Although this video speaks about writing to become a published novelist, we could all use their key points within our classrooms. Regie Routman mentions many teachers who lower the expectations of their students to the point in which they're not challenged to do better, to become better readers and writers, when in reality, many of the students can do better. Everyone has heard the saying “practice makes perfect” and though there is no such thing as perfect, it is impossible to become better at something without pushing oneself to do more, to write, express, read, and imagine more.
The authors in the video express the essential ideas to writing. Dianne Hammond said that you need to write everyday which really is important to early writers. Without that practice, the students’ writing will not improve. Using daily freewrites will force the students to tap into their inner writer, it will allow for the creativity, vocabulary, and length to emerge through their writing.
Do you feel that having the students write everyday, just to write, will improve their writing? If your teachers expected more out of you, would your quality of work improve?
I truly believe that this video can most definitely be applied to writing for students and teachers in the classroom. Author Wally Lamb really hit the note on the head when he said that you just have to go for your writing and find your beliefs. If an individual cannot believe in their own writing, how do they expect others too!
ReplyDeleteAnother thing that I liked came from Diane Hammond. We need to write everyday and then if we have the motivation and the drive, "the product will take care to itself." There should be no reason to worry about how our writing will look to someone else, if we have the confidence and belief in ourselves.
Many people, like me, do not "like" to read. However it is true when the video says that reading leads to better writing and writing leads to better reading. Eventually if you read enough you will end up liking it or finding out what type of genre you are most interested in. This will then transfer into your own personal writing style, making you the best writer that you can be.
I really enjoyed this video! I could really tell each author was trying to encourage everyone watching the video, and sharing their own beliefs about writing. I have to agree with Stephenette's comment about author Wally Lamb. I loved how he mentioned that you have to investigate the story for yourself. To really get involved in my writing, I have to completely be engaged in the subject. When I am truly enthralled in the subject, my voice is shown so clearly. Although it is obviously hard to completely get engaged in all writing projects, helping students see the excitment about writing in general is a great start!
ReplyDeleteAuthor Tomie dePaola said that it takes courage to write. This is what we have to do as teachers, encourage courage. We have to help our students see the bright light that can turn in your brain when you get involved and have fun with writing. Students need to have perseverance and most importantly have fun while writing. If students have fun, the writing will come easy.
Author Diane Hammond also pointed out that one needs to write everyday. I think students need to have time to write everyday about something they want to write about, their feelings, or a story for example. Writing everyday helps students build their vocabulary while letting some of their emotions hit the page. Writing can be such a stress reliever, and students need to see this, and also see that writing, although can be difficult, can also be a blast!
This video sums up what as teachers we should believe in when it comes to writing. As teachers we need to see ourselves as writers and model good writing as discussed in class to show students that being an active writer is beneficial. Tomie DePaola in the beginning of the video makes a statement that especially early education teachers should remember, and that is to help students find the “courage” to write. In addition, as discussed in Routman and in class discussion, students should be motivated and given the opportunity to write about real topics that have great importance to them. Many young writers feel they are not good at writing or have nothing to write about. As teachers it is our job to rid students of those notions and teach them otherwise, only then will they have the courage to really pursue writing.
ReplyDeleteAnthony Horowitz also mentions what we have been learning and discussing here at Chapman, that reading and writing develop together. While reading you are refining your writing and vice versa. No matter how old a person is, reading and writing can always be refined, but as young students those early years of learning and practicing reading and writing are crucial to the attitude that most children will develop about reading and/or writing. Writing every day in some way will help students develop as writers. In addition, if students feel that their writing has a purpose and is encouraged, students will develop more as writers. I believe that it is true when a teacher sets her standards at an appropriate level where critical thinking and effort are needed students will want to succeed, especially if the teacher shows enough concern and encouragement where students want to do good for their teacher.
I think it’s a great idea to inspire students to be authors. Teachers cannot settle for low expectations for their students under any circumstances. All students can rise to meet the standards if they are given proper demonstration to what teachers expect for them and the practice.
ReplyDeleteThis video serves as encouragement to me because I feel as though I’m improving my writing. Now since I’m going through the experience firsthand about the process of seeing myself as a writer, I can then pass on and really teach my future students about improving their writing from personal experience.
Routman and the authors agree that to become better at writing we need to write at multiple times of the day shared, guided, and independently written. Wally Lamb says “write for yourself” and the expected audience will find the work. I believe that when we write for ourselves, we really put how we feel and think on paper. Someone will look at the writing and appreciate what our voice is trying to say.
Regie Routman wrote about a time when she went to a classroom where she didn’t know the students. She said that after spending time with the kids, their teacher came up to Regie and said, “I didn’t know they could do that.” Regie responded by saying, “I didn’t know they couldn’t” (Routman 53). This statement shows that if we work with kids and give them practice and believe in them, they will believe in themselves. The key is to create confidence in students. In this video, many of the authors described times when they had moments that they didn’t believe in themselves and thought they were at a roadblock. Dianne Hammond says, “write and write and write, and the product will take care of itself.” Routman believes in this. She encourages teachers to give the students the opportunity to practice. It is important to allow the time for children to free write, and free read. It is also important to give students positive feedback as well as constructive criticism so that they are learning but also growing confidence. These are both techniques to help students to learn to trust themselves. Just as Lee Child said in the video, “Trust yourself, you know some stuff, you’ve read a lot, write exactly what you want to write”.
ReplyDeleteThis video can work either for publishing books or for getting teachers to understand the importance of writing for their students. As Routman puts it, the lower a teacher’s expectations for her students are the more unfinished or not well thought out assignments she will receive. If a teacher sets high expectations for her students and believes in them the students will work hard and think deeply and the teacher will be impressed and proud of her students. When it comes to writing teachers need to get it through their students’ minds that writing is fun. Writing is meant in order to get one’s thoughts down on paper and the way they feel. Writing doesn’t have to include correct punctuation or 4 pages of writing. It can be a few words, a couple sentences, anything to get one’s mind racing with ideas. I think that by having free writing time for students 3-4 times a week is very educational for them because they are practicing getting in tune with their inner thoughts and figuring out how to write them down without worrying about the structure or what not.
ReplyDeleteI really liked this video. Great find!
ReplyDeleteI really do feel that it is important to have students write every day, even if it’s writing just to write. Students don't need personal instruction every time to improve their writing. Students can improve their writing on their own and need the opportunity to do so. It’s important not to grade everything and give choice as often as possible.
Secondly, I do believe that if you expect more out of your students, your student’s quality of work will improve. Every student strives to be better than the next and receive a better grade. Expecting more out of your students will definitely improve their work because of the higher standards. They will work harder to understand and improve their writing.
I really liked this video. Great find!
ReplyDeleteI really do feel that it is important to have students write every day, even if it’s writing just to write. Students don't need personal instruction every time to improve their writing. Students can improve their writing on their own and need the opportunity to do so. It’s important not to grade everything and give choice as often as possible.
Secondly, I do believe that if you expect more out of your students, your student’s quality of work will improve. Every student strives to be better than the next and receive a better grade. Expecting more out of your students will definitely improve their work because of the higher standards. They will work harder to understand and improve their writing.
This would be a great inspirational video to share with your students. To see famous writers who have written books explain that "sometimes your writing can be crap" but you just have to keep writing, rereading, and work through your struggles. Students need to know that every writer has their days when they just can't think of what to say, not just them. Instead of having negative feelings about being writers, students could relate these authors who have experience in the field of writing.
ReplyDeleteI do believe that it is important to have students write everyday like both Routman and Diane Hammond point out. However, it needs to be purposeful and engaging. If we want our students to enjoy writing, we can't assign mundane and boring writing assignments everyday. Daily writing still needs to keep the students interest so they want to write and become comfortable as writers.