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Readers and Writers Have Rights!

Thank you to Stacey, Betsy, Dana, Tara, Beth, Anna, Kathleen & Deb for this amazing platform to write and share writing! What a wonderful community you've created! I'm honored to be part of it. Join us at Two Writing Teachers.



One reason I love social media is the inspiration that's shared. A couple of days ago I was scrolling through Instagram when I saw something interesting posted by @Kevinmenglish.

I was immediately intrigued. My mind started working and wondering how my students could make their own RIGHTS. Today we discussed the rights we have as Americans...freedom of speech, freedom of religion, the right to vote. Then I asked them, "What rights do you have as readers?" Lists began in notebooks. Conversations started. We shared our best rights...



Our next step is to revise our list and make a final list of ten rights we have as readers. The conversations that happened about reading and what readers need were powerful and meaningful. Watching them claim their rights as readers made me proud to be their teacher. 

 One student asked, "Will we be making our own constitution?" And another yelled out, "A proclamation!" YES! YES! YES! Once we complete our rights as readers...on to our rights as writers. 

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Comments

  1. DogtraxSeptember 15, 2015 at 5:41 AM

    Love this idea ... might steal it as you stole it ..
    :)
    Kevin

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousSeptember 15, 2015 at 5:44 AM

    Great idea- I know my students would have lots of ideas!

    ReplyDelete
  3. JaanaSeptember 15, 2015 at 6:28 AM

    There is government in action in your classroom! Can't wait to see what more your students will accomplish this year!

    ReplyDelete
  4. BernadetteSeptember 15, 2015 at 6:47 AM

    Oh, this is great. Can't wait to hear the constitution. I especially like the right to abandon a book - it took me decades to claim that right.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Margaret SimonSeptember 15, 2015 at 6:58 AM

    This is a great way to foster cooperation and ownership. Great!

    ReplyDelete
  6. drferreriblogspot.comSeptember 15, 2015 at 8:23 AM

    One of the reasons I love social media is great ideas like this!

    ReplyDelete
  7. JulieanneSeptember 15, 2015 at 9:24 AM

    This is fantastic! What interesting things grow out of letting students stand up for their rights!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Linda BSeptember 15, 2015 at 10:00 AM

    In addition to the writing of the rights, I love hearing that it was such a wonderful conversation, Michelle. I bet it has never occurred to them that they do have rights as readers. Wonderful that you used this 'found' idea.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Holly MuellerSeptember 15, 2015 at 7:00 PM

    How fun and empowering for your students!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Peg DSeptember 15, 2015 at 9:11 PM

    A child I spoke with a couple of weeks ago would probably add Readers have a right to read without sticky notes. And I agree with him. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Peg DSeptember 15, 2015 at 9:11 PM

    A child I spoke with a couple of weeks ago would probably add Readers have a right to read without sticky notes. And I agree with him. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  12. MichelleSeptember 15, 2015 at 9:22 PM

    Love how one ideas rolls and expands and get bigger and better ... when we work together! Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Melanie MeehanSeptember 15, 2015 at 9:30 PM

    May have to pass this one along, Michelle. It goes really well with Tara's chart. You could have fun trying out Piktochart to formalize the list of rights!

    ReplyDelete

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