The most valuable course I took in in high school was a creative writing class. Our teacher had us pick several pieces that we created over the semester and had us prepare them for "publication." These pieces were not ever published as we commonly think of the term, but we were challenged to consider all the elements of our writings and edit it to the point that we felt it was ready to be shared with a wider audience. I look back at those writings ocassionally and am always impressed with the quality of them. Andrews' piece "Writing as Performance" rang true for me because I have experienced the concept in action. I especially liked the sentiment that as a dance, a writing instructor should seek to bring out in students "whatever flash of beauty or grace or majesty." (pg 260) through their writing instruction.
Alejandro brought out the importance of publishing as well, when she spoke of the in class publications that she and her students worked on. I had a fourth-grade teacher who utilized a similar tool. Every few weeks we would publish a new edition of the "Dress Press" (the teacher's name was Mrs. Dress) whcih was our version of a literary magazine. Some of the prompts would be based on readings we had done, some were based on holidays near publication date or favorite memories, etc.
I am still amazed that with the evident success of non-traditional modes or tools of instruction, so many things in education are baserd on teaching to the test.
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