Blog 2: Smith & Spandel

Like everyone else I really enjoyed the 9 Rights book. Smith is a bit dry but certainly valuable. I did think that the chapter on the act of writing from Smith worked in tandem with the Spandel chapter. Smith comes from an almost scholarly point of view--describing a writing philosophy, and Spandel supports much of Smith's assertions through real classroom activities. For instance Smith speaks about the flow of words never being consistent. Inspiration comes in spurts. Spandel is also anti constancy--no one child writes in the same way, the same speed, in the same manner.

I found the
Smith chapter 3 a bit weak. Recognizing the difference between transcription and composition seems self evident to me. In this class we have been talking about listening to our inner voice. Does not the inner voice act somewhat like our outer voice and change as the situation warrants? We speak differently when telling a story as we would when giving directions. Doesn't the inner voice change, almost without conscience effort, to fit the task?

Spandel is wonderful. Its gets one wanting to share these techniques with a class and see what your students would come up with. There's a current of self-discovery and knowing oneself that flows within the chapter. I like that she suggests that the students see the writing process from the teacher, that the teacher should be working through a written work along with the class. The teacher as role model.
Always, an educational environment must be a safe zone. A place where students can feel at ease to experiment & take chances. Where the teacher continually supports. Where a rigid push for mechanical perfection does not exist to stifle creativity. Spandel reinforces these concepts very eloquently in her book.