apples, peaches....

I had a teacher in my classroom who had been teaching full time and when it was time for her to let go of some lessons I immediately wanted to take over WW so that I could implement Melissa's ideas. Although my students loved the apples, peaches, pumpkin pie story starter and we have now created an extensive list of stories, it was tought getting started. I teach a bilingual class so some of my ELL's claimed that they did not have any stories to share. However after they would come in in the morning anxious to share something or after they shared some news from home or the weekend and I responded that these were stories and to be sure to share those if it was their turn during apples, peaches time it got easier for them to see themselves as having experiences to share and turn into stories. We are taking it slow, but loving it every day.

Another Day in Blooming Grove

Every day I work with writers in Blooming Grove- I am humbled by what an amazing gift I am given as an educator. Children are wonderful and the stories they have to tell are vast. I am reminded every day, that there is still so much for me to learn. Teaching Writer's Workshop is about having a core set of knowledge. It is about having a plan, but it is also about letting the writers teach you. There are so many moments when I think "I haven't even thought about that" or "I should teach them that". Teaching writers is dynamic- and isn't that awesome?

In Blooming Grove we now have very functioning writers folders. They are two pocket folders with papers added to the brads. One one side of the folder it says I'm Still Working On It and the other side says "I'm done with it for now". In the middle is lined paper that will eventually turn into a Writer's Notebook and so far we have added a list of topics to write about and a list of high frequency words to the middle as well. Also in the middle is a personal dictionary. I will be sharing that at the next meeting. Kids have their own personal words spelled correctly inside. I have conferences (1 minute) with a kid and they tell me words they want to know how to spell and I add them in there. I put dirt bike and football in a dictionary for Cody yesterday.

We have also assigned writing partners- like ability writers partnered together. They sit by each other for the mini-lesson and when they are done writing, they can go and work on their story/read their story to each other.

There is still SO much to teach them, but I keep in mind that we have every day to do it. A little at a time... drops of water will eventually fill a glass! Keep up the great work out there in your classrooms. I'll see you soon (though I know it may not seem like soon enough).

The Last Two Weeks

WOW! What can I say it has been great. I got in the classroom last week and decided to just jump in. I gave all my fourth grade classes a blank sheet of paper and said "Write me a story" The kids were like WHAT? I told them not to talk to me just write and you wouldn't believe it they did it. Out of all my classes I only had one kid who was like I can't do this. They have such an amazing imagination it was great. I looked over their papers and wrote good job on each of them so they all think they are great writers! One day I had a kid ask what our mini lesson was and he was sad when I didn't have one that day!

I also had kids bring in stuff to put in there writers notebook. Some kids didn't bring anything but the others who did had a blast putting their stuff in their. Now I have all the kids asking if they can do it. They really think it is neat when I will take a day and write when they are writing. They all want to know what I am writing about. I can't wait until the next workshop!

We need bi-weekly workshops! So many questions.......... We spent a few days on Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie. I can't even refer to the chart without the kids finishing the chant! I modeled writing my own story, sent a note asking for parents to send pics for ideas, introduced the writing folder and got to writing today............now what? I know mini-lessons, but where do I go from here? Some kids wrote only thier name. Some wrote a list of words they copied from around the room. I didn't expect perfection, but I didn't expect this either. Once a student is "done" with a piece, what do you do with their writing? So many questions, but still LOVING it!

Week of September 27, 2010

Update from third grade: I am excited how the students have taken to the writer's notebook and writing. They are eager to get going and are picking up on the things that are important to put in a notebook. Some have brought pictures of family from home. some have added tickets from a weekend outing and one wrote a poem to his mom. Today one student brought a picture from camp.

We have fixed the front of the notebook to fit each individual giving it ownership. I took some scrapbook paper I found. Then we made letters for the name. Someone brought stickers from home. They grow each day. What a feeling. I found the "Ish" book and will share it with them. I am seeing an improvement in the writings in other subjects like math and science when I ask for explanations. This is such a good thing. I just love it when things blossom and spill over into other subjects. Don't you? Now to get those mini lessons in there. I get a bit long winded or something.

this week

This week in my classroom we did the Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie and my kids loved it. They loved to tell their stories and even started sharing more stories orally with each other throughout each day. So inspiring! We ended the week this week with getting our baseline writing sample. Several did very good. Big leap from where I saw my Kindergarteners last year at this point. I am really enjoying first grade and am so excited to implement this writing workshop in my classroom!
Thanks Melissa!
I have to bring a couple of my stories to share in the next class. One was very good for a first grader!
Next week I hope to start mini lessons and incorporate the writing folder. I plan to model writing my first story as well as using the writing folder materials while writing.

Saving Grace.......

Melissa, thank you so much for being so motivating and such an inspiration. After the first two weeks of school I was ready to give up. I racked my brain trying to come up with ideas of jobs other than teaching. After your workshop, you gave me motivation to get up and go to work. I have something to look forward to now! I've been working my butt off putting together writing folders and trying to get everything in order to get the ball rolling. I know it's early, but I am really thinking I might like to teach a higher grade and focus more on writing in the future. I can't wait to see where this leads me..............