Week 5- Reading and Writing to Learn

1. How did the readings challenge you to think about writing in different content areas?

• For me, I always thought of writing as strictly for language and social studies. After the reading it’s very evident that writing is applicable and beneficial for all content areas. In the reading it talked about writing as more than taking notes and I think that challenges me to be creative with how I incorporate writing in my class. My content areas are ELA and social studies which both include a lot of writing but there’s still a lot that can be done with writing to help students learn and be engaged. Since I have two content areas that automatically have writing, I think a challenge for me would be to use writing as more than an assessment but as a tool to help deepen student’s knowledge on topics. Math and science aren’t my specific areas and before the reading, writing wasn’t something I thought of for those classes really. Even with those classes, writing provides so many options and ways for students to learn. The text discussed for math, writing out in words how to solve problems and write out real world examples. I thought that was a neat idea and smart way to see students understanding on a particular problem. This chapter challenges teachers to use writing in all content areas and use it as a tool to help students learn, not just as an assessment.

2. Which strategy is your favorite? Why?

• My favorite strategy was from the textbook on page 67 and it discussed response journals. I liked this idea because it gives students one place to do all their writing and assignments. If writing is going to be incorporated often I think it’s important to have that journal for students to do all their writing. This strategy was in the social studies section but it could definitely be used for any and all content areas.

3. What are some possible challenges that you foresee in using the strategies presented in the readings?

• The main challenge that came to my mind during the reading was time. Granted, I haven’t run a classroom yet but there’s so much that has to be taught and writing assignments can dictate time a lot. In the reading it discussed time and how it can be managed in the classroom. I still see it as a challenge but I do think it’s a challenge that can be figured out. The reading has made it clear to me how important writing is and that time needs to be made for it.

Word Count- 399