A few thoughts I have as I finish reading Linda Rief’s “What’s Right With Writing?”
- Well, hell. In my last response I praised a teacher for dealing with the realities of standardized testing in a practical way. And now, here I am finishing an article in which the writer repeatedly states that testing is one of the biggest problems with how we teach writing. What am I to muddle out? Which one is correct? Should I be fighting the good fight against testing? Isn’t that what Parker Palmer would do? (I’m seeing an opportunity for macramé bracelets, here.) I think I can agree with Rief that standardized testing is a problem, while continuing to appreciate Lain’s gratitude that her students’ scores improve through writing workshops. After all, that isn’t Lain’s focus, and it only verifies what she already knew: that students become better writers if they workshop.
- “We have forgotten that a person can read without writing, but cannot write without reading. If we neglect writing while focusing our attention almost exclusively on reading, it is also at the expense of reading.” What writer hasn’t avoided writing by reading another book? In grad school it was an ongoing joke that the best way to procrastinate is to say “I still need to read more.” I find this reminder very timely for myself as a writer and not just as a teacher. I’ve spent much of the year since I finished school reading and very little of it writing. And as a result, I’m not as careful of a reader as I used to be. When I’m thinking like a writer, I pay close attention to all words!
- Circling back to my first musing: “In an era of test-mania, we tend to forget, or dismiss, the importance of writing. If we allow that, others will do our thinking.” This is the single most important reason that we must value the writing process: it helps us become better thinkers. And our writing can initiate dialogue that in turn pushes our thinking even more. And that is something worth believing in and fighting for, regardless of it’s affect on test scores
ah yes, the need to write. the need to read. the importance of awareness, consciousness, that tingling sense of what works and what doesn't... sometimes, when i've spent a lot of energy and time writing, I'm annoyed when i can't enjoy just reading a book, can't turn off the internal editor ;) but it's worth it, i think. makes a difference in the writing, ultimately
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with your third point: writing does make better thinkers. Because I have had so many opportunities to write, it's almost as if my brain thinks better on paper. I never really am sure about something until I can write it out. Obviously you are talking about thinking period, not just on paper, but I have developed this ability from writing soooo much!
ReplyDeleteI believe the concept of testing is valuable. I just believe it is like a thermometer. It tells us if there is a fever or not but not any details related to what might be wrong. You make a valid point about these articles running from one side of the fence to the other. It can be confusing when putting all of this together in our own minds.
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