Write Right Now!

Principal Ponderings...

This week's post is a collaborative effort.  On Friday, I had the chance to spend the day with lots of educators across the state as we focused on writing instruction and listened to Lisa Cleaveland, a kindergarten teacher from North Carolina, discuss what writing instruction can look like in elementary classrooms.  While I enjoyed listening to her, I really enjoyed the great conversations that happened at our table, a table full of teachers from our school who are part of the literacy grant team this year.  After a day of listening, learning, and reflecting, I asked each of them to share some of their thoughts and take aways from the day.

Key Take-Aways:
Students should write every day. Writers’ Workshop should eventually be 45 minutes, including Meeting, Writing/Conferring, and Sharing.
Allow students to write about what they want. CHOICE is key.
Always start Meetings with a mentor text, which can and should include student-written books.
Read like writers, noting:

• The people who make books
• Different kinds of books and the purposes they serve
• Decisions writers and illustrators make in books

Ultimately, we need to reach the state standards and not every element of a curriculum program, so teach accordingly.
Children (K-2) should be making books - 6 pages stapled together

Students should take multiple days to complete their work

Students decide where to start their work- words, illustrations, front, back etc. 

Students should have space to move around the room to find their own working space

No lines preferable, but teacher choice

Teachers are not modeling good writing, instead showing and discussing mentor texts that exemplify the outcomes teachers are expecting.

• Use stacks of books
• Use student books
• Begin units by immersing students in the type of text you want them to write
• Teach students to “Read like a writer” noticing author and illustrator moves
• Students need sustained time on writing EVERYDAY
• Teachers confer during this time
• Students read their book to teacher
• Teacher reads book back to student so they can hear it
• NEVER write on student work - Can write on a separate paper or post-it
• Most of the time students should not rewrite their work- their first work was their best effort

Handwriting can be taught at a separate time of day
Shared/interactive writing can be done at a morning meeting time

Several different reflections from teachers after our day of focusing on writing...

Today’s meeting was all about a developmentally appropriate approach to writing that empowers students to think of themselves as authors and illustrators. The strategies and structure outlined produces independent writers who make moves with intention as a result of teacher guidance and being surrounded by high-quality literature created by authors, illustrators and students alike.

Children need the opportunity to write about what they want to write about. Through choice, engagement, and guidance young writers can find their voice and joy in writing.

Students grow as writers when provided choice and the opportunity to explore the craft of writing utilizing students' work as mentor texts along with reading literature through the eyes of a writer.

As you read the above thoughts and takeaways and reflections, you probably noticed some common themes.  We need to be giving kids the opportunity to write everyday and we need to make sure choice is a big part of that.  We also need to be utilizing mentor texts to help students understand what it means to read like a writer and think like a writer.

This Sunday is National Day on Writing and I included the link to a page that talks about this more in the events section below.  But we are going to not just think about writing and talk about writing during this month with this special day devoted to writing.  We owe it to our students to think and talk about writing all year long.

I am looking forward to more work with this grant team, and I am looking forward to sharing our learning throughout the rest of the year with all of you!

Currently reading:
Several Scholastic team members visited me this week and they always come with the best gifts...books!  Many of the books were added to the birthday book shelves.  I was super excited to get several Peter Reynolds books, including the newest one I Am Love: A Book of Compassion.  It's even signed by Susan Verde.  I have this one in my office if anyone wants to borrow it to read to their class.  Such an important read for any age.

I talked about the book The Brain is Kind of a Big Deal during one of my book talk announcements this week.  This book will be in the book fair.  This is definitely a fun non fiction book!  Bonus that it's all about the brain...I am slightly obsessed and fascinated by the brain.

I have been listening to a great book called Bird By Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott.  I can't believe I have waited this long to read this book.  It is so good.  I have had many writer friends recommend it to me...glad I finally listened to them.

Events this week:
**Book Fair in the library all week until next Monday!
Monday - Columbus Day, no school
Tuesday - Liz out of the building at a conference, Flu Clinic in the AM at Mayo, Fit Club @ 8:00am
Wednesday - Patty out of the building for Team Chair Meeting in the AM, New Director of SEL visiting Mayo @ 2:00, Grade 3-5 EL Creative Writing/Tech Club, Book Fair Family Event 4:00-8:00pm
Thursday - Fit Club @ 8:00am, Spell-a-Thon challenge day! Liz at Curriculum Meeting from 7:45-10:00 - Central Office
Friday - Read Blizzard with Mrs. Garden - All for Books winning grade, PTA correcting Spelling Challenges in the conference room, Craft Fair Set Up after school in the gym
Saturday - Mayo Craft Fair! 9:30-3:30, Book Fair in the library open from 12-2
Sunday - National Day on Writing! https://whyiwrite.us/

Great things I noticed last week:

• The 5th graders had a great time on their field trip to Sargent Center! 
  
• The students in  KL were practicing some counting skills with bead bracelets and different objects. 
  
• Loved seeing the positivity spread throughout the building on Positive Post It Day!  These 5th graders kindly delivered some positive notes to me in the morning. 
  
• The Book Fair was set up and several buddies met up so that they could help each other complete a scavenger hunt. 
  

Check it out:
Interesting math fact that I learned...

And in honor of Book Fair week...