Using a Ning for Writing

I have finally created what I set out to do from day one of this class. This is not my class project and it has nothing to do with a project sketch of any sort. Last year at EARCOS, I came up with the idea of a storage place for my student's writing online so that my students could have a place to post their writing and read the writing of their peers as the year progressed. I also wanted a place to keep their writing, so for instance when a 7th grader finds out he is moving, he can read a poem written about moving from another 7th grader's perspective. If a student loses a grandparent, they can read a short story about someone else and how they dealt with grief. As a reader, I have always found comfort in knowing I am not alone in my feelings or experiences in life. Yet year after year I return amazing short stories and poems to my students, and countless times they end up buried in someone's notebook and thrown away at the end of the year.

My first attempt to bring this to fruition was a blog through http://inside.isb.ac.th/wattswriting/. This did not work as planned by any stretch of the imagination. My students could only contribute to the blog as a comment, and the only thing keeping track of their poems was a simple laundry list. In addition, I have no idea how long I will be at ISB. My husband's job will move us inevitably to another country. Will I lose all of my students' work in the process?

I believe I may have found a solution. Last year I started a ning with a few of my colleagues for the Grade 10 students titled Reading4Life http://reading4life.ning.com/. The students would write about their favorite books that they were reading for independent reading. Instead of reading a bunch of boring book reports, my students would recommend books and ask questions based on the content of the novels they were reading. At one point, I had 5 students reading "The Kite Runner" at the same time due to a student recommendation. I plan to use this ning again next year in the high school.

So now I have formed a ning titled Writing4Watts http://writing4watts.ning.com/. Although it is in the early stages of development, my students will have a forum to post their poems and short stories. They will have a place to read stories by students of a similar age with similar experiences. They will have a place to go for writing ideas when they don't know what to write about next. They will have a place to go to view pictures to help them create a story. I am excited and hope that I have finally found the right venue for what i am looking for. As of this morning, all of my students have been invited to post their poems. Hopefully it will grow and posses the longevity I hope for to enable students who love to write, find a place to write and be acknowledged for their creativity.