LR>rules, requiring the students to write a minimum of once a week,
I must be over-expecting! I was trying for every day (when lack of interuption to routine allowed). I tried over the last six or seven years of full time classes to have pupils with three books for writing - a looseleaf folder where they could jot down thoughts or story-lines unencumbered, an exercise book or botany book to serve as a personal diary/journal & a `presentation' folder or book of stories that had made it right through the conferencing trail to become published articles.
Few kids have the problem of nothing to write. We had regular brainstorming sessions to spark the `idealess' types.
The fact that they knew I would discuss progress with parents at regular intervals also helped to push some of the lazier types along. It was only once I'd usually say, ``By the way Mrs Smith, can i show you Debbie's writing portfolio? Oops, how sad. You'd think in seven weeks she'd have written more than 23 words, eh?'' You could almost bet that Debbie would get a talking-to that night.
