3 Things to Remember as A Writing Teacher

Little Known Factors that Can Make A Huge Impact

1. Put Your Ego in Check

Yes, you are the adult. Yes, you are a trained professional. BUT, your student is still the writer. They do not have to take your suggestion no matter how much older you are. This applies to kindergarteners thru adult learners. You respect them and they respect you. It is a give and take relationship.

I see so many little people writers by third grade who are terrified to go outside of directions. Some seem to have lost their ability to be creative for the sake of doing what is expected. Please do not take your students’ creativity away. If you have to segment a time slot for the wild abandon of student writing to happen to keep your own brain in check — DO IT. Sometimes it is ok to not know what is going to happen. If you want students to take risks and be vulnerable in their writing you have to make space for it.

2. Be A Writer Yourself

To teach writing, you must write. I do not mean every day or that you have to be published. Although, I will say there is a growing group of us who are doing just that! Let me say it again — YOU HAVE TO WRITE.

Think about it this way: Do you take teaching advice from a non-teacher? No. You don’t. You may…