Every year in the first week of English class, some students inform me that writing is too hard.
Every
year
in
the
first
week
of
English
class
,
some
students
inform
me
that
writing
is
too
hard
.
They never write, unless homework requires it.
They
never
write
,
unless
homework
requires
it
.
They find the writing process painful and difficult.
They
find
the
writing
process
painful
and
difficult
.
How awful it is to be able to speak in a language but not to write in it, especially with its rich vocabulary.
How
awful
it
is
to
be
able
to
speak
in
a
language
but
not
to
write
in
it
,
especially
with
its
rich
vocabulary
.
Being able to speak but not write is like living in an enormous mansion and never leaving one small room.
Being
able
to
speak
but
not
write
is
like
living
in
an
enormous
mansion
and
never
leaving
one
small
room
.
When I meet students who think they can't write, I know, as a teacher my duty is to show them the rest of the rooms.
When
I
meet
students
who
think
they
ca
n't
write
,
I
know
,
as
a
teacher
my
duty
is
to
show
them
the
rest
of
the
rooms
.
My task is to build fluency and accuracy while providing the opportunity in any writing activity to enhance the moral and emotional development of my students.
My
task
is
to
build
fluency
and
accuracy
while
providing
the
opportunity
in
any
writing
activity
to
enhance
the
moral
and
emotional
development
of
my
students
.
One great way to do this is by having students write in a journal in class every day.
One
great
way
to
do
this
is
by
having
students
write
in
a
journal
in
class
every
day
.
Writing ability is like strength training.
Writing
ability
is
like
strength
training
.
Writing needs to be done just like exercise; just as muscles grow stronger with exercise, writing skills improve quickly with writing practice daily.
Writing
needs
to
be
done
just
like
exercise
;
just
as
muscles
grow
stronger
with
exercise
,
writing
skills
improve
quickly
with
writing
practice
daily
.
I often see a rise in student confidence and performance after only a few weeks of journal writing.
I
often
see
a
rise
in
student
confidence
and
performance
after
only
a
few
weeks
of
journal
writing
.
Expressing oneself in writing is one of the most important skills I teach to strengthen the whole students.
Expressing
oneself
in
writing
is
one
of
the
most
important
skills
I
teach
to
strengthen
the
whole
students
.
When my students practice journal writing, they are practicing for their future academic, political, and emotional lives.
When
my
students
practice
journal
writing
,
they
are
practicing
for
their
future
academic
,
political
,
and
emotional
lives
.
They build skills so that some say they might write a great novel, a piece of sorely needed legislation, or the perfect love letter.
They
build
skills
so
that
some
say
they
might
write
a
great
novel
,
a
piece
of
sorely
needed
legislation
,
or
the
perfect
love
letter
.
That they write in their journals every day puts them a step closer to fluency, eloquence and command of the language.
That
they
write
in
their
journals
every
day
puts
them
a
step
closer
to
fluency
,
eloquence
and
command
of
the
language
.
Every year in the first week of English class, some students inform me that writing is too hard. They never write, unless homework requires it. They find the writing process painful and difficult.  How awful it is to be able to speak in a language but not to write in it, especially with its rich vocabulary. Being able to speak but not write is like living in an enormous mansion and never leaving one small room. When I meet students who think they can't write, I know, as a teacher my duty is to show them the rest of the rooms. My task is to build fluency and accuracy while providing the opportunity in any writing activity to enhance the moral and emotional development of my students.  One great way to do this is by having students write in a journal in class every day.  Writing ability is like strength training. Writing needs to be done just like exercise; just as muscles grow stronger with exercise, writing skills improve quickly with writing practice daily. I often see a rise in student confidence and performance after only a few weeks of journal writing.  Expressing oneself in writing is one of the most important skills I teach to strengthen the whole students. When my students practice journal writing, they are practicing for their future academic, political, and emotional lives. They build skills so that some say they might write a great novel, a piece of sorely needed legislation, or the perfect love letter. That they write in their journals every day puts them a step closer to fluency, eloquence and command of the language.