Writing in English Class

What is writing? What is the purpose of teaching writing across the curriculum?

My teachable is English so, I obviously believe that writing is critical to education. However, I am in the J/I division and my hope is to teach somewhere within grades 4-8, I will therefore be teaching multiple subjects. I personally believe that writing is important to all subjects. Writing to learn is an excellent way to help solidify students knowledge of content as well as help them explore and develop their writing skills. The non-threatening atmosphere of writing only to learn is a way to facilitate the development of writing. Additionally, cross-curricular writing assignments allow students to demonstrate understanding more than one subject area at a time. This makes less work for both the teacher and the students. One of my previous grade 6 teachers called this practice "double-dipping." She would always let us know a head of time when she was evaluating us in multiple content areas with one project. Not only is it less work for teachers and students, but also it helps students make connections between the subjects they are learning.



Writing Essays - Correct Student Instruction

Conventional forms of writing in an English class - The 5 paragraph Essay

The bane of a university professor's existence, but the writing style  taught to students starting as early as grade 6. The formula is as follows:

Introduction with three reasons
Reason 1
Reason 2
Reason 3
Conclusion summarizing the three reasons

The most typical form of essay writing introduced to students when they first start writing essays is the argumentative essay. Students may be learning how to write good paragraphs with correct syntax and grammar they are not learning how to write an essay. It is not and engaging style of writing, and it does not teach students how to properly think about an argument. The structure of the 5 paragraph essay limits students ability to express their ideas, and it limits their abilities to write anything other than an argumentative essay. The structure of the 5 paragraph essay does not lend itself well to analytical, comparative, explanatory, evaluative etc. essays. It allows the students to express a view and support it with a limited three supports. It does not allow students to explore the opposing or differing view points which reduces the level of critical thinking that is in their essays.

So here in the graphic organizer is they way, I believe, essay writing should be taught.

[Graphic to come]

Poetry Across the Curriculum

Poetry is an excellent toll that can be used to teach students valuable information and very specific writing skills. Poetry is typically a unit in English class, so increased exposure to it outside of English will help students succeed in that class. However, teaching poetry across the curriculum has even more benefits. 

Firstly, it can help teach students the art of summary. When your words and space are constricted (as they often are when writing poetry) you have to make the most effective use of your words. Students need only include the most important details about a specific subject. So, writing to learn using poetry teaches students how to summarize and choose words carefully. For example, in science class using concise language is an important skill. Having students write poetry about science topics is giving them the opportunity to think about how to only include the most important details which will, again, have residual benefits in their scientific writing, studying and summarizing.

Secondly, though this may not happen for all students, writing poetry can help students develop an appreciation for language. Many students, especially those who are interested in science and math topics, are less engaged in an English class. This low engagement level is especially true for a poetry unit. However, incorporating poetry into a subject they enjoy may help them appreciate it more. 

Third and finally, cross-curricular poetry writing can help students retain information. Poetry appeals to more than one of the learning styles. While it is definitely visual as the act of writing appeals most to that learning style, poetry also has a very distinct sound to it. The rhythm and tone can very much apply to an auditory learner. Finally, though not essential to poetry, a teacher can build in a kinaesthetic  aspect to poetry. For example, adding a clapping rhythm to the verses, actions that accompany the words, and something called a jazz chant. A jazz chant is something that incorporates the kinaesthetic learner as well as engaging the visual and auditory learner. It helps students remember information, or key concepts, as well as engages the positively with the he material.

Jazz Chant:
Working for the Government: The Government Works for Us
A Jazz Chant by Barbara Brockmann