Chapter 2 was very helpful. I remember in high school that we had to choose a topic to write a research paper about and the teacher would not help us with any of the process. I chose a "watermelon idea" and the whole process of writing nearly drove me crazy. I wish she would have guided me to a "seed idea". I began to believe that I could only write on a topic if it was provided for me. This may be the reason that I am not a confident writing teacher. However, I am ready to try several of the ideas in Chapter 2. I like the Topic Tree, Sticky Dot Ideas and the Five Finger Planner. I don't want any student to feel the way I felt about writing!
I completely agree! I was never a good writer either. I always thought, was I absent the day they taught us how to write? Why are these other kids getting it and I am not? I never want kids to feel that way either.
I had a professor in college that had a prescribed list of words that we couldn't use in papers, like "is" and "was" or it was a letter deduction. It drove me crazy and I had a hard time focusing on the idea I wanted to get across because I was so worried about "the list." Sometimes I think our kids feel like that and that's why they're so afraid to take a risk.
I absolutely loved the sentence on page 33 stating "it's our job to help children take what they know about print in their environment and apply it to their reading and writing." This is SO true. If you can link your teaching to the world around them, it will become so much more meaninful to them. I love the idea of creating a chart about the students experiences that could be turned into writing topics. Allowing students to help with the process and letting them share ideas will help them make a connection to the writing. I really liked the "Topic Pocket" idea too. When I student taught, my mentor teacher used the envelope taped inside the spiral and it was very helpful in that students had access to their notes, ideas, or unfinished writing quickly and easily. My students LOVE LOVE LOVE to draw pictures so I really think that the idea with the 4 boxes where each box they get to draw a picture that will become a potential writing topic is such an effective way to get their brains working and help them make that personal connection. This chapter has so many great idea! I truly love the writing bingo card and writing tree as well. I like the topic tree because it allows the students to break down their ideas to help them get really good details for each subtopic of their prompt. I will definitely be using the five-finger planner in my classroom this year as well. I love all the ideas on how to break down their idea and come up with great supporting details. I cannot wait to see how the ideas that I've read in this chapter will help my students become stronger writers! :)
One of my favorite topics was the Topic Tree as well. So many kids have amazing ideas, but since they are using the biggest idea, it is very overwhelming and hard to get the idea on paper.
I thought that the Bingo Card was a neat idea. The topic tree might be something I could try with third grade. They would enjoy working with their peers on a topic. So often it is an individualize process and they always like to work in partners. It would be a new approach for me to let them brainstorm together. I have already used the five finger planner this year. My students did well with this. It was easy to keep them on their topic with this brainstorming activity. It also made it very easy for them to fit in their transitions words and stay focused in their writing.
That's awesome that you have already used the five finger planner. It is so easy for kids to get off topic - I am glad this helped them to stay focused.
I love that the authors are pointing out how important personal experiences are in writing. If it's something that students can make a connection to, the quality is always better. I like the writing bingo idea. I'll definitely try that.
Chapter 2 had some great minilesson ideas. I am used to giving ideas to students for their writing. I do believe that it is also very important for students to be able to come up with their own ideas. If we give students these tools and teach them a good way to organize their thinking, they can write about anything they want, and it would give them the confidence they need to be an awesome writer! I think that putting thoughts down on paper is one of the hardest things for students to do! I plan on incorporating the 5 finger planner soon, but I also want to try the 3-2-1 planner. I like how it organizes the BME and then shows them that they need 2 details for each one. I could see us doing this as a whole group writing story and having a lot of fun with it, and then they would take the lead and do their own.
I love the writing bingo card. I already do something similar right now. I love the idea of doing this for procedural texts writing ideas. I think the kids will love it.
Chapter 2 was very helpful. I remember in high school that we had to choose a topic to write a research paper about and the teacher would not help us with any of the process. I chose a "watermelon idea" and the whole process of writing nearly drove me crazy. I wish she would have guided me to a "seed idea". I began to believe that I could only write on a topic if it was provided for me. This may be the reason that I am not a confident writing teacher. However, I am ready to try several of the ideas in Chapter 2. I like the Topic Tree, Sticky Dot Ideas and the Five Finger Planner. I don't want any student to feel the way I felt about writing!
ReplyDeleteI completely agree! I was never a good writer either. I always thought, was I absent the day they taught us how to write? Why are these other kids getting it and I am not? I never want kids to feel that way either.
DeleteI had a professor in college that had a prescribed list of words that we couldn't use in papers, like "is" and "was" or it was a letter deduction. It drove me crazy and I had a hard time focusing on the idea I wanted to get across because I was so worried about "the list." Sometimes I think our kids feel like that and that's why they're so afraid to take a risk.
DeleteI absolutely loved the sentence on page 33 stating "it's our job to help children take what they know about print in their environment and apply it to their reading and writing." This is SO true. If you can link your teaching to the world around them, it will become so much more meaninful to them. I love the idea of creating a chart about the students experiences that could be turned into writing topics. Allowing students to help with the process and letting them share ideas will help them make a connection to the writing. I really liked the "Topic Pocket" idea too. When I student taught, my mentor teacher used the envelope taped inside the spiral and it was very helpful in that students had access to their notes, ideas, or unfinished writing quickly and easily. My students LOVE LOVE LOVE to draw pictures so I really think that the idea with the 4 boxes where each box they get to draw a picture that will become a potential writing topic is such an effective way to get their brains working and help them make that personal connection. This chapter has so many great idea! I truly love the writing bingo card and writing tree as well. I like the topic tree because it allows the students to break down their ideas to help them get really good details for each subtopic of their prompt. I will definitely be using the five-finger planner in my classroom this year as well. I love all the ideas on how to break down their idea and come up with great supporting details. I cannot wait to see how the ideas that I've read in this chapter will help my students become stronger writers! :)
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite topics was the Topic Tree as well. So many kids have amazing ideas, but since they are using the biggest idea, it is very overwhelming and hard to get the idea on paper.
DeleteI thought that the Bingo Card was a neat idea. The topic tree might be something I could try with third grade. They would enjoy working with their peers on a topic. So often it is an individualize process and they always like to work in partners. It would be a new approach for me to let them brainstorm together. I have already used the five finger planner this year. My students did well with this. It was easy to keep them on their topic with this brainstorming activity. It also made it very easy for them to fit in their transitions words and stay focused in their writing.
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome that you have already used the five finger planner. It is so easy for kids to get off topic - I am glad this helped them to stay focused.
DeleteI thought the bingo idea was a great way to start writing off also.
DeleteI love that the authors are pointing out how important personal experiences are in writing. If it's something that students can make a connection to, the quality is always better. I like the writing bingo idea. I'll definitely try that.
ReplyDeleteChapter 2 had some great minilesson ideas. I am used to giving ideas to students for their writing. I do believe that it is also very important for students to be able to come up with their own ideas. If we give students these tools and teach them a good way to organize their thinking, they can write about anything they want, and it would give them the confidence they need to be an awesome writer! I think that putting thoughts down on paper is one of the hardest things for students to do! I plan on incorporating the 5 finger planner soon, but I also want to try the 3-2-1 planner. I like how it organizes the BME and then shows them that they need 2 details for each one. I could see us doing this as a whole group writing story and having a lot of fun with it, and then they would take the lead and do their own.
ReplyDeleteI loved the idea of the topic tree for narrowing down the subject. I think that it might be a useful tool for organizing thoughts also.
ReplyDeleteI love the writing bingo card. I already do something similar right now. I love the idea of doing this for procedural texts writing ideas. I think the kids will love it.
ReplyDelete