As my second block American Lit kids are finishing their final TKM test, I am busy reading revised essays for College Composition. The original essay was based around them writing about a situation or event using two different tones. Leading up to this, I had students write a rant on anything they wanted. Then I had them look at the subject of the rant from an opposite tone. This wasn't easy. Then we wrote and read a few more things before I had them start on their final essay.
Most were good but nothing really exciting. So I gave them a chance to revise their essays. They are improved.
And in one essay, I found a gem. This student is writing about his decision to drop of out jazz choir. And when the teacher corners him in the hallways about why he missed, he writes this line, "I reached into my pocket and pulled out a lie." How great is that?
I was reading on the Bemidji State CAL dialogue page the other day where a soon-to-be student teacher asked, "How do you know when you've been successful with students writers?" In the back of my mind, I've been trying to answer that. And now I think I know - you've been successful when you read something written by one of your students that makes you say, "I wish I would have written that!" or better yet, "I never could have written that!"
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