Thursday, March 3, 2016

A New Writer is Born...

It started with tears.  Her tiny voice crying, "I don't like writing.  I don't want to write!".  Molding a young, new writer into a motivated, excited author is no small task, but is something that elementary teachers do every day.  This week, I was able to see this transformation once again.  In my 16 years of teaching elementary students, it has happened many times.  It is never easy, but it is always just as rewarding.  You have to take your time.  Listening and asking questions to a new writer is essential.  As we all know, "Writing begins on a sea of talk."  Once the stories begin, allowing that young new writer to share them with you is so important in winning them over.  Once a new writer feels comfortable sharing, confidence begins to build and details, voice and author's craft begin to weave themselves onto the page.  You see, like beginners at anything, writers only grow when they believe they can do it.  Be their biggest fan, encourage every little step and take your time...new authors are born every day!

6 comments:

  1. Awesome! I love this quote...my all time favorite writing quote. It's very rewarding when the writing clicks in the young ones - when the confidence, skill and stars all align at just the right moment for them. It's an honor to be a part of those moments.

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  2. There is nothing more rewarding when your students find joy and personal satisfaction in what they wrote. So, often we get caught up in production and not rejoicing in the little moments. Thanks for sharing.

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  3. There is nothing more rewarding when your students find joy and personal satisfaction in what they wrote. So, often we get caught up in production and not rejoicing in the little moments. Thanks for sharing.

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  4. I find that many times I feel like I have to start over with building the confidence of many of my middle school writers. I'm not sure if it's their age and all the uncertainty, testing the waters, and figuring out who they are that undermines the confidence elementary teachers build or if it's something else, but many of them need quite a good deal of encouragement.

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  5. "You see, like beginners at anything, writers only grow when they believe they can do it." Yes! The belief is the one and only thing that will transform a writer. It is so often us that carry that belief for students before they finally see it for themselves.

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  6. So true! Thank you for encouraging this student, every student, to put their voice to print. I thought I wouldn't get to experience it as much as a librarian...until I received a slew of heartfelt, handmade birthday cards from little ones yesterday. Writing is powerful!

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