Comments on: My Child Struggles With Writing. Can Typical Writing Evaluations Hurt Him? http://www.reading2008.com/blog/my-child-struggles-with-writing-can-typical-writing-evaluations-hurt-him.htm A Blog by Dr. Howard Margolis & Dr. Gary G. Brannigan Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:37:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Linda Aragoni http://www.reading2008.com/blog/my-child-struggles-with-writing-can-typical-writing-evaluations-hurt-him.htm/comment-page-1#comment-6048 Linda Aragoni Sat, 05 Feb 2011 20:28:56 +0000 http://www.reading2008.com/blog/?p=2113#comment-6048 I did not mean to suggest students need to be bored. My point is that teachers don't want to engage in the kinds of activities reluctant and struggling writers need, such as help to master writing strategies, because teachers find those activities boring. I have very little sympathy for teachers who tell me that writing assignments that are within students' capabilities are boring to read. I suspect that the music teacher does not find listening to clarinet squeeks is fun, but putting up with off-key playing is part of the job. In the same way, putting up with writing tasks that the teacher doesn't find interesting is part of the teacher's job. I did not mean to suggest students need to be bored. My point is that teachers don’t want to engage in the kinds of activities reluctant and struggling writers need, such as help to master writing strategies, because teachers find those activities boring.

I have very little sympathy for teachers who tell me that writing assignments that are within students’ capabilities are boring to read. I suspect that the music teacher does not find listening to clarinet squeeks is fun, but putting up with off-key playing is part of the job. In the same way, putting up with writing tasks that the teacher doesn’t find interesting is part of the teacher’s job.

]]> By: admin http://www.reading2008.com/blog/my-child-struggles-with-writing-can-typical-writing-evaluations-hurt-him.htm/comment-page-1#comment-2880 admin Wed, 14 Apr 2010 18:19:02 +0000 http://www.reading2008.com/blog/?p=2113#comment-2880 I agree with paragraphs 1 and 2, but not 3. I believe that writing should excite kids, not bore them. If we want kids to become engaged in writing and to frequently write on their own, they need to view it as satisfying and important, and, in many cases, fun, not boring. Few people pursue activities they find boring, especially activities like writing which are often hard. --HM I agree with paragraphs 1 and 2, but not 3. I believe that writing should excite kids, not bore them. If we want kids to become engaged in writing and to frequently write on their own, they need to view it as satisfying and important, and, in many cases, fun, not boring. Few people pursue activities they find boring, especially activities like writing which are often hard. –HM

]]> By: Linda Aragoni http://www.reading2008.com/blog/my-child-struggles-with-writing-can-typical-writing-evaluations-hurt-him.htm/comment-page-1#comment-2879 Linda Aragoni Wed, 14 Apr 2010 17:58:44 +0000 http://www.reading2008.com/blog/?p=2113#comment-2879 Parents also should try to find out whether anyone has actually tried to teach the child to write. Most of what I see teachers do is assign writing. Many of the students I get in college have never had any actual instruction in writing. The conventional wisdom about what writers do is based on experience of mature and professional writers. We don't require kids in drivers ed to use the techniques of Indy 500 drivers, yet we expect a 7th grader who hates writing to use the same techniques as a bestselling novelist. Many aspects of nonfiction writing can be taught in almost fill-in-the-blanks fashion, but teachers don't like doing that. One told me it was boring. Tough beans. Why should kids be the only people in the classroom who are bored? Parents also should try to find out whether anyone has actually tried to teach the child to write. Most of what I see teachers do is assign writing. Many of the students I get in college have never had any actual instruction in writing.

The conventional wisdom about what writers do is based on experience of mature and professional writers. We don’t require kids in drivers ed to use the techniques of Indy 500 drivers, yet we expect a 7th grader who hates writing to use the same techniques as a bestselling novelist.

Many aspects of nonfiction writing can be taught in almost fill-in-the-blanks fashion, but teachers don’t like doing that. One told me it was boring. Tough beans. Why should kids be the only people in the classroom who are bored?

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