Lecture on Teaching Writing and Its Importance

Introduction

• Lecturer's extensive experience since 1983 in teaching writing.
• Personal interest in writing due to a transition from reader to writer.
• Influence of personal experiences with children struggling in writing.

Personal Motivation and Experiences

• Lecturer initially interested in teaching reading.
• Observed fewer professionals focused on writing compared to reading.
• Personal struggle as a student and as a writer fueled interest in teaching writing.
• Daughter's struggle with writing and spelling due to handwriting difficulties.
  • Motivation through online games improved her skills significantly.
  • Importance of motivation in overcoming learning challenges.

Consequences of Writing Skills

Negative Consequences of Poor Writing Skills

• Risk of school failure due to increased writing demands.
• Impact on college admissions and advancement in white-collar jobs.
• Social implications on communication and persuasive skills.

Positive Consequences of Writing Skills

• Better educational and occupational outcomes.
• Writing as a tool for learning, thinking, and stress reduction.
  • Example: Stress reduction in Israeli children through writing.

Teacher Preparation for Teaching Writing

• Lack of preparation among middle, high school, and elementary teachers.
  • Many teachers feel inadequately prepared to teach writing.
  • Need for more teachers adept at teaching writing.
• School-wide approaches recommended for middle and high school.
  • Collaborative effort among language arts, science, and social studies teachers.
• National Writing Project as a resource for teacher development.

Teaching Strategies and Feedback

• Importance of individualized instruction within a structured approach.
• Modeling and peer collaboration as key teaching strategies.
• Importance of positive feedback on writing.
  • Negative feedback can have lasting negative effects.

Strategies for Struggling Writers

• Self-regulated strategy development (SRSD) for teaching writing.
  • Incorporates strategy, meta-strategy knowledge, and self-regulation.
• Examples of successful peer revising strategies.
  • Encourages positive feedback and specific criteria for revision.

Grammar Instruction

• Traditional grammar instruction (definition to example) is ineffective.
• Effective strategies include sentence combining and example-based learning.
• Limited evidence on novel grammar instruction methods.

Tools and Technology in Writing

• Importance of fluency in handwriting, typing, or a combination.
• Word processing benefits, including ease of revision and motivation.
• Emerging tools like speech synthesis for students with learning disabilities.
• Inexpensive tools like Neo as alternatives for students with handwriting difficulties.

Conclusion

• Writing is an essential skill with broad implications in education, career, and personal development.
• Need for improved teacher preparation and resources to enhance writing instruction.