One of my top love languages is words of affirmation, or in simpler terms, appreciation. I crave acknowledgement that I am enough, that what I do or say is important, that I am good at things. One encouraging word goes a long way in motivating me to continue, to not give up, to try harder, to be my best, to stretch and challenge myself. A lack of appreciation will motivate me to keep trying, but for different reasons. I don't give up in order to prove myself to someone. I'm still searching for appreciation. But now my attitude is filled with anger, resentment, bitterness, frustration, and pride. It is a failure mindset. When I receive appreciation my attitude is a learner mindset. An attitude of action coupled with the joy of pushing myself to the next level, to step out of the box. Our students need so much acknowledged appreciation in their writing. They need to hear what they are doing well as a writer. All of us can easily pick out what is wrong with our writing. We don't need to be told what is wrong. We already know. Personally, when I make a mistake either in writing or in life, I don't have any trouble identifying my mistakes, and I sure don't need anyone to point them out. My writing mentor shared with me a great method to show appreciation while conferring about writing with students. On a sticky note I draw a heart and a star. The heart to tell what I love about their writing, what the student is doing well as a writer. A star to give a tip, or strategy, to use each and every day when they write. As the year progressed my students began to peer revise and edit. Students gave meaningful feedback to each other using the heart and star sticky. There were even instances when I was short on time and just left a compliment next to a heart. Students would come back to me requesting a tip. They had been affirmed in their writing and began to identify as a writer. And what do writers do? They find ways to improve. Students were ready for come constructive feedback to grow as a writer. By the end of the year I had no reluctant writers in my classroom. Everyone felt their writing was valued. This week I am the student. My mentor conferred with me during my writing time. I love my sticky note! Inspired by Building Adolescent Literature in Today's English Classroom by Randy Bomer p. 22-25 Thank you to http://whispersfromtheridge.weebly.com for your inspiration.
3 Comments
|
AuthorTeacher Archives
April 2020
Categories |