Culture versus writing

I've been told that because I teach math that my brain functions differently than most other people's (maybe not so different from Barb's) but when I read this week's reading what I took from it was the fact that kids are writing on their own and using techniques that they use in school - peer review, revising and editing and that it often gives students that don't write very well an outlet. Also that it is good for students who first language is not English. I didn't pick up on the cultural aspect and using it as a Social Studies unit. I guess that's why we share our thoughts