Sunday, March 30, 2008
Chapter 7 "Be Efficient and Integrate Basic Skills"
I have been using the "Start with Meaning and Keep It Whole" approach, and it is working with my students. They seem to look forward to and enjoy writing much more when I teach from whole to part and back to whole. I agree with Regie that the problem with teaching isolated skills is that some of the kids don't know what I'm talking about and why. At least, that has been my experience. I do isolate certain skills when I am revising and editing one on one or in small groups with my students. They just seem to get it better. After reading this chapter I decided I wanted to really focus on writing for an audience. I explained to my class that they were going to write an expository piece about decorating Easter eggs. They had to imagine that their audience had never decorated eggs. I reminded them that using conventions in their writing would make the piece more readable. We talked about sequence of events, and I gave them that precious partner talk time. They loved sharing the process they go through at home to decorate eggs with a peer. I was very pleased with their ideas and I know they were too because everyone wanted to share their piece orally. This was a fun writing lesson.
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2 comments:
What a fun writing assignment. I need to focus on the audience more with my students. I also need to do the partner talk time. In fact I will try that today. We are getting ready to start our DARE essays, and some students were struggling with what to write. After giving them time to think about it on their own, I need to give them time to talk!
I liked the idea of using Easter eggs. I too am trying to identify the audience for all the writing that my student do. I think it is important.
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