Student Writing

I just read an article written by Elena Aguilar.  It was about motivating students to write.  This grabbed my attention because I just assigned a writing assignment in my 7^th grade social studies class.  I am having students write the paper the old fashion way.  The paper must be one sided, written in cursive, and doubled space.  Students began complaining immediately.  I had students asking how to write certain letters in cursive.  It amazed me that all students did not know how to write in cursive.  Writing skills are becoming dilapidated in the age of technology.  I can sit back and complain about previous teachers but that will not help the problem.  So I plan to incorporate writing into class more often.  Elena’s article gives great ways to motivate students to write.