In light of the significance of writing in our national life, to draw attention to the remarkable variety of writing we engage in, and to help writers from all walks of life recognize how important writing is to their lives, NCTE established October 20 as The National Day on Writing®.
NCTE established the event in 2009 to celebrate composition in all its forms by individuals from all walks of life. In past years, the Senate has passed resolutions declaring October 20 The National Day on Writing®. In 2018, we celebrated ten years of this national day.
The National Day on Writing
- points to the importance of writing instruction and practice at every grade level, for every student and in every subject area from preschool through university,
- emphasizes the lifelong process of learning to write and composing for different audiences, purposes, and occasions, and
- encourages Americans to write and enjoy and learn from the writing of others.
People in every walk of life, in every kind of work, and at every age write more than ever before for personal, professional, and civic purposes.
- They write through text messages and IMs, they use video cameras, cell phones, mobile devices, and, yes, even traditional pen and paper.
- The social nature of writing invites people in every walk of life, in every kind of work, and at every age to make meaning through composing.
We invite you to be part of the National Day on Writing! Join us on Twitter Sunday, October 18, at 8 p.m. ET for our next #nctechat, “#WhyIWrite: Exploring Writing Habits of Mind.” This event will kick off our seventh annual National Day on Writing celebration.
It is the policy of NCTE in all publications, including the Literacy & NCTE blog, to provide a forum for the open discussion of ideas concerning the content and the teaching of English and the language arts. Publicity accorded to any particular point of view does not imply endorsement by the Executive Committee, the Board of Directors, the staff, or the membership at large, except in announcements of policy, where such endorsement is clearly specified.