writing to the end !
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Writing to The End !. Tips to Improve Student Writing By Jeff Helming. During this presentation you will learn tips to…. Improve student motivation. D ifferentiate for your students. I ncorporate technology. A Quick Review…. The Writer’s Workshop Model. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Writing toThe End !
Tips to Improve Student Writing
By Jeff Helming
During this presentation you will learn tips to…
• Improve student motivation.
• Differentiate for your students.
• Incorporate technology.
A Quick Review…
The Writer’s Workshop Model
• Writer’s Workshop is a differentiated method of teaching writing.
• Basic components – Mini-lesson– Independent writing time– Teacher/student conferencing– Sharing
• Here is a great slideshow about the basics of Writer’s Workshop and why it should be used.
Teacher Enthusiasm Is KEYIt all starts with the teacher!
• Students are motivated when their teachers are!
• You do not have to be a good writer to be a good writing teacher.
• You do not have to love everything about writing to be a good writing teacher.
• You do have to show genuine enthusiasm.
TIP Draw upon childhood experiences
when composing your own writing!
• Children love stories about their teachers making the same mistakes they do!
• Write about: favorite toys from your youth, the first time attempting something new, or other childhood memories.
• Students also love stories about their teacher’s children!
Mini-Lessons
• Aside from basic writing strategies, focus mini-lessons on prewriting strategies such as planning stories and getting ideas.
• Students need to hear as many good examples of writing as possible:– Stories by other students– Short stories by authors– Your own short stories
Want something different? How about Celebrities reading stories to your students?
Storyline Online
Prewriting Strategies
Prewriting Strategies• Graphic organizers • Drawing• Talking with a partner or
group• Acting our story actions
Why these work• Give authors time to plan
out their stories.• Helps to break down the
task for struggling writers.• Meets the needs of a
variety of learning styles.
Links to graphic organizersedHelper
Education Place
TIP Collect and copy examples of good student writing and share it often!
• Students are motivated by hearing strong pieces written by writers their own age.
• Promotes an ‘I can do that too!’ attitude.• Student writing can be referred to as examples
of good traits or memorable techniques.• Authentic student writing can be used for
revision and editing mini-lessons.
Independent Writing Time
• Choice!! Students are more engaged when they choose what they are writing about.
• While students write, the teacher can conference with students or, on occasion, model independent writing.
• A little BUZZ is okay – Students can talk as long as they are talking about writing and making progress on their pieces.
TIP Have students write their drafts on
loose paper rather than in notebooks.
• Students are more productive.• It is easier for students to
manipulate the story and spread it out.
• Use a folder to keep finished and unfinished writing organized.
Conferencing
• Keep conferences positive.• Listen carefully when a student
reads his or her piece to you.• Express the feelings the piece
makes you have (ex. laugh when funny).
• Begin with positives.• Give the student ONE thing to
fix – Don’t be picky and point out every mistake! Joanne Portalupi and Ralph Fletcher
share their thoughts on positive conferencing in this short clip.
TIP Conference at the student’s desk.
• This is less disruptive.• Nearby students benefit
from overhearing the conference.
• You can see if a student is is really ‘cooking’ and shouldn’t be interrupted.
Here’s a video about how students should not peer review. Are you a “Picky Patty” when you conference with students? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBuq4qgRhCc&feature=related
Writing Partnerships
Writing Partnerships• Partners should be carefully
chosen and rarely changed.• Pair students based on:– similar ability– interest
• These partners should meet regularly, at least once to twice a month, to share and edit/revise each other’s pieces.
Why it works• Promotes collaboration and
positive interaction.• Students do not have to
wait for the teacher.• Authentic practice editing
and revising.
This is a great article about setting it up:Hsu, C. (2009). Writing Partnerships. Reading Teacher, v63 n2, 153-158. doi: 10.1598/RT.63.2.6
Sharing
• Student and teacher feedback should be both positive and constructive.
• Choose students who you conferenced with so that you can…– Share comments from the conference with the entire
class.– Highlight the strengths of a student’s piece.– Choose students who attempted a strategy taught in the
mini-lesson.• Pieces do not need to be finished to be shared.
TIP Provide a powerful purpose for
writing by finding exciting uses for it.
• Find an audience for student writing by inviting family members or peers.
• Publish student writing on a website.• Encourage entries into local and national
writing contests.• Create your own classroom or grade level
writing contest.
Publishing and Celebrating
Ways to Publish• Type it on the computer.• Rewrite as a hardcover or
mini-book.• Publish on a website.• Use an online site to create
a soft or hardcover book.
Ways to Celebrate• Publishing party!• Invite guests into the room:
– Family members– Principal– Teachers– Students
TIP Take advantage of technology
to motivate student writers.
Sites to write and/or publish student writing. Click on them and check them out.
• Kids’ Space• Kidpub• Storybird• TikaTok
Resources – Check out these sites!• http://school.discoveryeducation.com/schrockguide/index.html
• http://hill.troy.k12.mi.us/staff/bnewingham/myweb3/
• http://www.mguhlin.org/2010/07/5-steps-to-digitizing-writing-worksho
p.html
• http://www.barebooks.com/
• http://www.mandygregory.com/StartingWritersWorkshop.htm
• http://www.jmeacham.com/writers.workshop/writing.mini.lessons.htm
• http://teacher.scholastic.com/products/classmags/storyworks.htm
Resources – Check out these books!
Books for Teachers• Craft Lessons by Ralph Fletcher and
Joann Portalupi• Writing Workshop by Ralph Fletcher
and Joann Portalupi• Notebook Know-How by Aimee
Buckner• Writing Through Childhood:
Rethinking Process and Product by Shelley Harwayne
• How to Differentiate Instruction in Mixed-Ability Classrooms by Carol Ann Tomlinson
• The Art of Teaching Writing by Lucy Calkins
Books for Students• Author: A True Story by
Helen Lester• What Do Authors Do? by
Eileen Christelow• Arthur Writes A Story by
Marc Brown• Library Mouse by Daniel Kirk• The Best Story by Eileen
Spinelli
FINAL TIP Remember to keep writing enjoyable for both you and your students!
Please stop by my new wiki: The Writing SpotOr you can check out my blog of the same name and leave your comments.
Thank you for Reading to The End !!!