The first week of school has ended. It was a whirlwind...it always is. As the week ended, I am happy to say that we have already established an important part of our writing routine. As the students enter the classroom, they get their notebooks out and begin their, "Sacred Writing Time". This time happens in our notebooks and it's an essential part of our journey as writers.
We launched notebooks on Wednesday. I brought in spiral notebooks wrapped in bright and shiny wrapping paper. The students ripped open their gift and read the poem I wrote and taped into the front cover. (When I read the poem to the class, one class applauded and stood up!)
We named our notebooks.
We celebrated our notebooks.
And we began to write...
On Thursday and Friday, I reminded the students of the routine, "Come in. Get yourself settled. Write." We write for 7-10 minutes. Students are invited to share at the end of class. Our routine is already set...daily writing. We are writers! We've already shared some of our writing...
We launched notebooks on Wednesday. I brought in spiral notebooks wrapped in bright and shiny wrapping paper. The students ripped open their gift and read the poem I wrote and taped into the front cover. (When I read the poem to the class, one class applauded and stood up!)
We named our notebooks.
On Thursday and Friday, I reminded the students of the routine, "Come in. Get yourself settled. Write." We write for 7-10 minutes. Students are invited to share at the end of class. Our routine is already set...daily writing. We are writers! We've already shared some of our writing...
I am so proud to sit alongside these sixth grade writers. I can't wait to see what the year brings!
Thank you to Ruth Ayres for providing this space to share our celebrations. Please join us and share your own!
And now you get three days to rest and get ready for what's next, Michelle! It's wonderful to see all those writers already! What a year it will be. I love that you wrapped each notebook, a message they won't forget!
ReplyDeleteExciting. Your poem is inspiring, the applause was well deserved. May the writing joy keep growing!
ReplyDeleteYou have given your students a sacred space to be themselves without fear of judgment. This is awesomeness.
ReplyDeleteThis is the essence of writing. I could hear Donald Graves and others who urged teachers long ago to look at writing as writers do cheering on and celebrating your amazing writers,
ReplyDeleteWhat productive morning work...so much more joyful than the "find the mistakes" version I have seen in a lot of classrooms. Sacred writing time...such a gift to your students!
ReplyDeleteWow, Michelle! I don't often wish to be back in sixth grade, but I'd give a lot to spend a day in your classroom! I absolutely love that you gift wrapped your students' notebooks. What a fabulous message and accompanied by your poem it's a double whammy win for you and your writers. Clearly you're all off to a fantastic year!
ReplyDeleteLove that your writers are on their way to a year of writing! Wrapped notebooks and wonderful permissions. And that last entry makes me swoon . . . "sitting at my desk waiting to be older..." Thumbprint scanners on lockers - that would definitely make life less stressful for sixth graders!
ReplyDeleteThis is so inspiring! I'm hoping to do something similar with my students. We'll have to see how things unfold.
ReplyDeleteMichelle, sacred writing time is a wonderful practice as evidenced by the powerful writing your students have engaged in. I especially enjoyed the notebook page, "Permission". Sitting alongside these students must be magical-watching them evolve as writers.
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