Literacy Week 4

This week's posting is prompted from Regie Routman's book titled Writing Essentials.

This past week, our class has been swimming amongst the ways in which we can become better writers. I say this because I just finished reading the first ninety-four pages of Lamott's book Bird By Bird in which she carefully explains her own writing process and how she uses her own experiences in order to help other aspiring writers develop their own skills.

Routman lists the 12 Writing Essentials for All Grade Levels on page thirteen. I can easily speak for many students when I say that we have all heard these essentials day in and day out. We have been constantly reminded to think of our audience, be organized, catch the reader's interest from the beginning, and to elaborate. These essentials appear ideal and often easier said than done. Writing can be a complex and timely task and can sometimes be more free flowing and imaginative with less structure. But for the most part I believe these essentials lay out the ground rules for any type of writing. They appear to successfully guide us as we begin and as we continue on through the process.

From a teacher's perspective, I believe that yes these writing essentials are in fact essential. I believe there is nothing more important than teaching students how to create purposeful writing that aligns with lanquage standards. I aim at being the type of teacher where my own writing lessons will use these and only these essentials. I aim at creating a welcoming environment where my students feel confident enough to write and safe enough make mistakes. Allowing students to see how writing can be a positive and enjoyable experience will be my essential goal.

For as long as I can remember I have been a writer. I believe as long as someone has the materials and basic skills, they too can be a writer. I do however wish to mention that there is a fine line between being a writer and the production of good writing. For me, writing has typically been a fun activity despite a few college classes where subject matter had little success in finding my interest. That aside, my inner child made a valuable connection to writing because it allowed me to explore my own mind in a deeper, more engaging way. Through writing I was able to better understand my imagination. Writing for me was like an escape.

I understand for some that that task of writing echoes a negative connoation, and I believe this is true due to the fact that we all have different writing experiences that have collected overtime to form one's own writing history. For me however I have been keeping a journal since I was ten. When I turned fifteen, the way I felt about writing changed because I allowed myself to get burried udnerneath a teacher's negative view on my writing getting to me. I guess more than anything she left me confused. Was I poor writer or was it okay because I was still learning? Nonetheless, her intention was unclear and all I was left with was doubt. Even with negative reviews I have been able to move on because there were teachers in my life who made me reevaluate my potential. My very first quarter paper assignment at UWB was read aloud to the entire class and as I received it I noticed a shining "A" at the very top. It was then that my confidence grew. I believe that everyone has a personal writing history that has been shaped by the experiences and people who have been a part of it. We can learn from our writing, we can learn from those who read it, and we can keep on learning as long as we continue to practice. I think that where we fall short is when we let our doubt overcome our creative and powerful reason for writing. After all, we just want our voices to be heard and for our thoughts to be acknowledged. There is more to life than just existing!