|
|
|
The views expressed on this page are
solely
those of the author and do not
necessarily represent the views of County
News Online
|
|
Credit: janeb13 via Pixabay
Education Dive
Letting students write on subjects they love fuels learning
Lauren Barack
Jan. 22, 2020
Dive Brief:
Allison Berryhill, an English and journalism teacher at Atlantic High
School in Iowa, taps into passion blogging to allow students to choose
topics they care deeply about to explore in their writing, finding it
helps them develop stronger writing skills, she writes in Edutopia.
The voice — or passion — students express is weighted in the grading of
the blog posts, and Berryhill meets with students to talk about how
they can improve on what they’ve written.
Students then take skills developed through blogging, such as the
ability to analyze texts, and apply them to other assignments,
including more formal examinations of books like George Orwell’s
“Animal Farm.”
Dive Insight:
Giving students a chance to write about their passions can help engage
them not only in writing, but in what they’re learning as a whole.
Research suggests when given the opportunity to write more about
subjects that interest them, students tend to “invest more of
themselves in the process.”
The opportunity to invest their writing time in a subject that fuels
their interests can also help students build important skills they need
in their education, from critical thinking to analysis. Previous
research points out a deep knowledge of a subject "is essential before
students can analyze, evaluate or synthesize." A student passionate
about a topic likely knows a great deal about the subject, and that is
a crucial first step before moving on to making connections and
critically analyzing a subject, and applying those skills to other
subjects, as well.
Curriculum designers may want to look at using journal writing as one
method of engaging students in topics they care about or have a passion
to explore. A 2006 paper found journal assignments helped students make
sense of what they were learning, rather than just memorize a topic,
which promoted more critical thinking skills.
Poetry slams, like those held by the Sharon Public Schools in
Massachusetts, or spoken word assignments, used by teachers at schools
including the Academy of American Studies in New York City, are other
ways educators can help channel students and their passions into
writing.
Allowing students to choose their writing topics may then not only help
bring about more impassioned assignments, but in the end also spark the
development of crucial learning skills — all while letting students
share what they love.
|
|
|
|
