Chapter 8: Organize for Daily Writing

This chapter continues and adds to what I have said in the previous entries. Modeling is so important to students. This allows them to see what they need to do without becoming overwhelmed with the writing process. They need to understand who their audience is and be allowed to celebrate their writing at the end of the process. By the end of the year, with much modeling, they will feel much more confident on doing the writing on their own. I love the idea of daily writing. This summer I am planning out a journal for students to use towards the end of the school year. By writing every day, they will become more use to the process and gain more confidence. With students using computers so much, writing is important to include in an everyday setting. Free writes also add to the journaling or daily writing. This allows the students’ creative side to come out and gets them interested in writing. I know my first graders are always coming up to me and wanting to tell me a story. It is impossible to listen to every story they have to tell. So allowing them to write it down gives them the opportunity to share it and work on their writing skills. Having students trust the teacher and their peers is very important. It is not only important in writing, but in everything they do. They will be more confident if they know they will not be laughed at or made fun of. It is the teacher’s job to establish and maintain that sense of trust.