Today I pulled out some old articles about writing from 1987 and realized we are still singing the same old song about writing instruction and its importance? WHY? We know what works. Why are we not doing it?
I really believe the writing initiative has to begin at the system level and has to be monitored. We inspect what we expect, but this can be done in a way as not to discourage teachers. It needs to be a total school/system program if it’s to be effective.
We know writing encourages critical thinking and should occur in every discipline. We also know many teachers leave college without any real instruction of how to teach students to write. Many don’t feel they themselves are good writers. With that being said, staff development is critical. Before teachers can teach students strategies, they have to know them and use them themselves.
Monthly staff development is crucial. Creating a writing resource notebook, either a hard copy or a digital one, will be worth the effort. The following are a few broad ways to begin.
Teach educators strategies.
Model. Practice. Reflect.
Teach how to integrate writing and reading.
Teach how to assess writing to inform instruction and feedback.
After teachers are taught strategies, they return to their classrooms to repeat what they have learned. Just as teachers monitor student progress, administrators will progress monitor the teachers’ success with writing instruction.
Several things should be a part of all writing programs.
1. Journaling in EVERY classroom
2. Student and adult writing spotlighted in every room and on every hall
3. A consistent writing process with all teachers
4. A common rubric
5. High Expectations for ALL students
6. Writing to learn in every discipline
More to come…