Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Work on Writing & Journaling

What an evening!

We had a thunderstorm come through last night, which is a good thing because we need rain, but it's not that great when you realize that the rain is coming into your house through your roof. 

YIKES!!!!

We haven't had hard rain in over two years because of the drought so we didn't realize that our roof was needing assistance until last night. Good thing it was only the south side of our house. I don't think I could have found anymore totes or tubes to use to catch the rain. Anyone else getting any surprises from their homes this summer?



Today I am linking up with Lory's Page for her Summer Blog Party ~

Work on Writing & Journaling. 

I am in desperate need of help in this area. WRITING is not one of my strong teaching points.  With our schedules the last couple of years, we have only been giving 30 minutes of writing time and it is usually at the end of the day. Well, you know as good as I do that if it's at the end of the day, you don't get that whole 30 minute block of time because you have to wrap up your day with your students;
hand out homework assignments,
write in their agenda books,
get their home reading books for the evening,
hand out notes from the office, 
and so on. 
We were not allowed to have writing instruction during our reading block. 

BUT CHANGE IS IN THE AIR HERE IN WICHITA!!!!!!!
 
This next year is the first year that they are putting writing instruction into the reading block.  This is how it is broken up:
9:05-10:05 Decoding
10:05-11:00 Lang. Comp & Writing
I guess what they are doing is taking that 30 minutes and putting it into our reading block. (short 5 minutes)
Sooooooooooo I am on the hunt to find information about how other teachers implement work on writing into their Daily 5 time.  I'm assuming that they are going to be wanting us to teach the writing process during this time and I am not sure how this is all going to fit in there.  I am excited about having writing in my reading block but nervous that I may have to take something out of my reading block that I love doing. Any suggestions out there in blogland would be greatly appreciated.
 
About journaling ~ My students do receive a journal at the beginning of the year for writing. Our journals are homemade with the writing process at the beginning of it and a sight word list included with many pages of lined paper with a small box at the top for drawing a picture. We used it off and on depending on what activity we were doing at that time of the year. some of the students writings were on topics of choice but other assignments had a topic that they needed to follow. The students really did enjoy writing in their journals but we just didn't get to it like we should have. As I said before, this is the area that I need more help in than any other. I am not ashamed to say it.
 
MY NAME IS TAMMY FLICKINGER AND I NEED HELP WITH WRITING!
 
So if you read my post PLEASE give me some suggestions or a link to a blog that you may know that could help me become a better writing instructor.
Many thanks ahead of time.
 
Until Next time,
       Happy Blogging

6 comments:

  1. No More I'm Done is a great source! This book breaks it down by month with lessons and examples. Regarding Daily 5 .. I simply taught a quick mini lesson and then let them write. When I conference one on one I would have them bring their Writer's Notebook so that we could confer.

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    1. I have not heard about this book yet. Thank you for suggesting it. I love the fact that it has months with lessons and examples. I so appreciate you responding.

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  2. I feel the same way. I find that doing journals for morning work is helpful, and the students seem to enjoy it (most of them at least). I think that finding interesting topics is a huge help as well:)

    Primary Classrooms are Oceans of Fun

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    1. Thanks for responding. I like your suggestion about journaling in the morning. I have never tried that yet.

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  3. Hi Tammy
    Thanks so much for stopping by. I love hearing other teacher's ideas and feeling. Funny, we are all strangers with many of the same feelings and thoughts :) I'm excited for you to try the Work on Writing this year with your Daily 5. I have really enjoyed do it this way. It's nice having everything in a bundle of time. I haven't heard of the book No More I'm Done that Debbie shared... I just might have to check it out ;)
    thanks again
    Sincerely
    Lory

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    1. I am excited to try some of your products that you have made for your working on writing. I love your Daily Math Terms 1-4. My students really enjoyed working on them. AND I hope you are right about loving it during my reading block. I can't wait to start the year.

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