View AND Read the first sample chapters (available on line) (Chapters 1 & 2) Using the Writer's Notebook in Grades 3-8: A Teacher's Guide at (http://www1.ncte.org/library/files/Store/Books/Sample/35006chap1-2_x.pdf) and begin your writers notebook then post entries on Class Blog
( Keep your own notebook and share your response to it AND try out an idea in your class)
Engage in an online discussion group on our class blog. Please read designated chapters and 1)propose “meaty” fat questions to discuss,2) make connections to your teaching and work with students, and 3) make connections to your work as a writer ). 4)Please respond to two of your classmates’s entries in your study group.4) Consider how what you have learned from this book might support the work of your integrated language arts unit
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ReplyDeleteHi Courtney and Jane-
ReplyDeleteIt's late on Sunday night but here goes...
I actually enjoyed reading chapters 1 and 2. I think she had a lot of great ideas; ideas that I would actually like to try myself to become more of an adult writer. I don't remember much about writing as a kid, but I do remember writing in highschool and college and feeling frustrated with it. I'd spend so much time on my papers and book reports and things and never got the grade I felt I deserved for all of the time I put into it.
Question for Courtney and Jane:
ReplyDeleteI have taught K and 1. I never liked teaching writng b/c I felt like I wasn't good at it. With that being said, I tried to learn ways to teach writing.
Mostly, my students did a lot of journal writing. We also practiced for prompt writing. After being out of the classroom for a year, I finally got writer's workshop training. I wish I had that training earlier!
My question is this: What ways do you teach writing in your class Courtney since you have taught first grade?
Jane, any feedback as to how you help teachers with writing and any good techniques you have seen would be appreciated.
What I like most about chapters 1 and 2 were the personal stories the author shared about how to have a writer's notebook as an adult. Honestly, before reading this I would've treated it like a diary or journal but her insights provided more direction for me.
ReplyDeleteI really liked the "setting up guidelines" section. I particularly liked a) beginning a new entry on the next clean page b/c you may want to write more about the previous topic at a later date b) not to erase but to cross out instead to have a record of your thinking and c) don't tear anything out.
These are things I wouldn't have thought to have done in my own writer's notebook nor to share with students.
I am looking forward to more interesting ideas from this book to help motivate myself with my own writer's notebook.
one more question:
ReplyDeleteHow/When would you teach about things like grammar, editing, revising, etc., if not in the writer's notebook? How long would students write in their writer's notebook before moving into a more structured writing time. How do you make that time enjoyable?
In answer to Carrie: I enjoyed the Chapters 1 & 2 also. I think that we will benefit as professional teachers from this textbook. I liked the Setting up Guidelines segment also. It stressed that dating their entries is of importance because they will want to know when they wrote that particular piece in the future. Reflecting about my own educational experience and the teaching experience that I have had, it is so useful to have some ideas on how to start a writer's notebook. I would love to have had a writer's notebook on my own educational experience.
ReplyDeleteIn answer to your question regarding how I implement a writer's notebook or writing in my teaching position, I keep in my what the author of our book states about it not being a diary but rather a place to write about experiences, thoughts and observations. Knowing that some of our students do not have a lot of background information, I attempt to provide approximations for them such as bringing in pictures, items of interest to encourage them to think about writing about them.
Carrie: I like your question about how I would teach editing, grammar and revising? In answer to this question, I would teach that in another writing assignment not the writer's notebook. I think that I will treat the writer's notebook as something separate from writing that employs all of the conventions of writing.
ReplyDeleteThere is a definite merit to teaching grammar, editing and revising but to me the writer's notebook is a free thinking experience to have a judgement free zone for writing and learning to enjoy writing.
I don't think that I will put a time limit on when they can write. Sometimes when you tell children that it is time to write in their journals or writer's notebooks they may not have the right frame of mind to reflect, observe or share an experience at that time. I like when teachers set aside a little time for this writing but I also think that it is a good idea when they tell the students that they can write when they get extra time. I feel that the flexibility is important for creativity.
Carrie, when I taught writing in first grade the students had a writing folder that they were able to keep all of their pieces in. Each day I would do a mini-lesson before they began their writing. I would model a skill or concept that I wanted them to go back and try to practice in their writing. The topics were up to the students and we did not do much prompt writing. Some things that I found difficult were the editing/revising. Many students would have a hard time going back to the same piece of writing to make it better. Their response would be "I'm done" or "I already did that one." For students who had a hard time coming up with a topic, they could choose a topic from the generated list that we made at the beginning of the year. I agree Carrie when you say that I don't like to teach writing because I don't feel that I am good at it. Every year I make it a goal of mine to try to get better at teaching writing, but I just find it hard and I feel that there are so many questions that I don't have the answer to.....
ReplyDeleteI really like the idea of the Writer's Notebook as an adult and for a child to use. I have not used one in the past. I am teaching kindergarten this year, and we have a monthly "Writers Notebook" which is just a journal that the children can write/draw in to get thier ideas on paper. But so many children say I don't know what to write about...or I don't know what to draw...or I don't know how to write even though I model an entry everyday for the students....I feel like I am doing something wrong!
If we want our students to write in their notebooks we have to model or walk the walk with them. How would you propose to inspire your students to creatively write in their writer's notebooks during content literacy classes?
ReplyDeleteI would not incorportate editing/grammar into the Writers Notebook. I think that in the Notebook "anything goes"--obviously only appropriate stuff.
ReplyDeleteI think that children may "hold back" if they feel their grammar/spelling is being looked at. I think that the Notebook is a place to write about whatever is on your mind. The grammar and editing can be taught in a different lesson.
I think that it is a good idea to keep the Ntoebook in a handy place that the student have easy access to. They can jot down a thought or a feeling as it is happening. Do you think that this would interfere with learning? For example, you are teaching a lesson on AB patterns and a student takes out thier ntoebook and starts writing about something that he/she is thinking about. Do you allow them to do this or should you have a separate time for the Notebook? I feel that it is most effective as the thought happens, however I feel that students should be paying attention to the lesson that is being taught. Any ideas? opinions?
Jane, I think that as a teacher we can keep a Notebook and share an entry or two with the students so that they can see that we are doing the same thing as them. Obviously the content of the entry should be appropriate, but when the students see that their teacher is doing the same thing that they are, some may become inspired to follow along.
ReplyDeleteCourtney- ooh, good question. For me, I wouldn't want the students to take out their Writer's Notebok during a math lesson b/c I would want them focused on the lesson and the learning in it.
ReplyDeleteMyabe have a time..let's say after lunch, to let them write about anything they want. It might be a good way to get them refocused for learning plus it's a nice peaceful time to get them settled after lunch.
Jane- Knowing how much classroom teachers have to squeeze into their day, when would you suggest using a Writer's Notebook while keeping in mind that most Principals will want a designated block of time for Writer's Workshop?
ReplyDeleteCarrie and Courtney: I would suggest that Carrie's idea of using the Writer's Notebook afterlunch to refocus their learning and maybe even reflect on what they learned in a math class or other content area class is an excellent idea.
ReplyDeleteIn answer to Courtney's question as to when you allow the student to write in the notebook, I feel that there needs to be certain times that it is permissible. I do not feel that the writer's notebook should be an opportunity of getting out of another area of learning if the teacher has a specific plan.
Hi, It's the new member,Altea. It's my third time trying to post this comment. I lost everything I wrote the other times. I am not familiar with this. well, live and learn...
ReplyDeleteJane- I really enjoyed both chapters. The author have some great ideas and I would like to try some in my classroom. I work with special ed students 1:1. I really do think they will enjoy using writers note book especially when they have hard time expresing their feelings. I do have some students in my classroom that can not write but they can use pictures. By saying pictures I mean using the board maker program, which can show a picture instead of the word. It's great for them. I don't know if they use it in public schools with elementary students. My question is : How can I use the note book as a planning tool in my classroom?
Courtney, I like the idea of teacher modeling her own notes and sharing with the students and also, having them share with each others. In my classroom I have to modify it for each of them. I will have them write with the staff 1:1 (support and help them concentrate)about something they really like and then share with the class.
ReplyDeleteAltea: I teach Special Education also. I have taught children who are unable to write. I think that you can use the writer's notebook with boardmaker to help non -verbal students to express themselves. What a powerful tool for children with autism. Challenging as it may be it is important to use the writer's notebook and follow the ideas in chapter 2. Keep modeling to all students!
ReplyDelete