What Matters Most

in the

Teaching of Writing?

Katie Wood Ray

Meaningful Work on the Writing

Whole class teacher modeling 10-15 minutes

Writing independently 30+ minutes

Students need to know what the work entails

Students need to know the deadlines

Students need to know what the teacher expects to see when the work is finished.

Students need time each day

Students should work on a variety of genres

Student writing should go into notebook/portfolio.

Students need free choice

Writing may go with units of study

Some writing should be independent.

Some students will finish more than others

The goal is to have students finishing lots of writing to get experience with all parts of the writing process.

Time

Talk- Writing Conferences

Conferences with individual students while writing is taking place

4 to 6 conferences per day

5 minutes for each conference

Teacher should be familiar with writing students are working on

Be familiar with good writing to share with students

Karen share your experiences – how you do it- maybe add something she shared-

Cindy –sharing as you conference with students -having literature to show students in conferences

Expectation - Vision

“What have you read that is like what you are trying to write?”

Help students to know…

Where they are going with their writingWhere they should endProvide examples of what is expected by the teacherRead and study at least 5 or 6 meaningful examples of the type of materials you expect. Share the length you require along with structure or strategies you are teaching

The vision of how content will be developed into a finished piece of writing is borrowed from the larger world of writing

Ivie share 1st part

Sarah- examples of non-fictiontexts to use

Barbara-maybe share about her writing wall

Teaching- Sharing Student Writing

Students should share their writing with their classmates during Author’s Chair, but not just reading what they have written

The teacher should guide the students to talk about their writing…not just reading what they wrote

The teacher should consider reading the piece to the class to stress the structures, punctuation, voice and other areas of writing study

Students need to “hear” what they are writing

Mandy

Beth –sharing good student strategies

Laura –students reading aloud to themselves

• Amy• I like the idea of reading aloud your own writing as part

of the revision process, since it lets them hear their work and slow down-when reading it silently, they speed through it , missing errors.

• Along with this...the idea of the tubaloo? would be great. I think these are largely associated with the younger kids, but would be useful for us, too.

•  • Obviously, a key point: Students must see other

examples of the type of writing you expect, so they know what it should look like. This is where the awesome literature comes in AND teacher modeling.

•  • I really would like to spend a lot longer with her to hear

more details!!! :) Lots of good lit. to add to my collection!!!

Susan1.  Before there can be RE-Vision there has to be VISION.  Immerse the children in literature so they can see a vision.  Role of the vision - Ask them "What have I read to you or what have you read that you would like to write?2.  Be aware of all the different kinds of writing people do in newspapers, magazines, picture books, poetry, anthologies, collections, and on the internet.  Teachers should have 5-6 different types of writing they see in the world to show to student.  She cited Ranger Rick as a wonderful source.3.  Make sure they picture the writer - show them pictures of the author4.  Perform the "text" they read and/or write aloud to themselves or a small group.5.  Give a time frame - work by the clock not be task6.  Small group sharing - sometimes it is good for the teacher to read the child's piece aloud and then ask for a review.  Teacher can put emphasis where needed to guide the instruction and model 7.  Use short text from sources to model writing. 

Summary

“Writing Under the Influence”

Students need guidance, structure, space and time to grow as writers

Students need to “study” what they read to become good writers