Friday, August 28, 2009
Group A Ch. 5 & 6 Blog
View AND Read the first sample chapters (available on line) (Chapters 5 & 6) 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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In my writer's notebook I am writing about some thoughts that I have about teaching in schools today. At the start of Chapter 5, Janet Elliott discusses that we are fortunate to teach in a time when a plethora of children's books is available(Elliott 2008) although this is true my personal thoughts are that it is difficult to really utilize many of the great children's literature books available out there today. First; it is an issue of predecided curriculum that is given to use to guide our teaching; then there is the issue of time constraints in our daily scheduling. I have a tremenous amount of compassion for the elementary school classroom teacher of today. There are so many materials available as Janet Elliot said but there is such little time to really employ all that teachers may want in their classrooms.
ReplyDeleteI did enjoy Chapter 5 because it gave the reader definite ideas for direction in teaching writing especially with the time constraints placed upon teachers today. I liked how she listed various books that approach the subject of writing and the themes they embrace.
I think that children of all ages in school, need some inspiration to begin writing. Maybe by read alouds of some of these books we as teachers may not hear as often,"I don't know what to write about" or the ever popular..." I'm all done". ( When they have only written one or two lines on the entire page!!!) I think that I will especially try to use the books with the sensory connections such as The Long Closet or The Hickory Chair. Such great ideas!
My question is : Have you ever used a particular book that you felt really inspired your students to begin writing? If so will you share that book in this blog?
i think that these chapter tie in with my integrated literacy project because they are concerned with a variety of books to use to inspire writing and my project is concerned with the value and importance of libraries throughout the world.
ReplyDeleteAgain, I enjoyed reading the chapters for this week. I especially appreciated the numerous books listed to help with teaching writing. As a teacher, one of the things I struggled with (with writing) was what books I could use that could spark my student's interest in writing while also providing a model for them.
ReplyDeleteAgain, I go back to though the difficulty of teaching early primary grades and the limited amount of writing my students would do. They had such a hard time trying to figure out how to sound out words that they often became frustrated. It woudn't be until the end of the year that they could write more while focusing on their ideas and less on letter-sound relationships.
I wonder if it's ok to script for them or allow them to sketch/draw their story?
Jane- Unfortunately, I cannot recommend a good book. By the time I recieved WW training from Teacher's College (which, by the way, was excellent!), I was out of the classroom. However, we do have a pretty good collection of Mentor Texts that I ordered for the teachers to go with their writer's workshop. They are in the library, I can show you if you want.
ReplyDeleteI also liked the book she metions called Fireflies. It seems like a great mentor text to encourage writers to connect with the feelings of the character, not just the literal event.
I enjoyed both chapters5 and 6.I can say that our children are so fortune to have access to so many books that can help them to write. I do think that it is important to students to use the books and also the teacher. I do struggle as a teacher to find the right books that will help the children to write. I did like the author listed of books that help with writing. Back home in Albania I didn’t have so many opportunities and books to help me to write. I don’t even remember to have a good teacher to help me. When I started going to CCSU I have to write so many papers and I learned how to write in English, a difficult language and not my native language. I do agree that using Children’s Literature can be very effective in teaching students. It can be useful to develop their thinking ability. I believe it is important for the teacher to hear how students reason and think without the teacher always telling them what to think or say.Ch5 makes a statement that literature has an impact on readers in different ways. My question is: What happens if the literature brings the students painful experiences or memories, how a teacher should handle this situation? I think teacher should be mindful of the emotional pain that some literature might bring up in their students. What do you think?
ReplyDeleteIn Ch6 author explains how to use three parts of the workshop: minilessons, conferring and sharing. I struggle with writing, but reading this chapter has helped me to be more optimistic about the writing process. I always have great ideas, but I find it sometimes difficult to put them down on paper. My question is how can you as a teacher make your students enjoy writing if you, yourself struggle with it? I am definitely using the suggestion and ideas in this book and in this chapter. I am going to keep a journal. My goal is to write every night before I go to bed. Maybe this will encourage me to write more and then eventually will help me to develop the enjoyment of writing.
ReplyDeleteI truly enjoyed Chapter 5 because it gave you the titles of texts that you can use when teaching certain subjects. There are many times when a children's book or mentor text would come in handy but you just don't know where to start to find "the right one." I think that this chapter will come in handy when trying to find different texts, or come up with different ideas to "plant the seeds of writing."
ReplyDeleteIn chapter 6, I liked how it broke down each part of the writing process. I know that I always feel that children have to go through a certain process when writing. It was nice to be reassured that every child will not go through the exact same process. Each child will find a process that works for them. I also liked how it explained that it is important to not try to fix everything. More than likely, if they are doing a certain thing in their writing, it will happen again and you can correct it/discuss it the next time. A final piece will not always be perfect nor published. I would always try to get to the published piece with every child and it didn't always work and I would get frustrated.
Carrie...it kindergarten I do script for some children after they have done their sketch. They want to spell all of the words and I just don't have the time/help to sit and sound out each word with every child. I am not sure if scripting is the desired thing to do...but I do it as well.
Carrie: I look forward to seeing any and all books to help teach writing to the children. I think that you do a fantastic job as the IRT in our school and I always respect and appreciate your input to my lessons.
ReplyDeleteIn answer to your question as to whether it is OK for us to script for the younger children or allow them to draw what they are thinking about, I say "Yes". I believe that as long as we can encourage the children to get going in learning to write, we have to get to know each child and what will encourage them to write.
Chapter 6 has that little quote from Lucy Caulkins where she says," They'll do the learning as they write,read, work." (page 54). Doing is how they learn even if we modify or help in some other way.
In response to Altea, I to have difficulty putting down my ideas on paper. I think that really journal writing does encourage one to think on paper and become a better writer.
Altea, you ask very important questions. What if you do not enjoy writing? or reading for that matter- how do you convey enthusiasm if it is not there? How have you used ideas in this chapter in your classroom?
ReplyDeleteI will have a journal in the classroom and share it with the students. If they see me writing it will encourage them to write. I'm going to try enthusiasm by using my journal in the classroom with students.While they write, I will write too.
ReplyDelete