Texting- The new form of writing?

Taken from the ASCD Smart brief 10-26-2009

Texting may help students improve informal writing skillsDespite a myriad of concerns about the increasing use of text messaging by teens, some teachers and researchers say texting does not interfere with students' ability to use language properly and may in fact help students better express themselves through informal writing. "Writing is good. Writing is expressing thoughts. Expressing thoughts is good. We just don't like their modality," says Larry Rosen, a researcher and author of a book on the issue. Charlotte Observer (N.C.), The (10/26)



Some people on staff responded below....what do you think?

Beth said:
"I think that kids/people learn through a variety of facets. This is just one. There is a great deal of thought that has to go into texting in order to make sure that your point gets across. I can see where the shift has left people "text abbreviating" words, myself inluded...but it is a new form of literacy and our children have to be literate in more than just book and traditional print to survive in todays society.
Gone is the day of paper and pencil...we have to expand our horizons! "

Michelle said:
"Very interesting...Aside from the safety issues, I don't think we need to worry about texting degrading our language. I've used comics in my teaching and have students make their own comic strips. The style of language and vocabulary is not always the most advanced in a comic strip but reading and creating them involve a lot of higher-order thinking. Also, we ESL teachers explicitly teach the difference between formal and informal English and the times that each is appropriate. I love the suggestion from the article about having students "translate" classic literature into text language to demonstrate comprehension! "

Lisa said:
"We discussed this in my technology through literacy master's class. Although informal, it is a new style of writing and we as adults better learn how to do it or we will be left behind. At least the students are writing in some form . . ."

What is new in school?

Well, we are getting ready to finish up our first quarter of the 09-10 school year. I think it has been a great start of the year despite the little hiccups we have had along the way. We have felt some growing pains, shrinking budgets, and expectations for more gains when we are getting less support.

Our Teach 21 group and other technology groups are in full swing. If you have not checked out the teacher or class blogs, you really should. I just found out about one today and as I was reading it, I laughed so hard I was crying. I have enjoyed reading all the blogs I know about. The student responses are great and the insights from the teachers are amazing. I always knew we had a fantastic pool of talent. The blog is a great way to show it from our students to our faculty. If you are one who has a blog and using in your class, please let me know so I can let others know to follow it. I think it is important for the students to receive feedback when they post things. It encourages them to blog even more.

Our theme this year is " A Firm Foundation Builds A Nation". By using even the scant amount of technology we have in our building, you are helping your students develop a firm foundation that will enable them to build on their technological skills and be successful when using technology for more advanced applications later. We have Education City, which is up and running and ready to use. We have Rosetta Stone that is ready to use. We have Orchard and AR. We will also be using FirstinMath with our upper grades. This is a pilot program based of the math game 24. We are moving quickly to the more advanced technological equipment but we need to be comfortable in using what we have before we can become experts in using the new stuff.

Respond with some strategies that you have used with technology this year. Also, share some ways you have used Blogger with your class.