10 Practical Habits To Grow Great Writers

<     1.  Develop an evolving shared vision about Writing.  Everyone must share one consistent message for the delivery of instruction.

<   2.  Deepen your own personal knowledge of Crafts authors use in text to intentionally leave a sound print for the reader’s ear.

<   3. Actively seek, learn and know current best practices on the delivery of instruction.

<  4. Have an explicit plan in the management of materials for yourself and students.  Model how you expect students to organize their personal portfolios by keeping one for yourself to use.

<   5. Your daily-modeled writing should reflect your expectation of performance.   You must pre-write complete pieces before instructional delivery that are exemplar to what our standards represent for above level proficiency.

<   6. Conference…Conversations…Conference…essential not only with EVERY CHILD, but with all stake holders to improve content knowledge Teachers need to collaborate with each other and students to be considered highly effective.  Conference equals intervention and/ or differation of instruction to make learning authentic and purposeful. Conversations can be difficult at times, however structured conversations to get to the heart of an issue will provoke change.  Discomfort is not necessarily a “bad” thing when are students are at stake.  Our students need us to dedicate time to have these conversations as professionals and with them during independent practice to increase their content knowledge and our own. 

<   7. Model and lead a climate of respect and community.  A true leader is one who is mindful and aware of word choice and how they speak to others around them.  You must have zero tolerance of unkind words even if you are upset.  You must practice this principle when speaking to other adults, parents, or co-workers.  You may not like a co-worker, but that does not give you a license to alienate or bully them in front of others most importantly including students or peers.  Build a Writing Community will all members in the school.

<     8. Make a bond with Students through Writing.  You reveal your voice in modeled written chunks leading students to find their voice in print.  Your excitement for Writing will be shared.  Deliver this message -of excitement- in sequential lessons Use fineness and grace while sharing your thoughts aloud connecting your students the why and how of craft.

<    9. Use data: to plan your lessons (craft/elaboration/mode), words to show on word wall, develop instructional focus teaching points menu as team in PLC, and discuss trends common in student work.

1    10. EXPECTATION!  I cannot say this enough.  You get what you put out.  Make deposits into relationships with your peers and students.  Positive interaction is not negotiable.  Accept nothing less then 150% from peers and students.  Speak only positive words about what students can do.  I hear teacher’s labels all the time of why students are not performing.  Forget the acronyms, JUSST TEACH with HIGH expectation and believe they can!!!!

 

 

My personal reading list sparked the inspiration to draft these principles.

Inviting Students To Develop Skill and Craft in Writer’s Workshop- Jeff Anderson

Reaching Struggling Writers K-5 - Colleen Cruz

Mechanically Inclined- Jeff Anderson

How’s It Going- Carl Anderson

Writing Essentials- Reggie Routman

Starting With What Students Do Best- Katherine Boomer

But HOW DO YOU TEACH WRITING?- Barry Lane