"Readers make writing deliciously worthwhile," states author and teacher Mem Fox. When students have an authentic audience and purpose for their writing endeavors, they grow as thinkers and as writers. Technology can help my tenth grade writers publish beyond the walls of our classroom.

As a tenth grade English teacher in a close-knit farming community, I struggle with encouraging my students to write authentically, to bring their connections, their voice into their written work. Some of my students struggle to find success in their writing.  "Writing is boring." "I don't write." They do not see the purpose in writing.

I want to change that.

In the past, I've used technology to connect my students with a variety of writers and readers. I've been able to Skype with a variety of authors and learn from experts about the writing and publishing process. But I've always been the one facilitating the connections. I need to get technology into the hands of my learners so that they can begin to make their own connections to authentic readers. I work in a BYOD - bring your own device - environment. Although some of my students are able to bring their own smart phones, most of the students in my district are not able to bring their own computers or tablets to use on our wireless network as many of the families in my district cannot afford connected devices for their students. Adding ten Acer Chromebooks to our classroom, I can ensure that all of my students have an opportunity to write for real audiences rather than simply turning in another paper that only the teacher reads.

The Acer Chromebook 11 is durable and affordable, costing only $180 per device. My students would easily be able to access our school's Google Drive accounts to connect with one another as well as with writers all over the world. The Chromebooks are ideal for my classroom as they would easily allow for my students to draft, collaborate, and share their writing using Google Drive. And they are affordable, hopefully making it possible for me to get technology into the hands of all my learners.

When students write for real audiences, they begin to see themselves as writers. Writing for a real audience gives students a sense of purpose for their writing. By ensuring that all my students have an opportunity to have their writing read by real readers, I can grow my students' writing skills and their engagement in the writing process.