Creating a Writing Climate for young authors: How to make it

How to create a writing climate for student authors

First, let me establish what is meant by a writing climate. A writing climate is an area, time, psychological, and physical environment a person, and in this case, a student is in that encourages writing.

 Now addressing how to create this climate. As teachers, I understand that we are the guides for our young writers; as such, everything we do and say should be intentional to motivate writing crafting within our students. We must ensure that 21st-century young authors are placed in a classroom that is painted with differentiation. This means that you the teacher structure the lesson to meet the learning needs of all students. In addition, young authors must feel motivated to write, comfortable to make mistakes, and should be provided with an exciting environment that would foster how to write effectively. Also, assist them in finding their ownership of their writing.

Students should feel motivated to write. This should be from within and also due to their teacher's encouragement. I recognized that students' will to look within to motivate themselves to write anything must first come from a source, their teacher. To achieve this, I as the teacher need to ensure that the feedback provided to my students encourages them to apply themselves to their writing, along with not being afraid to write. Truly, that was my favorite takeaway from the reading. We all understand that we're not perfect. So why would we expect that our young writers will be perfect writers at the beginning of their writing? 

To guide students to write effectively, I as the teacher need to first, take note of the learning styles of students, then apply strategies to assist, one example would be the use of materials to guide the writing. Such as props that match the writing theme or topic. 

For example:  a grade 4 class is writing about a day at the beach, and the first thing students can do is write something in the sand ( a container provided to students in groups of 3). What they write would be something simple, because it would reflect t what they would actually write in the sand had they been there in that very moment. After which they'll take a picture of it. And write. The essence of doing this is to give students a nudge into what they can write. 

It's important to note that finding the material may be tedious from time to time but it is good to apply it in lessons. 

Another word is creating a positive writing atmosphere. By use of slogans like: "We talk, we write, we share", and "the more I write the better author I'll be" allow the young writers to feel safe, and grasp that their writing however, rough it may be in the beginning is accepted. It shares with them that the environment is nonthreatening. 

While continuing the reading I further understood that students need to know how to Express themselves in writing, knowing how to share their voice with the reader/ audience. There should be implementation put in to help with the writing, such as using learning opportunities by giving short activities that would encourage a student to walk out of their comfort zone of not wanting to express their emotions. Writing with emotion, having "moxie" aids a writer in using their voice through writing. Another strategy is using the opportunity to allow students to find their writing spot, maybe students don't like writing in a crowded area, but give students the opportunity to feel comfortable to write in a zone/ spot to allow their creativity to flow. 

Through reflection, I'm anxious to apply this in my classroom, I hope you try it as well. Note you have to first know your students to actually reap the reward of their writing becoming a masterpiece. You can only create the climate by knowing who they are. 

You want a calm, writing climate. Not a battlefield between you and the student's writing piece.