Reviewing is Very Important- Do You Agree? Blog #10

 Hi guys, Hope you guys are doing well. Well, what do you know! The end is getting closer and closer! Awww! The time was well spent, don't you think? Yes, it was! This week, we did nothing new except review and receive a few reminders for our assignments. We were reminded on how to go about writing an analysis of a child's writing. Firstly, after collecting a sample of a child's writing, we are to read it and analyse it based on the 6+1 writing traits. Then, give an overview of the child which includes as introduction of the child, the writing task and the activities that led up to the writing of the piece. For example, if a class discussion was done to stimulate the generation of ideas or a video was viewed etc. 

Secondly, using examples from the writing, a thorough analysis of the child's writing must be carried out. In the analysis, the dominant writing trait emerging from the piece must be discussed. We were told to give an overall view of the child's work, strengths, areas of weakness, suggestions for improving the child's writing and some activities. An analysis of the writing plan must also be observed to add support to the analysis. A scanty plan will generate a scanty essay. Apart from the reminders, our Lecturer gave us samples of children's writings. We had to read the piece individually and discuss with our writing partner the traits that emerged as the strongest and those that were weak, specifically the 2 that needs most work. Then a whole class discussion was done as a means of demonstrating how the flow of the write up should be.

The entire class session was beneficial to both my partner and I as we had a chance to scrutinize the writing, share our ideas and receive feedback. Based on the discussion, we learned that we must elaborate on our points using examples from the piece to truly present our argument. Then we were given examples of the type of support or scaffolding we are expected to use when assisting children with their weaknesses for example in the areas of ideas, use various means to get the children's creative juices stimulated in order for ideas to be generated. We were even given ideas on how to speak to the strengths and weaknesses of the child's writing.

This activity really gave me ideas as to what I need to do with some of my students. Students not are not like students in times past. They need more scaffolding and support to help them in reading and writing. To me the most important trait here is ideas. Ideas are the main content of any piece of writing. If students do not have ideas, then they would not have a meaningful essay. They may have a framework, but they would not have depth, a voice and even sentence fluency since they are unaware of what to write. From scrutinizing of the children's different writings, gave us Indepth information that we needed to help in our analysis of the child's writing.

After this exercise was done, our lecturer went on to discuss what a justification is and some tips we can use to write a solid justification for including our pieces in the portfolio. For example, we were told that we need a paragraph or two stating what the Learning standards or Curriculum says about writing. What are the specific skills of writing that the students would be engaged in to fulfil the requirements for grade 5. Additionally, a justification can be that the topic is a superficial one that carries a string stigma. By helping students think about the topic, research the information, students view would be changed as they interface with the benefits rather than the negatives. 

Following this lesson, we were also given tips on poem writing. This support came in the form of a gallery walk. Our teacher posted several poems on newsprint paper and stuck them at several points in the classroom. In groups we went around reading the poems and giving our feedback on it. We looked at the rhyming pattern, the main idea behind the poem, the length etc. This was a fun experience as we get to collaborate and share our thoughts on the pieces. During the discussion, we were encouraged to choose a pattern for rhyming if we desire. We were told to create a poem on something we felt passionate about. In a poem we can use contractions.

I really appreciated the revision sessions done with our lecturer. The reminders were indeed helpful to me, and it showed me how much patience and handwork a teacher must put out to achieve success from her students. It also gave us a good idea of what exactly we need to include in our assignments. Our Lecturer truly knows what we need and want and how to exactly fulfil those desires. 

The Writing Workshop. Blog # 9

 
Hi guys, welcome back to my blog. The semester is quickly winding down, can you believe it? Nevertheless, teaching and learning still goes on. Today we are going to be discussing the topic about the Writing Workshop? Ever heard of it? Our lecturer used this strategy with us I believe when we were learning about descriptive writing. The writing workshop is not a literal workshop but an instructional model that focuses on the strengths and areas of need of a writer. Developing writers gain assistance and insight that helps them evolve into better writers. This model nurtures and groom students using direct instruction in the processes, strategies and skills of reading and writing. Students are also given the opportunity to share their learning and even their pieces with their classmates. The writing workshop can be described as a special quilt made of creativity, help, and teamwork. As teachers, we can help a lot by being patient, supportive for example cheering them on, and being always there to help.

When we look at the important parts of the workshop for example: short lessons, time for writing, working together, and personal help into our classroom, we help students see writing as something fun and exciting. It’s not just homework; it’s a cool adventure where they learn about themselves and share their ideas and also get feedback that they can use. 
Remember in the workshop, every student has the power to write their own story. It’s a story full of imagination, learning, and endless possibilities.
Let’s start this journey together! Are you ready? Let’s open the door to imagination and help our students become the creators of their own stories in the awesome world of writing workshops.
Have fun writing!

Reviewing the Writing traits Blog #8

 

Hey guys, this week we did some review on the writing traits in preparations for a major assignment we have coming up. Our task is to collect a sample of a child's writing and analyse it using the six plus one trait.  To help me remember the traits, for doing justice on this assignment, this poem was created. Have a read!

The Six- Plus One Writing Traits

In a world where ideas soar high,

Thoughts bloom like a sunny sky.

Words paint a special story strand,

Written with care by the writer's hand.

Organization, like a building plan,

Arranges words for every fan.

Start, middle, and end in line,

A clear path for the tale to shine.

Voice, soft whisper or a storm's call,

Each writer's spirit, standing tall.

Feelings and tones fill every verse,

Expressing their essence, like a universe.

Word choice, a palette of many hues,

Creates pictures that deeply infuse.

Each word picked, a story's part,

Emotions painted, from the heart.

Sentence fluency, a rhythmic beat,

Words dancing in a seamless feat.

A flow like music, smooth and free,

A beautiful song for all to see.

Conventions, the rules that stand,

Spelling and grammar, lending a hand.

A sturdy frame, keeping things clear,

Making sure words appear sincere.

Presentation, the final touch,

Looks that invite, so much.

Layout and design, a visual treat,

Welcoming readers with warmth and neat.

In these traits, a writer's creed,

A beautiful craft indeed.

With each pen stroke, worlds awake,

In the writer's art, they beautifully take.

I hope this poem can help you remember the key aspects of the writing traits. It worked beautifully for me, how about you? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Exploring Persuasive Writing- blog #7

 Hi guys, welcome to another blogging entry. Today we are going to be exploring the world of persuasive writing. This writing is one of my favourite genres of writing. Maybe it is because I love to argue or it's just a teacher/ parent thing where you convince your kids to do the things you want them to do. Who knows! Persuasive writing is a type of opinion writing, that is you write about what you feel, think or believe about something. When you are persuading someone, you are really convincing them to do something. See where the" teacher" part comes in? 😁

Persuasive writing comes in different forms. Some persuade using a letter, an advertisement, an article, commercial poster etc. Persuasive writing is an effective way to change people's mind about something or someone. To begin a persuasive piece, we must brainstorm for ideas. We must first think of a topic or some issue that you want to change or care about. As teachers, we need to give sufficient time in helping students generate ideas. Some kids may have serious trouble in this phase, therefore a lot of modelling using graphic organisers, questioning, class debates, discussion etc. can help students come up with ideas. Teachers will have to use the gradual release of responsibility (I do, we do, you do) so that students can have a pattern to follow. Once this is done, students can now organise their ideas and then put these ideas to paper. Below is a video showing steps involved in writing a persuasive essay.

 Pretty straightforward right? In my opinion, I find these types of essays very easy to write. I often struggle with narrative and descriptive, but I love persuasive writing. I think all essays have their purpose and place and their individual style and it our duty as teachers, to teach the different genres of writing to the best of our abilities. Students need to understand the different parts of the persuasive essay such as the introduction, body and conclusion. Students must be taught how to captivate the readers interest through a strong hook. They must decide the style in which they will present evidence for their writing in terms of the use of examples or excerpts, a rhetorical question, etc. When students are taught these concepts, they must transfer their knowledge into creating a plan and then their first draft. Then must be taught how to revise and edit their work. Any type of writing takes time, but it is key to give students sufficient practice to move them from one phase into the other. This is what I intend to do with my students. How about you? 

Writing Traits! 😕 What's That? Blog #6

    Hi guys, greetings and blessings to you. Please forgive me for abandoning you these past couple of weeks. Man, it has been a tough trying to find balance among the raging seas of assignments that have been literally consuming me. But nevertheless, I am back!  This week we did quite a bit writing. We looked at the stages of writing development and also writing traits. I came across the stages of writing in previous course but never the writing traits. This one stood out for me. To be honest the first time I heard about writing traits, I was a bit baffled. You know, in the back of my mind when you heard the word traits, you will think of a key attribute about oneself that makes you, you. So, I was really curious about this writing trait business. Have you heard of it before? Well, our lecturer encouraged us to do some digging. Then she divided the students into groups and gave each group a trait to present on.  This was a great idea, because the internet is so pregnant with information that researching can be a bit burdensome. However, the groups did a fantastic job of breaking each trait down nicely.

    So, writing traits, what really is that. I learned that The Six Plus Trait as it is rightfully referred to as, serves as a method of instructing, demonstrating and evaluating writing skills. The Six Traits of writing are Voice, Ideas, Presentation, Conventions, Organization, Word Choice, and Sentence Fluency. Good writing must have these six traits. These traits give teachers and students a shared language and rules for writing. It makes it easier for students and the readers to understand what is being talked about. With this model, teachers and students can focus on specific parts of writing, bit by bit. As such, it makes it easier for the students to learn and provides the avenue for teachers to give clear feedback on how the students are doing with their writing. Below is a synopsis of what these traits entail.

Check out this video for further explanation.

Pretty simple don't you think? I think it is off vital importance that students learn about the writing traits. Think about it, at school, you were told either to restructure this sentence or this sentence is too long, but were you ever taught how? or use another word to convey meaning, but did your teacher teach you about transitional words or vocabulary words that can be used to convey stronger meanings? I wasn't. This is why I believe if students are taught these traits, they would be exceptional writers. As a matter of fact, I don't think many teachers really know about writing traits at this magnitude, so justice is not served in terms of execution. I am one of those teachers. While being taught the writing traits, I was so amazed at how these simple terms can unfold and make a tremendous impact on one's writing. For example, I never paid so much attention to the length of the sentences. Now I understand that one must have a variety of sentence lengths in order to encourage fluency. What makes this thing so remarkable is they are all important. If students do not have ideas, then how are they able to write? When they write they must be able to organise and structure their writing for it to make sense. They must have suitable word choices along with some flavour to get readers hooked on their piece of writing. Sentence fluency and convections must be included for the reader to receive the message the way it was intended. And off course, presentation. How would you publish your writing if you don't present it. So, this thing makes a lot of sense. Teachers, parents, let's help our children become better writers by teaching them these traits. If you have started, kudos to you, keep reviewing it with them. If you are like me who have just learned about it, great, it's not too late to make a start. Let's teach the kids.

What are your thoughts? I'd love to hear it. Please place your comments in the comment section below.

The Author's Chair! Where Stories Come Alive!!!- Blog # 5

     Have you heard about the Author's Chair before? Have you used it in your classroom? Well, I can tell you it is pretty cool! The Author's Chair is a strategy teachers use to help students share their writing with others and get constructive feedback, whether they are still writing or have finished. It is a special chair that is designed and labelled 'The Author's Chair'. Students are given the opportunity to sit on this chair to share their piece of writing with the class. This is a fun activity which allows students to practice giving and getting feedback. They develop important abilities such as public speaking, confidence, communication and collaboration and even additional ideas that can be used in their piece. This is what was done in class that beautiful Friday morning. Our lecturer gave my colleagues the opportunity to present their pieces on the "Author's Chair". The rest of us listened, gave positive comments to encourage the writer and areas for improvement. It was indeed a rewarding moment as I personally identified aspects where I needed to improve such as: staying focused on the assigned topic and using suitable vocabulary and expressions appropriate for my target audience.

    I came to realize that this strategy would work really well with my students when going through the writing process. It can be used to give students feedback to help them improve on their writing as well as to publish their writing. Students, I believe will love this activity. Just knowing they will be sitting on the special chair today, gives them a sense of accomplishment, excitement, pride, confidence. They get into the character of being little authors and are willing to make the necessary changes to make their writing an awesome piece. Here are some steps in using the author's chair:

• Choose a special chair.

•  Explain how the author's chair will be used whether it is to share their pieces with their classmates or other writing activities.

• Have one child sit on the author's chair at a time. 

•  Have the student/ author read. 

•  Invite listeners to comment (commendations first). 

•  Another child is then chosen.

  

                            Here is an example of how a chair can be decorated into an author's chair.

What do you think guys? Pretty cool huh! Do you think you will use this strategy in your classroom? Put your comments in the comment section below.

Exploding the Moment!!!! Blog #4

Hi guys!! Today I have a treat for you! Have you ever heard about this technique in narrative writing called "Exploding the Moment?" Below is a clip explaining what exploding the moment is all about. Let me give you a heads up, this guy is pretty hilarious!! 

Did you enjoy the video? Man, when my lecturer showed this clip to us, I was so engrossed in it that I felt like the milk was actually being poured down my head. This is the kind of writing that as teachers and parents, we want from our kids.  We want out students to be able to add life and colour to their writing.  Let students know that by choosing the most exciting part of the story, zooming in and seizing every single event that would occur in that point in time, the reader will get to experience the moment captured in their story. If only I was taught this technique in school, I probably would have gotten better grades in my stories or even a one in English for CXC, hmmm who knows! 

For students to be able to explode the moment, the technique must be modelled.  They need to see how this technique works. Students have background knowledge in almost everything, so by making the process fun through discussion, video presentation, etc., the children with the guidance of the facilitator, can brainstorm and give ideas as to what, where when and how they are going to explode the moment. Students may or may not grasp the concept on the first attempt, but with the gradual release of responsibility, students will get it. Practice makes perfect!

 Students, however, will not be able to explode a moment if the moment chosen to be exploded is one, they cannot connect with.  Therefore, it is important for the topics to be relatable ones. It makes writing easier when the students are motivated, and one way to accomplish this is by providing exciting, interesting topics or by allowing them to choose a topic of their choice. 

As a student teacher, I have attempted this technique. I'm not sure what my lecturer would think of it though, but I'm giving it a shot. Wish me luck! Nevertheless, get your students to try different techniques in writing, especially this one. It actually sharpens students creative thinking skills, communication and collaborative skills. Once you try it, I believe you will be blown away with the amazing stories generated from the students. So come on, let's give it a try. I know I would. How about you?

Check out this video below for additional information on exploding a moment!

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