More wisdom from Dan Kirby and Tom Liner

Things to Think About When Your Students Write About Your Subject Area.

Don’t give writing assignments to accompany every selection, unit, chapter, etc.

Don’t give lock-step writing assignments.

Don’t judge students writing by the standard of what a professional critic, historian, scientist, mathematician, etc., might say.

Don’t grade all their writing as if you were trying to decide whether they should go to hell or heaven.

Don’t make everyone in the class do the same assignment.

Do allow the student the right not to write sometimes.

Do let the assignment grow out of the talk you have been having; let it be an extension of the classroom conversation, a setting-in-order of the student’s thoughts and impressions.

Do let students modify assignments in the light of their understanding.

Do make clear what you expect from student writing.

Do read and respond to student writing as you do the writing of established authors- somewhat humbly and tentatively.

DO MAKE WRITING A PROCESS OF PLEASURE, NOT A PUNISHMENT!

Inside Out- page 168