I
recently read in Best Teaching Practices
for Reading by Randi Stone about a teacher that found a creative and
innovative way to motivate her struggling students to become successful at reading
and writing. Carla Hurchalla of Salisbury, Maryland is a Title 1 teacher whose
students had little support at home and did not view themselves as readers and
writers. She designed “Authors in Residence” in an attempt to change their
attitudes toward this subject. This program gives students an audience to write
for as the final product is published on a Web page for all to see. The
students collaborate with real authors through e-mail and other Web tools to
complete a writing project. The students search the Internet for information on
their topic and their assigned author. The goals of the program include
strengthening students’ communication, letter-writing, creative writing, and
informal writing skills. The ultimate goal is for students to become life-long
readers and writers. The collaboration with authors was intended to motivate
students by giving them authentic opportunities to interact with real published
authors. After brainstorming, the students develop rough drafts and work with
their mentor author to turn it into a publishable piece for the audience.
This
teacher saw her students make progress as they participated in a meaningful
learning process. Her students learned how to use e-mail, create a Web page,
and search for new books. This real-world application proved to be an effective
strategy and some of the students continued to keep in touch with their mentor
author. Hurchalla suggests that this strategy can be used in any content area
as tudents may collaborate with experts from various fields.
This
program engages students in the writing process and implements connectivist
ideas as the students collaborate with a mentor author through Web tools. The
students learn to communicate effectively using the Internet. Students are not
simply told to write about a certain topic, but are given the opportunity to
interact with an expert to help and encourage them in the process. I think “Authors
in Residence” is a great way to develop 21st Century skills while
also developing an appreciation for reading and writing. I think this type of
strategy would be effective in almost any content area. Students can use
various Web 2.0 tools to communicate and collaborate with experts of different
fields. This strategy is another way for students to create something not only
for a grade, but as a presentation that they can show off and be proud of.
Beth, I have recently read this as well. I really like how this teacher is using Web tools and experts to make reading and writing fun and applicable to the real world with struggling or at risk students. By using web tools students are using learning and applying reading and writing to their daily routines without recognizing they are working. I think finding experts and other adults in the real world that they can relate to and ask questions to helps them understand the importance of a subject such as reading and writing in our society.
ReplyDeleteI love the article that you posted. It really helps to make all of the connections we have been discussing solid. This article states that a national survey has found that students are even using these technologies and resources to look up information outside of school. I think this should be a goal; to get all students excited about learning and support their explorations by giving them Web Tools and technologies to do so.
Beth,
ReplyDeleteThis is a brilliant idea for secondary education students. Students who are fluent in technology would love to use this because it offers an opportunity to be creative in your writing and it allows professionals outside of the classroom to assist students. These authors can explain to students what readers are interested in and what they look for when reading essays, books, documents, etc. The idea also allows the students to use the technology afforded to them in an educational manner.