Teaching Writing Philosophy :: Education Teacher Educating Essays

Teaching Writing Philosophy Assessments are easily one of the most frustrating elements of school life for both teachers and students. The argument that there is no way to tell how much a student is learning without assessments should prove false for a skilled teacher. An involved, interactive classroom should result in a keen awareness by the teacher of how much each student is learning. That being said, I still believe in assessment as a useful tool within teaching if it is done well and fairly. The principles of this nation are based on competition, whether that is something we like about our schools or not. There needs to be something to differentiate students based on ablility and work ethic. Yes, a skilled teacher should be able to attract student’s interest in a subject without the threat of a grade looming, but isn’t there something special about that perfect grade for a job well done? Even a devoted student may find him or herself willing to let assignments slide if th ere are no consequences for their actions. Ultimately I feel that the problem within schools is not that there are tests; it is just the way that these tests are formatted. Too often student’s face monstrous tests that are vaguely worded, seem to have numerous correct answers, or have unclear directions. Different students think about things in different ways and no one should be punished for that. My philosophy is fairly simple: I am on the student’s side, I want them to do well, and I intend to provide ample opportunity to do so. Hopefully my teaching style will attract them to the materials that I appreciate so much within literature and writing. If a student can honestly say that he or she worked hard in my class and took the options available to them, their grade should always be fair. Grading essays or stories is a long process. Some students may produce a great final product that took less effort than another student who worked feverishly but is just not as skilled of a writer. There should be a way to reward both a great final piece and a strong effort within the writing process.