Showing posts with label Writing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Writing. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 24, 2016

Writing an Essay

Reading Workshop students are beginning the first writing project. All writing should use a format of introduction, body, and conclusion. Here is Mr. Heath's videos that explains the process.


Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Rewrite Your Poetry

Take a piece of advise from Lee Bennet Hopkins in his poem titled, Dear Poet. Take one of your drafts, Reading Workshop students, copy it twice, and write three versions.

Dear Poet,

Do you want
to write a poem?

Forget it . . .
until
you have
rewritten it.

Make your poem
stronger
by
not
writing a poem

but
rewriting it
and
rewriting it
and
rewriting it

until--

what you
have
is
a poem
like
no
other
poet
has
ever
written--

or

rewritten--

before!

Poem from Seeing the Blue Between compiled by Paul Janeczko.

Monday, March 14, 2016

Kindness Project




Students, you and a partner have one week to make Salt Creek a better place. You can do any kind of project you wish. You must document/journal/diary the project. An act of kindness can be towards one person or many. It can be a one-time thing or ongoing. 

Grades are based on two parts. The first half is based on your writing. The other half is based on your creativity and the ability to make the life of someone else better.

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Wisdom From the Dr.

Your assignment today, Reading Workshop students is to pick one life lesson from Dr. Seuss and write a blog post about it. Share your thoughts, ideas, and/or opinions. How does this life lesson apply to you? You might even be courageous and write in the style of Dr. Seuss.

As Dr. Seuss would say:

Whatever you write, whatever you do, let everyone know, the who is you.







Image from facebook.com/AFeelGoodWorld

Friday, January 8, 2016

Student Choice Project

Reading Workshop students, you have your choice of genre for the next project. Please fill out the form below and submit. Once this form has been turned in, I will meet with you individually or in small groups to discuss your project.

Friday, November 20, 2015

In Conclusion





Here is an example of a great conclusion from a recent writing assignment, As a Writer . . . Luke's conclusion wraps up his essay and leaves the reader understanding him as a writer.

My goal as a writer is to wow the reader. I’m trying very hard every time I write to do my best and get the best response from the reader. I don’t just write for a grade. I write because it is what I like to do.  I love that feeling of someone telling me that the writing I do is great and and creative, and just fun to read. I know I have a few mistakes, but either way I’m going to be the best writer I can.

Here is another example from Kaleigh. Although it is shorter, it sums up her essay in a great way.

In eleven weeks of school, I have learned so much about writing. I understand what I am doing well and what I need to work on. If I keep practicing I hope my spelling problems and lack of ideas will be improved!


Here is another example of a good conclusion written by Ella.

Over the past nine weeks I have continued to improve as a writer.  I also need to work on different things that will help me get a better grade on my essays.  However, there are also things I have succeeded in writing as well.  In conclusion, I will continue to improve when I write in Language Arts class!

Ellie wraps up her essay well by restating her main point.
 
I am going to get better at writing this year because I am going to try my best. I have been making mistakes but that’s fine to me because it is teaching me that I need to do better. I’m ready to start getting better at writing and keeping up the work I already do well.

Friday, October 9, 2015

Science in Language Arts

Students are writing a blog post for an interdisciplinary project in language arts and science. They recently found the volume of an irregular shaped pond in the science classroom. The pond had two levels so each had to be measured separately and then added together. Units were also converted from standard to metric.

The assignment for Reading Workshop students is to write an overview/essay detailing this process. This post should include an introduction, detailed steps, and conclusion. As always, PUGS count!

This project will count as a grade for both classes. The science grade will be based primarily on content. The language arts grade will be based on content, organization, and PUGS.


Image From: www.wikihow.com

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Six Word Story

Can you write a six word story? Give it a go and paste it as a comment. Here is one of mine: Trying so hard. Wanting some more.



Here are a few favorites from Six Word Story:

Let’s just pretend this never happened.
You’ll always be a question mark.
But "close enough" is not enough.
Everything’s fine… or so I pretend.
Trust is must, no matter what.

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

How is Your School Year Going?

Today's assignment in Reading Workshop is to write a blog post describing the school year so far. Students must give 3 or more examples of events/scenes that demonstrate how their year is going.

The directions:
Think about how your school year is so far. Pick 3 + or – events that have occurred so far this school year that demonstrate this.
  • Start with a topic sentence/introduction
  • In the body include details—one topic/paragraph
  • Wrap it up with a closing

Monday, September 14, 2015

Writing a Conclusion

When writing a closing paragraph, you summarize what you have written about in your essay. The first step is to think about the main point that you want to get across to your reader. You can use your introduction as a guide saying something similar with different wording. Restate the topic sentence/main idea. End in a way that lets the reader know it is the end by "wrapping up" the essay.

You may also want to look at what each paragraph says. Use this information and restate key points from the essay. You can end with a question, thought, quote or opinion that gives your reader something to think about or consider.



Good conclusions usually do one or more of these:
  • Restate the thesis or main point 
  • Offer a suggestion 
  • Share an opinion 
  • Make a recommendation 
  • End with a question 
Here is an example from Kylie:

I think readers will really enjoy this book; it is split up into short, easy–to-read chapters and often the chapters end on a 'dangerous' note. I also believe it might make the kids who read it think twice about the consequences before they break any rules and to think before they do! Micheal Northrop also made all kinds of different books in case you guys want to check them out. I really like this book and I highly recommend you guys to try it out!.

Here is an example from an essay about character in a book.

I would definitely recommend this book to others because I think a lot of girls could really relate to the main character, especially most of my friends. Also, I would recommend this book to boys, because even though it's a girl's book, it's not about being girly, and all about girls. Some boys may be able to relate to the three boys in the story! The book Spells & Sleeping Bags is one out of my two favorite books. I think Sara Mlynowski is very talented because I can really get inside the character's mind, and really get into the book as if I were the main character. 

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Writing an Introduction

Students are working on a recent project, Problems Make the Book. A few were having trouble with the introduction. Hallie has a great example in her blog post.


A Long Walk To Water is based on a true story by Linda Sue Park. The main characters are Nya and Salva. They both live in Sudan, Africa and are suffering from droughts and wars. Both of these people's stories take place in 1985 and 2008. Nya walks 8 hours a day to go to the pond to fetch water for her family. Salva Walks away from his war-torn village. Salva is destined to cover Africa on foot to find his family and safety after his village is burned to the ground.

If you want a great example of a W's introduction pattern yours after the one above and you will do well.

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

It's Not Third Grade Anymore


Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Write With Your Hand

























Tuesday, May 19, 2015

D.A.R.E. Essay


Thursday, May 14, 2015

You Need More Than Spellcheck

Spell Check is a great tool that helps all writers produce cleaner writing. However, writers still need to proofread their own work. The picture below shows . . .



Monday, April 27, 2015

I Have Trouble With What to Write

I had this conversation about poetry with a student:

Student:  I have trouble with what to write.
Me: Really?
Student: Yeah, I don't know what to say.
Me: You like sports a lot, right?
Student: Yeah
Me:  How many sports poems have you been working on?
Student:  Two
Me:  So you have twelve drafts and only two are about sports?
Student:  Yeah
Me:  But you really like sports?
Student: Yeah, a lot.
Me:  Then why don't you write poems about sports?
Student:  I don't know.
Me:  If that's what you are interested in, that's what you should write about. You know, write about what interests you. Write about what you know.
Student:  Oh, OK.

Reading Workshop students, if you are struggling with what to write, maybe you need to give the topic a break and write about something that you find interesting.


Poem written by Shel Silverstein. Image from https://www.pinterest.com/pin/331296116310627083/

Revision

Poems are never finished. Eventually though, we just stop working on them.



If a teacher told me to revise, I thought that meant my writing was a broken-down car that needed to go to the repair shop. I felt insulted. I didn’t realize the teacher was saying, “Make it shine. It’s worth it.” Now I see revision as a beautiful word of hope. It’s a new vision of something. It means you don’t have to be perfect the first time. What a relief!      













Image from www.teacherspayteachers.com

Poem For A Grade


The Reading Workshop Poetry Rubric

Component
4/A
3/B
2/ C
1/D
Rhythm, Form Structure, Organization Creatively uses poetic form. A natural rhythm and structure. Structure and rhythm seem natural to the reader. Structure and rhythm need revised for better understanding. Unorganized structure and rhythm.
Content, Impact The purpose of the poem is evident leading to a natural conclusion. The poem engages the reader. Poem is developed with content that engages the reader. Content is basic with only a hint of the author's intent. Content is basic and undeveloped.
Word Selection, Word Usage Word choice is exact, colorful, and interesting. Uses sensory details to help the reader see, hear, feel, and/or think. Word choice is interesting with the use of sensory details. Vocabulary is basic with a few attempts at improving word choice. Vocabulary is very basic.
Spelling, Grammar, and Punctuation No errors and mechanics used as needed to fit with the poetic structure. Minimal errors in spelling and mechanics used as needed for understanding. A few errors in spelling and mechanics. Errors in spelling and mechanics that interfere with reading.
Effort Work shows an understanding of poetry and reflects the effort to create a special piece of writing. Developed piece of work that is the result of revising and editing. Basic piece of writing that shows a need of improvement. Undeveloped without signs of editing and revision.





Why Kids Should Blog

Ten positive benefits of student blogging:

1.  Increased Communication Skills
2.  Develop and Improve Writing Skills
3.  Interact with Different People
4.  Improve Technology Skills
5.  Engage in Social Media
6.  Understand Online Social Responsibility
7.  Explore Hobbies and Special Interests
8.  Self Development
9.  Learn to Deal with Comments
10.Develop Social Skills for Life

Just click on the picture to see it full size.



Image from www.kidslearntoblog.com

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Do You Know A Lot?