In our school the traditional parent-teacher conferences have been replaced by student-led conferences. All students share with their parents a portfolio of their work from all of their classes. The first piece in their binder is the SLC letter, a letter from the student to their parent thanking them for coming and setting up what the parent should expect from the conference. In theory the letter may sound like a nice idea, a message regarding the conference from the student to their parent and a writing sample all in one. In reality the letter is one of the most dreaded pieces of writing students and teachers face during the year. Language arts teachers who encourage student writers throughout the year with excellent mentor text and powerful feedback become task masters…”Get the letter done! Now!”rings through the halls. The results are what you may expect drab, lifeless, form letters that no one feels good about.
As the season for beginning the “letter” rolled around I was preparing to avoid any classroom during letter writing time, I just couldn’t be part of it. One day, by accident, I found myself in a fifth grade classroom and the teacher said they were going to begin working on the “letter”…AHHH! I wanted to run, but she was still smiling so I decided to stick it out and see what she had up her sleeve.
Audience…that was it. As the class began the discussion about the letter the teacher took the conversation to audience. Who is the audience? What do they expect from this letter? A simple concept, one we talk about often when writing, changed the whole perspective of this letter. Instead of following a form and writing what the teacher and the SLC guidelines expected, the kids began thinking about their parents and what they want to know. The results were some of the most touching and honest letters I have ever read. One word, one concept. the effect that one word can have on writers is amazing.
So as you push forward in writing this week think about one word that may challenge and change your writers…it may be audience.