Olivia’s passion for writing flows into her teaching, as she uses
her own writing as mentor texts in the classroom. She not only shows her
students her work but also demonstrates how she revised these pieces over time
so the students can understand revision processes. Through this
modeling, she instills in them an understanding that writing can never be
perfect the first time and that revision is essential to become a stronger
writer. Olivia also believes that writers must write daily to become better
writers, which is why she provides opportunities for her students to journal
every day on various topics.
Much of what fuels Olivia’s strengths in writing
and teaching is what she spends her time reading outside of school. She says
that she reads primarily to stay informed and foster imaginative ideas. Her
desire to learn about the world is what inspired her to read about a variety of
topics and begin her nonfiction writing. Above all, she considers reading “an
opportunity... to broaden [her] horizons and grow as an individual.”
Olivia’s desire for individual growth is apparent from the book she
is currently reading, Most
Likely to Succeed: Preparing Our Kids for the Innovation Era by Tony
Wagner and Ted Dintersmith. The book provides an in-depth discussion about
the American education system as well as strategies for better preparing
students for the future. Olivia began reading this book after seeing the
documentary based on the book at the Fargo Theater a couple weeks ago. After
learning about these revolutionary teaching strategies through the film, she
decided that she needed to learn more to better her own knowledge and teaching.
Thus, Olivia’s reading significantly fuels her aims to learn about the world
and strengthen her writing instruction.
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