Week 13

The Write Thing

Kwame Alexander
Preface, Forward, Intro, & Part One

In the Preface, Forward, Introduction, and Part One of "The Write Thing" by Kwame
Alexander, we are introduced to the power of poetry and its importance in motivating students to
love writing. The preface, titled "An Unconventional, Uncommon Writing Workshop,"
emphasizes the significance of poetry as the foundation of writing. The introduction, "Finding
Your Writing Groove," discusses the creation of a student-run publishing enterprise, helping
students find their voices, and using "The Write Thing" as a three-part writing workshop.
Part One of the book is all about writing and focuses on why teachers should start with
poetry. Chapter One explains how a poem is a small yet powerful tool that can teach writing to
children. We also learn about different authors' opinions on poetry. Chapter Two provides poems
for teaching students at different grade levels, emphasizing the importance of free writing and
introducing students to different styles of writing poetry. This allows them to find their preferred
style, which can motivate them to become better writers.
Chapter Three offers information about preparing students for writing with mini lesson
plans and key ingredients for writing. Chapter Four teaches us about the form and structure of
writing pieces, including different types of poems such as borrowed and spine poems. Finally,
Chapter Five stresses the importance of revising work, which can be achieved by reading poems
out loud to find mistakes that may have been missed when reading silently.
All of this information is crucial to elementary writing as it introduces the basics of
writing and helps students find their own style of writing. It allows students to express
themselves and share their ideas. The book's emphasis on poetry as a starting point is a powerful
way to help students learn to appreciate writing. As a teacher, I plan to use this information to
inspire my students and help them enjoy writing. By incorporating different types of writing and
allowing them to express themselves, I can motivate them to become better writers.

Alexander, Kwame. The Write Thing: Kwame Alexander Engages Students In Writing
Workshop, And You Can Too. Teacher Created Materials, 2018.