Fisher 4/8 post

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I chose to watch Program 3, the reasons for writing because as a student I struggled with writing especially during free write time where I was allowed to choose my own topic. This program focused on motivating students to write by allowing them to choose their own topics, make their own decisions, use a writer’s notebook, focus on writing for different audiences and having opportunities to share and publish their pieces. The main points within this video included:

• Teachers need to acknowledge and respect the family and cultural backgrounds of their students.
• Teachers should expose students to the power of writing and help them see how their own writing can be powerful.
• Teachers model ways to transform tiny moments of experience into writing.
• Teachers enable students to imagine their writing being read by a real audience.
• Teachers allow students the freedom to choose topics that have personal meaning.

As a future teacher it is important to build a safe and comfortable environment in the classroom where the students feel as if there thoughts and ideas matter and that someone is willing to listen. In this video the teachers let the students discover how powerful and meaningful their own writing can be by allowing them to make their own decisions when choosing a topic or genre to write about. When knowing that some students would struggle with a topic to write about several teachers in this video started this writing workshop process by having them write down the things that are most important to them. This video also mentioned that it is important to allow the students to take their writers notebook home as, “the most powerful things happen when you are away from your desk”. Also, the students in this video expressed how much they liked being able to record their thoughts outside of school. When the students have choice, there is ownership over their writing. The students are also taught about having an audience and thinking about whom they want reading that piece and what they want the audience to know.

Students must also know the difference between writers workshop time and prompt writing. Standardized tests often demand that students reply to a given prompt. Teachers must teach skills necessary for their students to succeed. However, a teacher can still do this and allow the students choice. For example, if the students know they must write a persuasive essay the teacher can start this process by first teaching and modeling this type of writing but then taking the students on a walk around the neighborhood and allowing the students to choose what they write about. This type of activity is still authentic and allows the students have control over their topic.

Successful writing workshops begin with the teachers but the students must be motivated to write. In order to help them begin motivated the students need to know that their families, communities, cultures and their lives are worth writing and talking about. When the students feel that they have a story to tell, that others are willing to listen and care about what they have to say is a huge motivator. A student’s writing is an opportunity to learn and interact with the students and allow the students to interact with each other. In the video a student was sharing a story and the teacher encouraged the students to make connections with his story. Once this student was finished if anyone had a connection they were instructed record their thoughts or write a few notes in their notebook. The teacher explained that she had a connection with his story and how hearing other stories may spark memories that one could write about later. This video also said that children’s languages and backgrounds could be a rich source of inspiration for their writing. In one of the scenes a teacher allowed the students to write in Spanish and explained that the students write more authentically and colorfully and this was a way to honor their culture and show respect for the students and their families. Another scene demonstrated that if the teacher is willing to learn about their culture the students are more willing to write about important times that will help the teacher learn and understand their way of life. By this I mean a teacher in New Mexico had several students from the Navaho Indian tribe and she learned the Navaho greeting which involved the whole class and the students from this tribe were very appreciative of this. The writing process is very meaningful and can help students learn to make their own decisions and allows students to have a voice and opinion.