Chapter 11 "Build on Best Practice and Research"

I am happy to say that I have the choice to teach reading and writing together, and I have ample opportunities for ongoing staff development. I was interested in the research findings on page 263. It is worth noting that research supports the notion that students should write every day for varied purposes and audiences in order to become competent, fluent writers. My students have shown me over and over that if they like to write they are motivated to write and will write more. I know the bonding relationship between student and teacher is important when it comes to risk taking. I make it a habit to tell my students that I am very interested in what they have to say. As teachers I believe we must build on best practices. The most powerful sentence in this chapter for me was on page. 267. "While there is no one best program or model of how to teach writing, knowledgeable teachers make decisions based on research, teaching and learning experiences, their observations of their students, and ongoing professional conversations." I found pages 270 and 271 interesting to read. The comparisons of What We Used to Do verses What We Do Now were quite different. The teachers' beliefs and practices really changed. I liked the What We Are Noticing This Year That Is Different from Past Years too.