Chapter 12 Reflections on A Few Last Words
Though Chapter 12 is short on words, the words it does include are quite poignant. The authors remind teachers that “We should never forget that the central kernel of our work is not writing , but real kids—their voices, passions, imagination, their original slant on the world.” They add saying that while we can use Writing Workshop books like this, our teaching should ultimately be guided by our students. They also refer back to Chapter 9 Trouble Shooting, again urging us to really listen and watch our students write, and to take the time to figure out what blocks their writing fluency and when and where their energy ebbs. They caution us to always stay flexible so that we and revise our teaching to meet our writer’s needs. Quoting the author Nasdijj who openly admits that though he knows nothing about the technical side of writing he believes “What I know about writing has to do with where you put your heart.” They conclude saying that in the long run what will really matter to your students is that you show them you own passion for writing and your faith in them as writers too.