With 4 years in the classroom under my belt, reflecting on my own reading and writing processes was more challenging than I thought it would be. I have always been a better writer when it came down to it. I liked it more growing up because it always felt more expressive. I still have countless journals laying around my apartment. The process of prewriting always came very easy as I am the master of ‘every day’ lists and brainstorms. I actually installed a small white Ikea desk behind my teacher table to harbor my sticky note idea boards. After reading Tompkins, I was able to reflect on my own writing processes. When it comes to composing a piece of writing, I sometimes get stuck before I even start. Putting ideas together in the drafting phase often feels permanent even though I teach young minds differently. I also often revise as I draft, and this probably contributes to the amount of time it takes me to get my ideas on paper. It takes forever! Tompkins gave me the meaningful reminder that the drafting phase is about dumping ideas on paper and not worrying about everything being perfect. Difficult to say to someone who can sometimes be a perfectionist 😊 When I prewrite, I often do consider the audience in which I’m writing for. Over the past few years, most of my writing has been just for myself. Professionally my writing has been for IEPs and for developing plans for struggling kiddos in my classroom. It’s very structured and data based. My audience is a special education team, parents and often heads of districts. I also almost always consider purpose when prewriting. When I write for myself, I often write with the intention to make sense of a very difficult situation. I work with children that have had significant trauma so it’s important that I hash out things and make my own sense so I can walk in the next day with a good head on my shoulders. When I write for others professionally, I have to consider data, my own personal beliefs and the collaborative thoughts of the team when constructing writing.
I am excited to embark on this blogging journey this semester just so I can start writing for more audiences and purposes than I talked about above. I’m looking forward to following each step in the writing process and exploring my own brain. Prewriting has become second nature but the dumping of ideas in the drafting phase (without going back and revising every 2 seconds) is something I’m looking forward to working on.
When it comes to the Genre Pieces Project, I will begin to
prewrite/plan in a dedicated notebook. I have found this to be difficult so
far. I have found that talking about writing before prewriting very helpful.
The social component of this step has always been essential to me. I’m hoping
that we will be able to chat more about this project as a class and maybe get
some examples of ideas rolling.
