Routines and Structures: Things to Teach Kids in September So Your Year Is a Breeze!
I was doing some thinking this morning about the routines I’ll need to rehearse with my students this-coming September. My mind went from general (e.g., walking in the hallways, fire drills) to the specific (i.e., Writing Workshop). Therefore, I figured I’d post my working list of structures I want to teach my fourth graders so that my expectations for Workshop Time are exceedingly clear.
LMK if you’re interested in me posting specifics about any or all of these.
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Ryan:
I’ll post a bit more about each of them later today. In the meantime, you can do keyword searches for each of those items. There’s already a lot of stuff online in our blog archives about each of these things.
Best,
Stacey
Hi Stacey,
I was wondering if you could talk throughj each of these structures in a little more detail – I love how you are thinking ahead to cultivate independence in the classrooom. If not all, could you provide a little more detail on how you organized focus spots and notebook planning day? How did you make planning boxes purposeful so that kids had a well to draw from when planning their future writing work? I also have Leah’s book on the Share component and would love to have a partnership blog conversation around the book- if you’re interested. Cleaning up from story surgery???? Love the sound of it, what is it?
Thanks
Ryan
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Nope. I’m the only person who wears the scarf. I wear it when I’m chatting with students during Reading and Writing Conferences. It’s a sign I’m talking with one of the peers about their reading/writing and that I cannot be interrupted.
a sign to the child that ……
??
they’re next up for a conference? do the boys wear it too?
Year 3 of teaching the scarf was from Israel.
Year 4 of teaching the scarf was from India.
Both were gifts. Both had histories which the kids learned.
Neither one was ever pulled upon (thankfully).
I didn’t like using this visual, at first, since it seemed rather juvenile for upper elementary school kids. However, the scarf is a sign to the child that <>
Do tell…what is the conferring scarf? I envision wearing a beautiful scarf and having a child tug on it while I am in the middle of a great conference with a child…
Bill,
Just go to the top of the page here and do a keyword search for “plan” (http://twowritingteachers.wordpress.com/2008/04/10/plan-boxes-defined/), “story surgery” and “writer’s notebooks.” You’ll find all of our past posts that deal with this.
Hope that helps,
Stacey
Dear Stacy,
I am curious about your writing workshop and not familiar with terms you are using such as Plain Boxes, Cleaning up from Story Surgery, Writing notebook checking procedure. and more.
I would love to learn more.
Bill