The English teacher stood before the class. She needed to regroup before they were lost to her completely. A colleague’s sudden illness had brought her out of semi-retirement.
“Silent reading. 15 minutes,” she barked. Audible grumbles slowly dissipated into the longed-for silence. 15 minutes later, “Books away.”
Their writing task appeared on the board. “But Miss?” echoed around the room.
The task read: Write what you feel. 20 minutes (silence)
Some wrote. Many fiddled. Protests continued. Few read their work voluntarily.
This became a weekly task. Grumbles gradually reduced. More took part willingly. Some amazing writing emerged.
“Silent reading. 15 minutes,” she barked. Audible grumbles slowly dissipated into the longed-for silence. 15 minutes later, “Books away.”
Their writing task appeared on the board. “But Miss?” echoed around the room.
The task read: Write what you feel. 20 minutes (silence)
Some wrote. Many fiddled. Protests continued. Few read their work voluntarily.
This became a weekly task. Grumbles gradually reduced. More took part willingly. Some amazing writing emerged.
