In order to have a strong classroom writing community, I believe you must intentionally participate in a teacher writing community.
An essential component to creating writers is building trust in a classroom community. Sharing work helps cultivate better-skilled writers. One practice to foster this connection as an instructor and facilitator is to have a teacher writing community as an authentic model.
Teachers must strive to be a better writer themselves to cultivate a community for their thriving writers to learn.
Some reluctant writers need the community to just attempt getting words on the page. I have a mantra that I repeat to all students I work with in professional development or classrooms: “I will never ask you to do anything that I haven't already done or am willing to do myself.” Writing must be done with intention and modeling as well as the community participation.
A large part of my teacher community is online. Online groups are perfect for fellow introverts. Critique groups, blog communities, and Twitter are my main support and encouragement. One of the many benefits is the feedback I can get from teachers and writers across the country. Sharing your writing and experiences can be motivating and gives you a place of authenticity when speaking about writing to your students. Although face to face connections with other writers is amazing, I do not have access to that type of community currently.
Books, of course, are also part of the teacher community. I often use books like Natalie Goldberg and Julia Cameron for writing instruction which are not traditional classroom instruction choices. For me, books written for writers, not for teachers, made the exercise more authentic.
Relationships and a trusting culture are essential for students to write because writing is challenging. Support for everyone is essential for all student success!
Happy writing!
Tammy L. Breitweiser is a curriculum coach in Northwest Indiana where she is currently dedicated to impacting student achievement in grades 7 and 8. With more than 22 years of experience, she is a reading advocate who believes in the reading and writing connection. She is working a collection of short stories and poems and a book about teaching writing. You can connect with Tammy on Twitter (@tammyzack) or through her blog Tammy’s Reading/Writing Life: https://tammysreadinglife.wordpress.com/
Tammy, this is all true. Have you ever participated in the National Writing Projects intensive workshops? That is exactly what happens there, a strong community that supports and grows together. I love what you say about books that guide your practice being by writers rather than teachers. That's not to say that books by say, Ralph Fletcher, who crosses over with his insanely helpful What a Writer Needs can't give us the best of both worlds. Thanks for a great post. They were wise to pick you, especially as you "slice" away at becoming a better writer.
ReplyDeleteI have participated in some of the National Writing Project meetings but not the month long sessions. It is a time issue with a family. I have been to many Saturday Sessions...some at Ball State!
DeleteI didn't realize you were a fellow Hoosier, or if I did, I have forgotten that piece of information!
ReplyDeleteGreat post today! Sometimes, I think teachers forget or don't realize the importance of communities for our students, as well as ourselves. It is amazing what these online experiences do for us as writers. Thank you for writing with us this month!
Thank you for the invite!
DeleteHoosiers we are!!!