Managing a Learner-Driven Classroom

Management vs. Engagement
https://ellclassroom.com/2012/06/25/management-vs-engagement/

The first blog I read came from ellclassroom.com, and it discussed the idea of having either an engaging lesson or a well-managed classroom. Even though this is not directly related to teaching writing, I thought this was an important topic because when it comes down to it, management and engagement are critical to any classroom. In my opinion, these two ideas should not be in competition with each other. Who says you can't have an engaged lesson that is well-managed? It seems silly to sacrifice one over the other when having both can create a better environment for learning. As a teacher, one of the most important things you learn is how to manage your classroom. Giving the students rules and expectations beforehand helps them to know how they should act. At the same time, you want to make sure that your lessons allow the students to become active participants in their learning. Writing allows students this opportunity, creating time for them to put their thoughts and opinions on paper and making their learning interesting. I think it is so important to include both of these aspects into my future classroom. Together, they can create a place where the students feel comfortable enough to take risks, but know their boundaries when it comes to behavior.

A Learner-Driven Classroom and Writing Workshop
https://twowritingteachers.org/2017/04/05/a-learner-driven-writing-workshop/

This blog post was quite interesting because it incorporated some of the values present in our textbooks. This teacher describes her experiences with implementing a student-led writing workshop. Allowing students the freedom to make their own choices about writing can produce wonderful results. Rather than standing in front of all the students and lecturing them on what makes a good piece of writing, Deb Frazier gave her students the opportunity to experiment for themselves and discover their inner writer. I think of how Gallagher emphasized giving students a choice when it comes to their writing; when implemented in the classroom, the teacher was thrilled at how creative her students were. I think as teachers of writing, it is important that we take a step back sometimes. It can get overwhelming thinking about all of the techniques and grammar concepts and structure and everything else that goes into writing that we must teach. Sometimes it is necessary to let the students take control of their own learning and just come alongside them to be a guide. They don't always need lectures on how to construct the perfect sentence. They are going to make mistakes - writing is a PROCESS! The important thing to keep in mind is that we encourage our students to keep writing, to keep taking risks, and to keep revising. Hold the red pens and just let them experiment. You never know what they will come up with.