My Journey: Teaching All Students the Joy of Being Writers

“Have you ever thought of becoming an English teacher?” questioned Ms. Binks, my junior year English teacher.

“No,” I replied, still a high school student.

Today, I actually am a sixth grade writing teacher. My students and I are so fortunate because I have taken a circuitous route. This chapter is my journey through so many changes in education and in me. The journey also became personal as writing became a part of my entire life.

It began in the 1970s when I was a student and then a young educator who knew only to follow a textbook. My interest in language led me to the field of speech-language pathology rather than English. Through the years, my experiences with inclusion led me to believe all students can learn the art of writing when given the proper tools and guidance. This became my passion—to teach students that they all are writers. The students needed to gain confidence and become invested in the joy of writing. My job as an educator was to facilitate this process.