Writing with Sylvia H.

I have taught Literature and composition (rhetorical composition and technical writing) in a variety of settings and to a diverse student population since I began teaching over 17 years ago. I have used the differentiation skills I obtained in that classroom and from obtaining my M.Ed. in Divergent Learning from Columbia College in every class, I have taught since. Understanding how to use a diverse range of instructional strategies, learning styles, and instructional devices have made my classroom a safe haven for students of all learning abilities, especially non-traditional college students. Most students enter the writing class believing they cannot be successful writers, and the writing class is something they must get through, rather than it is a necessary skill for a successful career. Through the use of real-world research methods, lessons that require interactions with the community, volunteerism, and a diverse set of instructional tools, my students understand they can succeed at writing various forms of text and learn communication and analytic skills that provide an essential foundation for their future studies and many other ventures. My composition classes in the two-year college environment increase writers’ capabilities to argue efficiently in an assortment of genres; including both written and visual texts, by creating an inclusive atmosphere that encourages critical thinking. Students learn to read thoroughly and explore a text and, as they read learners are exposed to various strategies for writing and subsequently can apply the characteristics of the genre read in their compositions. Non-traditional college students and developing writers in my classroom use research methods such as observations, interviews, as well as traditional research to integrate real-world applications into their literacy skills. Through the use of these projects within the composition curriculum my students gain an intimate understanding of their community and positive accomplishment in their studies and responsible participation within the community.