Quotes and responses

From The Essentials of Writing, Chapter 2 ' Tap the Energy for Writing'
"...we listen well, when we refer to our students as writers, when we expect them to love writing and to pour heart and soul into it."
My response: Any student can write. They will need our support and encouragement. Last night, I was struck by my nine year old daughter when she surprised me with a booklet she had carefully woven into a journal. In it she had written a couple of poems and had noted down her experiences of the day. Even if her grammar didn't sound right, it was still a piece of writing. I was deeply touched, all I could say was "Wow, sweetie...that is so nice! Keep on writing!" to which she replied with a smile.