July 1st Reflection

I have many thoughts about how much my writing and teaching of writing needs to improve as a result of today's class and the recent assigned readings. I felt overwhelmed just thinking about how much work I need to do.
First, on the subject of my writing, I learned that I have to focus on getting my thoughts down once I have chosen a topic, or else run the risk of perseverating on what direction to take my writing. I have to allow my writing to take shape as I go along. Fletcher describes this occurrence as "allowing your writing to be influenced by discoveries made by the process of writing." This method seems to be working for me so far! I have been resisting my usual temptation for order by writing what I want to tell about my story. (Feedback from my response group proved to be validating as well as constructive!) I also learned that I enjoy writing, although it can be an exhausting, time consuming task. Writers have to practice patience, as Fletcher demonstrated in his story about slowing down to "stalk" his inner voice.
I learned that I have to try and implement new approaches in my teaching of writing. Based on the article I read today by Mem Fox, I now know that I have to allow more opportunities for my students to showcase work in which they are invested. (This is something I've always known, but I have taken the wrong approach to make it a reality.) I brainstormed some possibilities to give the students a chance to "ache with caring over what they have written."  These possibilities include changing the audience, writing to people of authority about relevant concerns as they relate to current events, opportunities to debate an issue of choice and justify a position, and allowing more experiences for peer evaluation. Fox reported experiencing success once she gave her students and audience and a purpose. Hopefully, I can experience some level of success in my teaching of writing by making the before stated changes.