Listening to Writing

When a child turns in a piece of writing, we are trained to read it, comment about the organization, accuracy, or structures in their language. With the red pen in hand or in our minds, we traverse over their words ready to give feedback, but...
DO WE LISTEN TO THEIR WRITING?

So with EARS, wide open... Let's LISTEN IN.
Let's take a look at what Cody is whispering:

Teacher, Do You Know?

They see me with my head down
My eyes shut
My mouth with a frown
They don't know this,
But I do want to learn.

They see me with my "bad attitude"
They tell me, I have no gratitude
No interest, no focus, no care at all
They don't know this,
But I do want to learn.

They tell me your project is late, your writing is bad
They need more effort, more work, more thought
I know that I make them sad.
They don't know this,
But I do want to learn.

How can I tell them, what can I say
I do care, I do need, I don't want to wait.
Under my hat, behind my closed eyes
See into my heart, I am here and not gone.
They don't know this,
But I do want to learn.

Will you tell them?

Written by Cody, Age 13

This week, I have the privilege of sharing with students my life as a writer:  who I am, what I write about, who I am influenced by,...I am banking on these conversations to be the invitation that allows students to share with me who they are as writers. When they do, I want them to know; I will be ready to LISTEN. Stay tuned for what I hear and be sure to share your stories, too.

Here is another great story on LISTENING. Deaf percussionist, Evelyn Glennie, leads her audience through an amazing exploration of music as she hears it. Exciting Stuff!

Photo on Flickr

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