Happy National Day of Writing! Created by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) six years ago, this is a day to celebrate writing in all its forms (psst…you are free to do this any and every day!). Here’s a simple activity to celebrate your writing.
Make a list of the different types of writing you have done during the past week (e.g. e-mails, shopping lists, reports at work, letters, poems, stories, etc.). Next, code each item as FI for fiction or FA for faction*** (nonfiction).
What do you notice? If you’re like the majority of people, most of what you write is faction. According to research, more than 85% of what we write after graduation is faction. That seems logical, doesn’t it?
So, what to do with this information? If you’re a teacher, use it to help inform your writing program. What’s the balance between fiction and faction in your classroom? Is the practice of teaching primarily fiction of service to your students? The Common Core may not be the treasure as it is often touted as, but it is addressing the traditional imbalance (too much fiction). Adding more faction to your classroom will help address those standards as well help your kids get on in the real-world. As you proceed, I encourage you to include as much authentic writing (writing that goes beyond the teacher’s eyes) as you can.
If you’re a parent, grandparent, or other adult around kids outside the classroom, model writing for them. Let them see you as a writer. Let them see firsthand the function as well as the power of words. Encourage them to write notes, makes lists, provide written feedback, and more. You’ll be doing them a great service for school and life.
***For background on faction, see the February 3, 2014 post.
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