ERH 250: Reading Response 2/15/18

In the “What do Teachers Need to Know About Cognition” chapter of our text, Piaget claims that “Prior to about the ninth grade, writing courses should emphasize self-expressive writing, description, simple stories, fairly concrete subject matter” (Lindemann 97). I found this claim to be true and important. I was never given many opportunities to write my own stories at that age. I remember having a vivid and constantly working imagination at that time. I wish some of my teachers had allowed me to utilize it in school. I agree with Piaget that students of this age are “their own best audience.” (97). I believe that if I had been given the chance to write creatively at a young age, I would have found an interest in school and writing earlier. At that time my imagination and creativity was heightened by reading and film, and I find it imperative for students to be able to capture these thoughts into writing. When you get older and the weight of the real world becomes apparent, then kids should focus more on”academic” style writing.