SED 445 Cheryl's Writing Space

Blog #2 In writing this post, I hope that I do not "water down" Thomas' opinions or the greater picture.  It is so true that simply telling students to work harder is not going to instill "grit."  It is also true that students bring emotional baggage to school everyday and at times you will wonder how some children make it to school in the morning.  Home life and economics play huge roles in the lives of our students.  It would be incredible if we could wave a wand and make poverty disappear.  Since we cannot do that, we as educators do the best that we can when the students are with us in class.  Offering free and reduced breakfast and second chance breakfast is a temporary fix to a huge problem.  Check-ins with students during advisory help to identify students who may need additional support, such as guidance counselling or peer mediation.  Now, we have the task of educating all students, setting high expectations for all and doing what is ne...

In reading each of the pieces, I found myself nodding and making notes in the margins. Nodding in validation of practices in my own classroom and making notes on things to add. The NCTE reading provided a mine of golden nuggets. The article states that, “Teachers need to support students in the development of writing lives, habits, and preferences for life outside school.” From the beginning of my career teaching first grade to currently teaching sixth grade, I have always approached reading from a position of cultivating “a love of reading” and being a lifelong reader. I would instruct my students to read whatever they want at home and during reading time in class. Using myself as an example, I shared with them my love of cooking and how I enjoy reading cookbooks and cooking magazines. Why not have this same approach with writing? The article brings into light the concept that students need to write for many different genres and need to recognize the writing they do in their ...