Writers Workshop

Front and Center



"What is the heart of your story?" the words hang in the air for a few seconds, the energy building up, thoughts moving inside each head (or at least so we hope as teachers) wonder, doubt, possibility, all mingling before the silence is shattered as 28 young teens can't help but share at least a few words with those sitting close to them before applying pen to paper.



During writers workshop, the first one for the class this year, students are presented with the task of writing their own narrative about a real life event that was meaningful or in some way particularly relevant to them. This class has a wide range of proficiency levels when it comes to English, with some students qualifying as English Language Learners (ELL), while others are above grade level. It is like having students from 4th grade all the way up to 8th grade working together, the only difference is they are all in the same grade. All must meet the same standards by years end.The standards for their grade level.



Only then will each student be stamped with the "Meets Standards", which will also reflect upon and be used to measure the school's success. In this case "What is the heart of the story?". Without a doubt, there will be some or maybe many who will argue the essential issue lies with the standards and the current public education system. For me, and I hope others, the heart are the students. The energy, the emotion floating in the classroom as they plunge into their individuals narratives is contagious. This students are learning to write cohesive, engaging narratives. Thru assignments like this, students not only improve their grammar and expand their vocabulary, more importantly, they have an opportunity to recreate themselves and connect with others. Their narratives are their voices. Let's hear them, let's remember they are the heart of schooling. When thinking about education, keep the students front and center.