The Art of Writing – Tips for Teachers Part 2

The Art of Writing – Tips for Teachers Part 2 – Podcast Episode 137 | Classnotes Podcast 137

Classnotes Podcast (March 31, 2014) During many of the IDRA Coca-Cola Valued Youth Program’s 30 years, students have written essays about how the program has affected their lives and their tutees. For this year’s anniversary celebration, we invited three distinguished authors – San Antonio Poet Laureate, Dr. Carmen Tafolla, Texas State Poet Laureate, Rosemary Catacalos and author, historian, and retired educator, J. Gilberto Quezada – to read the essays and share their impressions.

In this podcast episode, we bring you Part 2 of a panel discussion led by Dr. Tafolla and Mr. Quezada who share their own journey in becoming writers and offer tips to teachers working with students to improve their own writing. A brief intro is provided by Laurie Posner, MPA, an IDRA senior education associate, who also moderated the panel.

Show length: 23:44

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Resources

Coca-Cola Valued Youth Program
http://www.idra.org/coca-cola-valued-youth-program/

Continuities – Lessons for the Future of Education from the IDRA Coca-Cola Valued Youth Program
http://www.idra.org/coca-cola-valued-youth-program/Continuities/

Coca-Cola Valued Youth Program Student Essays
http://www.idra.org/coca-cola-valued-youth-program/student-essays/

Coca-Cola Valued Youth Program – Strengthening Student Connections with School
by Linda Cantú, Ph.D., IDRA Newsletter
http://www.idra.org/resource-center/CC-valued-youth-program-strengthening-student-connections-with-school/

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Show Notes

Dr. Tafolla explains why good writing comes not from being technically correct, but rather from being authentic, vulnerable, and “going deep inside who you really are.”

Dr. Tafolla talks about her own journey to becoming a writer, and learning to tell stories not about faraway cities like New York, but instead about the people and places right around her that she knew so well. She shares one such example by telling a colorful story from her childhood of an elderly neighbor who made tortillas.

Mr. Quezada offers teachers several ideas for helping students to improve their writing: Give students a “writer’s toolbox” to work from – a solid foundation in grammar, punctuation, spelling, vocabulary, and word usage. Encourage students to use a dictionary or thesaurus to expand their vocabulary. Use exercises to stimulate the students’ creative thinking, including writing their memoirs. Give students the P + R = SW formula: Practice + Reading = Success in Writing.

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