Creating a Climate for Writing

 Welcome to our last week of blogging guys. 

As the course LIT102 is coming to an end I wish to share with you information on CREATING A WRITING ENVIRONMENT. 

Throughout all our blogs thus far, we have spoken about writing traits, strategies and various writing genres. However, in order for our students to apply what they have learnt about writing, we as teachers must create a comfortable and exciting place that will make them want to write. As Barry Saide once said "Everyone should have an oppurtunity to learn in a positive environment, to enjoy the learning process, and feel comfortable and content within it."   Therefore, I wish to share with you ways you as teachers can create an environment to motivate your writers. 

How to Create an Environment that Motivates Writers

Instill Self Efficacy

Self efficacy is the 'I believe in me! feeling within an individual. It is therefore important that as teachers we give students meaningful and positive feedback. This type of feedback also help students to develop self-confidence as they will no longer say "I can't" but "I will!"

Develop Self-Regulated Learners

According to Zimmerman, writers should

(1) self evaluate and monitor

(2) set goals and strategic plans

(3) put a plan into action and monitor it

(4) monitor the outcomes and refine strategies

When writers monitor and control their thought processes in order to learn, this is called self-regulation. As writer's, students should self monitor as this is important. In addition, this is process is known as metacognition. This process is important as it takes place whens tudents use purposeful thinking. However, as teachers we must guide our students through the thinking process before, during and after their writing experiences. 

Develop Internal Motivation

Intrinsic motivation is essential when developing self-motivated and self directed writers. As teachers we want our students to be self-motivated. We must give our students more choices as this will   motivate them to become better writers.

For example: When students are given a choice like selecting a topic of interest to perhaps write a descriptive piece or narrative, they become more confident and motivated. This is so as students will select topics that are of interest to them. 

According to Homer Rice, "You can motivate by fear, and you can motivate by reward. But those methods are only temporary. The only lasting thing is SELF-MOTIVATION."

Creating a Safe and Positive Writing Environment

Every writer is different. Their interests and even their learning style. When teachers create a safe and positive writing atmosphere for students, they become confident and know that their writing pieces is accepted and treated with respect. 

Admit it, as teachers we love the red ink but do we know when soe students see the red they go into a shell? Therefore, we  must create an environment where students see each mistake as an oppurtunity improve their writing and become better writers. 

In addition, teachers need to display positive expectations in the classroom. Yes, we may tell our young writers but when they see the posters and slogans with positive expectations they become intrinsically motivated. 

 

Creating an Exciting Writing Environment

As teachers we need to create an environment that will make our writers want to write. We must use materials that match our students learning style and materials that matches the topic. We must use materials that will not only connect to the topic but they must be of various size, shape and colour. 

Ways to create the Right Spot for the Write Spot

Choose a specific wall in your classroom. You can also name this wall. Post the following slogans and charts on this wall.

a) Rules for the different genres of writing

b) Positive Expectations

c) Transitional Words

d) area to display writer's work

In this same area, create:

a) book shelves

b) art supplies kit

c) to include technology, a computer for research

Establishing Author Ownership

We all want our students to be successful writers. Therefore, we must be aware of our students feelings and emotions when approaching the task at hand. We must also remember to provide choices for our students as this is one way they are self motivated. 

We have covered how to create an environment that will motivate our students, how to create a positive environment through slogans and posters, and how to create the Right spot for the Write spot. However, we are not finished just yet. We must then assess the writing climate. How can we do this? Teachers can use a checklist. The teacher can then use the checklist to identify the areas that may need improvement so that their writers can have a comfortable writing environment. 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

For the past couple of months we have learnt so much. From your feedback I have realized you have learnt some new things like the writing traits and writing strategies. I myself have learnt quite a lot and feel that as a writing teacher I have improved my skills. In addition, as this is our final blog we wish you success in implementing all that you have learnt through our blogs. I also hope that you will not be stingy with the information and will willingly share with others so that they too will become better and effective teachers just like you! 

Who knows perhaps in the future I might be motivated to create a blog on my own or 

have my students create one. 

Thank you for all of your support and feedback💓💓.