What do you believe about the teaching of writing?

My belief about the teaching of writing is that one must work toward becoming a teacher of writing. In reading books by Donald Graves, Donald Murray, and Peter Elbow I begin to understand that there is a difference between teachers that write and teachers that don't write in the classroom. It is imperative that teachers practice what they teach or show evidence of being writers in the classroom. The stress of meeting state demands I believe have taken the creativity and imagination out of writing. When teaching writing everything seems to be structure not allowing any room for creativity or freedom. Students think that writing is not that important, because reading has monopolizes the stage of education. When I want to put more emphasis in writing in the classroom, I am always force to revert back to reading strategies because of testing requirements. I have become more structure base on the test rather than being able to teach writing freely. I would love to set up my room as a writing workshop or take my students outside to write poetry. One year, I asked my principal, can I take my students for a walk around the building? He said, "yes" I was so excited. So, I pass out little notebooks and gave instructions to my students to write down what their thoughts, and what they see, hear, and feel. We walked around the building looking at things that the students have never notice about the school. Then, we came back and students wrote stories, poems, and drew pictures from their experiences. Some students brought their cameras the next day and took pictures of various things that they saw the day before and wrote about these things. Teaching writing takes courage and the willingess to step outside of the box. Teachers must become excited about teaching writing and show that writing not only can be fun it can be exhilarating. Teaching writing is like placing down tracks for a train. The train can only go as far as the tracks. Other words, teachers must continue to learn about writing, so they can take their students further by utilizing strategies, writing stories, movies, and creating poetry. Teachers must use technology to add zest to their writing lessons. Teachers must get their groove back for writing by becoming writers themselves. Reading the critical theories book and handbook of writing has enlighten me to have a better understanding of the historical aspects of writing. My goal for the new school year is to help my students write more. I want to work towards helping my students become published and to help them blossom their creativity. I would like to have dialogue with my students about writing. I believe that writing is a lifelong process that one must continue to practice without ever reaching perfection, but the journey of writing carries a person to the worlds of imagination, creativity, freedom, and experience.