Readings About Writing

                     Chapter 4 and Chapter 7 of Donald Grave’s book talking about teaching writing. Chapter 4 discusses brainstorming writing topics, conducting writing conferences, and sharing writings. Chapter 7 is more about the organization of the classroom for writing. Chapter 4 reminded me of Stacy’s E340 class. In this class, we have read and talked about writing workshops in which teachers have mini lessons, teachers give students ample of time to write, students have some type of idea notebook for writing ideas, teachers confer with students during the workshop, and students share their writings. Some of the ideas stressed in this workshop are, also, stressed in Chapter 7. Grave claims in Chapter 7 that teachers should allow students plenty of time to write. In addition, Grave mentions that it is important for students to have a choice in what they write. Therefore, writing could be more engaging for students. It is easier to write about something you like or want to learn rather than something that has no interest to you. Instead of focusing on exactly what students are writing, teachers need to help students be engaged with writing and help them to love to write. I like the author’s ideas in Chapter 7 about combining writing with other subjects. Also, the author mentions that students should write 4-5 days a week for a long time to get students used to writing and to help them not dread writing. I plan on using these strategies when I become a teacher.