Monday, September 29th, 2008...11:42 pm
I am…
A Writing Classroom: Process & Practice
A little dry, huh? That was the name of my master’s project 20 years ago. It had lots of anecdotes from my teaching experiences, student writing samples, quotes by the gurus of those days, and how-to’s for everything from idea generation to publication. I’m revisiting some of those thoughts, but this time, I’m not quoting anyone — or maybe I will. I won’t even use full sentences all the time, and I might ramble here and there. I’ve taught this stuff for decades now, and I get to be opinionated. So, take what you want, ask questions! (to feed the opinion monster in me), and let me know what works and what doesn’t.
This is just an appetizer. Look for guest writing teachers, story starters, and teacher idea-sharing soon.
Oh, you want something you can use right away? Let’s see… Before doing that usual “I am…” prompt — which is great for self-esteem and good for getting to know kids (whether you’re a teacher or their parent!) — play a bean-bag catching game. They need to call out “I am…,” filling in the blank before tossing the bag. It’s fun, and it gets them into the creative responses more quickly. When the really fun ones appear, get them writing!
2 Comments
October 1st, 2008 at 4:24 pm
Any ideas of how to get a sixth grader to enjoy writing? Its so tough for her….she
>just doesn’t like the act of doing it…LOTS of whining, crying, fits,
>etc…IT HURTS MY HAND!! WILL YOU WRITE IT FOR ME? She has fabulous
>ideas…..do you think it ok to have her dictate to me and I write FOR her? I wonder with
>her learning disability if its hard for her to get the ideas from her
>brain to the paper with all the things that need to happen in the
>actual writing itself.. (forming letters, making mistakes, remembering
>her ideas, etc.) any wisdom here?
October 1st, 2008 at 4:45 pm
Hi Jodi — a few things come to mind, and maybe some of our readers have some ideas for you, too.
I still let my own 6th grader dictate to me at times. He’s working on his keyboarding skills, and his handwriting is good when he takes the time, but it’s good for them to experience being able to capture that flow of ideas.
At this level, anything to make writing fun is a plus. If she’s a socialite, maybe let her pick out some stationery to write to friends and family. Selecting a pen that feels good might help some, too. A special journal, a fun keyboarding program to get her typing up to speed — sometimes it’s worth the little gadgets to get us over a block.
It does sound though that Emily has some physical issue here. If she is receiving help at school through special services, consult with them for their thoughts on it. I’ve heard about success with a program called Handwriting Without Tears, which may help with forming letters.
Ask Emily if a hand-held recorder would help for remembering her ideas. I carry one with me at times when I need to think through something I’m writing — on walks, in the car, etc.
If you notice that it’s writing assignments that get this response, more than other writing, then see what you can do to help her increase her comfort level.
As we travel through this year, I’ll be sharing ways to help kids understand and overcome their perfectionism when it comes to writing. It’s more wide-spread than we imagine.
If you find something that helps, please share it here for others who may be experiencing the same issues.
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