Teaching the Art of Writing: A Journey to Learn How

I am a professor of English, and my specialty is English Education. One of my teaching responsibilities is to prepare undergraduate students to incorporate writing in their future teaching. I believe two elements must be in place for that to happen successfully: 1) they have to be taught many methods of teaching writing; and 2) they have to see purpose and some enjoyment in their own writing. I took a long journey to develop those beliefs; I am glad I did, and I think my students have benefited.

I followed the traditional path of undergraduate education where I majored in English at Western Michigan University and became certified to teach in the state of Michigan. Unlike many of today’s students, I graduated in four years, and I did get a job immediately in Bay City. I began my career teaching at T.L. Handy High School with five sections of a variety of English: 9th grade “regular” English and 10th grade “general” English. In every section, I had my students write, and I duly marked each paper with my red pen. I saw myself as a teacher, certainly not as a writer. I demanded that my students read “good” literature like Great Expectations and Romeo and Juliet and write essays that reflected their understanding of the literature and any research I asked them to do. I have some memories, but much of that early period of teaching is a blur—perhaps fortunately.