Entry #1

• As you reflect on your experiences teaching writing, consider what "feels comfortable": what core principles do you value and enact in your classroom? Time for writing? Conferring with students?  How have  those practices remained constant over time?

I believe that students need to feel a sense of consistency when being taught how to write in the secondary levels. As a teacher, it is essential that you first model what you expect from students before sending them off to work independently on what may seem like a daunting task to inexperienced and unsure writers. It is important to first lay out a consistent model in order to give students a frame work and guidelines within which to begin writing an essay or expository piece. In my experience, a handout that can be kept as a reference for students is very useful. There should be clear steps and a process from which to work off of; this will make it easier for students to visualize what their piece should look like, which will ultimately make it easier to get started and stay organized. As we discussed today in class, pre-writing is also a core principle which students should be required to experiment with. There should be a large portion of class dedicated only to pre-writing and getting their ideas down on paper, before beginning any sort of organization or thought for conventions. The downfall of presenting a model and clear format for students is that it definitely constricts their ability to be creative or try new things. This is something that I would like to work on in the future in order to improve my students confidence and sense of creative writing.

• Consider your familiarity with a variety of technologies including word processors, digital audio and video editors, and online writing spaces such as blogs and wikis. What are some of the challenges you anticipate in trying to blend the principles of the writing workshop with these technologies?

The biggest challenge that I could foresee in trying to blend the writing process with digital technologies is that some students may be extremely literate when it comes to writing, however, they may lack proficiency in digital technology. This lack of digital literacy may restrict students who are more comfortable using the traditional pen and paper. Also, some students may get lost or distracted by the digital aspect of their writing (looking up images to go with it, using emoticons, playing with fonts) and lose focus on what is actually important -- the "meat", or content of what they're saying.