Tuesday, May 19, 2015
Thursday, May 14, 2015
You Need More Than Spellcheck
Spell Check is a great tool that helps all writers produce cleaner writing. However, writers still need to proofread their own work. The picture below shows . . .
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
Tuesday, May 5, 2015
Monday, May 4, 2015
Will It Be You?
Reading Workshop students, will you take a minute today to say something to make someone else's life better? Before you say yes, think about when and where this will happen. Thank you for taking the time to share some of yourself for another.
Friday, May 1, 2015
Thursday, April 30, 2015
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Monday, April 27, 2015
I Have Trouble With What to Write
I had this conversation about poetry with a student:Student: I have trouble with what to write.
Me: Really?
Student: Yeah, I don't know what to say.
Me: You like sports a lot, right?
Student: Yeah
Me: How many sports poems have you been working on?
Student: Two
Me: So you have twelve drafts and only two are about sports?
Student: Yeah
Me: But you really like sports?
Student: Yeah, a lot.
Me: Then why don't you write poems about sports?
Student: I don't know.
Me: If that's what you are interested in, that's what you should write about. You know, write about what interests you. Write about what you know.
Student: Oh, OK.
Reading Workshop students, if you are struggling with what to write, maybe you need to give the topic a break and write about something that you find interesting.
Poem written by Shel Silverstein. Image from https://www.pinterest.com/pin/331296116310627083/
Revision
Poems are never finished. Eventually though, we just stop working on them.
Naomi Shihab Nye said:
If a teacher told me to revise, I thought that meant my writing was a broken-down car that needed to go to the repair shop. I felt insulted. I didn’t realize the teacher was saying, “Make it shine. It’s worth it.” Now I see revision as a beautiful word of hope. It’s a new vision of something. It means you don’t have to be perfect the first time. What a relief!
Image from www.teacherspayteachers.com
Poem For A Grade
The Reading Workshop Poetry Rubric
| Component | 4/A | 3/B | 2/ C | 1/D |
| Rhythm, Form Structure, Organization | Creatively uses poetic form. A natural rhythm and structure. | Structure and rhythm seem natural to the reader. | Structure and rhythm need revised for better understanding. | Unorganized structure and rhythm. |
| Content, Impact | The purpose of the poem is evident leading to a natural conclusion. The poem engages the reader. | Poem is developed with content that engages the reader. | Content is basic with only a hint of the author's intent. | Content is basic and undeveloped. |
| Word Selection, Word Usage | Word choice is exact, colorful, and interesting. Uses sensory details to help the reader see, hear, feel, and/or think. | Word choice is interesting with the use of sensory details. | Vocabulary is basic with a few attempts at improving word choice. | Vocabulary is very basic. |
| Spelling, Grammar, and Punctuation | No errors and mechanics used as needed to fit with the poetic structure. | Minimal errors in spelling and mechanics used as needed for understanding. | A few errors in spelling and mechanics. | Errors in spelling and mechanics that interfere with reading. |
| Effort | Work shows an understanding of poetry and reflects the effort to create a special piece of writing. | Developed piece of work that is the result of revising and editing. | Basic piece of writing that shows a need of improvement. | Undeveloped without signs of editing and revision. |
Created by http://www.thereadingworkshop.com | ||||
Why Kids Should Blog
Ten positive benefits of student blogging:
1. Increased Communication Skills
2. Develop and Improve Writing Skills
3. Interact with Different People
4. Improve Technology Skills
5. Engage in Social Media
6. Understand Online Social Responsibility
7. Explore Hobbies and Special Interests
8. Self Development
9. Learn to Deal with Comments
10.Develop Social Skills for Life
Just click on the picture to see it full size.
Image from www.kidslearntoblog.com
Thursday, April 23, 2015
Revising Poetry
Take a piece of advise from Lee Bennet Hopkins in his poem titled, Dear Poet. Take one of your drafts, Reading Workshop students, copy it twice, and write three versions.Do you want
to write a poem?
Forget it . . .
until
you have
rewritten it.
Make your poem
stronger
by
not
writing a poem
but
rewriting it
and
rewriting it
and
rewriting it
until--
what you
have
is
a poem
like
no
other
poet
has
ever
written--
or
rewritten--
before!
Poem from Seeing the Blue Between compiled by Paul Janeczko.
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
Inspired by "You Oughta Meet Danitra Brown"
Reading Workshop students, write an inspired by poem about yourself. Please take note of the pattern of three line stanzas with the first two line rhyming.You Oughta Meet Danitra Brown
By Nikki Grimes
From the book Meet Danitra BrownYou oughta meet Danitra Brown,
the most splendiferous girl in town.
I oughta know, 'cause she's my friend.
She's not afraid to take a dare,
if something's hard, she doesn't care.
She'll try her best, no matter what.
She doesn't mind what people say.
She always does things her own way.
Her spirit's old, my mom once said.
I only know I like her best
'cause she sticks out from all the rest.
She's only she--Danitra Brown.
You
Oughta Meet Your Teacher
Inspired by You Oughta Meet
Danitra Brown
By
Nikki Grimes
In sixth grade, the
weirdest guy
Never see him
wearing a tie
A casual Mr. McGuire
Even though he is a
teacher
He acts a little
like a preacher
pushing kids to do
what's right
Always cracking a
little joke
Finding ways in
minds to soak
a little learning
Constantly yelling
about hard work
No one dares act
like a jerk
in his classes.
Singing out, a
horrible sound
making students'
brains pound
Another day in
language arts
Need some rhyming help? Check out Rhymezone.
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