Dear Content Area Teacher…

Always working to find balance seems a consistent and integral part of my life journey: work-life balance, mom-wife balance, or the life-self care balance. Such stability struggles are nothing new. Recently however, I have been faced with the English-social studies teacher balance.

The scores are in, and they are troubling. In an environment rich in resources and dedicated professionals, no child should struggle with reading and writing. What is the hold-up? Why are they struggling? So many can get to college, but too many are struggling to stay. Where is the breakdown? The frustrations mount; they can’t read. The frustrations mount; they can’t write. Where does the responsibility lie? The responsibility lies in all of us.

Do I dare say that we are all teachers of reading and writing and a grave level of importance showers the content area classrooms. Feel empowered and embolden your students to read and write with pure confidence and skill. Knowledge of content is important and respected while the skill of writing compares equally in importance. The beauty lies in the appreciation for the merging of both profound ideas and the art of writing. As thoughtful practitioners, it is about teaching writing rather than assigning it. Let the grade in the grade book stand for a response to authentic feedback for a young adult who needs to be ready. Our time together is precious and limited; therefore, we must not waste a single minute.

In the spirit of humane assessment, I believe as an educator one should celebrate thoughtful ideas while acknowledging an author’s craft and style. All aspects of writing prove critical in importance as students organize their writing, establish tone, share their voice, clarify their claim, and develop appropriate evidence. May their journey of development as proficient writers continue in every course that they take.