Writing Is All About Sitting At the Typewriter and Splitting Open a Vein

Today is the last classroom day of the Summer Institute. This experience has afforded me a new toolbox from which to draw upon when teaching writing. While I love writing, writing is difficult to teach to others, especially reluctant writers and students who struggle with the classroom experience. One of the things I’ve been saying since I became a teacher is that there has to be a way to get students more involved in the classroom, and the demos that I’ve seen have certainly afforded me that opportunity! We have a brilliant group of Teaching Consultants. I feel very fortunate to have met everyone.

I also think that I now feel more confident as part of a larger structure, i.e. my school. As a new teacher, you look at all the experience around you and you feel like you are such a small cog in a larger mechanism...as if you can’t put forth what the others around you do. Now, I feel like my contribution is important and vital and just because someone has ten years on me doesn’t make them a better teacher. Learning and experiencing things like this make you a better teacher.


Before the SI, I’ve been made to feel guilty when I wanted time to write. I was made to feel as if it wasn’t important in the grand scheme…with work, kids, housework, being a wife…. When I would sit down to write, I was “playing.” This has really opened up a new flood gate, and I am going to discipline myself to write every day.

I am so fortunate to have met Linda, Inga, Jessica, Kevin, Lisas G. and S., Shannon, Sarah, Becky, Shasta, Erika, Travis, Michelle, Lacey, Paula, Rebecca, Annette, Dawn, Kim, Cheryl, Connie, and all the rest!