Writing about a Canoe Trip

Three Days on a River In a Red Canoe by Vera B. Williams

Many times, teachers ask students to keep a journal on a holiday.  Sometimes a student decides to keep a journal about a special trip.  Three Days on a River in a Red Canoe helps students understand how to keep a journal, what it might look like, and what interesting facts might be.  I read it before or after long vacations such as winter vacation and summer vacation.

Topics: Brainstorming more topics

I also ask have any of you ever been in kindergarten. What’s your teacher’s name, write it down. What do you remember the most. I usually tell them something I remember from kindergarten. Have any of you ever been in first grade? Etc. What about second? Have you ever had a field trip? What was the best part? Add ideas to your list of possibilities.

Writing Mini-Lessons Topics: What do you know about?

Help the children list what they know about. Give them classifications (pets, family members, school kids, friends, field trips, zoo, Walmart). They can record possible writing ideas on the front of their writing notebook, on a colored piece of paper, whatever the teacher wishes.

Writing Questionnaire for Parents to Fill Out

An Example questionnaire to send home requesting that the parents help generate a list of topics that the child has experienced in his or her lifetime.

Your child is writing every day in our classroom. 60% of children learn to read their own writing before learning to read other people’s writing. To help your child’s reading and writing improve, I need your help. Often children tell me, “I don’t know what to write about.” I only know what we do at school. I need parents to help me by providing background knowledge about their child. These questions are meant to trigger memories, emotions, and feelings.

Family Vacations
Has your child ever gone camping? In what? (tent, camper, cabin)
Has your child ever stayed over night in a hotel? Swam in a pool?
Gone to Disney World?
Gone to McDonald’s Play World?
Visited Chuckie Cheese
Gone to Six Flags?
Where has your child vacationed?

Family
Aunts
Uncles
Sisters
Brothers
Grandma or Grandpa
Special people in his/her life
Cousins

What activities does your child participate in?
Boy Scouts
Girl Scouts
Tap Dance
Church Group
Chess Club
Soccer
Baseball / Softball

Anything you would like to add:

Brainstorming Topics

On one color paper or a 12 inch x 18 inch paper (big) brainstorm possible topics.

First, the teacher lists lots of broad, general topics on board with input from the class and reads them to class. (transportation, vacations, family, school, favorite places, special people, pets or favorite animals, church, home, relaxation, family members, school kids, friends, field trips, playground, zoo, specials, stores, etc.). Then teacher has students write possible topics for two minutes. Interrupt them saying, “Raise your hand if you have ridden on a train? If you have ridden in a plane? If you have driven a tractor?” Record more topics (for two minutes.) “Have you ever done something embarrassing? Consoled a friend? Given a gift you’ve made?” Add to your list.

Teacher says:
I am going to pick four topics that I know about. I am an expert in these four topics. The teacher chooses four general topics and records them on her 12 x 18 paper. She writes one topic in each square. I am choosing four topics that I know a lot about. I am picking school because I know a lot about school. I am picking relax because I could write about relaxing. I am writing people because I know a lot of special people. My fourth topic is specials.

1-school
2-relax
3-people
4-special

Now it is your turn. Pick 4 topics from the board or your own ideas. They have to be big.

The kids brainstormed writing their 4 topics.

To spark my students’ memories, I ask the whole class a series of questions. Students write these answers on the Individual Brainstorming Topic Paper. To encourage topic development the teacher asks her students questions such as these:

Raise your hand if you have…
-Ever been in kindergarten? What was your teacher’s name? Write it down. I usually tell them something I remember from kindergarten. My teacher was Mrs. Murphy. She was barely taller than me. She taught me to read. I would go into the backroom and read with John and Chris. What do you remember the most?

-Ever been in first grade? What about second?
-Ever had a field trip? What was the best part?

The teacher then narrowed their topics:
1-school: gym, music, math, class, book baskets, recess, 2nd grader
2-relax: reading books in bed, walking on beach,
3-people: Kindergarten teacher (Mrs. Murphy)
4-special: gym, music, library, art,

Expert List: Topic Development

To mobilize a student to write, have a conversation with the student. “I don’t got nothing to say.” Let’s make a list of what you’re an expert about. “I’m not an expert about anything ………..TV that’s all. ….. and baseball.” Maybe he mutters, “almost got a home run.” In just one hit? Tell me about it. After hearing a few sentences, say, “Would you put that down on paper. Just how you described it to me?” Teacher stares at paper and repeats what he said. Wait expectantly. Do not ask or coax, just wait staring at the paper and if you feel you need to walk away and go help another child. Do not coax. He must learn to write for himself, not to your agenda. Eventually with patience from you and seeing other kids writing, it will work. Remember little ones do not all walk at 9 months, 3 days or 12 months, 5 days. Kids walk when they want, they write when we build a safe environment where they realize they are writers.