Writing

Third Class

This week we were able to present on some of the apps that we had discovered to help reluctant readers. Many wonderful apps were shared that could be used with lots of different students. It was a great way of discovering what is available.

Later in the day we focused on writing and all that goes into the writing process. We were asked to pick up a pen using our non dominant hand and write about our Thanks Giving Dinners.  I found this very difficult.  It took me a long time to figure out how to  hold the pen and then how I was going to make letters on the paper.   The letters were very difficult to form and by the end of my sentence I was wanting to stop.  It was a good learning exercise and a reminder how writing can be difficult to some students.

 

 

 

 

We were shown a writing task analysis to see all the elements it takes to write.

 

 

 

We then were asked to pick up our iPads and use the co writer app.  The task then became easy and enjoyable again.  Co writer is an amazing app.  I was hooked on iWordQ CA but now I am leaning to co writer.

 



 

 

I like the cowriter because it allows the user to create their own word lists on any subject.  the app then gathers words from the Internet and creates theme specific word lists.  Its a great app, and less expensive than iWordQ CA.  

 

This exercise just showed me again how the right technology can be world changing for students.

 

There are many apps that can also assist reluctant writers to get their thoughts down.  Students can try dragon dictate, text pro, voice to text on the iPad and many more. 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Articles
 

 

Harnessing the potential of Technology to Support the Academic Success of Diverse Students

This article is promoting UDL as best practice.  If we look at the curriculum as the challenge and not the student many more of our students with have success.  We need to stop be reactionary and start to be proactive.  If students are given choices of how to receive academic information and how to share what they have learned in the best way that works for them we as educators will have a much better understanding of what our students truly know.

Printed text books are the barrier.  They are good for some and so wrong for so many others.  Paper texts are static; they cannot have font increases or engaging extra material in audio format.  They can’t have videos added or updated.  You can’t write notes in the margins.  E-books are so much better for everyone. 

As teachers is it likely that we did well in school and enjoyed being there.  Most teachers are visual learners because this is how most of the information was transmitted when we learned.  We must remember that not all of our students learn this way and that we need to present material that will be favourably received by all.  Technology can be our ally in this pursuit. 

Take the Pencil out of the Process

This was a great article.  After reviewing the task analysis of writing and seeing how much goes into writing it is not a mystery why problems arise when writing occurs.  Just having to write with my left hand I realized how taxing the writing process can be.  I had to think about everything I was doing instead of concentrating on the thoughts that I wanted to get down.  We have the available technology and live in a world where typed text is expected.  There are so many reasons to stop the pencil and paper battle and get on board with a UDL approach to writing.