Raising Readers and Writers

In a previous post, I explained the new task presented to the teacher writing group. My friend, Sara, popped her head in today and said, “I was you today.” I wasn’t sure if that was a compliment or not. She told me that she began Writing Workshop today and it ended up taking her whole morning. She didn’t get to anything else.

You see, last year, Sara (who is one of our ELL teachers), did inclusion in my room for the literacy block. We were a well-oiled machine, and we both loved working together. However, it never failed, when she would come in after lunch, I was not where I was supposed to be in our schedule. I think I probably drove her a little crazy. So, today, Sara had one of those days. It happens to the best of us!

Today, Sara took her risk with a group of 17 ELL kindergartners. She wanted each of her students to write in the style of an author of their own choosing. Below is her description of her day. I wish I could have been there.

It was the first day, first lesson of letting children choose their own craft and/or mentor text. At 3:30 in the morning, this seems to be when I do by best thinking, I was already feeling a sense of panic, as I knew it would be nearly impossible to have all of the texts I needed for conferences at the tip of my fingertips, but it was a risk I promised my colleagues I would take.
Oral Story Telling- child one wanted to write a text on dinosaurs, non-fiction. We discussed a few facts he knew and off he went. Not exactly the type of text I had in mind but, oh well, he’s writing. Child two, three and four….not so sure yet where they wanted to go, many still looking through the texts. “Who wants to write like John Butler” I stated, and of course many hands went up. I began to feel secure again, as now I could guide my children together, using only one or two mentor texts…but just I was getting ready to model and read “Who Says Woof” out loud, Child Two raises her hand. “Remember Mrs. Kennedy, you said we could choose anyone. Today I am choosing Mo Williams, I am going to write a story like that pigeon except I want make-up” and off she went to write.

Oh to be five again. From there, I stepped back (refrained from hugging her tightly) and realized that today she had taught me, instead of me teaching her. Taking risks also takes time, and what we learn or try the first time, won’t be as strong or significant as what we might try with more practice and time and explorations. And by the way, I didn’t have that Mo Williams book with me today, but she knew it well enough, it didn’t matter, and tomorrow it will be on her desk waiting for her as she arrives!