As a teacher of writing, I delight in helping children find their voice, tell their story, and claim their rightful place as a young author. I've found writing conferences to be a key part in developing student skills. Sitting shoulder to shoulder, the student and I can work together to revise and polish a piece in preparation for publishing. Not a "quick-fix" or a means of grading - these conferences aim to do what real authors do: work with a reader/editor/colleague to improve writing.
Marcus offers a behind-the-scenes look at the famous work of several beloved authors. Bruce Brooks, Lois Lowry, and Gary Paulsen are included, among others. When students and I write in the margins, draw arrows to move text, and rework word choice to improve fluency, I tell them we are hard at work- just like the great Judy Blume:
And... when a student's paper is messy and their handwriting is hard to read: I assure them that Bunnicula started out the very same way, so they must be doing something right.
Writing is not easy. It is not neat. It's hard work that takes practice and risk. But... when students and I read their writing together, I also find writing to be incredibly rewarding -- because that's what real authors do.