Writing is thinking.
Let’s try thinking on your feet!
Most writing assignments require the young writer to pull together multiple components. Think of what goes through the mind of a student — let’s call her “Cris” — when she sits down to write an essay. She stares at the blank page and wonders:
How do I choose what to write?
How do I translate my thoughts into complete sentences?
How am I going to pull together spelling, punctuation, capitalization, grammar, the facts I researched, and my new ideas?
How do I organize this thing so it has a beginning, a middle, and an end?
How do I remember the directions the teacher gave while I’m doing all of this?
That’s a whole lot to juggle at one time. No wonder Cris says, “Ugh, forget this! I’m going to watch TV and eat cheese puffs!”
Big reveal: Yes, “Cris” was me as a kid! Although I was good with words, maintaining enough focus and motivation to complete writing projects was overwhelming and exhausting.
I’m better at writing projects now, in part because I use physical games — many of them drawn from my theater and improvisation training — as part of my process. Here’s why I love using movement as a tool for tutoring writing:
- Movement jump-starts the focus and engagement that writing requires
- Movement breaks can help divide the writing process up into manageable micro-goals
- Many movement games have their own focus — while playing, you practice solving the problem in front of you while saving the rest for later
Of course, we can’t always be up and about. There is some truth to the adage that writing is an exercise in applying the seat of the pants to the seat of the chair. Then again, not everyone does their best work sitting in a chair. A student might want to brainstorm while sitting on the floor, walk while recording a voice memo, or visually map ideas on a wall using colorful post-its.
No matter the physical process, clear writing is the result of clear thinking. I think best when I get to bounce ideas back and forth with someone. It is my honor to be the bounciest of idea bouncers, in service to the next generation of creative thinkers. Through dynamic questioning, I coach writers to develop their ideas, articulate their opinions, and substantiate their arguments. Through revision and editing, students sharpen their skills as thoughtful readers of their own work.
The Blank Page Struggle is real, but we’ll make it through together!
Coach Cristin 