Writing about what's important to you
Students need to be engaged in personal writing on a daily basis. As teachers we need to help students focus on writing about themselves and what is important to them. Personal writing is writing that you do for yourself~like a conversation with your best friend. Personal writing can include entries made in a private journal, notes kept in a school journal, and letters or postcards written to relatives or friends. Some personal writing is meant for the writer alone. Often, private writing later becomes a story, poem, or other form of writing. I always begin my day with personal writing, and I end my day with personal writing. Think of it as a "writing sandwich." As a writer, you need to ask yourself, "What is important to me?" Everyone's answer will be different because each of us is different. Whatever you choose to write, it needs to be important to you. Personal writing is a great way to explore your thoughts and feelings. When some...