Teaching+writing

Alfie Khon said that "Learning is something students do, NOT something done to students." When I read this quote it reinforced two important truths in regards to learning to write. Firstly, students need to be encouraged to learn how to write and modelled the correct way to write. Secondly, students need to learn in a positive environment; where they feel free to learn not forced. Hill indicates the different strategies that teachers can use to teach writing, they include:  ·   MODELLED WRITING -This strategy just involves the teacher modelling the process of writing on the board or on a piece of paper. While students may be asked questions it is predominantly the teachers work. The teacher models a beginning, middle and end to his or her writing. It is often a good idea to model writing to children based on what the students know. For example, it may be a recount about a big book story they read or about a guest speaker who came to their school. Modelled writing is a brilliant way for students to gather ideas for their own piece of writing and see how it is done. This strategy really focuses on the thinking process involved in writing.  ·    SHARED WRITING - This strategy really involves the children in the writing activity and the teacher acts more as a scribe. Sometimes the students are even given the opportunity to write on the board and the teacher is really there to give guidance and ask questions.  ·   GUIDED WRITING - This is small group work, where the teacher again gives guidance and positive suggestions. The student’s conference and edit together.  ·   IDEPEDENT WRITING- This strategy involves the students working independently and choosing their own topic and writing about it. (2007)

A teacher’s number one goal, in regards to teaching writing, is to help students see a purpose for their own writing. Teachers really provide a starting block for students to build on and help them explore their writing ability.

