Hmmmm... writing. Am I a writer? Do I enjoy writing? Is writing necessary to express myself? These are questions I have thought about and have revisited many times surprisingly. I don't really consider myself as a writer and I don't always enjoy writing but I think it is very necessary in my life. I may not always enjoy it but sometimes I do and sometimes I even CHOOSE with my own free will to write. Impressive, huh!! I have always kept a journal throughout my life. I love going back through it and reading about my life years ago. If I didn't write down those memories there would be not way for me to "re-live" those experiences with the exact thoughts I had. Now I have a blog I occasionally post on and I often write little notes to people in my life that I care about.
In school I was not asked to write an unusual amount of things but I found I only enjoyed them when they were in my discipline. I didn't know I would end up teaching Biology when I was in middle school and high school but in hindsight I realize that I only liked writing in those classes. I remember feeling so bored when I was asked to write a book report or a script for a play. However, when it came to science and I had to write a report on evolution or wolves or a hypothesis I loved it. It came easy for me and I found it way more interesting. I think I disliked the other writing assignments, not because they were a bad assignment or because I hated writing, but because I wasn't interested in the subject. I also think in science writing I was able to put a little bit of my own opinion in the paper instead of just retelling a summary of a book I had just read. I think it is good that I like to write about scientific topics because then I can have that enthusiasm about scientific writing to share with my students. I can show them why the order of all scientific papers is so convenient and why it is fun to write a research paper. A teachers enthusiasm level plays a huge role in the students enthusiasm and participation.
As I picture my class I do see my students doing a lot of writing and a lot of reading. People sometimes assume that English is the only subject that requires writing but that is so far from the truth it is funny. I think my students need to be able to write and I am going to make sure they have every opportunity to learn how in my class. I may not make them write a million research papers or essays. Maybe they will write two sentences on an exit ticket or they will answer some lecture questions on their paper but they will be writing. So do I consider myself a writer? No. Do I enjoy writing? Sometimes. Is writing necessary to express myself? YES!
Karen. I don't know how you think that writing about research is fun. But you know...whatevs. But yes. Writing is very important in every subject. By making students write in their own words about something they have just learned it clarifies that subject to them. It just makes sense to do. So you makes those kids write about wolves!
ReplyDeleteOh hey Karen! I can totally relate to this post; I have a love/hate relationship with writing. When asked to write on a topic I am passionate about, it is WAY easier! I agree that writing is necessary for students to express themselves and writing also provides a different way for students to learn as they explain concepts in their own words. I will definitely have my students do a lot of writing activities as well.
ReplyDeleteI know that there is an increasingly large body of literature on "science as argument."
ReplyDeletehttp://www2.fiu.edu/~blissl/Arguement.pdf
So, for example, you can teach students that if you want to make an argument (e.g., a principle in motion always stays in motion), they have to identify evidence that would most able them to prove their argument and show them examples of convincing and less convincing evidence.
I've never really myself seen a science teacher approach science in this way before, but I know the science education field is really interested in "science as argument," and I think it seems like a really powerful way to frame science teaching. I can also imagine that this approach would lend itself to a lot of writing.
Anyway, just thinking out loud here...thanks for a thoughtful posting about how writing relates to biology! :)