English Skills Learning Center

A Tip for Teaching Writing from Kristy Flanders, ESLC Workplace Instructor:

Many students are perfectionists in their writing and are afraid to try because there will be so many mistakes. I've found that the first step in teaching writing is to create an atmosphere of confidence. When I give follow-up on homework or in-class writing assignments, I don't correct every detail, but am satisfied as long as the general idea is expressed. What I do correct are things that we have been practicing in class and I know they understand. When I have students come to the board, they can look to their "teammates" for help with spelling or sentence structure. If everyone recognizes that we are in a learning environment where mistakes are inevitable but welcome, they will be more willing to try what they initially thought was too difficult.