Conley states in the very first line of this chapter, "Writing is one of the most important ways to learn and demonstrate learning in content areas. I agree with him 100%. It is sometimes so much easier for me to express what I know in writing than to try and guess upon the correct answer to feel in the blank or mark in the multiple choice section. By writing, I am able to communicate everything I know about a subject in a clear and concise manner. I can easily convey my understanding of a topic so that my instructor will know if I "get it" or need more practice.
Conley lists many strategies for teaching students how to plan their writing. I personally favor Brainstorming and Goal Setting. From my experience with this technique, I was able to get my supporting ideas and paragraphs for my main topic without any hassle, which it turn, made it less demanding to complete my assignment. I have also had experience with Quick-Writes. I think they are okay, but they can have ideas scattered all over the place. I did not have much experience with Stop & List or The Guided Writing Procedure. I am sure they provide helpful assistance as well.
Teachers need to teach students how to use the writing strategies correctly before expecting students to apply them in their writing. If they are not used correctly, they will not be very effective. When teaching students, teachers cannot just tell them how to use the strategies. They should also model them. Students need to have a mental picture of how they work and look. Teachers should also check for student understanding by allowing them to demonstrate that they know how to apply the strategies. It is through gaining an understanding and using the strategies correctly that student writing will begin to improve.
No comments:
Post a Comment