A Letter to Educators

Dear Educator:

We are teachers, not dentists, yet it seems as if we are pulling teeth in order to get our children to write. How many times have you asked your students to write an essay and they ask, “how long does it have to be?” They want to know the precise number of pages, paragraphs, sentences or words, yet sometimes we are unsure ourselves. We reply, “a page is fine,” as if this was a determining factor as to the quality of the essay they write. As educators we must focus on the quality of the essay, not necessarily the quantity. We’ve all seen a 5 paragraph essay poorly written, and a paragraph well written. So how do you find the balance between quality and quanity? We know that standardized tests measure holistic quality, yet we also know that a well-organized essay should contain many elements which cannot be acomplished in one or two paragraphs.

“My kids are behind several grade levels, so I just accpet the fact that they tried.” That is an excuse, and a foolish belief. “I’ve tried this method and that method, this book and that book, but the same or similar results reappear.” You question your ability to teach the skill of writing. In fact, when you think back to your school days you don’t really remember how you learned to write; it was sort of picked up instinctively. We had English teachers who carried a yard stick, waiting to whack our backsides if we did not write properly. Remember diagraming sentences? To this day I wonder why this was necessary. There are so many grammar rules; many don’t make sense to me. I can’t explain why the rule exists, I just know we have to follow this rule.

So, what are we to do about our children who cannot read or write? My question to you ---can they talk? We pick up oral language before written language, so this is the bridge to commendable writing. The key to motivating kids to write is to break everything down into little, tiny, digestible parts, while mastering one skill at a time. Can a 2nd grader write a 5 paragraph essay? Several 1st graders have used the i Control Method, producing a five paragraph essay. When you teach that child how to write one sentence at a time, then you will discover that you can teach them to write 5 paragraphs. The child can speak in a full sentence, right? Ask the child to repeat the sentence aloud several times in order to memorize it. Afterwards, have the child to write the sentence down phonetically. Maybe you can’t decipher the words, but they certainly can! This is the beginning of a beautiful journey to commendable writing. You have to show how every sentence is connected to the paragraph, and how every paragraph is connected to the essay. Kids need to see how things work and the relationships between ideas. They will discover how to use the appropriate transitional phrases and why they are crucial to writing a perfect essay.

I trained teachers who informed me that their students have never heard the term, “thesis statement.” They call it the “bun,” or “number 1.” They call it everything except it’s proper name, as if though they are incapable of comprehending such a term. High expectations are necessary for the success of any student. Trust that they will comprehend as long as you consistently label it the exact same way every time they complete a new essay. Don’t give it a “baby” name, watering down correct terminology. You wouldn’t call a tree an apple or an ant a fly. When we place low expectations for what students can learn, we fail to educate our children to their fullest capacity. I understand symbolism, but I don’t understand teachers who are resistant to transitioning students from “baby talk” to academic language.

The i Control Writing Program is designed to assist you with helping your students through the writing process. Although this process almost eliminates brainstorming, which is beat over our heads until we see stars, the method allows kids to organize their thoughts while creating meaningful relationship between ideas. By examining model essays using the same method, they are able to simulate or imitate great sentence structure. Some may be opposed to “structred” writing, but students must understand the basic structure of a 5 paragraph essay before they can move forward to experimentation with new ideas. By providing multiple opportunities to practice a variety of essays on diferent topics while using the same method, students begin to immediately see the connections between thesis statement, topic sentences, concluding statements, and supporting details. They will become exceptionally creative when writing a hook; after all, there are 8 different types of hooks to choose from. The more stuudents practice, the more automatic their writing will become. i Control Writing is about building a foundation for success, allowing students to find their voice while thinking creatively and critically. As they listen to one another’s sentences read aloud, or proofread a friend’s essay they will “borrow” ideas, tossing out the weak for the strong. This is a learning process that must be encouraged and nurtured.

Writing is a sensitive subject. When we write, we worry about what others will think of our ideas. We wonder if people agree or disagree with our position. It exposes how we really feel, so it can be a very intimidating process for students. We must be careful about editing our student’s essays. I am not opposed to editing a student’s writing, I just prefer peer or self-editing over red ink. We sometimes become so obsessed with what children do with their words rather than what they say with them. Always compliment children when they do things correctly and ask them to clarify when necessary. I remember crying when my teacher corrected my journal. I thought it was private and should be left “as is.” She respected my opinion and never marked on my journal again. When kids see red ink all over their essays after they have poured their heart and soul into their writing, it becomes very discouraging. There are alternative ways to encourage proper grammar, mechanics and usage.

We have an important job to accomplish. Probably the most important job in the world. I would like to encourage you to continue pushing children forward, stretching the limits. Every child is capable of learning how to write effectively. It is foolish to believe that your gifted students are “too advanced” to use a writing program, or your low-performing are “too far behind.” As you will see in our before and after essays, i Control Writing takes students to new levels, challenging old assumptions and establishing a foundation for growth. Commendable writing is on the other side of the rainbow, as long as students are given models to follow and opportunities to practice. Growth will come in time. I look forward to meeting and working with you in the near future.

Sincerely,
Rachel Kenyata Armour, Creator
Choices i Control Academic Program, Inc.