Wrapping Up Semester One

As I finished "How's It Going?" I realized that there are a lot of mechanics of conferencing that I needed to work on. For example, it was very helpful for me to think about how long my conferences were lasting. I think that I was having these last too long. Rather, they should be quick- and last roughly 6 minutes. Additionally, I, like Anderson in his first few years of teaching, initiate my conferences. I had the same concerns he had about meeting with each student equally across the week and year. However, Anderson speaks about the importance of developing independent writers and that occasionally students should be able to seek out a conference or request that teacher and student conference at a later time. I think that this is an important point missing in my writing block now. An underlying facet of this option is that students deeply understand the reason for a conference. I think that this is a revisit I need to have happen in the beginning of next year. I don't feel as though my students are looking at conferences as a time to work together on their writing as much as they're looking at it as a special time working with Ms. Dantzler.

I also really appreciated the management piece of these chapters. What are the other students supposed to be doing? What does developing independence look like with 6 year olds? Anderson layed a great point when he talked about the importance of envisioning the workshop. It is vital that I have a vision for what I want the workshop to be! I have found this really important in a lot of aspects of my practice in my second year. It's really important that I know exactly what I want to have happen.

I found it really helpful reflecting on the independence level of my students in a writing period. I think that it will be really important to review these strategies in the beginning of next semester, as well as working on sustained writing. Independent writing stamina is vital for being able to conference with other students.

I think that "How's It Going?" will be a text that I will revisit frequently based off the current need in my classroom.