Writing is a Life-Long Learning Process

In my classroom, writing instruction means that teaching students writing strategies, and having students know that writing is a process of growing meaning.

I think teachers should have a kind of passion. If the teacher has no passion, students won’t be motivated and inspired to learn. Teachers are to kindle the sparkles in the students. Teachers should involve the students in the classroom activities. As the great ancient Chinese educator Confucius declared: What I hear, I forget. What I see, I remember. What I do, I understand.

The physical layout of my classroom can be broken down into two main parts. One section of the room will be for researching information using physical sources such as reference books, books on topics in general, maps, posters, calligraphy, etc. I will try to make my classroom a rich print one. Another section of my classroom will be used for technological purposes. I will find good writing sources from the internet and share with students. Unfortunately, there is no access to internet in the classroom and there are no computers. I have altogether 16 students, one of whom is an international student from Kenya.

How do I establish conditions which my students will want to write? First of all, I will encourage students to use notebooks as frequently as possible. The notebooks can record lots of things they notice and wonder about, their memories and ideas, their favorite words and responses. There are different entries on the notebooks. Students can look for something that feels alive on the notebooks before they begin to write. Secondly, I think students can have the motivations to write if they can choose different genres to write. Thirdly, I will encourage students to do the digital writing. At the IT age, students love to go online and meet new friends. I will guide students onto the way of setting up a blog or finding a pen pal. Students can post what are interested or what they want to say on their blogs. They can send emails to their pen pals. Fourthly, I think it is also a good idea to provide students a writing format. I will let students know the beginning sentences, the transition and the ending sentences. Last but not the least, I will have students divide into groups and give topics to different groups. Students will have group discussion in which they are encouraged to disagree and challenge the thinking of their partners. Then students are going to write down their comments and opinions. This purpose of writing activity is achieved through discussion and giving comments on the different subjects.

When I was a kid, I didn’t have much access to the reading materials. However I was lucky that my mom made a living by leasing the black and white picture books. There were hundreds of them, including Journey to the West, Dreams on the Red mansion, Romance of the three Kingdoms, etc. I read most of the books during my spare time. However, the picture books only had a few simple illustrations, which enabled me to be more like a visual reader.

Now when I am writing something, I would like to write expository texts. As to how to teach students writing strategies effectively, I think it is a good idea to adopt the process approach. If the process approach is adopted, there should be pre-writing stage, writing stage, revising stage and rewriting. For example, the teacher uses a brainstorming activity to ensure good thinking because there will be no good writing without good thinking. Activities can be designed for students to make an outline. And it is better for them to make two drafts. When the students finish the first draft, the teacher can give some suggestions for peer or group editing and then ask the students to write the second draft. Self-assessment, reading before writing and peer teaching are also good writing strategies students can try. The teacher should help the students gather materials and generate ideas, monitor the writing process, and make sure students’ writing are to the requirement.