The Art of Teaching Writing

Book Club Meeting

Chapter 1

         My group found the fact that she compares writing to artistry in the first chapter of this book interesting.  We know there is a lot that goes into writing, and being a good writer, but we had not thought to compare it to a piece of art.  To the person writing, you must put many thoughts, feelings, and strategies into your work.  Comparing it to artwork makes sense. 

         Calkins discusses 3 essentials to children’s writing:  (page 3)

1) Children are deeply involved in writing.

2) They share their texts with others.

3) They perceive themselves as authors.

She feels these are interconnected and that children will gain a sense of authorship through their writing.  She also tells us that us that writing doesn’t begin by sitting at a desk and brainstorming ideas, but with living your life as an observer.  Noticing things in the world around you, wondering about things going on, remembering important things that have happened in your life, and a yearning to write is what makes a writer. 

         We loved reading the writing samples she provides in this chapter. Comparing the writing of a 7 year old to that of a 15 year old was enlightening.  Children grow so much and can accomplish so much as writers if we expect it of them and guide them to think like an author. 

         I liked how the author said, “significance cannot be found, it must be grown.” (Calkins, page 7) Growing as a writer can happen by finding something significant in our life experience.  Revisit an experience, find something beautiful in it, and simply write.  I am going to try and put this into practice with my third graders this year.  I want them to blossom them into artists.