Some Things a Poet Does: Sharing the Process

Abstract

An 8th-grade teacher demonstrates an Atwell essential lesson, “Some Things a Poet Does When Trying to Write a Good Poem.” After a brief introduction/history, the author explains her opportunity for reading/writing workshop, describes the context for the poem she struggled to write, walks readers through the lesson (e.g. close reading, interview process), shares results—student comments, and concludes with what she learned. In sharing her struggle to write about something real, then writing with her students to create a class document, writing became an authentic endeavor, where students were more willing to revise and write multiple drafts.