Teaching Interst in Writing

“Interest for Writing: How Teachers can Make a Difference” by Rebecca L. Lipstein and K. Ann Renninger explores ways of finding out how to teach students how to love writing. Students who are interested in writing are more likely to set goals, use pedagogical strategies and seek feedback. So it’s no surprise that students who are interested in writing become better writers. The goal of this article is to inform students and teachers alike about how to teach interest in writing. Student participation in the construction of assignments can create assignments that leave students feeling confident and motivated to succeed.  The levels of interest are rated one through four based on the students desire to seek out writing on their own. For each level there are specific approaches that incorporate the student’s interest in writing within the pedagogical approach.  While I love the idea of catering an education to the students’ needs I can see how this approach would not be effective in a classroom because teachers are already spread so thin. The best way to help a student is to find out what they need/ want specifically but rewriting the curriculum to suit each individual student may be more than teachers can handle.  Also some students may not fall neatly into one category, perhaps between two categories or switching categories. Over all I think the idea of crafting a curriculum around the student is no doubt the best way to motivate and educate however it is not the most efficient.