Liberry Lifeline: Liberrylady's comments and observations

Attributes of a BC Graduate

I was looking at the BC Graduations Transitions Program Guide section titled “Attributes of a BC Graduate” and discovered competency in writing is one of the first goals listed under intellectual development.  This adds strength to our argument about how critical writing skills are.  The education ministry feels it’s important for graduates to be able to communicate effectively.  I agree.  High school is the perfect place to offer opportunities for writing.  Students can receive the guidance of experienced teachers trained to work with different grade, subject and skill levels.

Our committee is going to share our ideas with the staff at school.  We hope to create some excitement and desire to develop school wide objectives to meet this goal.  We feel we can create a culture where writing is valued across the curriculum.  We hope to encourage a group of teachers from different subject areas to join us as we work on strategies and lesson plans to share with the staff as a whole.  It’s a “big picture” idea.   I’m excited to be involved in the beginning so I can see how it evolves!

A link to the Graduation Transitions Program Guide

I was at a great meeting last week where we discussed one of our current school goals.  We’d like “To improve students’ writing skills across the curriculum”.  How do we accomplish this? What are our objectives and strategies? Why do we even want to do this? Is it worthwhile?  How do we sell the idea to teachers, parents and students?

Developing writing skills to communicate ones’ ideas, opinions and knowledge is certainly a worthwhile goal.  Our world today is filled with many forms of technology that encourage sharing.  In order to get good at writing we must practice.  We must cross boundaries of subject, medium, age and ability. I think most people agree with this statement but, it’s not always such an easy thing to do.

I think this forum, my blog, can provide me with an opportunity to work on my communication skills.  Now I have to convince myself that, yes, I do have things to share with others.  Liberry Lifeline is a good place to start.  Let me know what you think!