TRAILBLAZERS
PUSD Writing Project - Volume 1 Issue 8 - October 5, 2015
Writing Workshop October Goals
Our goals will shift in November, so take a moment to reflect on where you are with these two goals and let us know how we can support you to reach them:
- To plan and implement 10-15 minute minilessons that include these 5 components: Connection, Teaching Point, Teach, Active Engagement, Link -- Is there a specific minilesson component you'd like us to support you with this month?
- To establish clear Writing Workshop rules and expectations during the minilesson, independent writing, and sharing to ensure all of your students are actively engaged. -- Have you created an 'expectations' anchor chart to support your classroom management? Check out the examples below from our Writing Lab #1!
Shout Outs
A 4th Grader Becomes as a Writer
Digital Writing & Peer Conferences
Using a Checklist to Improve Our Drafts
Establishing Writing Workshop Expectations
If your students aren't meeting your expectations, ask yourself if you've taken the time to explicitly teach them to your students. If not, it's not too late. This is a critical minilesson to teach in the beginning of the school year.
Also consider: Do you have a system in place for positive recognition when students meet those expectations and corrective action when they don't? Ask your colleagues what works in their classrooms, and let us know how we can support you with this goal this month.
Check out the anchor charts below that serve as "3rd Educators" of the expectations these teachers have established with their students. Is a similar anchor chart posted in your classroom yet? If not, do it now! If so, keep it posted all year long!
Online Food for Thought
Writing Partnership Tips
Peer Conferring: Students Teach Each Other to Revise in Order to Orient their Readers
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
Little Elliot, Big Family
by Mike Curato
When Mouse heads off to a family reunion, Little Elliot decides go for a walk. As he explores each busy street, he sees families in all shapes and sizes. In a city of millions,
Little Elliot feels very much alone-until he finds he has a family of his own!
Human Body Theater
by Maris Wicks
Grades: 4 to 7
Welcome to the Human Body Theater, where your master of ceremonies is going to lead you through a theatrical revue of each and every biological system of the human body! Starting out as a skeleton, the MC puts on a new layer of her costume (her body) with each "act." By turns goofy and intensely informative, the Human Body Theater is always accessible and always entertaining.
The Doldrums
Archer B. Helmsley wants an adventure. No, he needs an adventure. His grandparents were famous explorers . . . until they got stuck on an iceberg. Now Archer's mother barely lets him out of the house. As if that would stop a true Helmsley. Archer enlists Adelaide—the girl who, according to rumor, lost her leg to a crocodile—and Oliver—the boy next door—to help him rescue his grandparents. The Doldrums whisks us off on an adventure full of sly humor, incredible detail, and enormous heart.
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
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