Before we can teach writing effectively, we must see ourselves as writers. Routman offers the idea of writing as a staff to practice the structure of the optimal learning model and to go through the process of what we want our students to do. We can also think about all of the different writing we do every day and reflect on this process so we can share it with our students. I chuckled when Routman describes the times she wrote letters with her class - as they were surprised to learn they were really going to mail them. It’s important for us to bring in our own writing and create authentic opportunities for them to write for a real purpose or audience. Those are the times I remember writing in school – when it was meaningful to me. It’s reassuring to think that if our students see the real process of us thinking and struggling a little, then that will help them to be more at ease and have a little more confidence to start writing.
I had a fellow teacher come to me the other day pleading for ways to motivate her students to write. I asked her what their purpose for writing was. She said, "well, we write every day. They have to write." I prodded more and realized that the kids had no purpose or audience. Once this got implemented, we had much more motivated writers! It truly does make the difference.
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