Creative Writing: Teacher Utopia

Writing Groups

Last March our principal asked if anyone would be interested in teaching a new elective.  I probably answered his email before he had taken his finger off of the send key!  YES!  I wanted to teach a creative writing class.  In order for the class to fly, enough kids had to sign up, and they did!  This class has been a dream come true.  Most days I feel like I am in a teacher in an inspirational movie about teaching!

 I spent my summer culling through a variety of books and websites about writing.  I then began to create my vision for the class.  I wanted to create an environment where kids felt safe, valued, and respected. I wanted them to take risks with their writing. I wanted them to see themselves as writers.  Most importantly, I wanted them to LOVE the class.

Students read their work to the group

I decided to implement a workshop approach. Each day begins with an activity or some kind of writing prompt. Students typically write for the first thirty minutes or so.  I allow them to listen to music if they want to.  Most of the time they beg for more time!  Inevitably, several people want to share their piece with the entire class.  Sometimes I allow that, but other times I have them share with their table mates.   After sharing, we provide feedback to the writer.  The kids have been taught to focus on feedback rather than criticism.  I have them focus on how the writing makes them feel, as well as asking questions.  Rather than saying, "Your description of your grandmother is really bad" they have been taught to say, "I was wondering if you could describe what your grandmother looked like.  What does she typically wear?  How tall is she?"  Instead of saying, "Your story was really good," they are taught to say things l like, "I was so horrified when you described your teacher marching into the room and slamming her phone on the desk so hard that the screen shattered."

By the end of the week, we have a minimum of four pieces in rough draft form. Every other week, students are required to choose one piece to work on and bring to their writing group.  On the days we meet with our writing groups, students must bring enough printed copies for each group member. They read their piece aloud to the group and get feedback from each person.  They are given the option of having their paper "blessed, addressed, or pressed." I stole this from my idol, Kelly Gallagher.  In other words, they can receive just complements, ask for feedback on a particular part of the piece, or both!  All of my students chose to be "pressed" and get both types of feedback.

Whichever piece is taken to their writing group is then revised and published to our classroom writing blog.  Here, the entire class can read each other's work!  

Teaching this class is a dream come true. It's not just because I enjoy teaching writing though!  It's the kids themselves!  They are kind, positive, encouraging, creative, and fun!