Sometimes you just have to let them go
Let them write
All the wrongs and rights
All the words and ands and ands
The missing parts
The lacks in detail
Sometimes you just have to let them go
To find where they are going
To write write write
The wrong wrong wrong
To get to the right right right
I let them go. I stand back. Sometimes you just have to let them do what they’re going to do. Write. This is the joy of writing. When we write a first draft we don’t usually have someone over our shoulder
Sometimes you just have to let them go.
I did this yesterday. I stood back and let them go. I didn't interfere with my comments or suggestions. I didn't try to lead them to their own conclusions. I didn't ask them to verbalize their thinking or share. My conferences took a backseat and I watched. I watched them write. I watched them think. I waited.
Sometimes you just have to let them go.
Betsy I love the way you put this on paper. I feel your pride in resisting jumping in because you know it's what the writers need. I do love to just stand back and watch, you can learn so much. I have had to resist the urge lately in my class SOL. Then I remind myself how safe I feel in this community of writers and I refrain, I want my kids to feel the same safe freedom
ReplyDeleteSometimes this is the hardest, yet most satisfying thing to do. I love the repetition of words and, and, and. This is one I notice a lot. I talk to my little writers about letting your reader have a chance to breathe. Your slice spoke to me today. Just sit back and watch them write. Let them go. Let them fly.
ReplyDeleteBetsy, I LOVE this and can envision myself reading it aloud at staff meetings in the near future. I love the line: When we write a first draft we don’t usually have someone over our shoulder. So true!
ReplyDeleteWhat did you discover when you stepped back and let them just write write write? I bet it was joy in your heart as you saw them write write write.
ReplyDeleteI bet you saw some great work too! I just wrote sub plans that echo this thought. We are ready to start a new unit and I don't want a sub doing that, so I said: give them paper and let them go! And now I have a song stuck in my head...let it go, let it go...
ReplyDeleteI love the sentiment in these lines...
ReplyDeleteTo write write write
The wrong wrong wrong
To get to the right right right
beautifully expressed.
Many times the best learning happens when we just let them go! Many times it is us who learn the most! :)
ReplyDeleteThis is so true! I love it. Sometimes we do have to just let them write. It's what I like most about the Slice of Life Challenge for my class. I really have just let them write and interestingly I see improvement. I think we're still learning lessons. There is room for growth in many of their pieces, but I'm seeing some important changes.
ReplyDeleteCathy
This is probably one of those days when you just stood and smiled, watched and enjoyed the writing process. A chance toobserve children looking into the air searching for the right word and feeling that they have time. So well said. :)
ReplyDeleteStanding back & "allowing" thinking and experimenting is wonderful for the students in most any activity. They begin to take the task for themselves. Love this 'exactly right' piece, Betsy.
ReplyDeleteToday my quick write topic was whatever they wanted. There were shouts of joy heard throughout the room. I was going to give them the typical 10 minutes but they were so engaged that I extended it to 15. They were pumped! On top of it, I wrote instead of monitoring! Yippee!
ReplyDeleteLove it!
ReplyDeleteYou actually experienced that teaching moment in the now--congratulations.
ReplyDelete