I also agree with Regie when she said, "We've been overfocused on standards, rubrics..." on p. 141. I know that I have always wondered what was the best way to teach writing as well as engaging the students at the same time. The more that I read this book and have been to Tamara's Writing Workshops at ESSDACK this school year, I am feeling more comfortable in the way that I am incorporating writing into my curriculum without just focusing on a specific trait and teaching from whole-part-whole. My students and I are now excited to write everyday!
Voice- "Voiceless writing is like soup with no seasoning," p. 147. I agree with this quote, but I do find voice to be one of the more challenging traits to perfect with students. It does tend to be more evident when a student is writing on a topic that they are really engaged in, and I believe that many of my students are making progress as we continue to write. As a teacher, I need to do a better job of when we are celebrating writing to point out voice when I hear it, as well as pointing it out during our class read aloud and reading groups.
Revising-The pages on revision were helpful, but it is something that is still very difficult for my 3rd graders to do on their own. They seem to be able to revise with me during shared writing, but it hasn't carried over to their own writing as much yet (looks like we need to continue to focus on this during our shared writing time as well as me modeling revising my own writing in front of them). They still believe after they reread it that it is just perfect!
I also liked the list of Proven Strategies for Writers Who Struggle on pgs. 169-172.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Chp.6- Reading-Writing Connection
I also agreed with Regie on the importance of the reading and writing connection and how integrating them can result in higher test scores. After reading this chapter, I knew I had to try to get my schedule changed so that my two students that left every day during writing time for intensive reading assistance would no longer have to miss out. I'm proud to announce that my mission is accomplished! Even though we do write at other times in our day, they were missing out on some specific writing skills.
The written response to reading ideas on p. 125 were also helpful. I can see how the students
writing book blurbs and placing them in the room somewhere would benefit both the reader and the writer. I would like to try this. The students really do value their peers opinions.
Oh, I also enjoyed Gary Paulsen's simile, "Read like a wolf eats..." My students would love this since they are always listening for similes as we ready orally.
Another good chapter!
The written response to reading ideas on p. 125 were also helpful. I can see how the students
writing book blurbs and placing them in the room somewhere would benefit both the reader and the writer. I would like to try this. The students really do value their peers opinions.
Oh, I also enjoyed Gary Paulsen's simile, "Read like a wolf eats..." My students would love this since they are always listening for similes as we ready orally.
Another good chapter!
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Chp. 5- Do More Shared Writing
After reading this chapter, I have realized I really do need to do more shared writing with my students. There are so many benefits and what a great teaching tool. Shared writing has been easy and enjoyable to do when I have used the EET model, so it will be an adventure for me to try shared writing without it. Regie's topics gave me some great ideas to implement, and I bet my students will have many ideas too. I also was appreciative of her "Teacher Talk" on p. 92 and of the gray boxes of "What I Do" for shared reading along with her examples. I can't wait to try more shared writing in my classroom!
Chp. 4- Raise Your Expectations
After reading this chapter, here are a few of my thoughts:
1. I agree with Regie when she says that no matter the students' background it is so important to expect excellence.
2. It is so important to remind the students who their audience will be for each of their writing projects. This is so easy, but yet I am guilty of not always discussing this.
3. Our students need to be writing every day in order to get better and to gain confidence! My students can't wait to write and/or share their writing every day.
4. Handwriting matters! We have this discussion a lot in my classroom. I tell my students that so many times it is their writing that introduces them to someone they don't know, so they need to make a good first impression. I have one student that use to even write his name sloppy. I finally told him that I wouldn't accept his papers any longer like that and that he needed to take pride in his name. It still isn't perfect, but it sure is better. I think I'll use Regie's take on neatness in my classroom, "Sloppy handwriting is disrespectful to the reader." p.67
5. I also agree with Regie on including more shared experiences. We recently received an EET(Expanding Expressions Tool) tool to use for writing. Our speech teacher came in and did shared writing with my class, then I did one with them. I was so proud of their work and wanted to use the tool more, so I turned them loose after two shared writing experiences. Once I read their stories, I could tell that they weren't quite ready to attempt this on their own because their writing looked so differently than what I had witnessed from our previous shared writing session. So I know now that we must do a couple more shared writing lessons with the EET in order for them to have a successful piece of writing.
6. Another key point that I agree with Regie on is to be sure to respect the writer. (I feel this is true at all times in order to build a relationship with our students.) This goes hand-in-hand with starting out with a positive comment. It is so true that if we hear a negative comment first, we basically want to shut down. Our students are no different.
7. "What might help this writer?" is something that I ask myself as I'm conferencing with a student or writing a comment on his/her scoring card.
I also enjoyed seeing the different samples and reading about Gail Westbrook and her expectations of her students. I especially liked the charts/tables on p. 58. I can see those being useful even in 3rd grade.
1. I agree with Regie when she says that no matter the students' background it is so important to expect excellence.
2. It is so important to remind the students who their audience will be for each of their writing projects. This is so easy, but yet I am guilty of not always discussing this.
3. Our students need to be writing every day in order to get better and to gain confidence! My students can't wait to write and/or share their writing every day.
4. Handwriting matters! We have this discussion a lot in my classroom. I tell my students that so many times it is their writing that introduces them to someone they don't know, so they need to make a good first impression. I have one student that use to even write his name sloppy. I finally told him that I wouldn't accept his papers any longer like that and that he needed to take pride in his name. It still isn't perfect, but it sure is better. I think I'll use Regie's take on neatness in my classroom, "Sloppy handwriting is disrespectful to the reader." p.67
5. I also agree with Regie on including more shared experiences. We recently received an EET(Expanding Expressions Tool) tool to use for writing. Our speech teacher came in and did shared writing with my class, then I did one with them. I was so proud of their work and wanted to use the tool more, so I turned them loose after two shared writing experiences. Once I read their stories, I could tell that they weren't quite ready to attempt this on their own because their writing looked so differently than what I had witnessed from our previous shared writing session. So I know now that we must do a couple more shared writing lessons with the EET in order for them to have a successful piece of writing.
6. Another key point that I agree with Regie on is to be sure to respect the writer. (I feel this is true at all times in order to build a relationship with our students.) This goes hand-in-hand with starting out with a positive comment. It is so true that if we hear a negative comment first, we basically want to shut down. Our students are no different.
7. "What might help this writer?" is something that I ask myself as I'm conferencing with a student or writing a comment on his/her scoring card.
I also enjoyed seeing the different samples and reading about Gail Westbrook and her expectations of her students. I especially liked the charts/tables on p. 58. I can see those being useful even in 3rd grade.
Friday, February 1, 2008
Chp. 3- Share Your Writing Life
As I have read this chapter, my first thought was, "Oh no, please don't make me write in front of my colleagues. I am just feeling comfortable writing in front of my students!" I do agree with Regie when she says that we need to write in front of the students so that they can see and hear what we are thinking as we write. Not only do they enjoy learning more about me through my writing, but it gives them confidence that they can do it too. Another point that she made on p. 49 was that we as teachers need to enjoy writing in order for it to transfer over to our students. I can't remember a time when I was going through school as a student myself, that I enjoyed writing. Matter of fact, I really can't remember writing until high school and college, and let me tell you, the final products weren't pretty, according to my teachers. So, it has been quite a challenge for me to enjoy writing ever since those dreaded papers would come back to me all marked up and not with the grades that I was use to getting in other classes. Last year I started teaching writing again (I had been part-time and my job share partner had taught the writing.). I wanted my students to become good writers, but I was scared to write in front of them. So I did a lot of the prewrite (plan, web...) with them, which Regie suggests we don't spend so much time on. This year, I have gained more confidence with my writing in front of my students and have been composing in front of them. We ALL are enjoying writing in my room. One of my students just told me the other day that writing was her favorite subject at school! Wow!!!
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Chp. 2- Start with Celebration
This chapter reinforced the following key points for me:
1. Sharing stories is important, which helps one get their writing going.
2. It is so important for our students to see us write. I know that it is a little scary for me to write in front of them, but they enjoy it. I will continue to model and share my writing with them.
3. Poetry is a great way to get the students to write to express their thoughts.
4. Students grow to be successful writers when they write for an audience.
5. Take time to celebrate their beginnings, them trying something new, their stories!
6. Let them choose their topic that interests them in order to get some great writing.
I also enjoyed the topics that were listed on p.26-27 to use with my class. They look like topics that they could all relate to and I look forward to using them in my classroom.
1. Sharing stories is important, which helps one get their writing going.
2. It is so important for our students to see us write. I know that it is a little scary for me to write in front of them, but they enjoy it. I will continue to model and share my writing with them.
3. Poetry is a great way to get the students to write to express their thoughts.
4. Students grow to be successful writers when they write for an audience.
5. Take time to celebrate their beginnings, them trying something new, their stories!
6. Let them choose their topic that interests them in order to get some great writing.
I also enjoyed the topics that were listed on p.26-27 to use with my class. They look like topics that they could all relate to and I look forward to using them in my classroom.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
1st Time Writing a Blog
Wow! I am excited to learn how to interact with the use of a Blog. I am enjoying learning something new!
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