BlogThree

Passion, emotion, life changing events, Wow this writing business is not all about grammar.
I enjoyed Graves' lesson from Verle Barnes. I also agreed that enduring, near obsessive, passion about a cause is something that most of never feel. The point is write about something that has you so excited that you feel the need to share, that's how a teacher gets students to writing. Good point. Motivating kids just to start writing and then the mechanics of writing can wait for later. When Graves says, "the 1st lesson in teaching writing is that the writer must find his/her own subject", I was reminded of the yearly What I Did on My Summer Vacation essay that produced some really uninspired, and thus boring results. Like previous commentators, I liked Graves' thoughts that discipline grows naturally out of freedom.

I'm not certain I agree with Rex's strategies. The rape piece was pretty heavy. I think I would have to know a lot more--maybe talk with an adolescent counselor who deals with such issues before I embarked on encouraging kids to open up to such an extent. I wouldn't mind dealing with tough issues, like in literature, but bringing about in such a personal way is a bit uncomfortable to me. I would worry I would do more harm than good but this might only be inexperience talking, what I would do or not do in front of a class is pure conjecture at this point.

I think I would truly enjoy being in a class of Donald Murray's. He sounds like a fascinating guy, though from the essay must be retired from teaching long ago. Again passion, caring deeply about his subject is a key here. Using his writing to try and make sense of the world, even more than half a decade after his experience of war. "A history of surprise..." he relates to writing.

Suhor goes a bit out there for me. Has a few good points, Jazz, joy of discovery,etc. but I picture 32 kids meditating and it appears unworkable in the limited time that a class would provide. I just think there are many more strategies available for an educator to draw upon than having the children stare at a spot on the wall.
BTW-the spot? it turned out to be a snail.