Student Writers

I thought this was a very nice story in today's Star about the fifth form class at SMK Bandar Baru Sungai Buloh who decided to turn their English essays into a book, rather than waste them. (There was another piece in the paper on Sunday.)

Students' written work takes off when they know that at the end of all their effort there is a real audience to communicate with, and nothing creates a sense of pride like seeing your work valued in this way. Well done to their teacher for encouraging them.

Wouldn't it be nice if efforts like this were so commonplace they didn't even make the newspapers?

If you are an English teacher and haven't done so already, you might like to pick up The Freedom Writer's Diary (or watch the film) for inspiration.