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Is Texting Going To Ruin Your Kids’ Writing Skills?

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I used to think texting was going to ruin kids’ writing skills.  Here, for example, are clips from texts I (Carrie) received from my daughter this weekend:

No caps? cuz? wanna? wdym? 
 
The world is ending! 
 
Except it isn’t. 
 
Research over the past ten years from multiple universities (such as the University of Wisconsin, University of Illinois, University of Alabama . . . ) tells us that this crazy, panic-inducing dialect kids use for texting (also called “TEXTESE”) isn’t ruining their writing. In fact, it can (are you ready for this?) actually help them become stronger writers.
 
Before we say anymore, we are NOT advocating more phone use. There are a million reasons why delaying giving kids phones as long as possible is an important plan. But, electronic communication, be it via phones, tablets, email (etc.) is an inevitable part of our kids’ lives. It will be a major way they communicate. Let’s look for a minute at how texting is helpful for them as writers:    

1. Texting gives extra literacy skills.

Really? Well think about it. When kids write words like “gonna”, “prolly”, and “wanna” in a text message, they are experimenting with writing in the way they talk. When they use acronyms like “FR,” “LOL” and emojis, they are in basically speaking in a new language. 
 
In essence, as they play around with new ways to text things, they are playing with language and exercising creative writing muscles. 
 
We don’t need to be as afraid of it as we are. We can think of textese as bonus literacy opportunities. When I think of it that way, my daughter’s “skill” in textese becomes impressive. (Laugh emjoi? No. I really am impressed.) 

2. Texting gives practice in writing for different audiences.

Texting gives our kids the chance to “code switch” their writing and adapt to different audiences for different purposes. Writing this newsletter for you, for example, is different than texting my daughter a reminder about her violin lesson. Studies show that even the youngest writer instinctively knows that texting a friend and writing an essay is NOT the same language. 
 
Texting provides our kids with regular practice in switching it up for audiences. When I catch kids in my classroom sneaking a “gonna” or an “i” into an essay, all I need to say is: “This isn’t a text message.” They get it. 

3. Texting gives kids (and all of us!) a chance to be a part of living language. 

Our language is dynamic and evolving. Every year, there are hundreds of words added to the dictionary. Many of these words have their start in the creative expression of text messages (like the little snippets on my phone from my daughter.) With the right approach, textese gives us a whole new way of looking at writing with our kids.

SO WHAT’S THE UPSHOT?  Don’t be afraid of “textese.” Instead, stay curious. Remind your children that being good at all kinds of writing for all kinds of audiences and purposes is an important and powerful skill. Texting will definitely be part of this skill set. It isn’t going to ruin our kids as writers, but lets them be part of a great conversation as language evolves. 

Signing off today with a little textese . . . 

Your bff’s

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