My Reflection on Unit 1 - Trends and Challenges in Teaching Writing by Kimberly

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                   There are twenty-five (25) trends of teaching writing. Trends are strategies that are used in the classroom to help students in their writing process. I believe that teaching these trends are important to use in the classroom because they help students to develop their writing skills, also developing a love for writing. I can see myself using these trends in the classroom but there are three (3) trends that stood out the most to me, Teaching Writing Explicitly (Gradual Release of Responsibility Model), Gallery Walk and Digital Storytelling.

            Teaching Writing Explicitly (Gradual Release of Responsibility Model) is explained in terms of the roles of the teacher and the students assume throughout instruction: I do (you watch); we do it (together); you do (I observe and assist); you do (I assess). This trend utilizes the gradual release of responsibility model of the teacher and students. Modelling and a short-guided practice occur at the beginning of the lesson when the teacher is demonstrating or teaching a lesson on writing. During the lesson period, students work independently on their writing but receive additional guidance with the teacher in small groups or one-to-one conferences. This trend then leads students to work independence. I love the step by step process of this trend that allows students to grasp the writing process and skill.

            Gallery Walk allows students to be actively engaged as they walk throughout the classroom observing pictures. Students will be able to share ideas and respond to meaningful questions, problem-solving situations or texts. One of the challenges to writing, is that students would have to rely on their memory to write but with gallery walk, students will be able to visually experience the topic at that moment and then would be able to decontextualized task. It is not only a learning process but it is a fun activity that students will love and engage in.

            Digital storytelling is creating a mini movie image by using digital tools on the computer. Digital storytelling combines technology that allows students to tell stories through voice, text, images, audio, and video. Digital storytelling is a great way to engage students in writing. A challenge in writing is that writing does not have prosody, body language and facial expression through digital stories students will be able to develop prosody elements, body language and facial expression in their writing. Digital storytelling is a lot of work and time, but it is worth it, the children will love to do it and would enjoy experiencing the end product of their story.

            Even though I mention three (3) of the trends that stand out most to me, all twenty-five (25) trends are equally important and each one is needed to be used in the class room to develop students writing skills. If we as teachers use these trends in the classroom I guarantee that students will become better writers.


Comments

  1. UnknownSeptember 23, 2018 at 12:31 PM

    Very informative Matrisha! Trends in writing highlights great tools to use to correct various writing errors. Digital story telling has now become one of my favorite trends because it allows students as well as teachers to tap into their creativity. Although Digital story telling can be time consuming, I have learnt that helps students practice the process and art of writing a story. Once students are having fun while they are learning, they are better able to apply the information in other aspects of their lives.

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  2. UnknownSeptember 23, 2018 at 2:03 PM

    I meant...very informative Kimberly *

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  3. UnknownSeptember 23, 2018 at 4:46 PM

    Kimberly, I myself like the Teaching Writing Explicitly (Gradual Release of Responsibility Model) strategy. I find it as a great benefit to the students because many times in the classroom students are not exposed to writing strategies, they are also sometimes left alone to complete pieces of writing. In this strategy the students are guided by the teacher and also helps the teacher and then completes the task on their own with confidence.

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