Today I experienced something that was out of this world. If only I would have had this years ago!

Years ago I would read a book on writing but something would get lost in translation. I could never make the jump between what it was telling me to do and actually being able to do it in my classroom with actual kids. I would try but the books just seemed too wordy, I just couldn’t picture myself doing whatever it was with actual people.

Today I was a part of a small group of teachers. Our task was to look at a piece of writing and using a flow chart see where we might start with a writing goal for that student. I have not taught writing in ten years so I was pretty sure what I had picked would not even be close to what the student needed. To my shock, we all picked the same exact thing!

I don’t think it was some magical ability that I have but it was through the power of this book that made it happen.

If I would have picked this goal when I was teaching I would have struggled to find the exact lesson or plan to help that one student with their issue. Through the magical book we were able to turn to a perfect min lesson that was just what this student needed.

The book, The Writing Strategies by Jennifer Serravallo, alone would not have brought me all the answers. While I watched the webinars, the facebook live chats and listened to a few Heinemann podcasts they could only get me so far. The class that I am in is being taught by one of our mentor teachers. I have learned more from her in the last few weeks than I have in the last ten years. No joke.

While I am not in the classroom, other than teaching a PLTW class to some 5th graders, I’m sure some wonder why I am in this class. I think the minute we stop learning is the minute we start dying. Learning for the sake of learning is pretty sweet and I’m fortunate to have this opportunity. The other thing is I am curious about how writing is being taught in the classroom.