Write On -- Success           

by Launa Ellison

This summer, write.  Writing will increase your success. Writing is the vehicle that clarifies thinking. Erica Jong explains, “How can I know what I think unless I see what I write?” What do you think about yourself and the life you have created? What do you think about your classroom challenges? What do you think about the students you teach? “Becoming a writer is about becoming conscious,” Anne Lamott states.

When you write, whether about your life or creative, you are delving into interior unexplored space in your life. How will that increase your success? By increasing your authenticity and empathy. “One writes in order to feel,” explains Muriel Rukeyser. Rosario Castellanos adds, “Writing has been a way of explaining to myself the things I do not understand.” When you write you will be better able to nurture writing in your students.

But wait, I teach math. I teach science. I don’t teach writing. Regardless of the content teachers who write have learned valuable ways to coach their students in any area. The University of Minnesota’s Center for Writing (http://writing.umn.edu/sws) works with students and professors of engineering and biology in addition to English and social studies students. They support professionals writing handbooks and newsletters from all disciplines, often using online feedback. A history professor is quoted as, “(It) gave me many tools to meaningfully integrate assignments into class learning...)

Yes, the history student needs to write complex comparisons or an letter assignment from one part of the world to another in 1900. The math student needs to write to explain solutions. The science student needs to plan an investigation and its outcome. “If you can’t communicate that to others, your value to an organization is limited. Put it another way – you won’t find too many engineering jobs that require you to sit in a room by yourself designing and building things. Write a little everyday and be accountable to others, you will write more.” (http://scientistswrite.bogspot.com)

So, writing this summer is important for all teachers to improve their students’ success. Write about your own life. First write a letter to yourself remembering a joyful occasion. Write a letter to your deceased grandparent explaining who you are today. How would they be proud of you? Or, imagine a conversation between you and a grandparent to work on those skills. Make a list of things and experiences that are important to you and use it to create a poem. Take an event in the news and write a column about its significance. Now, begin writing about your teaching. “I’m my best when….” “I enjoy…” “ I want to learn more about…”

Are you ready to enrich your writing and craft it to excellence? Pick one of your writings and try to shorten sentence for more punch. Give yourself a point for each word you eliminate or change to be more descriptive. Read it aloud.  Can you hear phrases clearly? Ask another person to read it aloud so you can listen. Teach this process to students. Read it to yourself. Make improvements. Share it with others and understand their reactions. There are many process-writing sites available on the web. My favorite is the North Central Regional Educational Laboratory (http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/methods/instrctn/in5lk11-1.htm).

As I write this article I remember, as a child, getting a writing paper back covered with red teacher marks. If a student rewrites a paper according to teacher directions whose writing is it? When I read a student paper I use a light pencil in the right margin noting places to conference with the student. I put a check mark on a line with a misspelled word, a question mark when I didn’t understand, and a dot on a line I’d like to discuss. When other students are busy I conference individually asking, “Which word on this line might be misspelled?” We quietly clarify meaning and ideas.

The final paper is turned with the brainstorming web and all drafts clipped behind it. The whole process can be observed. I smile with my student as we recognize the improvements. The learning is evident and the writing remains personal. I’ve simply been a consultant.

“Successful writers are not the ones who write the best sentences. They are the ones who keep writing.” Bonnie Friedman

“Who wants to become a writer? And why? Because it’s the answer to everything. To ‘Why am I here?’” Enid Bagnold