Choosing Between Two I-Search Topics

For my two possible future I-Search topics, I have narrowed my choice down to either writing about what the benefits of offering students multiple, different forms of writing assignments based around the same topic? Or writing about how teacher models can be effective to teaching beginning writing students how to go about the process of writing. Along with this choice, I would also incorporate creating a safe space in the classroom where writing can blossom.

I am drawn to topic number one because I am a big believer that students can learn in many different ways based on the Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences. The theory states that there are seven to nine different ways students can learn that go beyond simply listening to lectures and taking notes. For a quick rundown click the link (http://www.tecweb.org/styles/gardner.html). In a class in high school, my teacher had us take the multiple intelligences test to see how we ourselves learned better. I found my results logical and feel as though knowing this has strengthened my understanding of how to grasp information. However, I haven’t had much experience with teachers adhering to the multiple ways a person learns. I feel as though incorporating this theory into reading and writing will strengthen students understanding of it as well as engage them because they will be given a choice of different ways to approach a project or essay; something students crave.

I feel as though this a viable topic for this class because it is something that touches on many different aspects of a classroom like creating engaging lesson plans, adhering to personalized students’ needs, and getting students excited about learning. These three things are crucial to becoming a great teacher and essential to figure out for a teacher candidate.

I feel as though this is do-able because there is Gardner himself who would act as a primary source, and countless others who agree or disagree with his theory to be my secondary sources. This theory must be taken at least somewhat seriously since I also learned about it in my CEP 315 class. Considering this is a topic I’ve kept in mind since the beginning year of high school I know I must have some sort of passion about it and seems to be something to look into if I wish to continue to keep it in mind as I teach.

As for my second possible choice of how teacher models can be effective to teach beginner writers how to start off writing, I feel as though this is a fresh new idea to me. I was not fortunate enough to have a teacher like Kelly Gallagher who would take the risk of getting up in front of the class and being vulnerable. As far as writing teachers go, I can’t recall any that truly taught me how to write efficiently. For young writers, as well as myself, getting started is the hardest part. They get tripped on how to formally begin and may have the mindset that this is the only draft they are writing. Teacher models can be effective in breaking them out of this habit and lessening the fear of trying to be perfect the first time around. The models double as a chance to create a safe and open environment in a classroom because of the position it puts the teacher in.

As a teacher, I would definitely like to do this modeling for my students, so knowing how to do it better is something I am interesting in, besides the mechanics of it. I’ve already gotten a source from Kelly Gallagher who wrote explicitly on modeling in one of the chapters in Write like This. I could use him as a primary source, or find possibly the first accounts of this way of teaching and use that. Besides this I could search the RIC campus in search of possible professors who do this for incoming freshmen or check out local high schools in the area.

Although I find this topic engaging, and I do believe it could sustain me throughout the rest of the semester, I find myself leaning more towards my first option, but I’m not completely decided.