Chapter 7, 8, &19

Chapter 7
While reading chapter seven, I learned that it is very important to have strong teaching presence in the classroom. It takes alot of time and effort to work and prepare a writing workshop for my classroom. Not just writing workshop but all of work and lessons that we as teachers have to plan. After being in the classroom and in this program, I have learned that teaching is not that easy. We don't just get to go in a classroom and teach students materials. We actually have so much work to do in and out of the classroom and it takes so much more time than most people expect. I have learned that I have to manage my time so much different now that I have started to have to actually plan for my mentor classroom. I think that it is crucial to allow the students to be able to work in different areas in the classroom and work as groups throughout the day. I know that i get bored and loose concentration after sitting for a long period of time much less an elementary school child. Having quiet spots and corners are a great idea. I will definitely have this in my classroom. This allows students to be able to have their own personal time and think about things if they need too. If I have a lot of things going on or just need to be alone for a little while, I want to be able to go to my room or somewhere that is comfortable to relax and just think.
Chapter 8
I thought that chapter eight was interesting. I never knew that they actually had writing workshop kits. I do not think that I like this idea because I personally think that students should be allowed to pick any topic that is appropriate to write about and not have to be instructed to what to write. In my opinion, this is a cheap way out of teaching the students the correct way and as a teacher not having to put any time or effort into planning and preparing for the workshop. Being told and the kits are so structured would make me think that the students and teacher both are missing out and not able to write like they would if it was a long throughout lesson.
Chapter 19
I learned many new things while reading chapter 19. I found this chapter to be really helpful and informational. In my opinion, I do not think that it is fair to give students a deadline on when their writing should be done. Yes, the students writing should be checked and read over by the teacher, but someone's work could always be better and more thought out. The whole "publish or perish" is a little too much for elementary school students. Writing is something that someone should enjoy doing and express their thoughts and feeling, not to be drilled and told dates that it HAS to be completed by this day and time. Students should be monitored and made sure that they are actually doing their writing and making progress on a regular basis but not an everyday thing. If we as teachers were required to do this in our classrooms, I would et my students share their work with their peers and maybe even as a class periodically. This way, none of the students are nervous or afraid when their work is actually published to everyone. I liek the fact that Ray mentioned that it is a celebration when students works have been published. This could be a good thing because students could set goals for their writings and finally when completed they can be proud and know that they reached their goal they had made. This chapter had many great and useful ideas throughout.