Fast Llamas!
I've been thinking a lot about students writing in class. Especially what we call "critical writing" and which is best, a singular sentence or at least three sentences (an intro, the body and the closing)? I do think both are good for students, but, when starting out and insisting on good writing, we have to train kids and set expectations. It can be frustrating for us, when we want the students to write and we get back really incoherent writing and phrasing. When this happens, we have to go back and train them. Students do incredible writing in English classes, when we ask them to write in other subjects, it can be a struggle to transfer over. Any time we use a strategy, we always want to front load and talk to kids about our expectations so students know what their product should look, sound and feel like.
In the absence of expectations, students will come up with their own... and a lot of times, their ideas of what writing should look like do not meet our expected outcomes. We cannot assume students already know our expectations.
For me, the best ideas for kids always developed out of a frustrating experience. (the kids doing something a certain way, made me feel like ripping my hair out!) So, let's take advantage of this opportunity to show kids the way... and by showing them the way, make our lives more joyful.
To begin:
1. Use sentence starters, students often struggle with how they can start. here's a link to Lead4wards list... Thinking Stems
2. Start with one really good sentence. Show students examples of poorly written sentences and exemplars of what you are looking for. They may not know what you want from them, so show them.
3. Use visuals as stimulators to help kids explain their thinking. Here's an idea to try from 38 Great academic language builders: activities for math, science, social studies, language arts... and just about everything. (see citation below for more info)
To begin:
1. Use sentence starters, students often struggle with how they can start. here's a link to Lead4wards list... Thinking Stems
2. Start with one really good sentence. Show students examples of poorly written sentences and exemplars of what you are looking for. They may not know what you want from them, so show them.
3. Use visuals as stimulators to help kids explain their thinking. Here's an idea to try from 38 Great academic language builders: activities for math, science, social studies, language arts... and just about everything. (see citation below for more info)
a. Organize students into groups - Give each student a folder containing one of a
variety of images and a small index card.
b. ask students to keep images a secret from others
c. have students record their responses on the index card
- list everything in the image
- use adjectives to describe objects in the image
- use verbs to describe action in the image
- imagine yourself in the image - what can you see, smell, or hear?
d. Give students another card with a sentence stem, choose to have students write
c. have students record their responses on the index card
- list everything in the image
- use adjectives to describe objects in the image
- use verbs to describe action in the image
- imagine yourself in the image - what can you see, smell, or hear?
d. Give students another card with a sentence stem, choose to have students write
one really good complete sentence or a three sentence paragraph.
e. Have group share their sentences and then show the group their pictures. They
could even try to guess what was in their picture. That would be fun.
Let's add in some other strategies...
4. Front the writing - have the critical writing happen early in the lesson, this will help with answering questions and discussion later on, since students have had time to frame their thoughts.
5. Have students write before each turn and talk
6. Teach students that a simple three sentence paragraph they use for critical writing is like an oreo. The top cookie; the first crunch, is the intro, the creamy filling is their explanations, description, conclusions to the problem question and the bottom cookie; the last crunch, is the closing. Tell them an oreo is better when it is all three, just like their critical write would be missing something without all three parts.
7. Ask students for permission to read aloud their writing. Make it sound like the best sentence you have ever read.
8. Remember, writing supports thinking... make sure students get chances to write other then answering questions every day.
Here are some examples to view:
Until next time...
T.O.
References:
Lemov, D. (2011). Teach like a champion: the complete handbook to master the art of teaching. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Seidlitz, J., & Kenfield, K. (2011). 38 Great academic language builders: activities for math, science, social studies, language arts... and just about everything. San Clemente, CA.: Seidlitz Education.
4. Front the writing - have the critical writing happen early in the lesson, this will help with answering questions and discussion later on, since students have had time to frame their thoughts.
5. Have students write before each turn and talk
6. Teach students that a simple three sentence paragraph they use for critical writing is like an oreo. The top cookie; the first crunch, is the intro, the creamy filling is their explanations, description, conclusions to the problem question and the bottom cookie; the last crunch, is the closing. Tell them an oreo is better when it is all three, just like their critical write would be missing something without all three parts.
7. Ask students for permission to read aloud their writing. Make it sound like the best sentence you have ever read.
8. Remember, writing supports thinking... make sure students get chances to write other then answering questions every day.
Here are some examples to view:
Until next time...
T.O.
References:
Lemov, D. (2011). Teach like a champion: the complete handbook to master the art of teaching. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Seidlitz, J., & Kenfield, K. (2011). 38 Great academic language builders: activities for math, science, social studies, language arts... and just about everything. San Clemente, CA.: Seidlitz Education.
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