Top 5 Reasons Students Hate to Write
Top 5 Reasons Students Hate to Write
Many students have an aversion to writing of any kind. Why do they need to learn how to write paper? They think they will never understand or need writing skills.
v So why do students hate writing?
v How does a teacher overcome this?
v What’s the point of all this anyway?
1. Insufficient groundwork creates insecurity and frustration.
Ø Some students fear they must get everything perfect when starting to write anything. They shut down because they do not know how to spell a word or write a good sentence.
Ø Lay a foundation of spelling, basic grammar, and sentence writing. That clears their minds so when ready, they can focus on the step-by-step writing process.
2. Abstract. No clear-cut answers: How am I supposed to figure out the right answer?
Ø Many students struggle to wrap their heads around writing. Writing seems abstract because it is.
Ø There are writing skills, however, that can be learned. Writing has a concrete or right way.
Ø Help your student to connect with writing by breaking it down into bite sized pieces. Help them until they shoo you away as their confidence is built.
The Write Foundation provides the necessary tools to make writing a concrete endeavor. This produces confident writers.
3. “Writing is too hard.” For many students, writing requires too much effort. Mastering writing is hard without guidance. But, it’s like putting a hard puzzle together. The task is overwhelming without a plan. When not given enough guidance, students disassociate themselves and stop putting in effort. When you use a step-by-step process, it all comes together and makes sense.
Ø Students need to be mature enough to begin to handle abstract thinking. Advanced level thinking becomes more apparent when most are around 12 or 13.
Ø Students are often forced to rewrite repeatedly. This exasperates them even more when they are already insecure about what they are doing.
Ø Students need to master basic writing skills before advancing to more complicated writing.
Ø Students are frustrated when they are making too many mistakes. Sometimes backing up or slowing down is necessary. Sometimes stop and master consistent mistakes and then move on.
4. Fear of failure. “But what do I write?” How in the world do I complete this assignment? These questions and more swarm around in a student’s mind when they are overwhelmed.
Ø The fear of failure fades when students get enough hand holding guidance. Teach them basic writing skills so they have something to fall back on when writing anything.
Ø Writing skills need to be developed. Students need to learn how to use structure and the writing process, then they can get to the task at hand and write.
5. “I’m bored.” When students are bored, teaching writing is a like trying to drive a car out of gas; you get nowhere.
Ø Make sure your students are working on the correct level.
· If the assignment is too difficult, they will shut down feeling bored.
· If the assignment is too easy, boredom can also be a challenge.
Ø Break down the assignment into bite-sized pieces. Make the work sessions long enough to make progress, but not so long the brain is drained and shuts down.
Ø Let students select their topics within each lesson’s specifications. A more engaging topic will hold their interests longer.
Ø Different writing types may require some uninteresting subjects. Avoid making them write about subjects they loathe.
· Encourage them to select topics that at least somewhat interest them.
· Challenge them to find ways to make a topic interesting.
· Challenge them to find another interesting topic that fits the paragraph type.
· Use topics from other subjects you are studying that fit the paragraph type.
Build self-confidence:
If students are struggling, back up and start where they can work successfully. Mastering fundamentals alleviates writing roadblocks. Listen to your students. Pay attention to what they struggle with and help them overcome the struggle. You can find a way to tear down roadblocks when you identify them as you listen to your child’s concerns.
The goal is to teach students how to think.
Learning how to write, students learn how to think. Open your children’s horizons by helping them to understand how to write. They gain processing skills they will use their entire lives. Students who learn to write easily and well gain confidence. They can tackle any writing assignment.
The Write Foundation develops confident skillful independent writers.
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