Prewriting

One of our assignments for week 3 of class is to "keep writing in our writers notebook." We also have reading assignments in three out of four of our texts.

Today I'm reading about prewriting in the Writing Workshop book by Ralph Fletcher and JoAnn Portalupi.

Prewriting often assigned by asking kids to use a circle map, graphic organizer of some sort, jotting down words, key word outline (my favorite of these)  and thinking about what one wants write about. This is to keep the student from just blasting into writing without a plan (my preferred way of writing and what I do 98% of the time).  However, as a teacher I do see the value of prewriting, even if I rarely (to never) use it myself.

We need to keep in mind that every student differs. Yes, I know we know that in theory, everyone does. But in practice teachers (homeschoolers or public/private school teachers) tend to follow a curriculum (or teacher driven) preference in prewriting.  We tend to want to teach kids "the right way." But, there isn't a "one right way to prewrite."  Some kiddos (and adults) thrive on graphic organizers. I see their use in classes, however personally I consider graphic organizers to be one of Dante's circles of hell.  I hate the things (for my personal writing). They interrupt my flow, they are an extra step I find excruciatingly annoying and they do zip, nada, nothing for me in my writing process. Others swear by them.

Here is a quote from the book (page 63).  "There are countless ways of rehearsing for writing. But too often in school the prewriting stage becomes a rigid routine. Instead of kids getting to choose how they want to rehearse for a piece of writing, all students are required to begin by making a cluster web, story map, outline graphic organizer."

The book goes on to say that prewriting should be a help, not a burden.  The book suggests showing students a variety of ways to prewrite and letting them choose. Novel concept that. And Hallelujah and Amen.

I'm all for teaching graphic organizers and see their use (particularly in my field of special ed), but to insist that every child use them because the teacher decrees so inhibits some kids from writing at all.  I find doing a graphic organizer harder than actually writing.

I'm also not a note taker, muddled through high school and college with very little to no note taking. Other than when teachers flat insisted we copy from the board. But that's another post.  Others find note taking hugely important, even essential.  The thing is, not every learner learns the same way. And we, as educators (be it public school, home school or private school) need to remember that and allow kids the ability to complete projects with freedom to get the job done in a way that suits them.

Prewrite - certainly.  But some do that in their head as the type along, others need the graphic organizer, others are inspired by leafing through books or pictures for inspiration.  One way does not fit all.