The Bastardization of Standardization

Author: Jerry V.

Purpose/Objective:

For this design, I’m proposing we take a step away from the rough and intimidating world that is standardized testing and take a moment to appreciate how flexible writing can be outside the realms of what the standard is inside a Jr. High or High school classroom. As teachers we should be able to inspire students to want to learn more and explore certain areas of education they find interesting. Of course, following the path set for examination is important because without it the education system would lack direction. What if we were to take a day, once a week, as ELA teachers, to offer students a chance to try something new in writing? A moment to teach them that writing can be so much more than just answering the question thrust upon them on the exam. In summary, the purpose of this assignment or curriculum is to educate students on the different kinds of styles in the world of writing.

Audience: Teachers

Level: 6^th – 12^th grade

Assignment/Curriculum:

Every Friday we could take the time to explore a specific form of writing. Something that lets students express themselves in a way that feels comfortable to them. The idea is to use the entire class time every Friday to delve further into the world of writing and grant students the knowledge they need to pursue different platforms for expressing themselves in how they write.

A few examples:

Poetry – With the use of rhythm and certain patterns in their writing, students can express themselves without the worry of having to write a lot to get their message across.

Short Stories – These can be fiction or non-fiction, but can help students create a scene for the world they want to engage the reader in.

Playwriting/Screenwriting – This form could be used by students who want to focus more on conversations between characters over describing scenes in closer detail.

Songs – By using everyday scenarios, students can craft lyrics that reflect how they view or interact with the world around them.

Diary/Journal – It can also be something as simple as keeping a daily journal where students can write down whatever they want about daily occurrences.

There are lots of different methods of writing that can be tailored to fit the preference of each student. The examples listed above are just a few, general ideas for what could be explored. To touch more on these forms, we would have to sit down and pick specific types to discuss in class that might spike a student’s interest. Furthermore, with time and inclination, Teachers can also offer extracurricular programs that focus more on these types of writing for students who are keen on learning more. With something so simple that would only take one day a week, students can expand their understanding of what the possibilities in writing can be and might even choose, in the future, to pursue a career in English.