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If students could create the perfect teacher, he/she would..

Terri Friedlander
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In an ongoing effort to build relationships and develop writing skills, I recently surprised my students with an essential question unrelated to that day's subject matter.

On the board, they were greeted by the weekly writing prompt, "What should teachers do to make learning more engaging?"

At first glance, those students who actually read the assignment appeared baffled. One even assumed it was a trick question. Most seemed shocked that a teacher would request their opinion about how material should be taught in the classroom. After promising that there would be no penalties for any responses given (provided the comments were in context and school appropriate), the class was off and writing like junior Hemingways.

And for the first time, many effortlessly exceeded the minimum requirement of 300 words in multiple, well-organized paragraphs. Some almost filled a sheet of paper.

The responses were priceless. Here's a sampling from a few ninth graders:

"Teachers should remember that students aren't working machines."

"Don't cram us with homework."

"Teachers should listen to what someone is telling them."

"Give off feelings of friendliness and kindness and tell jokes to make us laugh".

"Be more of a friend than a teacher."

"Let us pick when we're ready to have the test."

"Let students talk to each other and do other stuff than just listening."

"Be fun and original, not boring."

And my personal favorite: "Teachers should do less talking."

While completing my own stack of "homework," grading and gently editing their responses, the perception that teachers were not listening to students caused me to pause. Perhaps we needed to communicate like this more often.

Besides providing me with ideas (and laughs) about how to make learning less tiresome, these weekly, open-ended writing exercises actually serve another purpose.

This year, every student in grades 7 through 11 will be given a Writing exam as part of the new Florida Standards Assessment. Not only is the assessment an unknown entity to all stakeholders involved, the process no longer requires a sharpened pencil, plump red eraser and wads of yellow scratch paper. For the first time, the English Language Arts Assessment is computer based. For all grades.

Which means that language arts teachers have been flocking to computer labs to provide their young wordsmiths ample time to practice. Despite the generation's addiction to technology, many demonstrate a woeful lack of keyboarding skills, which further complicates the creative writing process.

At the same time they are preparing a formidable informational essay based on a complex (boring) reading passage, our students must then enter their masterpiece on the computer.

And these stressed-out test takers should remember to spend time reading, writing, revising and editing. Yikes. It's a tall order for any grade level.

Especially for my friends who prefer a teacher who talks less, doesn't give homework and tells jokes. Ready or not, the new writing assessment is here. It's time to get to work.

Writer, parent and educator Terri Friedlander can be reached at .

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