Is that Write?

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February 5, 2022


    As someone who has been through many writing workshop trainings, I have seen and heard all there is to hear about writing. In fact, I spent a week in New York with Lucy Caulkins at the Teacher's College. Another writing professional development could lead me to total boredom. Why? Because writing is complex and simple at the same time. But, it's not one of those things we have to be trained over and over again in. It's actually something we should see as a necessity within the classroom. 

    "What we think, we can say. What we say, we can write. What we write, we can read." This is my writing motto. It's simple. If I am thinking something, then I can say it out loud so others know what I am thinking. If I can say it with my words, then I can write those words on paper. If I write my words on paper, then others can read my thoughts. It's exactly what I am doing right now. So why then is writing seen in such a complex negative way in the classroom? 

    If you teach kindergarten, I already know the answer. "They can't write." If you teach 5th grade, I know you think of all the complexity of writing that your students lack. I could go through each age group and describe the much anxiety behind letting your students write, but I'm not interested in the negative. I'm interested in how do we get students to write more in class. 

    Remember those thoughts I mentioned earlier?! How important thoughts are within a classroom?! This is where the magic takes power in our classrooms. Have you ever heard words have power? When the student is able to take their thoughts and put them on paper for others to read, hear, or understand, it shows how much content the student contains. It also allows them to have thoughts, to create thoughts, to share thoughts, and remember their thoughts. It's learning and showing what you're learning. It is what every teacher wants. 

    Therefore, writing is not a subject. Writing is a way to showcase what one is learning. Students should be given a chance to write every chance they get. Students should write about what they are reading. Students should write about math. Students should write about science and social studies. Students should be able to write when they have a thought or an idea. It's part of learning. Make it part of everything you do during the day. 

    Writing does not have to always be words in a pretty sentence. It can be a picture with words or letters. It can be a dictation written out by someone as a student is talking. But it is the process of getting ones ideas on to paper for others to see, hear, and enjoy! 

Comment Section: 

How do you define writing? 

What does writing look like within your classroom?

 

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