Free-writing

     Free-writing is a form of writing that is used to prompt students when writing anything seems difficult. Studies have demonstrated that using free-write journals while reading a novel increased engagement and interpretive responses. Teachers responding to the students’ writing also had a positive effect on engagement. When performed together journal writing and teacher feedback were found to encourage deeper interpretive responses than traditional teacher-directed question/answer sessions (Bean, Cantu’Valerio, Senior, & White, 1999).

     Teachers and literacy researchers continue to search for methods that will arouse students and excite them about the writing process. Free-writing in a journal helps facilitate a fondness for writing. As time goes on, for journal writing to remain a special and integral part of students’ learning the role of the teacher(s) is critical. Teachers need to maintain a certain level of excitement about writing. Teachers play a significant role in the way children view their learning and the way learning is perceived (Graham, 2003).