We Are... Writers!
11/3/2017
Squeals of excitement escaped our sweet little ones as I told them that their books would be placed on our special bookshelf, alongside the books of our featured author, Eric Carle. After that, the books will be added into our library book bins in the correct categories, where they will permanently reside with some of our favorite storybooks and informational texts. "You mean OUR BOOKS?" they questioned as their eyes grew wide with excitement. This all came about when I announced that we'd be publishing their books this week. They would each choose the book they were most proud of or that was about something they really wanted to teach, revise it, and read it to the whole class before adding it to our library. This was, by far, my favorite moment of our week. The role of writer was, as a whole, this group of kindergartners hardest identity to accept. They quickly agreed that they are readers and started to devour books. They eagerly jumped at every opportunity to solve problems as scientists and mathematicians, but they did not truly see themselves as writers until very recently. As they proudly placed their books on our shelf with the books we have been reading and studying, they realized that they really are authors, just like Eric Carle, Donald Crews, or Kevin Henkes. They have something important to say, and through writing, they have a means to say it. As I watched them reading their stories and pointing out little details that they had added to their texts, I was reminded of how powerful authenticity is. In our daily writing workshop, they engage in activities that real authors engage in. We collaborate with others, plan our stories across the pages, and ask and answer questions to add details. We study mentor texts to see what real authors do, and we imitate them, learning their craft. And slowly, as we studied the work of skilled authors, and as I continued to treat them as true writers, my class of kindergartners became authors themselves... and, more importantly, believed that they were. Some of our budding authors even write stories outside of writing workshop, co-author books together, and ask to read their books to the class (who always delights in being their audience).
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Saania AliMs. Ali graduated from the University of Houston with a Bachelors of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies. She specializes in Early Childhood Education, ESL, and Special Education. Her hobbies include traveling, reading, and painting! Archives
April 2021
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