Build a Writing Community: From the Archives

The Context

Like so many of you, I am just beginning a new school year. No matter how many years I’ve been teaching, I still feel a bit lost in space until I meet my students. They ground me and give me purpose. Over time they reveal their unique personalities. I become a student of my students as I learn all about their likes, dislikes, interests, strengths, and weaknesses. I learn how they interact with their peers, how well they function within a group, and whether or not they understand what it means to be part of a community.

Why it Matters

We don’t teach in a vacuum. We teach children with complex and full lives. How to build a welcoming, inclusive, and child-centered classroom community together with my students is top of mind for me right now. As I do this, I must take into account how the group of students before me will also function as a community of writers. What values are most important to develop and nurture? How can I co-create a space that allows for children to become brave, competent, and passionate writers?

From the Archives

I’ve selected a sampling of past Two Writing Teachers Blog posts that I think exemplify the kind of community building that teachers can do in their classrooms in order to foster a positive, supportive, and dynamic writing culture all year long.

• Seen, Valued, Heard Blog Series by the Two Writing Teachers Co-Authors
• Building a Community of Writers: Creating the Emotional Space by Lanny Ball
• 3 Steps to Building A Learning Community: Vision. Intention. Purpose. by Deb Frazier
• Fostering Community Through Writing Workshop by Jessica Carey
• Reinvigorate Your Classroom by Putting Kids First: An Interview with Christine Hertz and Kristi Mraz by Stacey Shubitz
• Creating Community: Our Favorite Things by Kathleen Neagle Sokolowski