"Crafting Minds through Writing"  - by Shanice Phipps

                                My Perspective on Teaching of Writing 

As I embark on the journey of teaching writing, I cannot help but to reflect on how I viewed writing prior to taking this course. Personally, writing has been a challenging aspect of Language Arts and is not a strong-suit of mine as I sometimes struggle with being expressive. Writing seemed like a lengthy, boring process and as an infant teacher throughout my years, I did not have to engage in in-depth writing with my students. I have always admired a 'good' piece of writing, nonetheless. 

I believe that challenges are good opportunities for growth and thankfully, I have acquired a variety of writing strategies and mechanisms that have helped me to develop a love for writing and the teaching of writing. By implementing differentiated instruction, providing constructive feedback, and incorporating engaging writing prompts, I aim to meet students where they are and guide them towards improvement. In addition, considering the writing process along with the conventions of writing, I am now able to continuously improve on my writing abilities and better cater to the writing needs of my students.

Teaching writing is more than just imparting grammatical rules and sentence structures. It's an art that involves unlocking the creative potential within each student. As a teacher in training, I've come to understand that fostering a conducive environment for self-expression is paramount. By creating a safe and encouraging space, students can explore their thoughts, widen their vocabulary, and develop a genuine passion for writing.

Currently, one of the most anticipated aspects of teaching writing is to witness the growth of my students' writing over time. From hesitant beginnings to confident expressions, the evolution of a student's writing skills is a testament to the impact of effective teaching. As I navigate my role in shaping these transformations, I am inspired by the prospect of instilling a lifelong love for writing in my students.

Conclusively, in my journey as a teacher in training, I recognize the profound responsibility and privilege of shaping young minds into articulate and expressive individuals. Navigating challenges and celebrating growth are all integral components of this indelible process. As I continue on this path, my aspiration is not only to teach writing but to ignite a passion for storytelling and self-expression that will resonate throughout my life and my students' lives.

                                                                  Thank-you !!

 Transforming My Outlook: My Journey to Embrace the Joy of Teaching Writing

By: Shaniel Liburd-Bryan

"Self-reflection is an important stage to diagnose, develop, and strengthen your creativity."

                                                                                                               Pearl Zhu

    Writing is challenging when it comes to engaging students and making the writing process exciting, grading students' writing is too tedious of a task, and I am not confident in my own writing abilities. These were all thoughts I had for many years and what I entered this course with. Teaching writing has not always been a passion of mine but recently, I have gained a newfound opportunity to enhance skills because of this task. This experience has left an indelible mark on my teaching journey, equipping me with strengthened confidence and a repertoire of effective strategies that I am eager to employ. As I reflect on how this course has transformed my approach and my mindset to teaching writing, it is my hope that you too can be inspired to change your outlook if your thoughts are how mine were.

    To begin, I will share one of my most significant changes. Since partaking in this course, I have acquired a heightened sense of confidence. I remember vividly how I felt about teaching writing and why I have always turned to team teaching just to avoid teaching it altogether. I felt that I didn't have the knowledge, the confidence, or the training to effectively teach my students writing in a way that would fester a love for it. For me, that was a chance I was not willing to take because as a teacher my main aim is to foster a flame in my students that makes them always eager to learn and enjoy learning. However, this course has taught me various writing techniques, inspired creativity, and supplied some noteworthy ways on how I can help my students express their thoughts with precision and eloquence.

    Another significant aspect of this course was the introduction of the 6+1 Traits of Writing. You might be wondering why I said introduction? Before this, I had never heard about the 6+1 Traits of Writing. Crazy right? This approach broke down the writing into six key traits - ideas, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, and conventions in such a way that I can provide my future students with a comprehensive understanding of what makes a piece of writing effective and impactful. 

    

    I cannot honestly reflect without crediting the spark that was created to my creativity and passion for making introductions to my lessons more engaging. I was awakened by the amount of writing and reading strategies that are available and that were untouched within my years of teaching. I now have new methods of incorporating interactive games, storytelling, real-life examples, and the inclusion of themes to captivate my students' attention from the start. I am most definitely eager to create an even more stimulating and inclusive learning environment that will increase my students' participation and enthusiasm towards writing. 

    To sum up, this journey in teaching writing has truly been a formative experience for me as an educator. It has instilled confidence, deepened my understanding of the writing process, and sparked creativity in my approach to teaching writing. Armed with new strategies and techniques, I am even more excited to nurture the writing skills of my students, guiding them to becoming confident and proficient writers. I am beyond grateful for this opportunity to grow and evolve as an educator.

                      

             Thank you for sticking around.........

And remember......

Unlocking Creativity: A New Perspective on the Teaching of Writing!

 

Welcome back to my blog!! This week's topic shifts from the realm of poetry to my perspective on the teaching of writing.

As a student teacher, my exploration of how to teach writing has been an eye-opening journey. Initially, I saw writing as a straightforward, rule-based activity primarily focused on grammar and structure. But my perspective has been reshaped, especially after engaging with the 6+1 Traits of Writing framework and understanding the nuances of the Writing Process.

I remember sitting there, absorbing the discussions, and realizing how writing can be a powerful medium for students to explore their thoughts, emotions, and experiences. It was enlightening to understand that writing could be therapeutic, a form of personal journey, and a way to connect with others on a deeper level. The art of teaching writing, I've learned, is not just about imparting knowledge of syntax and punctuation. It's about nurturing a student's voice, encouraging creativity, and fostering a safe space for expression.

During the discussions the importance of encouraging students to write freely, without the fear of judgment or strict adherence to rules was also highlighted. This approach, we learned, helps in developing confidence and a genuine love for writing. It was an 'aha' moment for me - realizing that the freedom to make mistakes, to experiment with words, and to express oneself unfiltered is crucial in teaching writing.

Moreover, we explored various techniques to make writing engaging and relevant for students. From using prompts that resonate with their lives to incorporating digital tools and multimedia, the emphasis was on making the writing process dynamic and relatable. This approach aligns perfectly with my belief that education should be a blend of relevance and engagement.

Teaching writing, I now understand, is not just about molding proficient writers but about cultivating thinkers, storytellers, and individuals who can articulate their worldviews with confidence and creativity.

Reflecting on this journey, my attitude towards teaching writing has transformed. I no longer see it as a mere academic requirement, but as an opportunity to inspire, engage, and empower students. The prospect of being a part of a student's writing journey excites me, and I eagerly look forward to the day when I can apply these insights in my own classroom.

By

• TEKOYAH MASON •