Atwell Chapter 5

I loved how Atwell went into deep descriptions in this chapter of her writing and reading "territories." I feel this is a wonderful exercise that will get students thinking about what they would like to write and read about. Atwell modeled this activity for her students. It not only helped her students know what was expected of their territories lists, but it also gave them some ideas. The wide variety in Atwell's lists was really impressing. I now have a way bigger book list than I did before this chapter because I want to read some of the selections she suggested.

I feel it is important for students to love what they are writing about and love what they are reading about. I feel there are too many teachers today who assign topics such as "What did you do on your summer vacation?"

My favorite quote from this chapter is on page 147. It states, "The act of launching a writing-reading workshop each September, however exhausting, also feels like a blessing. I leave school at the ned of our first week together with a sense of awe: they may not know it yet, but my students have already become members of a community of writers and readers."

I feel that this quote shows just how awesome of a teacher Atwell is. She cares so much about her students becoming better readers and writers. She seems to be a truly amazing teacher.