Connective Writing
Class discussion January 30th, 2009Will Richardson writes, Doing connective writing in blogs, then, is different experience than just posting. Consider what you write as thoughtful analysis and a synthesizing of the comments in posts. We want our students to be thinking critically and reflectively when they post to blogs. We want our students to employ a wide range of strategies as they write and us different writing process elements appropriately to communicate with diferenent audiences for a variety of purposes (from the National Council of Teachers of English). Please consider these elements as you post to the class blog.
January 30th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
This semester I am taking a class in internet applications for the classroom. As I start, I just want to register, as a bookmark for the year, that my goal for the class is to employ what I learn with my students in order to find out if they become better readers and writers.
I know what better reading and writing looks like after 12 years in teaching: will my students improve faster or will this just be shoving paper down wires to paraphrase tech guru Alan November?
In retrospect, I’m sorry if this comment seems too banal. Of course, any teacher wants to take something away from a professional development course and have immediate results in the classroom. And I’ve already learned that how to put the Wall Street Journal on my iGoogle page. Soon enough, Rupert Murdoch himself will teach my students.;-)
February 3rd, 2009 at 8:03 pm
I probably will not be doing too much connective writing with k-3 art.
February 5th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
Well, the learning curve is straight up! The text is interesting; the class is stimulating; I’m overwhelmed. It’s the little things. With so many web tools, which to use? I’m especially impressed by the blog’s purported ability to emphasize ~ and thereby improve ~ clarity of expression and critical thinking. We focus on both of these in an effort to improve eighth grade writing. We also stress documentation of sources, and assessing validity of sources. And it seems like we can work on this stuff along with the curricular interest blogging will enkindle.
February 5th, 2009 at 6:02 pm
I can easily see the application for writing in the humanities. I will continue to think about reflective and analytical writing in math.
April 6th, 2009 at 10:18 am
The skeptic in me worries about achieving improved student thinking and writing online. I do not desire a venue for students to expand their instant messaging lingo.
I realize that ultimately it is up to me to set the bar as students respond to any posts on my blog. Perhaps a rubric in students’ hands will clarify for students the need to offer well thought out and insightful responses with appropriate attention to English conventions.
Additionally, I worry about being able to maintain an adequately vigilant eye on student online writing.
Ultimately, I would love to see thoughtful interaction between students regarding their responses to reading assignments. I hope that students who are not typically verbal during class time will feel comfortable responding online.