Being a Writer:The Essential Element of Teaching WritingStacey Shubitzwww.staceyshubitz.com http://twowritingteachers.wordpress.com @raisealithuman

What does a diaper bag have to do with the teaching of writing?

The Diaper Locker

The Weekender

The Real Diaper Bag

My Aspiration

The Essential Element

In order to be effective teachers of writing, teachers must be Writers themselves.

Action Research

Image Source: http://bit.ly/141xiPP

My ProjectInitial Research Question

How does the use of mentor texts lift the level of writing in my elementary school classroom?”

Sub-Questions (that evolved)

How can I make my students reflective writers? How do I help my students to make meaning out of their own lives?How do I get my students to write about the small moments of their lives on an everyday basis (recognizing their daily lives’ are worth preserving)?

Realization

If I wanted my students to live like writers, then they would need to see my writing, hear my thinking about writing, and understand my struggles as a writer.

Image Source: http://bit.ly/T3xDN2

Lester Laminack said:

“When an author’s writing moves are made visible, young writers can study them to help improve their own writing craft”.

Ralph Fletcher said:

It may seem intimidating to think of yourself as a “Writer,” but I say that each one of us can be a writer (small w)—someone who puts words onto the page for a variety of purposes. Students will notice. They’ll appreciate the fact that you’re taking the same risk they are taking.

Reasons I Write

I write in an insufficient attempt to live forever. I write to find peace when the world is falling apart.I write to create order.I write to have the last word.I write to create a dialogue.I write for fun.

Getting Over a Fear

Image Source: http://bit.ly/17KmDhx

10 Ways to Develop a Daily Writing Life1. Write first thing in the morning if you can.2. If you choose to do it another time of day,

prioritize it.3. Think “same time, same place.”4. Some people find it useful to “attach” their

writing to another daily activity to strengthen the habit.

5. Be flexible, no matter what.6. Avoid judging your writing.7. Always reflect on the benefits of writing at

the end of the session.8. Keep an “excuse book” close at hand.9. Find a buddy or a community to do it with.10.Be realistic in your expectations.

Inspired by Puddicombe’s article: http://huff.to/1589NZm.

Keeping Score

A slice of life story is…a category for a story that portrays a "cut-out" sequence of events in a character's life. It may or may not contain any real plot, and often has no exposition, action, conflict, or denouement, with an open ending. It usually tries to depict the every-day life of ordinary people.

(Retrieved on 2/18/08 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slice_of_life_story)

The results were in…

Slice of Life Story Challenge on Two Writing Teachers

Dr. Carrie Cahill, Asst. Superintendent of Midlothian School District 143“I’m an administrator who oversees

district curriculum. … Just as a teacher shouldn’t expect students to do something they’ve never done, I believe administrators should ‘live’ what their teachers are asked to do whenever possible.”

BLOG URL: http://ccahilldotcom.wordpress.com

Julie Johnson, 3rd Grade Teacher in Ohio

“… I share my writing process with my kids and I tell them when I’m having a hard time with something. We really are in it together.”

Blog URL: http://www.raisingreadersandwriters.com

Tammy Klinger, 1st Grade Teacher in Oklahoma

“…After joining this community, reading some amazing books, and writing on my blog, my teaching and ideas of being a writer changed. Every child is a Writer. Every child can Write. I realized if I could get past my fear, past my feelings of needing to be someone special to be a Writer, then I could show them how they too are Writers.”

Blog URL: http://www.klingercafe.com

Jennifer Mitchell, High School Teacher in Ohio

“Being a writer has helped me show my students what words can do: how they can connect people, how they can deepen understanding, how they can speak the truths we hold deep inside us…”

Blog URL: http://ihabloespanglish.blogspot.com

For more inspiration.

Find out how other educators have been impacted by becoming a Writer at http://twowritingteachers.wordpress.com/2013/06/04/writerwithabigw/#comments.

Sandra Cisneros said:

“Write about what makes you different.”

Tennessee Williams said:

“If the writing is honest it cannot be separated from the man who wrote it.”

Colleen Cruz said:

“Words give us voice to tell our truth.”

Teacher as Writer

Definition of Essential

es·sen·tialadjective \i-ˈsen(t)-shəl\a : of the utmost importance : basic,

indispensable, necessary

Source: http://www.merriam-webster.com/

Roy Peter Clark said:

“You have to be able to promise your students that if they write, nothing bad will happen to them.”

Writing will be at the center of everything you do this fall.Build a classroom community of

writers.Show students you believe being a Writer matters… because it does.