All About Book Idea: All About Winter

The teacher on this website had her class write All About Books. The topic was winter.  They are awesome. Your class could pick any topic.

I prefer the idea of having students complete writing projects in the sequence of gradual release: I Do, We Do, You Do. When the teacher writes or models writing, it is I Do.  When we write together, it is We Do.  When students choose their own topics and write individually it is usually You Do. 

http://splatypus.blogspot.com/2011/02/all-about-winter.html

Writing Videos

Here are some videos and teaching ideas about writing.

http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3749217

Unit of Study: Fiction Writing

This is a link to a great write up about one of Lucy’s units of study:  fiction.  I am always searching for references to Lucy’s units since many of the teachers I work with use the units as a resource. 

http://bestbookihavenotread.wordpress.com/2009/10/27/unit-of-study-fiction-writing-grades-3-5/

Essay Writing Ideas

Many schools are using Lucy Calkins’ materials and Units of Study.  One of her units includes an essay unit.  Jim Trelease has a site that includes a weekly essay.  It is awesome!  http://www.trelease-on-reading.com/essay-of-week.html  

I am always looking for resources.  This is another site of wonderful resources for us.

Lucy Calkins Writing Kits

 

http://literacybytes.com/  A wonderful site as a Grade 3-5 staff implements Lucy Calkins kits in their building.

Getting Ready for Writing Day 1

What will your students write about on day one?

What will you model on day one?

What will your mini-lesson be on day one?

What will you expect your students write on day one?

http://eledblog.com/content/learning-about-units-study-launching-writing-workshop

http://abeaver.wordpress.com/2006/08/01/valentine-for-ernest-mann-by-naomi-shihab-nye/

Writing Essentials by Regie Routman

Book Study Group – This is a wonderful discussion and book study group

http://essentialsofwriting.blogspot.com/2009/06/week-one-introduction.html

http://essentialsofwriting.blogspot.com/2009/06/week-two-essential-writing-life.html

http://essentialsofwriting.blogspot.com/2009/06/week-three-sharing-your-writing-life.html

http://essentialsofwriting.blogspot.com/2009/06/week-four-written-reflection-section.html

http://essentialsofwriting.blogspot.com/2009/07/week-five-section-three-essential.html

Stars and Wishes

When conferring with a student, tell what works in the writing.  What did you notice?  What are the “stars“?  These are the positives of the writing!  Then the teacher decides on a teaching point.  I wish you would ….  This is the place where the teacher makes a suggestion to improve the writing.  There should be more writing positives than suggestions.

Personal Narrative Unit by Jessica Meachum

Scroll near the bottom of the page and you will see lessons by Jessica on Personal Narrative, Question / Answer and even Pattern books.   http://www.jmeacham.com/writers.workshop/writing.mini.lessons.htm

Writing about an Object

My mom and a few of her closest friends, painted the nativity many years ago.  The grandchildren and my parents set out the nativity each year on Thanksgiving.  I could write about this tradition of setting up the nativity.  My dad gets the boxes out of the attic.  The little ones are under his feet ‘helping.’

As a new member joins the family they receive a stocking that stays at my parents’ house.  My parents have 4 children who now have married.  We also have stockings at our own houses for our children.  I cross-stitched stockings for my 4 ‘Smith’ family members at our house.  I could write about this.  The grandchildren write notes to the Santa sometimes.  We put candy in the stockings sometimes.  We don’t really have one tradition of what is done with stockings at my parents. 

I could write about decorating the tree on Thanksgiving at my parents.  The grandchildren help Grandpa decorate the tree.  The bottom half that they can reach is well decorated.  I remember the year the tree fell over! 

Writing about an object is an effective writing lesson. I wrote objects in June.  http://writingeverydayworks.wordpress.com/2008/06/06/connections-to-special-object-hats/    I find there are so many objects related to the Christmas holidays that students could write about:  stockings, christmas trees, dinner, etc. 

It is not that Christmas objects is so important, it is just that kids are so excited about Christmas, so how can I help connect what they are excited to to real writing? 

What is helpful to my students is getting to the WHY and HOW.  Why is the object important and special?  Why are you remembering the object?

If you have students who don’t celebrate Christmas or if you are not allowed to discuss Christmas see my link for ideas.  Also, you could discuss FOOD items (objects).  I remember making cookies, cupcakes, special pies with family members for holidays. 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cupcakesfrenzy/3159333148/