Thursday, July 16, 2009

After the End:
Teaching and Learning
Creative Revision
Barry Lane
Chapter 9


One of the most freeing chapters I have read yet! I was finally given permission to not brainstorm, free write, web, and scatter ideas on a sheet of paper. I have been plagued with these techniques for years and I find them so inhibiting. I cannot find my passion until I start writing. Every time I go back and manipulate, change, delete and chop up my original draft but I need that space to write in full sentences. I need the feeling of crafting something in order to feel the value of what I am crafting.

Unfortunately this leaves me in a predicament with my teaching methods. As much as I hate brainstorm in a traditional sense, I love teaching it! I have young students who struggle getting ideas out and who have developed the skill of the blank stare even before I get them to my class. Brainstorming allows them a chance to spit out and share ideas as a whole group and it allows me a chance to see into their brains and know where to pull, pry and question.

I will be reflecting on ways to continue using webs and charts but to not corner my students into that as an ONLY way to begin writing.
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4 comments:

  1. Warren AkinJuly 16, 2009 at 4:19 PM

    It's a difficult balance for me regarding teaching specific, discreet skills while not beating the creativity out of my students. I think so much depends on the culture of the classroom, too.

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  2. Not Quite a NewbieJuly 16, 2009 at 4:39 PM

    I think a lot of the kids I teach feel the same way that you do about free/prewriting. I like the quote:

    My wastepaper basket is on a steady diet.

    and

    I work for four hours a day. If I sit there and stare at the page, that's work.

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  3. UnknownJuly 17, 2009 at 8:30 AM

    I have been such a control freak! I am almost ashamed to admit that I have insisted on the web or outline style of brainstorming. When a kiddo asks me if she can just start writing, I blanch, become visibly shaken and can barely rasp out an, "Are you kidding me, what are you, crazy?" On the sly I will allow truly reluctant writers to use this, but it is always somewhat of a covert operation that I don't want everyone in the room to know about. Barry Lane and others have shown me that this is more than OK.

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  4. Kelly FeltonJuly 22, 2009 at 2:17 AM

    I've actually been freed from having to find form for jotting ideas. Marti made me see that I can just list them to begin with, that I don't even have to identify their relationship to one another.

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