Writing Platform.
Writing is an art form, and in my classroom it will be taught as such. After reading 6+1 traits of writing and completing a writers workshop I have developed my own beliefs about teaching writing. In my classroom, I believe that all students should channel their inner craft and write openly on any topic when permitted in the classroom. When a student has the opportunity to creatively write about ideas he/she chooses, their writing benefits. I believe in integrating writing into all subject area in the classroom. By having student writing about science and mathematic content, their academic proficiency will improve. I believe in incorporating classic literature to influence my students to write and find their voice. By praising the process of writing students will learn how to preserver through it and produce a final product they can be proud of. Finally, presentation of my students work in my classroom is a teachers best practice that I believe firmly in. When students have an audience and a purpose for writing, the end result is undeniably genuine.
Writing Center.
In my classroom writing center, I plan on utilizing the strategies, ideas, and
anchor charts shown in the images below.
**Images and ideas are from Pinterest and Ruth Culham's book 6+1 Traits of Writing**
anchor charts shown in the images below.
**Images and ideas are from Pinterest and Ruth Culham's book 6+1 Traits of Writing**
Writing assignments that don’t require creativity or thinking are largely meaningless.
-Culham, Ruth
Ideas
Description: These idea bags are full of objects and pictures that students can use to generate a topic or story to write about. Rationale: This strategy in my writing center will be beneficial to my students' growth as writers because as each student discovers the things that they are passionate about and take time practicing their ability to write a story from a small or broad idea, students will be able to apply this skill to other content areas. Word Choice
Description: This anchor chart provides students with weak and strong verbs to use in their writing. Rationale: I will use anchor charts like this one to help support my students when writing and remind them to always choose vivid verbs and strong adjectives. Similar to a word wall, this list will provide students with multiple alternatives to words/verbs that would make their writing ordinary. Conventions
Description: This checklist poster allows students to keep writing conventions in mind. This checklist reminds students of proper spacing, capitalization, punctuation, and to always doing their best work. Rationale: Having this hanging in my writing center, or even as a small print out for each student to staple to a writing draft, will help students hold themselves accountable and self monitor. Presentation
Description: This is an example of a fun way to present students' writing pieces. This is a students final draft of a writing sample and a fun 3D picture that goes along with the piece. Rationale: This type of presentation will be used in my classroom to encourage my students to work through the writing process to get to this fun final step. This teaches students to write for an audience and for a purpose because it will be read and displayed. When students know that their work is treasured they will put more effort forth during the process. |
Organization
Description: This anchor chart is an example of how to visually teach my students to organize their writing. Rationale: This chart explains the stop light method. Students can think of a stop light when writing the three sections of an informative or persuasive writing piece. After doing a mini lesson and modeling this method of organization, I would hang this in my writing center in my classroom. These visual representations of information help students organize their thoughts and remember a strategy. Voice
Description:This organizer provides multiple definitions of what voice is as a writer. Rationale: This organizer is a great way to explain what a writer does to express voice in their writing. This can be filled out during a mini-lesson/read aloud on voice to help students become familiar with what a writers voice is. By having multiple ways to express voice, students will have multiple ways of practicing using voice in their writing and ultimately finding their OWN voice. Sentence Fluency
Description: This Scholastic poster summarizes nicely what sentence fluency is. The poster reminds students to read their writing aloud and listen to how it sounds. Rationale: Having this poster hanging in my writing center with a microphone and a recording device will allow students to read their writing and evaluate how fluent their writing is. When students intentionally access their writing by reading it and listening to it, they will be disciplined into the habit of writing a variety of sentences that flow smoothly. The two most engaging powers of an author are to make new things familiar and familiar things new. |
Resources.
Check out this book by Ruth Culham!
This book offers numerous activities for intermediate (3-5) writing activities revolving around the 6 + 1 traits of writing. Check out Crack the Case Mystery Game!
This game supplies hundreds of mystery case cards for you to use in your classroom with your kids. This game can be used in the classroom to help students develop writing skills such as intriguing the reader and using creative details. Check out this School House Rocks video:
Show this video in your class room to teach conjunctions and other writing conventions. Check out this School House Rocks video:
Show this video in your class room to teach interjections and other writing conventions. |
Check out this book by Ruth Culham!
This book offers numerous activities for Primary (k-2) writing activities revolving around the 6 + 1 traits of writing. Check out Education Northwest!
This website is a great tool that teachers can use for writing curriculum, resources, and professional development. Check out this School House Rocks video:
Show this video in your class room to teach verbs and other writing conventions. Check out this School House Rocks video:
Show this video in your class room to teach nouns and other writing conventions. |