Today, over at Two Reflective Teachers, Melanie Meehan listed powerful, thought provoking quotes from a TCRWP staff developer. Go check out her post here.
"Help kids figure out being a good partner is like a life thing. It’s bigger than reading workshop or writing workshop!"
Many of the quotes spoke to me, but this one demanded my thoughts, hence I am writing about it. We aren't here to teach kids to be good test takers. We aren't here to teach kids to be novelists. We aren't here to teach kids to be editors or book reviewers. However, if any of these things came to be, we would rejoice!
We are here to grow problem solvers. We are here to teach teamwork and cooperation. We are here to show work ethic and productivity.
To me, it isn't just partnerships, but the workshop structure/model. Workshop is bigger than "school". Workshop structure is a life thing. It teaches independence and truly deep thinking. Workshop is heartfelt and brain teasing. It gives kids opportunity for creativity and expects reflective actions to reach one's goals. AND workshop contributes about a million other positive characteristics to our days that I can't name right now. It is just bigger. It is about life and all that life will ask of you.
Thanks for the post, Melanie!
"Help kids figure out being a good partner is like a life thing. It’s bigger than reading workshop or writing workshop!"
ReplyDeleteYes!You really summed it all up nicely. Thanks!
"Workshop structure is a life thing."
ReplyDeleteYep!
You hit the nail on the head.
Perhaps that's both what makes it so tough and so very, very worthwhile....
"Workshop structure is a life thing."
ReplyDeleteYep!
You hit the nail on the head.
Perhaps that's both what makes it so tough and so very, very worthwhile....
This is great proof that there's the main goal--of writing workshop--but there are dozens of other secondary goals, and sometimes those trump the main goal. Liked the slice, and appreciate that you were inspired by someone else's slice!
ReplyDeleteExactly! Thanks for putting all of this into words.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your post. Our ultimate goals should be to help children be the best people they can be. I like how you built on someone else's slice idea. I've done that, too.
ReplyDeleteIt's great when another slice brings you ideas for your own!
ReplyDeleteWorkshop is the the most authentic of the authentic. You are right! It is the way life works! I love that you said we aren't teaching kids to take tests or write novels. I've always felt that way! My job is to prepare them for life . . . if I do a good job, the test will take care of itself. Some may grow up to be novelists, some may be bloggers, and some may write an e-mail clearly enough to be understood. Whatever life brings them, I want them to be fully prepared.
ReplyDelete