Topic: Fundamental Question about Reading and Writing

Ten-second review: Why do we read and write?

Title: "Writing and Painting Our Lives into Being: School, Home, and the Larger Community as Transformative Spaces for Learning.” Ralph A Cordova, Jr. Language Arts (September 2008), 18-27. A publication of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE).

Quote: “So, have you ever asked yourself why painters paint, writers and readers write and read? Why teachers teach? We do it because we are reaching. We reach across spaces for substance and sustenance. We understand our self-realization only in realizing the lived experiences of others. As members of multiple communities, we can learn to reach across spaces and peoples like (sic.) we reach across familiar and unfamiliar books, navigating complex terrains and emerging transformed.”

Comment: The author’s somewhat poetic response to the fundamental questions of why we read, write and teach is worth thinking about. Why do you read, write and teach? And try answering these questions without resorting to clichés.

I read to gather ideas about life and experience. I write to learn, clarify and shape what I think and to share my ideas with others. I teach to help others develop their purposes and skills for learning, reading and writing—without my assistance.

Why do you read, write and teach? And everyone teaches.

The purpose of this blog, English Updates, is to review interesting contemporary (2008-2009) articles from professional English education journals at all levels—elementary, middle school, junior high school, high school and college.