Make Student Writing Known: Publish

Teaching from home, my wife works with second grade students and is always encouraging them to write in their digital and paper journals. She also sees to it that the students have ample opportunity to publish to each other. As second graders, they prepare their work and share it in Seesaw. This fantastic portfolio tool makes it simple to share student work. In this blog, we’ll explore the important but often forgotten requirement in writing of how to make students’ work known to a global audience.

Kindle the Mind

People share stories, tales that warm the heart, embolden the spirit, kindle the mind. You have the power to amplify children’s voices, to create a platform from which they can reach the world…and your stories and lessons can as well. As a writing teacher, I encourage students to write from their experiences. The act of writing can enrapture. Writing for publication motivates. I always ask teachers who work with K-12 writers “How are your students connecting with a global audience?“

“In my 40-year career as a middle school English teacher, the simplest and most powerful innovation was to give my students time and choice as writers and readers,” says Nanci Atwell. In a writing-reading workshop, students choose the topics they write about and the books they read. Because they decide, they engage. Because they engage, they experience the volume of committed practice that leads to stamina and excellence. Each year my students read an average of 40 books and produced over 20 pieces of writing. They won writing contests, were published, and earned money.

Some may ask, “How do I get started?” Here are a few steps you can take.