TRAILBLAZERS
PUSD Writing Project - Volume 1 Issue 6 - September 21, 2015
Writing Workshop September Goals
- To launch your narrative unit of study.
- To plan and implement 10-15 minute minilessons that include these 5 components: Connection, Teaching Point, Teach, Active Engagement, Link
- To establish clear Writing Workshop rules and expectations during the minilesson, independent writing, and sharing to ensure all of your students are actively engaged.
Shout Outs
Creating Your Own Lesson Plan System
Reading Like Writers
Growing Independent Writers
Smart Charts That Save Wall Space
Maximizing Classroom Space
5th Grade Reading Nooks
Online Food for Thought
Writing Minilesson Tips
Minilesson: (7-12 minutes)
Whole-class instruction: 80% will be right at their level; 20% high/low, will need differentiation later
Make sure it stays short, otherwise students lose their necessary writing time
Includes active engagement BEFORE sending kids off to write
Inside the MINILESSON:
CONNECTION:
- Engage the students - funny stories OR simply, “We’ve been working on…. Today I’m going to teach you….”
Name the teaching point
TEACH: Modes of Instruction
Demonstration: Writing in “real time” as you think aloud about your process as a writer
Explain an Example: Put up a piece of mentor text, study together, create vision
Inquiry: Very powerful method, not used for everything (Ex. “What is a good way for an author to introduce stories?”)
Guided Practice/Coaching: Teacher does, student does; teacher/student together, then student does, teacher watches
If kids don’t get it, ask yourself, “Have I demonstrated this?”
ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT:
Important for students to try out the skill before they get off the rug - helps you plan for who might need additional support during work time
100% of kids are involved
Ways to Do It: turn/talk, jot/write, think, role play, gesture, read, highlight
Model hard things, practice easier things - Have them continue what you’ve started or start a part of their own writing
LINK:
Reiterate the teaching point, remind them of the strategies they could use, revisit/review anchor chart, and “Off you go!”
Work Time: (30 minutes)
Students can have writing spots around the room or work at desks - what’s important is LOTS of writing time
Conferring 1:1 teaching (5-7 minutes each)
Small-group instruction: Compliments, get kids started, teach common skill/strategy that is needed
Mid-Workshop Teaching Points
More frequent in beginning of year
Lots of building stamina
Reinforce good behaviors and give students more strategies to keep them going
As stamina builds they can occur less frequently
Can also be a continuation of the minilesson (another teaching point)
SHARE (5 minutes)
Use time to spotlight the good work students did during writing time
Another opportunity to teach - NOTICE and NAME the work kids are doing with the ultimate goal that students will be able to articulate what they are doing as writers (metacognition)
Websites & Blogs Worth Following
- Two Writing Teachers - https://twowritingteachers.wordpress.com/
- Nerdy Book Club - https://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/
- Read Write Think (NCTE) - http://www.readwritethink.org/
- Chart Chums - https://chartchums.wordpress.com/
- Choice Literacy (some free and some paid here) - https://www.choiceliteracy.com/
- There's a Book for That - http://thereisabookforthat.com/
- Teachers Write - http://www.katemessner.com/teachers-write/
- Read Write Reflect - http://readwriteandreflect.blogspot.com/
- Watch. Connect. Read. - http://mrschureads.blogspot.com/
- A Teaching Life - https://ateachinglifedotcom.wordpress.com/
- The Goddess of YA Literature - http://professornana.livejournal.com/
- Kid Lit Frenzy - http://www.kidlitfrenzy.com/
- TC Reading & Writing Project - http://readingandwritingproject.org/resources
- Growing Educators - http://growingeducators.com/events/
- Heinemann - http://www.heinemann.com/blog/
- Stenhouse - http://blog.stenhouse.com/
- Scholastic - http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/teaching-ideas
Columbia University's Teachers College Reading & Writing Project has a collection of classroom videos on Vimeo that take you inside reading and writing workshops at various grade levels. Check them out here: https://vimeo.com/tcrwp/albums
Books You Won't Want to Miss
Moletown
by Torben Kulhmann
Torben Kulhmann's stunningly illustrated, nearly wordless tale offers a fascinating window into an imaginary, yet hauntingly familiar word under our feet, where a mole suddenly recognizes the precarious balance between progress and preservation. Kulhmann's open ended text encourages thoughtful exploration into possible solutions, and his delightful endpapers depict a montage of solutions that could very well save the moles' world and ours.
The Thing About Jellyfish
by Ali Benjamin
After her best friend dies in a drowning accident, Suzy is convinced that the true cause of the tragedy was a rare jellyfish sting. Retreating into a silent world of imagination, she crafts a plan to prove her theory--even if it means traveling the globe, alone. Suzy's achingly heartfelt journey explores life, death, the astonishing wonder of the universe...and the potential for love and hope right next door.
Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War
A tense, exciting exploration of what the Times deemed "the greatest story of the century": how Daniel Ellsberg transformed from obscure government analyst into "the most dangerous man in America," and risked everything to expose the government's deceit. A provocative book that interrogates the meanings of patriotism, freedom, and integrity.
Mark Your Calendars!
These labs will be held on the B Mondays listed below from 2:00 to 3:30 P.M. at McKInley TK-8 School of the Arts. Attendance is voluntary. Goodies will be given away at each lab to those who participate. Let's keep the energy alive!
#1 September 21, 2015 ~ Architecture of a Minilesson / Immersion
#2 October 19, 2015 ~ Writing Conferences
#3 November 16, 2015 ~ Student Work & Resource Share
#4 January 25, 2016 ~ Qualities of Writing/Mentor Texts
#5 February 29, 2016 ~ TBD
#6 April 18, 2016 ~ Student Work & Resource Share
Writing Lab #1 Round Up
Twenty Trailblazers total came together this afternoon during their own B Monday planning time to be part of our continued professional learning community. Wow!
Please share out your learning today with the other Trailblazers who weren't able to make it. We also placed the PD and resources in a new folder titled "Writing Labs" in our shared Google Drive.
Check out the photos below from today's Writing Lab as well as the video we studied. We look forward to seeing you at our next Writing Lab on October 19!
Studying a Mentor Minilesson
Turn & Talks Across Schools
Book Talks & Book Giveaways
Trailblazer Writing Lab #2
- We will meet in Room 109 - enter through the main school entrance on Oak Knoll, turn left on the main hall, room 109 is the first room on your right
- We will have yummy treats AND give away BOOKS!!!
Monday, Oct 19, 2015, 02:00 PM
McKinley School, South Oak Knoll Avenue, Pasadena, CA, United States
RSVPs are enabled for this event.
Teacher Appreciation Night at Vroman's Bookstore
- A special performance by children’s singer/songwriter and teaching artist Emily Arrow will kick off the night, followed by her tips for how to bring music and songwriting into your classroom.
- Then, their knowledgeable staff will recommend great new books for your classroom discussions and libraries and share some services they offer to teachers, as well as information on this year’s Young Readers League.
- They’ll have snacks and beverages, plus a bunch of goodies (including books!) to give away.
- You’ll also receive a 20% off coupon to use for any personal shopping that night.
Thursday, Oct 8, 2015, 05:30 PM
695 E. Colorado Blvd. Pasadena, CA 91101
Alyson Beecher
Email: beecher.alyson@pusd.us
Website: http://www.kidlitfrenzy.com
Location: Pasadena Unified School District, South Hudson Avenue, Pasadena, CA, United States
Phone: 626-644-1642
Twitter: @alybee930