We believe that the teaching of writing is significantly strengthened if teachers write for themselves and with others. In writing for ourselves we make discoveries about what we can and cannot do, how writing works for us, how we get ourselves out of scrapes and into things that matter to us. And we find ways of articulating what we learn by talking and sharing with other teachers.
We both belong to teachers’ writing groups which meet regularly across the course of the year. Meetings are usually about two hours long and we write together, share our writing and ideas, and, in the process, develop our thinking about teaching. Meetings are also affirming, and confidence-building. Writing and talking together lifts the spirits. Writing together reminds us what it is like to be a student and it helps us think about what students need to know. Our own pleasures, difficulties, solutions and triumphs provide us with a personal knowledge of ways to support those we teach.
We are not talking about becoming a published writer, simply someone who writes for a range of purposes and who takes the time to reflect on their understanding of writing. When teachers write together they develop a deep knowledge which informs the ways they plan lessons and respond to writers and writing. This is more about how it feels to face the blank page and what strategies we have to break into it rather than where to place a full stop. Knowledge of grammar, vocabulary, form, style etc is important, but having an inside knowledge of the process is invaluable.
Think about getting together with two or three others to write. (We are having Zoom meetings at the moment.) Pour yourselves a mug of tea, a glass of wine or water and get writing! Be kind to each other. Be curious. We can help you start a group or put you in touch with one. Contact us through this site or through the NWP(UK)
The National Writing Project (NWP UK) has been running for over ten years. It is inspired by the US NWP which began in the 1970s. The project promotes teachers’ writing groups and its website is filled with information and ideas.
Writing Box 
I really enjoyed the TEDx talk – lovely to hear you speak, Jeni, and to know more about what you both do. This work is so empowering, I feel, both for teachers and students. That has to be the aim…it will lead to all the outcomes that are expected of us when there is trust in the process!
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Toby, Thank you so much. You know that you, like so many teachers whom I have worked with over the years are a part of all this. We have worked together to think about what works for children and how we can maintain a kind and loving and responsible approach to how we all learn. -Jeni
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Thank you for your kind words. It’s good to reach out and find some like-minded people. Yes, we absolutely have to trust in the process. -Emily
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