Crafting Writers Chapters 1-6

My dad always loved to give me the advice, "Success is the result of ten thousand small jobs each done well." I have no idea if he made this up on his own or stole the phrase from some author; however, the source of the phrase isn't the point. The point of that phrase is how it demonstrates to a child that it takes many smaller steps in order to reach the final result- a final piece of writing. In Crafting Writers, I loved how the author emphasizes how important it is for us as teachers to not always focus on the end product. It's so important for us to describe each of the "ten thousand small steps" needed in order to have "voice" in our writing. The author states, "We need to show students many specific craft techniques they can choose from that will add up to voice and descriptive writing" (pg 9). Those specific craft techniques are the tools that we place in each child's tool box. Each child will carry that tool box along with them for many years after elementary school--some may even carry that tool box with them for the rest of their lives. We need to help students along their journey as writers, providing specific smaller skills that will help them along their journey. Can you imagine Dorothy ever reaching The Wizard of Oz if she wouldn't have had Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion joining her along the way? She needed each friend (a different craft technique) to help her progress along her journey. Notice how each friend were added on along the way. All three friends didn't jump out onto the yellow brick road at the same exact time (how overwhelming that would be). Instead, each friend was gradually introduced before another friend came along. Dorothy got used to Scarecrow before she had to then learn the ways of Tin Man. Each skill must be layered as the process continues. Just because Tin Man shows up, doesn't mean that Dorothy should completely abandon Scarecrow. So, just because a young writer learns about punctuation, doesn't mean he or she should entirely abandon other craft techniques. So, as teachers we must remember that the kids know the end result that is in sight...it's so close that they can almost touch it...but it's our job to show them HOW TO GET THERE!