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When a visitor enters my classroom during Literacy Café, he or she is quickly greeted by a student who explains what is happening and invited to join a group of students. Those students are reading their own writing pieces and talking about them. They might be commenting on what they like about an individual piece. They might be making a connection to something they've heard, or they might even be on a conversational tangent inspired by the writing. Regardless of the discussion topic, one thing is evident. Middle level students are actively engaged in sharing their writing without self-consciousness or fear of criticism. Although I love almost all aspects of teaching middle school, my favorite days are Café days.
What Is Literacy Café?
Literacy Café is a celebration of writing in which students sit at tables, snack on refreshments, and share and discuss their work during informal conversations. We hold a Café whenever we finish studying a genre or writing a major piece. I bring in food, place tablecloths over the desks, and teach the kids how to talk about text even without a teacher being present.
Literacy Café grew out of my desire to help students publish and celebrate their work. It is not about judgment or evaluation; it is a chance to share finished writing with classmates, teachers, administrators, and family. It takes place after the difficult, messy work of writing is complete, and we are ready to publish our products. It is the most unstructured part of our year in that students sit with whomever they choose, move from group to group as they finish conversations, and facilitate their own discussions about their texts.
Preparations for Café
Café days occur after each genre of writing is completed. During any given four- to six-week period, we learn about a specific writing genre by reading quality professional examples, talking about what makes them effective, planning for and drafting writing, and conferencing about original writing. Once their genre pieces are finished, we celebrate at Literacy Café. To prepare them, I mention Café throughout the preceding weeks so that students become excited. The night before, I go to the market for snacks-grapes, bagels, juice, and other reasonably healthy treats. My purpose in providing food is to...