I’ve spent the last few hours glued to my computer, following links on a variety of topics, one being writing. I finally arrived at Rachel’s recent post about the Stanford Study of Writing, following her links to read more. I am not sure if I agree with Stanford’s Andrea Lansford that our current literacy revolution is as significant as the beginning of Greek civilization, but I do agree that writing is alive and well in today’s world. We have all experienced sitting at the computer far longer than anticipated due to the abundance of writing that keeps us reading, link upon link.

It is interesting to ponder Ms. Lansford’s remark about her own writing education. It did not, she says, include writing for an audience. I remember having that same revelation as a teacher of writing to elementary students. Having an audience was necessary, I told them. And yet I too remember essays written for a single teacher’s eyes only. I would venture a guess that students in classrooms all over the world write more frequently and with greater purpose than I did as a child. Writing takes on more of an immediacy. Students cannot wait to share their writing with classmates. They write for an audience. The Stanford students’ comments on their experiences as participants in the writing study confirm that writing for them is a means of communication. Reason enough, I think, for rejoicing.

Perhaps Ms. Lansford is right. Perhaps we are in the midst of a monumentally important literacy revolution. What do you think?