A Fresh Look at Writing Kathleen Rockwell

Donald H. Graves Book Report #1

About ten years ago I attended a writing conference by Donald Graves in Tucson, Arizona, and purchased his book: Writing: Teachers and Children at Work. I was excited to see that he had published another book. The context of this writing class has made what he has to say a lot more valuable. Graves writes about the importance of listening to children, learning from them and allowing them to choose their own topics. He reinforces that it is the teachers who work on their own writing and thinking that expect more of their children. Teaching children how to read their own work is important as well as teaching more spelling and other conventions. He believes the major function of writing is to transcend oneself in space and time and that authentic opportunities to write are important.

Graves gives practical examples and suggestions for writing. He says that writing is one of the best ways to remember something. I found his suggestion to allow everything into one's first draft very helpful. "Listen to yourself and what you see in the shadows and sense just around the corner." He suggests that as you let information in; include all the questions and doubts that go along with it. He gave examples from his own work and I personally found him very inspiring.