Last week we completed our How-To writing unit with a short and sweet publishing party! This week we began a new writing unit: studying author's craft. In this writing unit, students will read and explore the ways in which author's write their stories. Students will then take what they learn and apply it to their own writing!
To help us generate writing ideas, we each have our own Tiny Topic Notebook! Our tiny topic notebook is used to list writing ideas whenever we think of them throughout the day.
Yesterday, after independently listing writing ideas, we then went shopping for writing ideas from our friends! We discovered that other people's ideas help us think of our own topic ideas! I heard so many fabulous topics including camping at Spring Hill, learning how to swim, playing video games, falling off a bike, jumping on the tramp with a friend, getting locked in your room, going to Great Wolf Lodge, etc.
My favorite part about shopping for writing ideas was hearing the conversations between the first graders. I heard many kids approaching others and saying things like, "I thought about a time I went to the beach. Have you ever been to the beach?" or "Do you have any writing ideas that might help me think of ideas for myself?" I even had patient friends sit and help others who were having a difficult time thinking of ideas. Wow! I was so proud of their enthusiasm for writing and their desire to help one another grow as authors.
Way to go kiddos! I can't wait to see you put your creative writing ideas into stories!
To help us generate writing ideas, we each have our own Tiny Topic Notebook! Our tiny topic notebook is used to list writing ideas whenever we think of them throughout the day.
Yesterday, after independently listing writing ideas, we then went shopping for writing ideas from our friends! We discovered that other people's ideas help us think of our own topic ideas! I heard so many fabulous topics including camping at Spring Hill, learning how to swim, playing video games, falling off a bike, jumping on the tramp with a friend, getting locked in your room, going to Great Wolf Lodge, etc.
My favorite part about shopping for writing ideas was hearing the conversations between the first graders. I heard many kids approaching others and saying things like, "I thought about a time I went to the beach. Have you ever been to the beach?" or "Do you have any writing ideas that might help me think of ideas for myself?" I even had patient friends sit and help others who were having a difficult time thinking of ideas. Wow! I was so proud of their enthusiasm for writing and their desire to help one another grow as authors.
Way to go kiddos! I can't wait to see you put your creative writing ideas into stories!
What will we be learning in the next few weeks in Writer's Workshop?
Please read our learning targets below!
*I can choose a topic by asking three questions: What is the most important? What do I remember the most? Will my reader be interested?
*I can develop my topic by using a timeline (beginning, middle detail 1, middle detail 2, middle detail 3, end)
*I can show, not tell, using my 5 senses.
*I can use dialogue to enhance meaning.
*I can use juicy words (words with better detail such as whispered rather than said)
*I can use temporal (transition) words to signal a change in events (first, next, on Saturday, before, during, when)
*I can use ellipses to build suspense.
Please read our learning targets below!
*I can choose a topic by asking three questions: What is the most important? What do I remember the most? Will my reader be interested?
*I can develop my topic by using a timeline (beginning, middle detail 1, middle detail 2, middle detail 3, end)
*I can show, not tell, using my 5 senses.
*I can use dialogue to enhance meaning.
*I can use juicy words (words with better detail such as whispered rather than said)
*I can use temporal (transition) words to signal a change in events (first, next, on Saturday, before, during, when)
*I can use ellipses to build suspense.