Ahh, you have come back to see how my students fared in week one of National Novel Writing Month, I see. Well let me tell you, you are going to feel PROUD when you see these numbers. After a rough week in general, being able to put these numbers on the whiteboard at the end of the day on Friday made me forget some of the stressors I had faced beforehand.

This year, as I mentioned in my previous post, all of my students are participating in some way. Some are going full out, having set word count goals and are writing a larger story via the YWP website. Others are free writing, journaling, using my optional daily prompts, etc. through the month and have not set a word count goal.

My goal is just to get them to WRITE everyday.

So this year, all stats will be numbers only, no percentages. But these numbers – WHOA.

This year I have a total of 81 students on my roster. Because ELAR in my district is blocked into 2 class periods, the number of students I have is lower, but I see them for double the time (so don’t assume it’s any easier to keep up with grading because instead of more students, I just have more assignments).

Because of the hybrid nature of my classroom (some in person, some at home), there are some students who have yet to write anything. (I have to pick my battles.) If you take those students out, then the number of participants through week one is 62 so far.

With word count numbers ranging from 10 to 1,584 words, the total word count for my 7th grade students so far is…

28,361 words!

Y’all I just about cried when that number popped up on my spreadsheet. HOW AMAZING. I am SO SO PROUD of my students for writing everyday this week, especially for writing this much!

I broke it down even more on a daily basis, so you can enjoy watching the numbers jump everyday with me:

Nov 2	5879
Nov 4	10517*
Nov 5	17609
Nov 6	28361

I do teach 3 sections of co-teach ELAR, so these are both regular and special education students, all of varying levels.

My favorite quotes from students this week:

(In response to me saying we’re doing 15 minutes today) “Yes! More time to write!”

“I finished all my work. Can I work on my story?”

“I am on my second page!!!!!!!!!!” (sent via Zoom chat)

“Aww miss…can we have a few more minutes? I just got into a rhythm!”

I added the numbers by period (and total) to the white board on Friday, so we’ll see if that results in some accidental class competition going forwards. Regardless, I am so happy about this, and cannot wait to see the numbers going to go up every single day!

My word count? Well, I was diligently writing late last night in an attempt to start catching up. My word count currently at this moment (11:30am 11/8/2020) sits a 4,333 words. Yikes.

I am using the time my students write to try and get some words in, but 10-15 minute averages for me are 300-500 words when I’m not distracted. I am still the teacher and frequently have to do attendance, respond to Zoom chat messages, stay on top of my email, etc.

Shoutout to my coteacher who is using this opportunity to write as well when she can (amidst the crazy amount of paperwork she is doing on a daily basis). Her current word count according to our class NaNo group is 1,878!

My struggle has been convincing myself to write once I get home, when I would much rather scroll TikTok for hours or play Among Us. As my therapist would remind me (and she probably will this week when I see her again), playing on my phone all night has never been good for my mental health. My iPhone said my screen time was way up last week, averaging 7 hours/day on my phone.

So I think I need a break from my phone haha #awkwardlaugh. Maybe I can use that wake up call to catch up on my novel this week.

Be on the lookout for more procrastinatory blog posts throughout the week, and our class Week Two update next Sunday.

Happy writing!