Let Student's Incorporate Popular Culture into Their Writing

Here are some things that I have observed about boys and writing in my classroom and at home:

1. Boys like to write about what matters to them.


2. Boys like to write about things they feel they are experts in.


3. Boys like to write with others. They like to discuss what they are writing.


4. Boys like to hear their writing read aloud.


5. Boys enjoy it when their teacher shows genuine interest in their writing.


6. Boys like things like music, sports, Pokemon and/or Anime, cartoons, video games, and DS.


7. Popular culture is part of their daily lives.
   

One way to capitalize on this interest in popular culture is to incorporate it into your language program. Something that I have used and seen in other classrooms is a 'free writing' journal. Students can write about anything they want to in these journals at a set time each day. The students are encouraged to write freely. If you think about it, most classrooms dedicate time for students to read independently but very few provide students with the opportunity to write independently and freely. By letting students write, doodle, and draw about anything they want - their outside interests and influences - they can then transform their knowledge and learning into school writing. It lets them write as experts. I know I feel more confident writing about things I know and care about so we shouldn't be surprised if our students do too. As a teacher you can choose to collect the journals periodically or you can let the students ask you to read them. Use their journals as a way t respond to or provide feedback to the students about their writing. Don't mark these journals. Instead use them and your feedback as a way of showing your students that you are genuinely interested in what they write and care about making them even better writers by providing them with whatever support they need.

A free writing journal will:

• Give the student to explore, and take risks while trying different things with writing.


• Let the student develop their own personal interests through their writing.


• Enjoy and experience having someone read and enjoy their writing (teacher).


• Experience genuine response from an interested reader.


• Let's the student connect his home life with his school life.


• Gives the teacher a window to see and learn about the student's hobbies and interests. It also gives the teacher the opportunity to share some of their own interests with the student through feedback and written comments.