Teacher to Teacher - May 2008 - (Page 3) words. Make a classroom rule that no object or idea can be called a “thing.” And above all, avoid popular slang or abbreviated speech patterns (“He’s like. . . .”; “I go. . . .”; “Y’know”). Writing Ultimately the value of reading and vocabulary skills is their impact on successful writing. Any student who seeks a college education must demonstrate proficiency in composition. As you work on your students’ writing skills, focus on writing to understand, writing to explain, and writing to persuade. To help them develop their understanding, encourage them to keep a journal in which they do more than record the events of the day. In complete sentences, they should explore their ideas as well as their feelings. You can suggest topics or encourage them to respond to what they are reading. They should also develop their skills at analytical writing, the ability to use details to develop an extended explanation with logical organization and clarity of expression. They also need to be able to construct a convincing argument, analyzing their audience to know what appeals would be valuable and developing detailed support. It would be valuable to connect these writing experiences with their reading—analyzing the literature they are studying by explaining literary elements or arguing a literary thesis. BJU Press Testing Service offers professional writing evaluations for students in Grades 3−12. See their website for details and ordering information: www.bjupress.com/ services/testing. As you evaluate students’ writing, be sure to go beyond spelling and grammar. Address issues such as organization, sufficiency of support, stylistic maturity, and clarity of expression. Sometimes it may be helpful to find a professional, for example in the field of business or education, who would be willing to read a sample piece of a student’s writing and provide feedback. (See sidebar.) Developing verbal skills is a critical element of college preparation. These skills are necessary to the critical thinking that typifies college study. They are important stepping stones to college success. Rhonda Galloway teaches in the English department at Bob Jones University. Good teachers never stop learning. BJu Academic excellence with a biblical worldview 800-BJ-AND-ME BJU does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, or national or ethnic origin. ©2008 Bob Jones University SE T2T0308 Teacher to Teacher | May 2008 page 3 http://www.bjupress.com/services/testing/ http://www.bjupress.com/services/testing/ http://www.bju.edu
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Teacher to Teacher - May 2008 Teacher to Teacher - May 2008 Teacher to Teacher - May 2008 - (Page Intro) Teacher to Teacher - May 2008 - (Page 1) Teacher to Teacher - May 2008 - (Page 2) Teacher to Teacher - May 2008 - (Page 3) Teacher to Teacher - May 2008 - (Page 4) Teacher to Teacher - May 2008 - (Page 5) Teacher to Teacher - May 2008 - (Page 6) Teacher to Teacher - May 2008 - (Page 7) Teacher to Teacher - May 2008 - (Page 8)
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