After reading the first chapter of Tompkins (2012) and reflecting upon my own experiences thus far as a pre-service literacy specialist, I would identify as the core principles of writing instruction that I value to be holding high expectations for all student writers, promoting growth through student collaboration, and encouraging freedom of choice in order to foster writing motivation. Through a writing workshop format, I will make time for writing a priority within the literacy curriculum. I also feel that it is essential to celebrate student authorship to promote pride and ownership in writing.
In regards to the union of writing workshop and new technologies, I realize that I need to continuously expand my repertoire of technological understandings and applications in order to best serve my students in this deitic world of reading and writing. My students and I will learn and apply new technologies together as they are made available to us. I am a firm believer in authentic applications of technology, however, and will not incorporate technology into my program of instruction simply for the sake of it.
References
Tompkins, G. E. (2012). Teaching writing: Balancing process and product (6th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill.
