized it long ago. It's a natural fit with what we talk about in our classroom. And, like I said . . . everyone has a story, and I can't think of a student in my room who wouldn't LOVE to share one.

I also liked Routman's suggestion to "think aloud" while writing in front of students. I've shared my revisions with students, but it would be more powerful to share my thinking during the time I'm writing.

Amen to Routman's statement that she's seen more students who dislike writing during this time of high-stakes testing. However, testing is a fact of life, and somehow we must keep our students motivated. Perhaps celebrations of writing are just what we need to keep our students excited about writing!

Chapter 1 - Simplify the Teaching of Writing

Regie Routman's notion that we must simply the teaching of writing is brilliant! But, sometimes with brilliance comes chaos - - - and often that's how I perceive my classroom when I'm trying to teach writing. Perhaps it's because I'm "shuffling" students between demonstration lessons and writing conferences. Or perhaps it's because I've been teaching writing toward the end of the day and everyone in our classroom is tired. But, I love her statement (pp. 7) that we'll "remain at the mercy of published programs and formulaic mandates until we become knowledgeable about how to teach writing well." Routman's belief that one should teach students to become "effective and joyful writers and communicators" is congruent with mine. Write for the pleasure of writing. Guide students toward a love of language. Teach writing skills when appropriate. Abandon the skills checklist. Damn the torpedoes. Full speed ahead.