Originally published in TEACH Magazine, September/October 2017 Issue
By Deborah Rooney
As soon as I utter the words “writing assignment,” looks of panic appear on my students’ faces. Their hands shoot up like rockets and the questions immediately start: “How long does it need to be? Does spelling count? When is it due? What happens if I don’t finish on time?” The children don’t even know what they are writing about; however, that’s not what is important to them.
As I begin to enthusiastically explain the assignment, I know my students aren’t listening to a word I’m saying. Instead, they’re plotting how they can complete the assignment as quickly as possible. Children have told me they use many techniques to ease the pain of the writing process: altering margins, changing the line spacing, and using Arial font rather than Times New Roman because it takes up more space.
Deborah Rooney, MEd, is an educational specialist in Massachusetts and has a successful private practice teaching and advocating for children in kindergarten through twelfth grade. In addition, she works for the Belmont Hill School and Buckingham Browne & Nichols School. Deborah recently created a writing program for all grade levels, along with a study and organizational skills program for middle and high schoolers.
