Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Writing to Learn
I really liked reading about the topic of using writing in the classroom. Using strategies to make students write allows not only the opportunity to assess students but for students to really think about what they have learned to put into words. It has always been hard for me to put what I know down on paper; however, it makes me think so much harder about what I know. Students will ultimately remember what they have learned if they can write it down. I never would have thought to incorporate writing in other subjects such as math. Now that it has been brought to my attention, I probably would have been a better math teacher had I used these strategies in elementary. Writing can be used to write prior knowledge before a topic is discussed and students can share with one another to prepare themselves for the topic. I enjoyed this topic of writing!
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Maddie,
ReplyDeleteI'm also so terrible at putting things into words. I find it much easier to just explain what I want to communicate. I can never seem to find the words to fit what I am needing to say. I agree that writing is a great way for us to assess students. I feel that they should be given opportunities to write about various topics and not be forced to write about one certain thing. In elementary school, the only time we ever did writing activities were in language arts. I don't ever remember my teachers incorporating writing into other subjects. I think that it would have been much more interesting if they would have used some of the strategies discussed!
I'm with you (and TeraLynne?), "It has always been hard for me to put what I know down on paper; however, it makes me think so much harder about what I know." Ironic that you put into words so simply what is sometimes difficult to say. Writing is just another way of processing information and making meaning. I like how you write, "Using strategies to make students write allows not only the opportunity to assess students but for students to really think about what they have learned to put into words," and I think about the learning pyramid with you statement, "Students will ultimately remember what they have learned if they can write it down." And it's a bonus that you got something from the reading that might not have entered your mind, "I never would have thought to incorporate writing in other subjects such as math." These are all good thoughts, but I encourage you to go deeper with your post, give your readers a bit more to chew on. It's not quantity I'm looking for, but I do want to see some evidence that you're covering a broad smattering of the reading, OR choosing one issue and going in depth with it. Thanks, Dr B
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