Grammar

We all know that grammar and language are the elephant in the room in many ELA classes.  What is the best way to teach it?  We've been told and research has shown us again and again that grammar and language should be taught through writing but what does that look like?  Below are a few resources to help!

The Write Way to Teach Grammar

Typing drafts vs. hand writing drafts

Should students type or hand write their first draft?  The problem with this, besides the accessibility of computers, is that students first draft looks great!  It looks like a finished draft.  Why then do they need to change anything.  It looks beautiful.  When students hand write their first drafts then go to make their revisions they can see there is something to change.  They can cross out when they decide they don't need certain parts.  They are forced to re-read their papers back to themselves when go from the handwritten paper to the typed paper.  This is where students find awkward places in their papers or places that seem unnecessary.  Are we really doing a disservice to our students by having them type their drafts?  Are they not getting the full revision process this way?  This article speaks a little more to the idea that maybe a hand written first draft is the way to go.

Benefits of Writing by Hand

What's Lost as Handwriting Fade

We struggle so much with the organization of reader's and writer's workshop!  This has a few different schedules you could try.  She also has some other resources to check out!

Classroom Organization

Middle school classrooms always seem difficult to stay organized.  Hundard plus students in and out handing you papers, you handing them papers, etc.  These are two other blogs that I thought had some good ideas for organizing your classroom.

A Middle School Blog

4mulafun

Are you a Text Talker?

I thought this was pretty good resource for helping students use text-based language.  This can be used as a poster in your classroom or a handout you give to students.  It's even cute!!!!

Are you a Text Talker?

Writer's Workshop-Focusing on particular skills

Sixth grade wanted a way to zero in on particular skills they wanted students to focus on in their revising process.  They have spelling out what students are working on in their revisions and are tracking that using their status of the class.

Learning Targets

I love as I've been in teacher's rooms that most teachers are using learning targets!  These seem so much more kid friendly than simply posting the objectives.  Using learning targets students know why they are doing thing.  I found this power point that I think does as good job talking about learning targets.  Remember the target is what the students will be able to do after the lesson, not what they are going to do.

Learning Targets

How else can students annotate the text?

Some students love color marking, others hate it.  If they hate it how else can they annotate their text so that they are REALLY thinking about their reading.  Maybe they would rather use symbols instead of colors.  This would work great if students are not able to write in the books.

Formative vs. Summative Assessment

For those of us that have been out of college for awhile I thought a refresher on formative and summative assessment would be helpful.  The chart below does a good job explaining what we do in our classrooms that is formative and what is summative.  Chances are you are doing formative assessments all the time and not even realizing it!

Revising vs. Editing

This is a good visual for teaching kids the difference between revising and editing.

Writing ideas

As I have been visiting classes the past few weeks I've seen many of you setting students up for Writer's Workshop by giving them time to explore what they could write.  I saw students using their foot to explore place they could write about, students using a heart map to explore ideas that are close to their heart to write about and exploring their writing territories. 

http://cafe1123.blogspot.com/p/writing-in-cafe-1123.html

Technology to keep students Motivated

Poll Everywhere  Students use their own device or computers to take votes or give a response.

Padlet This will give you a blank page where students can leave "post its."

More to come...

Intrinsic Motivation in Writing

Intrinsic motivation in Writing

This is what I hope Writer's Workshop will do for our students.

Ideas for the beginning of the year!

Listed below are some ideas I have found for a successful start of the year.

All About Me Gazette Fun way to get to know your students.

I used this and found it great as long as I stuck with it!

These would help save on pricey posters to decorate your room.

I did this this year and it was very informative!

Thought this would be great for Open House.

Great for displaying homework & important information.