On Writing and Assertion

Interesting how both of these chapters of Boice go together, though I suppose that's rather the point. The two things I want to pull from the readings are the ideas about assertiveness (in the classroom) and writing every day. I think, though, that assertiveness in the classroom needs to also apply to one's own writing. In a way, I suppose writing daily (which I swear I am really trying very hard to do) can be just like one's attitude in the classroom. I'm always telling my students that they need to do their work slowly and purposefully, though I do my own in binge periods during those hours that I set aside once or twice a week to do them in. Maybe I need to be more assertive with myself and just bloody do it.

Additionally, I like the big about being assertive in the classroom and with my students, though I have been unassertive a lot of the time. I have a few needy students who seem to need to meet all the time and have their hand held to the extent that I am guiding them through each sentence. I don't mind it, but it is time consuming and I wonder how much I am really helping them by doing it. I have a student this semester who has been especially needy, and I have taken to doing one ten minute meeting a week with him, but I've been trying to be more assertive by making him do the bulk of an assignment before coming to me. Though I have had to guide him quite a bit, he has managed to do his own research (I made him show me) and has started putting it together. I'm proud. Though I do want to extend the leash quite a bit. One of my goals with him is that he is more confidant with his writing by the end of the semester so that he can put a sentence down on paper without asking if it's okay.