Survivor....

Here I am, attempting to enter the 21st blog century. It should be easy, but is it useful? How about all that writing out there in the online cosmic sea? Does it float around unnoticed, snag a big pile of soggy (bloggy-ooh, sorry) trash, or land the big prize blog? Am I twirling around out here with no lure so to speak? My students are text messaging addicts and can figure out most anything in the information world. This truth can make a veteran communication arts teacher humble with the reality of the new cosmos and the fading medium of paper and ink. (I've only owned a cell phone for a month now.) So, here's my plea to all of you writers out there in my invisible audience: send me a blog. Tell me how the teaching of writing can be complimented by the online ocean. While you are at it, those of you who teach composition, please write about your successes. How do you motivate students to grow as writers? How much freedom do you invite your students to exercise with regard to topic and genre? I personally am a believer in quantity - keep them writing. I also know that reading is a key to good writing. What I really want to nurture is a community of lifelong writers and readers. Please respond.