September 3, 2015

The quickest way to get my class to turn from sweet, mostly well behaved students is to announce that we are going to write and immediately the room is quaking with groans and whining.  I do not want writing to be a chore to my students but for them to embrace it as an extension of their life and imagination.  So, I decided to bring in a diary I kept when I was in the third grade and read a few passages to them.  Of course they thought it was hilarious, but at the same time writing became something interesting and even possibly fun!  I know this will not be an immediate change in attitude toward writing with my students, but I think I have ignited a flicker of interest that hopefully will grow in to large flame of desire for expressive writing.