My Philosophy of Writing Instruction

Theresa Milkowski

My philosophy of writing is based on the principle that writing is essentially “idea making’ which occurs in a nonlinear fashion using distinct, yet reflexive writing experiences; students don’t plan and then write and then revise…as they write, they plan and revise. For a student to become motivated about writing and the structure of language, he/she needs encouragement and guidance in exploring and organizing ideas, thoughts and perceptions and conveying those ideas through expressive written communication. It is important to convey to our students that writing is self-discovery and the journey never ends. Students are encouraged to not only discover their voice but realize what they have to say has value; therefore, writing is facilitated through guided discovery in a collaborative environment that fosters trust and acceptance for diverse background and life experiences in such a way that encourages students to participate in an exchange of personal perspective.

Literature is integrated with writing because literature provides the necessary context in which students can write and learn about writing. This philosophy is based upon the premise that good readers tend to be good writers – and vice versa. Students who “read like a writer” tend to be better at recognizing writing techniques employed by the author and incorporating these techniques into their own writing across the curriculum.Literature selection will reflect student interest and experiences because students who enjoy what they reading and are given choice in reading material respond more meaningfully to the literature.

Although it is important to convey to students that have something to say and what they have to say has worth and value,form is also important. Mechanical correctness and appropriate language standardsenhance readability. Grammar instruction isembedded within the context of students’ writing and supplemented with working portfolios that accentuate writing as a process rather than a product.Rubrics that incorporate The Six Traits Analytical Model serve as a guide for quality writing and enable the student to recognize the elements of quality composition and incorporate these elements into their own writing. Additionally, instruction in vocabulary will enrich all areas of communication. Words are the currency of communication; the more words a student knows, the better they can communicate. Finally, writing instruction will be presented in such a way that addressed diverse learning and the capacity for student potential. Students will be offered choice in written expression through multiple formats such as art, music, role play, multimedia, inner reflections and collaborative communication.