Writing for Enjoyment

Writing

Many of us were never taught to enjoy writing; in fact, it seems to be a “trigger” for many of our students in class. As an adult, I find it therapeutic to sit down and write a note, a to-do list, or a blog entry. Even when I struggle to write a quality piece because I am under a deadline, I really enjoy putting pen to paper or the sound of the keyboard as I type- it is peaceful. I enjoy writing notes to students; I love when I get to deliver them and I love when parents share how I made an impact on their child with a short note.

This year I have heard students talking about writing in a new way. It is amazing! Students are sharing the books they have written, bragging about the number of books they have written, and showing me the writing they have done out of school. My own child and his friends have created books using Google slides and are excited to work on it outside of school.  Writing is a skill that students need to be successful in life. From school to social media to in their place of work, communication is vital for future success. Being able to communicate information is something we all need to be able to do.

 How often do you sit and reflect? As educators, we naturally reflect on how lessons went, how students are doing, what we want to do better in, but how often do we take the time to reflect on us- the person?

For Christmas, I received a book of lists; it is a book filled with fillable lists. I have changed the titles of a few of the lists, because honestly- it is my book and I wanted to. The book had me think about my life and the things I have done or want to do, not what I need to do.  If you do not have a list of the books or articles you have read this year, I highly recommend starting one.

Our students see our passions and often take them on as their own.  Find what you enjoy writing about.  Maybe you journal, maybe you love making to-do lists, or maybe you enjoy writing letters with pen and paper.  Write for you, for your peace of mind.