Basic writing skills
Employers want HS grads to have them

You can meet employer demands that every high school graduate have basic writing skills and basic reading skills by using best teaching practices when you teach writing.

What's more, since those practices produce the basic writing skills colleges demand, you equip all your grads for life after high school.

(Coincidentally, teachers, meeting those demands allows you to continue receiving paychecks, which is also important.)

Competence is gate to greatness

English teachers often say they want more for students than just the basics. That’s commendable, but it overlooks one simple fact: no one becomes a good reader or fluent writer without first becoming competent.

If you are fortunate, you’ll have students come to you already competent in expository reading and expository writing.

Most of us don’t have that kind of luck. For most of us, teaching writing means we are the ones who have to develop students' competence in basic writing skills.

Employers expect literacy

Survey after survey shows employers expect entry-level workers to have mastered the “3 R’s.” They prefer high school graduates have a through knowledge of basics rather than a superficial acquaintance with advanced courses.

In the English language arts arena, that translates into competence in reading expository prose, such as a staff handbook or a job description.

Workplace writing requires the ability to write a simple memo or e-mail in complete sentences without using text messaging shorthand.

Employer expect workers to think

Employers are looking for workers who can solve problems. Problem solving entails gathering information (from reading, observing, listening, asking questions) and turning it to new uses.

The best teaching practice in English language arts lies in the middle ground between training students to regurgitate information on standardized tests and promoting imaginative writing that lacks practical application.

Learn to use writing to shape creative responses.

Employer expect soft skills

Employers seek workers who can work with minimal supervision, get along with other employees and customers, and learn on their own.

Many of these so-called “soft skills” are — or should be — included in ELA courses. For example, here are five soft skills that Australian business groups and the Australian government identified as essential skills:

• Listening and understanding.

• Reading independently.

• Writing to the needs of an audience.

• Persuading effectively.

• Sharing information.

Aussie or not, aren’t all those skills in your English curriculum somewhere?

Milk employer demands

Instead of fighting the tide of workplace expectations, go with the flow. Concentrate on the positive connections between what you want students to learn and what employers say students must know.

Tying the need for students to have writing skills to workplace demands is high on the the list of best teaching practices for English language arts. So any time you see news about employers seeking reading or writing skills, milk it for all its worth.