There is no wine in the world as heady as applause; and it has the same effect. It temporarily subdues anxiety and restores confidence.
Khushwant Singh
The circle created by the writers gathered together really looked more like a rectangle. There were over 30 writers around the table, each a teacher who writes. The room held a variety of educators from different grade levels and positions; each of the writers brought a different amount of experience to writing. Everyone was welcome at the table, where our goal was to write a reflection piece that could be published as an article with a social justice lens.
The leader of the group tried to quiet the chatter and announced, “Today we are going to go around the room. I’d like everyone to share one, and just one, paragraph from your piece with the group.” The first writer paused to find her voice to share a snippet of her writing with the group. When she finished, everyone clapped. The floor was then turned over to the next writer, who found his spot and began to read from his piece. When he finished, everyone clapped. Writer after writer shared, and each time everyone clapped. There was no evaluation of the writer. No asking the group for one suggestion they’d give the writer. No judgement of the piece. No feedback, positive or negative. Just clapping.
As an adult writer, I listened as each person read and everyone clapped. I couldn’t believe the writing in the group, and though everyone certainly had their own style and voice, there was something that grabbed me about each piece I heard. Each of the 34 writers shared, and every single time the group clapped. As I watched, I couldn’t help but notice how affirming the clapping was. It was as if everyone was saying, “Thank you for taking the risk to put your writing out there. Thank you for sharing your words with us. Thank you for the gift you’ve just given.”
For us as classroom teachers, affirming a strength and then providing a next step becomes natural practice. In our classrooms, we often teach our students to provide this same critical feedback to one another. There certainly is a place in our classrooms for critical feedback; in this writing group I had joined, there were those pockets of time when we provided this for one another. However, as we moved around the room reading and clapping, reading and clapping, I couldn’t help but wonder if sometimes in our classrooms, we should just clap.
This week we look at student-led minilessons and discussions. Plus more as always — enjoy!
Cathy Mere
Contributor, Choice Literacy
Cathy Mere is a literacy specialist in Hilliard (Ohio) City Schools. She is the author of More Than Guided Reading. A trained literacy coach and former Reading Recovery teacher, Cathy leads professional development workshops and presents at state and national conferences. She blogs at Refine and Reflect.
Free for All
[For sneak peeks at our upcoming features, quotes and extra links, follow Choice Literacy on Twitter: @ChoiceLiteracy or Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ChoiceLiteracy or Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/choiceliteracy/]
Gigi McAllister tries student-led discussion groups in her fourth-grade classroom, with disastrous results. She regroups the following year with multiple lessons, anchor charts, and preparation to ensure success:
http://www.choiceliteracy.com/articles-detail-view.php?id=2847
Jennifer Schwanke and Franki Sibberson share four perspectives on student-led conferences — teacher, principal, student, and parent:
http://www.choiceliteracy.com/articles-detail-view.php?id=3000
Snowballs, pinwheels, and stoplights, oh my! Here is a quick summary of 10 popular strategies for student-led discussions:
http://lindsayannlearning.com/student-led-discussion-strategies/
For Members Only
Franki Sibberson initiates student-led minilessons, and finds the process takes her literacy workshops to a new level of independence and energy:
http://www.choiceliteracy.com/articles-detail-view.php?id=3009
In this week’s video, Franki helps Lucas plan and design a minilesson on connecting facts from two different sources:
http://www.choiceliteracy.com/articles-detail-view.php?id=3043
You can also view Lucas presenting the lesson to his fifth-grade classmates the next day in this bonus video:
http://www.choiceliteracy.com/articles-detail-view.php?id=3044
One student’s request to lead a minilesson is a catalyst for Mark Levine to see the value of student-led minilessons as an assignment for all in his middle school classroom:
http://www.choiceliteracy.com/articles-detail-view.php?id=3014
That’s all for this week!