Building Writers by Building Community

So, we know that building community is key, but what does it mean to build a community of writers? As a pre-service English teacher, and as a TA for a freshman writing course, I feel like that phrase, "community of writers" is always getting thrown around by my professors and by readings I've done for class. But what does it actually mean? I have had to start by questioning, "What do we mean by community?" and "What do we mean by writers?" and "How do we bring those two together?"  A community is most often defined as a group of people in close proximity to each other. However, it can also be defined as a feeling of fellowship with others. In my future classroom, I hope to create student communities where fellowship, kindness, support, and courage abound. Ideally, students in a community of writers will learn together, take risks together, and grow together. Students in a community of writers are neighbors. They're friends. They're fa...

I think we can all agree that building classroom community is an important part of a successful learning environment. The classrooms that have been most effective for me have been those where there is an almost tangible sense of community. These classrooms are safe havens, but they also encourage learning, growth, and stepping outside of our comfort zones. I know that I always feel more willing to share and to take risks when I feel accepted by my peers and my teacher in a classroom setting. From conversations with my little brother, a current high school freshman, I also realized that he and his friends enjoy class time more when they feel that their thoughts are valued and validated. I'm sure they're not the only ones who feel that way. In fact, teaching experts have written that "the most valuable learning occurs in classrooms where a sense of community exists" and that "community encourages rich learning because of the interactions among many individuals, not...

Hey there, Abby here! As a pre-service secondary English teacher, I created this blog in hopes of sharing what I learn as I explore and experiment with methods and practices to build better writers by building a strong community of writers in the classroom. In light of the current worldwide pandemic, so much teaching has been shifted to online or hybrid formats, and I hope to provide tips and ideas for how to incorporate community-building exercises into virtual, as well as in-person settings.  Building community has never been more important in the world, and as a teacher, I hope to be able to start building community within my own classroom. The experiences that have been of most value to me as a student have been those that have helped me to be vulnerable, to connect with my peers, to connect with my teacher, and to grow as a writer and a thinker. These experiences have helped me become better equipped to communicate my thoughts to the community and to the world. I bring to the...