In the Middle - Ch. 1 and Ch. 2

Ch. 1 - Learning How to Teach Writing

 

Nancie Atwell states that she began her teaching career as a creationist.  She came in to work everyday and created new lessons that she hoped would be exciting and useful to her students.  As the years went by, she realized that though creating is useful, learning is better. So now she has changed from a creationist to an evolutionist.  Instead of deciding what her students will learn, she learns from them and what they need learn next. 

One of the ideas that Atwell discusses is the need for meaningful tasks.  We can ask our students to write about anything, but if they feel that the task does not warrant hard work, we cannot expect positive results.  Atwell shares that we cannot just ask our students to write, we must write as well.  Modeling is the first step in showing students that their own writing is important. 

Students need to know that we write for reasons other than assignments, and that they will have to do the same.  Atwell frequently wrote with her class as well as modeling her own writing and reasons for writing. 

In the Middle elaborates on the need for active learning of the teacher alongside the students.  In order to be an active learner, teachers must accept that they do not know it all.  This is probably the hardest part of the process.  Most teachers want to believe that they know everything there is to know about their subject, but the fact is that we are always learning new things every day.  In fact, if we take the time to listen to our students, we will learn everything that we need to know in order to help them to be the most successful writers that they can be at this time.  

Ch. 2 - Learning How to Teach Reading

If there is one thing that teachers need to know, it is that we do not just teach students a specific subject, it is that we are teaching them how to learn.   

When we want students to read, we give them an image of what the proper reader is believed to be in the literate world.  Unfortunately, that image is portrayed as a snobby reader of massive novels, and poetry.  The reality is that most students are intimidated by the idea that they are to become that kind of reader.  Instead of pushing students towards this idealistic thought of reading, we should instead let them read what they enjoy and share with them reading that is more challenging but enjoyable.  In addition, we need to make time for reading.  As with writing, we must model reading as well.  Bring your favorite book, put your feet up and read.  You may find that your students do the same!