Connected Learning
Professional Learning
Teaching Writing
Writing Outside the Classroom: A Guide to Getting Started
Summary:
For many years now, James Fester has supported Write Out via features at Edutopia and in The National Park Classroom. This year he has compiled a white paper to support teachers in thinking about taking their students outside to write.
This handbook, authored by James Fester and produced in collaboration with the National Writing Project (NWP), is a trail map for teachers interested in the potential of writing outside, but unsure of the how or why needed to take the first step into such an endeavor. It is intended to serve as a companion for the annual Write Out event created by the NWP with the National Park Service (NPS) during the first half of October as a way to inspire writers everywhere to connect and learn through place-based writing.
If you take some time to flip through this handbook, you will find a wealth of information to help you plan how to integrate outdoor writing into your curriculum. Inside you will find:
- A review of current research on the academic and health benefits associated with writing in an outdoor space.
- A list of common barriers that keep educators like yourself from integrating more outdoor writing in their curriculum alongside steps and strategies for addressing them.
- Activities, ideas, and resources you can leverage next-day to inspire all students, especially those who struggle with literacy, to become more skilled and confident writers.
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