Comments for TWO WRITING TEACHERS

Comment on SOLSC by Juliann

Juliann — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:15:56 +0000

I am slicing my breakfast today
http://liningupmywords.wordpress.com/2009/11/10/day-10-a-slice-of-breakfast/

I also found a new to me site that is interesting – they have a story of the day

http://www.litdrift.com/

Comment on Peer Conferring: Questions by writereadtalk

writereadtalk — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 02:52:02 +0000

Hi- I wanted to let you know that I think you have an awesome blog! I’ve been checking out your blog you for awhile and now you have been awarded a Kreativ Blogger Award! Congrats!!
Welcome to the blogosphere!!!

Check it out here and pass on the bloggy luv:
http://readwritetalk.wordpress.com/

Comment on Owning Your Story. by Lynnelle

Lynnelle — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:18:43 +0000

We are working on this in one of my classes. I met with a writer on Friday. Her title “Not the Same.” Before I could even begin the conference she explains that even though the piece is about her mother getting remarried…it is actually how SHE changed in the moment. It started with a flashforward. Then goes into the actually day. The line that affected me as a reader,”the moment I saw her walking down the aisle with my grandpa, I realized my mother was a beautiful woman.” Here is a 10 year old changing the life of her teacher. Brave enough to show her audience her inner thoughts. I love WW!

Comment on Making Characters Talk by Stacey

Stacey — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:28:03 +0000

LMK how it goes!

Comment on Making Characters Talk by totebagteaching

totebagteaching — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:33:58 +0000

Thanks for the link to that book! I’ve sometimes had reluctant writers make cartoon strips as a prewriting tool for narratives, and that looks like a particularly charming book to use to introduce the concept to those of them that aren’t already comic enthusiasts.

Comment on Allowing Words to Hang in the Air by Dollie Evans

Dollie Evans — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 02:29:13 +0000

wow- I have to say this is an impressive draft-it speaks to me as is-I have read it several times-I am pasting it into my notebook for reflection later

Comment on Encouraging Revision by Colette Berg

Colette Berg — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:25:00 +0000

I teach first grade and was struggling to find an idea for my floor- to -celing- 6 -foot -wide -board outside my classroom. I finally decided to make a door, and was going to say “Open the door to Fall”. Well I thought how would the door open??? Sooo…. after much thought (and other teachers asking what the door was for), I labeled the top of the door Fall Predicitons.
I took pictures of the kids “thinking”. I made large thinking bubbles. I had the kids write what they “think “or predict could be behind the door, in the thinking bubbles.Now thinking bubbles are being included in their sketching!!
It has made the kids visually aware of displaying thoughts, rather than just talking bubbles in their sketches. My plan is to use this to teach conversation
in their writing.

Comment on Speaking to Me. by MOteacher

MOteacher — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:15:25 +0000

Awesome.

Comment on Allowing Words to Hang in the Air by Brandon

Brandon — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:29:40 +0000

I agree, usually when I write something the first time it’s a collection of ideas and the second time around allows me to organize everything.

Comment on Share Your Slices by Lisa

Lisa — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:14:01 +0000

http://alotalot.wordpress.com/2009/11/03/slice-of-life-money-in-my-pocket/

Comment on Share Your Slices by Stacey

Stacey — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:15:31 +0000

I found some time to write before I hop on my train home. So, here I am, a little earlier than I expected:
http://365in2009.wordpress.com/2009/11/03/solsc-the-news/

Comment on Share Your Slices by Juliann

Juliann — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:33:41 +0000

here is my voting day slice – also a part of the 30 days of writing for National Blog Posting Month – dual purpose writing!
http://liningupmywords.wordpress.com/2009/11/03/day-3-voting-day/

Comment on Share Your Slices by Mrs. V

Mrs. V — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:49:28 +0000

I posted one on Saturday http://enbuscadeequilibrio.blogspot.com/2009/10/cute-little-rat-anyone.html

Good luck at your conference!

Comment on Publishing Books with Students by Publishing – international publishers | Point Article News Feed

Publishing – international publishers | Point Article News Feed — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 09:16:12 +0000

[...] Publishing Books with Students Â« TWO WRITING TEACHERS29 Oct 2009 by Stacey Book-in-a-Day (BID) is a non-profit, educational services company that fosters literacy skills through a groundbreaking writing and publishing workshop, which focuses on student-run publicationâin one day. Educators spend hours looking … – [...]

Comment on SOLSC Meets Picture Book Illustrators by literacyspark

literacyspark — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:44:23 +0000

I find it so interesting that the authors and illustrators are kept separate. I wonder how often an author dislikes the illustrations and if they get any “say so.”

Comment on I {Heart} Comments by Deb Lund

Deb Lund — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:08:48 +0000

Thanks, Ruth.
You two are “in the trenches” with class-loads of kids and you’re helping everyone in there with you. I get to throw lines once in awhile in the form of blogs, cont. ed. classes, or author visits, but it’s not the same because my trench is more solitary — that is, until my own kids get home from school! I don’t know how you do it all, but I’m grateful that you do.

Comment on I {Heart} Comments by Stacey

Stacey — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:30:45 +0000

I think everyone is fueled by comments from their peers. Without feedback from others, how do we become better writers?

Comment on Motivation (Part I) by I {Heart} Comments « TWO WRITING TEACHERS

I {Heart} Comments « TWO WRITING TEACHERS — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:14:19 +0000

[...] Comments Juliann on SOLSC Meets Picture Book …Ruth on Motivation (Part I)Stacey on Join Us for Today’s Slic…Deb Lund on Motivation (Part I)Juliann on Join [...]

Comment on SOLSC Meets Picture Book Illustrators by Juliann

Juliann — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:27:37 +0000

I have a friend who has done some illustrations for children’s books and it is an amazing process. I am hoping to have her visit our class this year when they are making books.

Comment on Motivation (Part I) by Ruth

Ruth — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:50:53 +0000

Thank you Deb! You gave order and insight to the thoughts jumbling in my mind. You made all the things I feel come together in a concise way. I appreciate your comment.
Ruth

Comment on Join Us for Today’s Slice of Life Challenge! by Stacey

Stacey — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 22:08:05 +0000

I posted my Slice here, http://twowritingteachers.wordpress.com/2009/10/27/solsc-meets-picture-book-illustrators/, today instead of on my other blog since it has to do with meeting some picture book authors and illustrators.

Comment on Motivation (Part I) by Deb Lund

Deb Lund — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:07:53 +0000

Intrinsic motivation to do a “good” job is hard to instill, and we all have our own ideas about what constitutes “good.” I’ve found that when the audience is others, the work is neater, more carefully matches the assignment, and is presented effectively. When students see themselves as the audience, the product is richer. By “themselves” I mean that their focus is on the joy of the writing itself rather than how it’s going to be received. They’ve taken more risks, maybe even veered off into new territory not considered by the teacher or within the bounds of the assignment.

I know from reading your blog that you personally have worked hard with your students to get them away from writing for the teacher, and you know the pitfalls of students writing with publication (presentation) in mind. To make this “peer pressure” idea work while still encouraging creativity and reaching for their highest potential as writers, students need to feel safe. If they’ve already had the experience of having their own voices and choices honored, then an audience can enrich that experience. If a teacher has been the students’ only audience up to this point, they’ll just feel more pressure to make it “right” for the intended audience, and they’ll place limits on themselves that will make their writing more sterile.

If using the peers for an audience is treated like a critique group, as in the art teacher example (especially with his question “What do you think?”), students are honored. They’re sharing together in a friendly and safe format. The teacher isn’t judging as he stands with them. He’s an observer, a coach, a facilitator.

I’ve told teachers in my continuing education classes about a time that my superintendent came in to observe a class I taught in the arts-based school I started. The kids (grades 3-10) were in a circle, critiquing in a manner similar to my own writing critique group. It was a process we had used for weeks. They read pieces aloud, questioned, made suggestions, shared what they saw working in each others’ manuscripts, and I barely had to say a word.

The writing the superintendent heard that day was outstanding because — in addition to being one of those great groups that comes along from time to time — they took the time to rewrite. They had an audience of each other, goals they set and worked on by and for themselves, and, because we created this safe place together, willingness to write lots of “junk” to find the gems. When the superintendent was done with my observation, he said, “Wow. That was more like a conference than a class.”

Presenting to peers is an excellent motivator. Just make your classrooms as safe as possible, giving the students as much ownership as possible, so the motivation is placed where you want it.

Thanks again for all your support for your colleagues. Your fan…

Comment on Join Us for Today’s Slice of Life Challenge! by Juliann

Juliann — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:40:22 +0000

I haven’t sliced in a long time!
http://liningupmywords.wordpress.com/2009/10/27/a-slice-of-learning-something-new/

Comment on Motivation (Part I) by Roxanne Whiting

Roxanne Whiting — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:20:25 +0000

I wonder what the topic of the English paper was vs. the topic of the history project. Did one connect with the student’s life more than another?

Comment on Join Us for Today’s Slice of Life Challenge! by blkdrama

blkdrama — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:31:44 +0000

I have reconnected with a friend from 30 years ago thanks to FB. Here’s where we began.

http://blkdrama.wordpress.com/2009/10/27/back-in-the-desert-with-susan-220365slice/

Comment on Join Us for Today’s Slice of Life Challenge! by literacyspark

literacyspark — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:00:45 +0000

http://adventurelifetravel.wordpress.com/

A bit of a gloomy Slice. Forgive me, it’s been gloomy in my head this week.

Comment on Motivation (Part I) by Motivation (Part II). « TWO WRITING TEACHERS

Motivation (Part II). « TWO WRITING TEACHERS — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 04:13:30 +0000

[...] Comments Maddie on Encouraging RevisionLisaC on Motivation (Part I)LisaC on Motivation (Part I)Stacey on Motivation (Part I)Aimee on Motivation [...]

Comment on Encouraging Revision by Maddie

Maddie — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 23:15:52 +0000

Thanks for a great resource!

Maddie

http://www.literacyteacher.wordpress.com

Comment on Motivation (Part I) by LisaC

LisaC — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:27:44 +0000

homework…there…I do know how to spell it!

Comment on Motivation (Part I) by LisaC

LisaC — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:21:11 +0000

I agree with Aimee. The English grade is probably already high enough that the student could take a hit of 100 points, probably go ahead and do the rough draft for homwork so as to be caught up tomorrow, and get a better mark on the history project. One of the great things I have learned from Author’s Chair is that audience really does matter! When they are writing to entertain or impress their peers, they are more like to do their best to show off. I teach younger kids (grade 3 and 4) and I know they don’t connect their work to their grades on the report card. They do, however, work toward that more immediate feedback of making their peers laugh, or offer a positive compliment.