Join the Two Writing Teachers blog for March Slice of Life Challenge.
As winter transitions to spring, there is an argument in the skies. High winds, thunder, rain, and more rain. In parts of my state, flooding. Transitions can be ugly, hard, and unpredictable.
In a digital classroom, transitions come slowly and with less fanfare. In fact sometimes the transition is barely visible. You have to look hard to see it happening.
On Thursday, when winter was fighting with spring outside, inside the room was quiet. Every student was focused on the work of reading and writing. I didn’t want to breathe. I was afraid to make a sound for fear this was a fleeting moment.
When I look at this scene through the reflections of my students’ faces, I realize that they have become exactly who I had hoped they would be…independent learners.
Later that night I took some time to read their blog posts. I saw independent writers making craft moves, writing with voice, and creating complete stories. While I wasn’t looking, the transition happened.
There are some reasons for this growing independence:
- Routine: Students thrive on routine. They like to know what is expected and when. Within a routine, students feel comfortable to be themselves.
- Writing Daily: We have been participating in the March Slice of Life Challenge. Anything that you practice daily gets better and better. My students are no longer afraid of the blank screen. They usually walk into class knowing what they will write about that day.
- Freedom: Within the framework of routine, my students have freedom of choice. They know the checklist and expectations, but they can choose what they write about and how they respond to learning.
- Safety: Building a safe environment for students is at the top of my list. I respect (and love) each child and expect them to treat each other with kindness and respect.
March may be a turbulent time in the weather forecast, but inside things are calm and running smoothly.
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Reflections on the Teche 