Assisting Reluctant Writers

I am an English teacher at John Marshall High School, IT in Cleveland Metropolitan School District. I had the opportunity to be involved in Apple coaching this week. The goal of my coaching was to help my Senior writers gain more comfort with their writing abilities. In the beginning of the cycle, I was a bit hesitant and unsure what I would do in terms of technology to provide them with assistance in advancing their skills.

I wondered if there would be something that my students could immediately understand and apply to their own writing strategies. I am pleased to say that the skill we worked on was dictation and having students listen back to what they wrote. This exercise was very informative and helpful in allowing them to hear their words and see where they need to make improvements. I was happy to introduce anything to my students that will give them a greater sense of control and confidence over their writing.

I was also also somewhat reluctant to introduce a form of technology for writing because I was a bit unsure of my own technological skills. With the continuous coaching that I received this week, as well as future coaching, I am positive my confidence and comfort in technology will continue to grow.