9/9

In Writer's Workshop our aim is to live like writers.

Ralph Fletcher says "Writers are like other people, except for at least one difference. Other people have daily thoughts and feelings, notice this sky or that smell, but they don't do much about it. All those thoughts, feelings, sensations,  and opinions pass through them like the air they breathe. Not writers. Writers react. And writers need a place to record those reactions."

So, one of the main ingredients is our Writer's Notebook. This is where students put ideas. The ideas may come in lists they make, webs, pictures, lists from others, words...anything they want to remember or react to. One of our goals so far is how to use the notebook, where to get ideas, and just getting our ideas down on the paper. So far, we have worked on writing personal narratives. Goals of writers in our class have been:

1. Write more than I did yesterday.

2. Write neatly so I can read it.

3. Write a "seed" story not a "watermelon" story. (More on that later).

4.  Use details.

5. Put talking in my writing.

6. Use punctuation as I write.

7. Use the strategies for getting ideas; lists, sketches, webs...Suggested lists are: people who matter to me, favorite places, expert list, ... Lists can be added to all the time.

As a writer, you need to know what your intention is that day.  "Seeds" are small moments that you write about.  "Watermelons" are big stories. Huge, with lots of seeds inside.  "Disney" is a watermelon- standing on line for Space Mountain is a seed.  "Dance" is a watermelon - the first time you put your tap shoes on is a seed.  Seeds bring us into the moment.  One way to help that moment is to remember the story in order and what people said exactly. 

Both classes "published" their personal narratives in October and we celebrated with ice cream during our publishing parties.  Each story was published by editing after a final draft and an illustration.  During our "party" students walked around the classroom reading each other's work.  "Post its" were used by the students to compliment each other's writing.  Examples of post its were "nice zooming in", or "I like how you had people talk."  Then each writer took the post its they found on their writing and put them in their writer's notebooks.  They then "reflected" on what they'd learned as a writer, or how they had improved.  It was a great experience!

11/6  Our next cycle of writing have been essays.  The difference between personal narratives and essays is that an essay is all about an idea.  So, we started our new lists about things we notice around us.  The next strategy involved describing what we notice. Then we asked questions about what we noticed.  We then shifted to writing ideas about an important person and also issues we had.  We pushed our "big idea" by using this line..."And that makes me think..." and then, "What I mean by that is..."  We then, like an essay format, gave 3 examples of our idea and a conclusion.  I am so amazed and proud of some of the deep thinking and profound statements these kids are making!   I hope to share some of their work soon!  We are looking to publish these again sometime next week hopefully. 

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