Quality in our Gifts

In our writing workshop, we are looking at the process of our writing.  Today, we looked at the quality.  I presented some "gifts" to my students to share what I might give to our parent volunteers. 

A cookie taken from the trash (seriously)!

A broken up cookie that was made.

Whoppers tied up with ribbon.

The students quickly decided the last gift was the best and we connected it to our writing.  We don't want to give writing that was taken out of the trash.  We don't want to give writing that isn't quality.  We want to give our best!

Here's hoping our study will be great!

Small Moment - Leah

Small Moment - Brittany

Small Moment - Herman

Small Moment - Anny

Slowing it down

We are studying how to writing.  Today, Max began a great book about How to do a Belly Flop!  One lesson that was shared was to not give your reader too much information at once.  Here is Max's before and after...

Before...three to four steps.

After - Step 1 and 2

After - Steps 3 and 4.

Lessons in Writing

Antonio is beginning a story and I loved how he was using the dates that we saw in other books.  What a fun way to document a story!

When first talking with the next writer, she wasn't quite sure where her story was going.  She had the beginning, but wasn't positive about the next step.  I showed her some of my story plans and she planned out her writing.  I am quite impressed that she tried it and that it worked for her!  I cannot wait to point back to this lesson for months to come and according to Zeke, her plan is now trapped in her notebook.  Love that idea!!!  Feel free to leave comments for the writers!

Maps of What Matters

One map that is placed in our writer's notebooks is a map showing what matters to us.  I give the kids options of a heart map or a bone map.  They did a great job of really thinking about what matters to them.  Here are just a few...

Bone map by Ashton

Heart map by Josephine

Heart map by Brittany

Heart map by Leah

Heart map by Hannah

Heart map by Grant