The day finally got here. I have been looking forward to this workshop for two years!! What a great day. Presents and crafts and all that knowledge. WOW!! I have already learned more in this one of 5 workshops than I have in several years. Teaching writing to my second grade students is one my favorite things to teach. I look forward to the next session. I was just sorry that I had to leave at 2:45 to get back to school for a staff meeting.
Donna Riddle-Hubbard Elem.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Get Ready to Write
Hello writers! I am so excited to see all of you writing on the blog! I was in Writer's Institute last year, and it was AWESOME! Absolutely the best thing I've ever done! You are in for a treat every time you come together with Melissa! You'll learn so many things that work in the classroom when teaching little ones to write. I am privileged to have her working with writers in my classroom this year! It's phenomenal what first graders can do with the right instruction, and it's fun! They are lovin' it! I'm lovin' it too! Keep posting and talking about all you do.
First Day of Kid Writing in First Grade
Wow! What a great morning we just had in Blooming Grove with some amazing writers. Poor Becky had no voice and when I got there she was whispering to the kids at the carpet reviewing sight words and they were whispering back. That calm mood helped us with our first day of kid writing I'M SURE!
Remember... I have already done Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin pie with this group. They have watched me tell/write my own stories and Becky has done the same for a week. They have also heard their friends tell stories and draw the pictures. Today... they all got their own paper to write their own story. No folders yet, just an individual piece of paper...folders will come tomorrow.
We set up some basic rules to help the day be successful:
1) Stay in your seat to write.
2) Do what you know writers do.
3) When you are finished, get your reading tub.
We also did rehearsal for writing... I had all of them think of their idea and talk about their beginning/middle/end pictures before I sent them to their seats to work. The enthusiasm and confidence were there! They did so great. I walked around and praised them for their pictures.. and their hard work. I took notes when I could. I had a few kids who said "how do you spell..." and I said "Do what you know writers do" and that was all I had to say. I had kids who got up to come and show me their work and I said "Stay in your seat to write" and they went back to their desks. I had three kids still writing when the time was up, they will be able to see/read those stories and work on them again tomorrow... it was a great day!
I will clear up one thing that I want you to remember on this first day- we are not "fixing" writing on this day. EVERYTHING that they write is going to be perfect. We need them on this day to build confidence. We have the whole year to make the writing better- let's be sure that we get them love and feel good about writing first!
I did the Brag Board with them today.. I praised E. He was the first one done and he got his reading tub without needing a reminder! I praised A. she asked me how to spell McDonald's and I just said "do what writers do" and she wrote.. mkdonlds. Pretty good if you ask me! I also praised S. She is an ELL. She was writing a story about her dog- I learned the word for dog in spanish today- perro. We wrote that word together. I also learned that she does not have a sound/letter link in Spanish so I will stop making a link to Spanish names of letters for her- we will focus on English.
Next time we write I need to work on the use of crayons. We had kids coloring their pictures rather than writing their words. I didn't stress over it today, but next time we write, we will allow crayons- AFTER all their words are written!
I love being back in the classroom and having a chance to work with these writers.
Remember... I have already done Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin pie with this group. They have watched me tell/write my own stories and Becky has done the same for a week. They have also heard their friends tell stories and draw the pictures. Today... they all got their own paper to write their own story. No folders yet, just an individual piece of paper...folders will come tomorrow.
We set up some basic rules to help the day be successful:
1) Stay in your seat to write.
2) Do what you know writers do.
3) When you are finished, get your reading tub.
We also did rehearsal for writing... I had all of them think of their idea and talk about their beginning/middle/end pictures before I sent them to their seats to work. The enthusiasm and confidence were there! They did so great. I walked around and praised them for their pictures.. and their hard work. I took notes when I could. I had a few kids who said "how do you spell..." and I said "Do what you know writers do" and that was all I had to say. I had kids who got up to come and show me their work and I said "Stay in your seat to write" and they went back to their desks. I had three kids still writing when the time was up, they will be able to see/read those stories and work on them again tomorrow... it was a great day!
I will clear up one thing that I want you to remember on this first day- we are not "fixing" writing on this day. EVERYTHING that they write is going to be perfect. We need them on this day to build confidence. We have the whole year to make the writing better- let's be sure that we get them love and feel good about writing first!
I did the Brag Board with them today.. I praised E. He was the first one done and he got his reading tub without needing a reminder! I praised A. she asked me how to spell McDonald's and I just said "do what writers do" and she wrote.. mkdonlds. Pretty good if you ask me! I also praised S. She is an ELL. She was writing a story about her dog- I learned the word for dog in spanish today- perro. We wrote that word together. I also learned that she does not have a sound/letter link in Spanish so I will stop making a link to Spanish names of letters for her- we will focus on English.
Next time we write I need to work on the use of crayons. We had kids coloring their pictures rather than writing their words. I didn't stress over it today, but next time we write, we will allow crayons- AFTER all their words are written!
I love being back in the classroom and having a chance to work with these writers.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Awesome!
I was blown away by the training today! I'm all pumped up about Writer's Workshop! I can't wait to implement my Guidelines for Writer's Workshop and get the ball rolling!
Susie
Susie
love to be inspired!
I was so inspired today! I love Melissa for inspiring me at all the workshops I attend of her's. However, this is one that I am especially passionate about. I have done a form of writer's workshop in my classes over the last few years. The problem is I can never wrap my mind around the logistics of the whole concept and incorporating it into my classroom with all the demands of each day of teaching these days! I have read numerous books on writer's workshop but this is the first time I am hearing it step by step in a systematic approach that I know can work in my room with a little tweaking of my schedule! So excited to actually think I will teach it the "right" way with all this training this year! Oh, by the way, I am Jennifer, I teach 1st grade at Clifton Elementary. I have always pretty much taught Kindergarten so this is a learning year for me as well!
Great Day!!
Hi I am Carissa Poore and I teach 1st grade ELAR at Whitney Elementary. I am very excited about using writing workshop in my classroom. The class was wonderful today. Another teacher from my school attended last year and has been giving us so ideas to use, but I got sooooo much more today actually being there. So excited to get started.
carissa poore
carissa poore
WOW!
My name is Crista, and I teach 3rd grade in Teague. I am so pumped about this Writing Workshop! I never have really had instruction on exactly HOW to teach writing, and I REALLY want to get my kids writing more. Really I think my biggest struggle will be finding the time to incorporate all I want to do in a day ~ I'm excited to start trying!
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