Hi Everyone,
I'm the only one writing to you today because Anne is on vacation. I'm sorry this post is so late, but I've been in my classroom finishing the set up. As I said last week, it is so satisfying to watch each section of my classroom emerge into a colorful, exciting place to learn. I enjoy setting it up even after 21 years of teaching. I do want to thank the custodians for taking the time to install my bulletin board yesterday. They are swamped with trying to get everything finished before the kids come on the 23rd, but they knew how desperately I wanted that bulletin board up (plus I told them I would bring them a treat). It's the yellow bulletin board and it makes my room look so much brighter!
On the first day of school I'm going to have the students do Amy Lemon's writing and craft called A Summer To Tweet About. It is a free download from TeachersPayTeachers. Last year's writing turned out so well that I am going to do it again this year. You might want to check it out.
On Wednesday and Thursday of this past week I attended the most inspiring, electrifying workshop on writing that I have ever been to in all my years of teaching. I know those are strong adjectives, but I'm telling you it was amazing. It was presented by Kristina Smekens, and if you ever get the chance to go to one of her workshops I would highly recommend it.
On Wednesday, Kristina talked all about launching the writing workshop and teaching the Six Traits of Writing. Now I have been involving my students in writing workshop for my entire teaching career, and I have implemented the Six Traits of Writing for at least six or seven years, but Kristina gave me tips and ideas that will have a huge impact on the writing success of my students. She also helped us plan out our first twelve days of writing to launch the writing workshop. Thanks to the huge resource book we received there are enough writing mini lessons and ideas to last me all year.
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| Kristina spoke about high quality ideas, lesson plans, and research that satisfied grades K-12! What an expert. The audience was riveted. |
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| Plans to launch the writing workshop and introducing the Six Traits of writing. |
The next day she talked about incorporating different writing genres into the modes of writing (narrative, expository, persuasive). She shared new mentor books to use when teaching different writing genres and modes to our students. Kristina shared templates and samples of her long-range writing plans so we could write our own. We also learned how to create writing rubrics with our students and how to use those rubric to gather grades. I just cannot believe how refreshed I feel. I cannot wait to try these new activities and ideas with my students. I know my explanation is not doing this workshop justice. Check out her website to find some of her writing ideas in the Idea Library. If you attend her workshops she will give you secret sites that are loaded with even more ideas, templates, icons, etc. Needless to say, I have already asked my principal if I can attend the workshop on reading that she is presenting in October.
Anne is not here to proof my writing, so please excuse any mistakes I missed when I proofed it.
Until next week...
Kim
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