Do students enjoy writing?

The answer would have to be yes, according to Patti Jo Boyd, Palmerton Junior High School eighth-grade Language Arts teacher. Every year she evaluates how to make writing fun, interesting, educational and beneficial to all students."The key to success includes informative, reflective, rewarding and creative writing opportunities," she says.This year her students were required to write an informative research paper on a career they might like to pursue or were curious about. The end result included surgeons, nurses, lawyers, engineers, cosmetologists, veterinarians, designers, pilots, construction workers, the military and more.It was a two-month process mixed with individual lessons on content, focus, style, conventions, mechanics, and the steps of writing a research paper."My favorite writing experience this year was, surprisingly, the research paper about a career I hope to pursue," Avery Neipert said."I feel in this paper, my writing skills, vocabulary, and writing style have improved greatly. The improvement of my writing skills is very important to me because the career I dream of is to become an author. I also enjoyed the multiple forms of literature we read as a class. Mrs. Boyd would point out the author's style and help the class to understand what the author is portraying."Reflective writing came into play through many assignments.An example would be when the students wrote a hero/heroine essay.Boyd said students thought hard before realizing, they really do have someone who has impacted their life in a unique and memorable way."These essays gave me goose bumps," Boyd said. "I asked the students to share this essay with their special someone. So often, people don't realize the important role they play in one's life."To Owen Mendes, writing was always something he had to do, not something fun."The first time I noticed I enjoyed writing was when I was writing my hero essay. I realized writing was fun because it allowed me to write what I thought and to be honest with myself," Mendes said.Another type of reflective and rewarding writing was done by writing poetry."We did read much poetry by Frost and Poe this school year. Then I asked students to write their own poetry. I believe they were shocked to learn that poetry does not have to rhyme, and that much music comes from someone reflecting on a life experience," she sad."Poetry can tell about a happy, sad, exciting, critical time of their life. When the words started flowing on paper, some students wrote about very personal experiences. Poetry opened their world."Boyd said she is honored to have a career where students' work can be sent to a company and possibly be chosen for publication. She sent their poems to the Anthology of Poetry for Young Americans and 22 students became published poets."It felt amazing that I worked hard to create a poem and got rewarded for it," said Lindsey Fronheiser."I was pretty hesitant to turn it in for possible publication. But when I received the letter in the mail from the Anthology of Poetry and learned I was chosen as a published poet I was amazed and excited. I ordered the book and I will treasure it for a lifetime."Gunnar Sanchez experienced many things over this school year."I experienced being bullied, rage, laughter, and people who were always kind to me. My self-esteem has improved through the help of friends and teachers like Mrs. Boyd. My confidence really grew when I was asked to write poetry in my Language Arts class. I was allowed to express myself and then I was chosen to be a published poet. I really appreciate what Mrs. Boyd has done for me."To add passion to writing, as a class, they read and acted out the book, "Monster" by Walter Dean Myers, a story about a 16-year-old boy on trial for felony murder."It is a gripping story and a life lesson for the students. After completing the reading and drama, I asked students to group and write a new exciting, and memorable ending to the story. Creativity was the key in this writing experience. Students enjoyed sharing their humorous, serious, and innovated ending with their peers," says Boyd."I really enjoyed writing a new ending for 'Monster.' But, I also love writing stories from the beginning to the end," said Rebecca Goltfried."Mrs. Boyd took time from her schedule to read stories I was writing throughout the school year. She encourages me to pursue my passion, use tone and write so the reader can visualize and draw images of the action. I am very enthusiastic about writing and hope to write my own book someday. I am thankful to Mrs. Boyd for that."Boyd tells her students all the time that writing can be fun and to "Believe in yourself and never give up."