Philosophy on Teaching Writing

In order to empower our youth, we need to make sure that they are equipped with the proper tools to succeed in life.  As educators, we can empower our youth by teaching them how to write properly and effectively.  Writing is not an innate ability, but a learned skill.  Part of being an educator requires teaching our youth how to write using correct rules of grammar, punctuation, different points of view and different genres for different purposes.  One of the most important lessons we can teach is that what students produce in written form is their own work, which can be used for means of persuasion, in a louder voice of their own that they should be proud of.

A child who is brought up in a home that uses oral language as their means of communication will eventually learn how to speak as long as they do not suffer from a medical condition which would prevent them from being able to verbalize.  However, children who grow up in a home where others know how to write are not guaranteed to acquire the ability.  The process of writing has many different forms and rules that need to be taught and consciously learned in order for students to master the ability.  Not only do children need to learn the process and rules of writing, but there are also many adults who work to learn this process and acquire this ability.  Educators need to be able to alter their teaching styles for their students.  If we are working with children we need to possess the ability to teach them in one manner and if we are teaching adults we need to be able to teach them in another manner.

            Early on in a child’s life the process of teaching a child how to write begins. While still at home with their parents, children begin to learn how to write their names, the alphabet and numbers.  If not earlier then upon entering kindergarten, children are taught how to write their names and the alphabet and the process of formally learning the process of writing begins.  Children move on to their other primary grades and begin to learn the rules of grammar and punctuation as well as how to pronounce words, associate words and define words.  As an educator it is my responsibility to assist my students with having an open mind when they begin a writing assignment, allowing them to express themselves as well as grasp the assignment at hand.  I try not to judge my students at first on grammatical errors, but instead grade their work on content and ideas.  After reviewing their thought patterns and the student’s writing style with them, we then look towards correcting any and all grammatical errors or problems in a later draft of their text.

I feel that teaching our youth to write properly and effectively will enable them to have an increased vocabulary and knowledge base, as well as helping increase their memorization and association skills.  In order to ensure that our children will be well-rounded and well-educated individuals, we need to start the process at an early age.  This type of empowerment will provide a concrete foundation for children, to help them be able to express themselves, to work out internal and external problems with language and to achieve academic success and success throughout life.