July+09

We are wrapping up our discussion of the writing process.Rod shared another excerpt from Fred Chappell. We paired off and wrote lists of our thoughts about the writing process and how we use it in our classes and how it relates to standards. Our thoughts were similar: There is not just one process. We need to help kids discover what works for them. Constraints in the "system", not just standards, limit writing development. Rod asked us to post our reflections about process on the Wiki. We discussed briefly plagiarism, teaching paraphrasing, citing sources, and using technology and how they relate to the process. Marty read us a plea from the basket for more submissions. Katie brought us yummy Scotcheroos :-).

Writing Process Korey & Erin
 * We don'tnecessarily agree with the way we teach the process
 * There is not just one process.
 * Teaching the process started with good intentions: Teach kids what a good writer does and they will become good writers.
 * We still write as if we're transcribing from paper notes to a typewriter.
 * Using computers means revision can be intermingled with drafting.
 * A writer's experience influences the way he/she composes.
 * We see little evidence that students have internalized the writing process as it is taught.
 * Emphasis on reading comprehension has shifted focus away from writing and has limited time we can spend on writing.
 * Not buying into or being invested in "the process" makes it hard to teach.
 * Kids need time to percolate ideas, but we have to stick to a schedule.It's hard to create conditions conducive to a process that works for everyone.

Katie & Jane
 * Writing is fluid
 * Writing can turn the abstract into the concrete
 * The writing process is different for everyone
 * Writing can lead to discovery
 * Writing means different things to different people
 * Writing for tests does not reflect true ability

Lisa & Ted
 * It's messy, not easy, and recursive
 * It's different for everyone
 * Rules are meant to be broken, but you can't break them if you don't know them
 * The process can change for different purposes
 * Processes have similarities to creative process, scientific method, study process, & problem solving
 * It rarely fits in the box.There's no "textbook" process
 * You have to adopt
 * Some of the discrepancy between the process and the standards is in the interpretation
 * Thinking skills are more important than knowledge or specialized techniques
 * Standards are just the skeletons; we provide the meat
 * Disciplines can overlap
 * We need to help discover their own process