Writer's Workshop Reflection: Chapters 7,8,19

I have been spending a lot of time in my field placement walking around the classroom observing students' work and helping where needed. As my mentor teacher spends time putting together other things and helping individual students, I have found my job as the teacher who walks around making sure students are constantly working towards something. I have observed a few students in the class who struggle finding their focus and accomplishing much at all. I repeatedly tell them that they should be writing and try to encourage them to write by asking questions about their writing topic and where they want to take their writing. In my classroom, the teacher does not put a lot of pressure on students to complete a certain amount in specific time. She allows freedom for her students, so it bothers me that students still have a problem finding enjoyment in writing and why some students just CAN'T stay focused and write even a few sentences. In another class I am taking, the teacher demonstrates well how to work with your students. If the teacher is making known his/her presence, it may be motivating for students in that he/she is creating a complete working environment where everyone is being productive.

I love being in control. I can definitely see how in the future with writer's workshop the ways I may struggle if students are in many different places with their writing. I agree with the text in that writer's workshop at the base is very organized, planned and stuctured, but how it can easily seem out of control with students' work being so diverse.

I really liked the author's three concepts of publishing. I am unsure if these would explicitly be made known to the class; however I can see where it would be beneficial to go into detail with students about these three ideas. Students need to know what it means to "finish" a piece and the long process it takes for a piece of work to be published. I also think audience is important for students to know about in that one of the beginning steps of writing is determining your audience.