4. Knowing Where You Come From: Writing Memories
Becoming a Teacher Who Writes - Let Teaching be your Writing Muse - Nancy S. Gorrell
Nancy S. Gorrell [+]
English teacher and poet
Description
Chapter 4 presents for teachers who are “becoming” the opportunity to explore their writing memories or “creations.” The author begins with her poem, “Kindergarten Creation,” an experience that dashed her creativity. She then recalls her elementary, high school, and college writing memories that made her realize “the creatively barren existence” she had in school. Yet, in “What I Learned,” the author maintains that her experiences as a student helped her define the teacher she hoped to be. She could not teach writing the way she was taught, confirming the chapter’s thesis: that part of walking your path is knowing where you’ve come from. Chapter 4 concludes with Interdisciplinary Applications for Teachers and Students and “Education or Mis-education?” writing prompts.