Principle #2:
Allow students to freely express themselves. In all probability, students have not been encouraged to express their personal ideas and feelings. Teachers may need to place most of the emphasis at the beginning of the year on helping students feel comfortable expressing their genuine feelings. Students need to feel assured that they will not be exposing themselves to ridicule if others learn their inner most thoughts. The student must perceive their classmates as a unified group which will be responsive, respectful and nonjudgmental.
Sample Activities
(1) Have students introduce themselves to the group. Periodically test the students to see how well they are remembering names.
(2) Choose a partner and interview that person, trying to learn as many facts about him or her as possible.
(3) Conduct sharing times such as: what was your happiest moment, what qualities appeal to you in a friend, when did you experience fear for the first time, etc. Give students a writing attitude inventory.
(4) Assign students to groups of three. Have them determine two things that all three agree on, disagree on, etc.
(5) Have students self-appraise their writing process:
-What were the last four things you have written?
- How do you feel about writing poetry?
- Do you have any habits which help you get in the mood to write?
