There are a variety of jobs that are referred to as “education writer” positions. An education writer, in any capacity, is a professional writer who chooses to specialize in the field of education. An education writer can be a journalist who covers educational topics or a person who writes articles, textbooks, reading guides, and curriculum for students and teachers.
Some education writers create content that is tailored to the needs of students. This necessitates a great deal of knowledge and skill on the part of the writer, who must be able to adapt complex material into a form and simplicity that is compatible with the abilities of a specific age group. For example, if you’re writing about the American Civil War, you might break it down differently for middle school students than you would for college history majors. Many education writers struggle to write in a way that is both informative and at the appropriate comprehension level, while also keeping the topic interesting and engaging.
Aside from writing, an education writer may also be responsible for preparing materials for teachers. While many teachers enjoy developing their own curriculum and lesson plans, others simply do not have the time to create study guides, research materials, or summaries for each text or subject assigned. For any subject, education writers can create a variety of study materials, such as lectures, visual aids, historical information, and resource lists. In order to prepare teaching materials that provide the appropriate amount of information for the subject, an education writer must have a thorough understanding of the subject as well as a general understanding of course aims and testing practices.
Some education writers may collaborate with school boards or even regional education departments to develop teaching guidelines and explanations for school districts and systems. In most cases, state or regional school requirements are established through ongoing collaboration among teachers, unions, and educational experts. An education writer or writing team may be hired to create system-wide material for all schools and teachers in order to ensure that rules and regulations are clearly explained and delineated.
Educational journalists and freelance education writers make a living researching educational systems and reporting on their findings. Educational journalists usually cover issues in the education system that the general public should be aware of. Educational journalists may be interested in ballot initiatives that change schooling practices, contentious civil rights issues such as random drug testing and dress codes, and even religious issues in public schools. A freelance education columnist or writer may choose to write editorials and articles for news organizations or scholarly journals about possible solutions to problems in school systems.