McBride 1

Emily McBride
Last Edited: August 2017
Core Beliefs About Writing

I believe
writing can access both first and second order thinking1
reading and writing grow together
reading and writing are linked
imitation can lead to creativity
writing is never finished, only abandoned2
revisions should be an ongoing, dialoguing process3

I believe
writing likes collaboration4
writing likes reflection
writing likes personal experience5
writing likes making connections
writing likes fresh perspectives and locations6
writing likes choice7
writing likes freedom8
writing likes structure and direction9

I believe
you dont really know what you think about something until your write it down10
writing down a thought lets us step back from it and look at it more fully11
writing flows easier on some days12
writing leads to discovery
writing reveals interest
writing strengthens our inner dialogue

1
Elbow, Teaching Two Kinds of Thinking by Teaching Writing
2
Strong, Writing Across the Hidden Curriculum
3
Strong, Writing Across the Hidden Curriculum
4
Nagin, Learning to Write
5
Elbow, Teaching Two Kinds of Thinking by Teaching Writing (23)
6
Free Write outside on 7/20
7
No prompts for Free Writes
8
Free writes (no prompts)
9
Copy/Change poem
10
Elbow, Teaching Two Kinds of Thinking by Teaching Writing
11
Elbow, Teaching Two Kinds of Thinking by Teaching Writing
12
Personal observation after three weeks of Free Writes
 McBride 2

writing strengthens observational skills

I believe
people have individual writing styles and voices13
people can expand their writing toolbox14
it is important to know the mechanics of grammar so you can break it intentionally
grading writing is largely subjective15
it can be helpful for teachers to give a rubric at the start of a writing assignment16
creative writing has a place in our schools

13
Book Talks (Read a snippet of the book to get a feel for the author's voice)
14
Noden, The Writer as Artist
15
Shannon in class and Strong, Writing Across the Hidden Curriculum
16
Dr. Ann Lippincott