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.
Hi Rowann,
ReplyDeleteThe revision session was also very helpful to me. I think Mrs. L did a great job in getting us fully equipped to write the analysis on the child's writing. The concrete samples in the form of handouts given to us were a great help to me since I always view myself as a visual learner. When my partner and I were analyzing the child's writing the 6+1 writing traits and the handout on the writing development in children were our bibles. It was a learning process and excited one too that I intend to use in the classroom. Most times I think as teachers we do not really put a great effort into teaching children how to write and giving proper feedback on the writing. The 6+1 writing traits was an eye opener.
How was your experience in doing the analysis?
I totally agree that the gallery walk was fun. The poems on display gave a sense of both solitude and encouragement. I mostly enjoyed the one with Dad fell in the lake. I love writing poems and I am excited to do my piece. I think poetry is very important for students to bring out their creativity.
ReplyDeleteHello Rowann, we both shared that ideas is one of the most important part in any piece of writing. I clearly remember our lecturer stated, if ideas are limited then your piece of writing will not me much interested. Shirdi, I do agree with you, the gallery walk was fun and engaging. my members and I were engage in meaningful discussion on our observation on the different poems. Unlike you poem is not one of my favourite writing but I will try my best to create one that pick my interest.
ReplyDeleteHi Rowann,
ReplyDeleteIt is fascinating to read about your reflections on the recent activity and how it has sparked ideas for your students. Recognizing that students today require more scaffolding and support in reading and writing is crucial, and your commitment to addressing their needs is commendable.
Your emphasis on the importance of ideas in writing resonates strongly. Indeed, ideas form the backbone of any meaningful piece of writing. The insight that without meaningful ideas, even with a framework, the writing lacks depth, voice, and sentence fluency is perceptive. How do you plan to integrate strategies to enhance idea generation and development in your teaching approach?
The in-depth information gained from scrutinizing children's different writings adds a layer of practical understanding to the theoretical aspects of teaching. Undoubtedly, with real-world examples, one can truly grasp the nuances of effective teaching strategies. Were there specific observations or patterns in the children's writings that surprised you or provided unique insights?
Moving on to the discussion of justifications, it is evident that you are delving into the broader context of writing instruction. The tips shared by Mrs L for writing a solid justification, including referencing learning standards and curriculum and addressing the potential stigma attached to a topic, are valuable. How do you foresee incorporating these justifications into your portfolio-building process?
Your engagement with these concepts and commitment to refining your teaching practices are inspiring. It is apparent that you are absorbing information and actively considering how to apply these insights to benefit your students. I look forward to hearing more about your experiences and the impact of these reflections on your teaching journey!
Sounds like a productive class session! The structured approach to analyzing children's writing based on the 6+1 writing traits, including providing an overview and using examples for a thorough analysis, is practical and insightful. The hands-on learning with samples of children's writings and engaging in discussions with partners and the whole class adds a valuable interactive dimension to the learning experience.
ReplyDelete