Simplify the Teaching of Writing

In the first chapter of Writing Essentials, Routman describes the focus and frustration of some schools in finding the right “program” to teach writing to increase their students’ test scores.  Routman points out that we need to be approaching this problem as becoming better teachers of writing than finding a program.  We are so focused on the latest program, that we forget to dig more in depth of what we already know about ourselves as writers and what we like about writing.  Writer’s Workshop is one of the most effective structures I have learned about for helping students develop their quality of writing and increase their enjoyment as writers. Writer’s workshop isn’t really a program, but a structure that can help teachers provide the ongoing feedback and support our students need to become better writers.  We need to step away from the “hubbub” of the latest program and focus on what is really important when teaching writing. Just like with reading, it’s crucial for teachers to model and express their joy for writing.  We must teach them to write with purpose (preferably with choice in a topic that is meaningful to them) and for the intended audience (real audiences are ideal).  When we teach the process, students should hear our inner thoughts of how we think when we write.  I got the most from my teachers when I got to hear how they solved a problem or thought aloud to go through a process. We have to explicitly teach the process of thinking before we expect them to write with quality – quality certainly shouldn’t be expected to come from a writing template.