In the fall, my first goal had been to begin establishing a real classroom community. It worked out handily, since the entire year of social studies was devoted to the study of local and world communities. When the students arrived for school on the first day, we established a set of rules to live by in the classroom. You may wonder what this has to do with writing. It has much to do with my goal of creating an environment that is open, caring, and safe for students.
Third graders come already supplied with a crowd of critics.
These antagonists, some real, some invisible, often seek to squelch the writing voice of the targeted student. And any student can become fair game. You don't know how. I haven't learned that yet. I don't want to.