Step 1: Turning Students into Writers
Most students hate to write–even if they are good at it. The words essay – paragraph – short response –all have negative connotations. “Ugghhh do we have to write?” is a typical reaction when students are told they will be writing. Can we really control this typical response? Can we really get students to enjoy writing? The answer is YES. First though–we need to establish what makes writing good with our students. Poll your students–ask them: WHAT MAKES WRITING GOOD? What you will typically get: Good spelling Good grammar Length Using big words Good organization No wonder our students DREAD writing. It’s a tall order to master all of those areas–especially when they aren’t even the areas that matter the most. What matters most is NOTICEABLE sophistication and skill. What students need to be taught–the techniques that make their writing shine–techniques that reveal skilled syntax , techniques that show extraordinary diction , and techniques that provide intentional organization . We acc...