While analyzing the conferences, narrative writings, observations and videos I noticed some trends.  I coded the notes by identifying the themes that were recurring

 

in most of this data.  I noticed several common themes emerging.  The first was confidence.  My students begin to talk about how much their confidence had grown as a

 

writer. Photo 1 shows my students in a group sharing their narrative ideas for their writing.  They were sharing with the class and their friend’s new techniques and

 

noticings they were seeing and using in their own writing pieces.   

 

          Another theme was how using mentor text helped with conferences and helped them as they were writing.  They were so excited to write and illustrate like their

 

mentors.   When they couldn’t come up with what to write or draw, they commented their mentor was there to help them.   Some said they would be able to write

 

more if they had always known about mentors.  

 
          Finally, the students were able to self-reflect about how their writing had grown and how they were able to change and make revisions from our talks and

 

conversations.  I noticed several of the things I had taught them were not only showing up in their current piece, but their next writing projects as well.