The Dreaded Research Project

You know what I'm talking about. "Just wait, 5th graders!! Soon you will have to do a HUGE research project."  Later on in writer's workshop you find yourself saying, "Think this is rough...wait until your research project!!"

This is how research was introduced to me, as a student,  followed by the AWFUL five paragraph essay.  I detest the formulated 5 paragraph essay so my classes the last few years have done various forms of presentations in place of a research paper following the research experience. My students have made PowerPoint presentations, written free verse poems, made epitaphs, brochures, advertisements...you name it.  But, I now have a new form of presentation---the two page spread (think magazine).  My students are wrapping up their projects, so I will begin posting lessons and how-to's soon!!

SOLC~Just little bit obsessive

So where I do start? I  mailed THE BOX.  The box is gone. I took THE TESTS, and enjoyed my summer with my kids.  Suddenly NOVEMBER arrived.  The month that all the national board forums predict we will find out whether we passed or failed.  Or what is it some people say it's not that you failed it's, "You should be proud of yourself for just trying".  Well, guess what that doesn't help me much. I am a teacher. A person who was born first in her family and has thrived under I am a driven person and I will do it and I will do it well. Well, this person has realized waiting causes her to become OBSESSIVE.  I have checked my profile online on the off chance I missed the email that said when scores are posted; EVEN though I know they are not posted because everyone else is obsessing over them on the forums.  The funny thing is my rational side understands that I have finished the work and there is absolutely nothing I can do about it now.  The papers and tests are graded.  So instead I wait like all the other thousands of applicants across America wait and wonder will I be with the 40% who pass or the 60% who "should be proud because we tried" group.  So after writing all my thoughts out there is only one problem left--I am still waiting. The rational side has officially has it's booty kicked by the obsessive side. :-)

Re-Evaluating for Second Nine Weeks

I have two groups of students: one group is ready to move on and the next group still needs time with narrative writing. I didn't just guess this. I looked at my conferring notes, my data from the grade level rubric, and discussion with my fellow colleagues in my grade level.  So some of my students are writing descriptively within a small poetry unit and others are focusing on telling a small moment using dialogue, inner story, and word choices. What I absolutley love about data driven instruction is the guess work is gone or willy nilly "I think I'll teach that..." doesn't exist. I know exactly what each student has or has not mastered. 

 This nine weeks I have been using less of Lucy's Units of Study and more of Ralph Fletcher's work. So these are some lessons that have been taught in my room since mid October.

• writing descriptive leads
• using sense of humor in  endings
• describing the setting
• using redunant words
• outer story vs inner story
• confusing pronouns
• using FANBOYS with run-ons
• using white space in poetry
• using fragments in poetry
• the power of words

Where are your students at on the writing continuum?  What are you doing to monitor their progress and find out where they are going? What lessons are  you teaching for second quarter?

SOLC~Mommy Moments

Getting ready for parent teacher conferences, starting up new writing units, and getting grades finished leads to one tired mommy.  Tonight the girls and I were just playing. Giggling. Having fun. The girls dressed in their new fall pjs.  Hair drying from their bath.

"Mommy, C'mere."

"What do you have, Emma?"


"This." Emma points to a piece of paper that she has used at school. It has her first and last name on it along with Gracie's, Nana's, Papa's, and mine (Mommy).

"Hmmm..well what does this say?" I ask as I point to Emma's first name.

"Emma, " she states then she grins really big and points to her last name. "'Nowsbarger."

My mouth gaped open. I think she just read her last name. I squealed picked her up and twirled her around. "Say it again, Emma!"

"Nowsbarger"

My eyes fill with tears. She recognized her last name in print. Her difficult, long last name.  Gracie and I danced with Emma around the living room saying "Snowbarger, Snowbarger!"

These are things mommies are made of.

Celebrating Writers!!!!

Today as my kids put the final touches to their writing, I am in awe of their hard work and dedication. Tomorrow is their day. Celebration of the weeks of revision, partnerships, and writing.  Can't wait to see their reaction tomorrow as my group of writers celebrate themselves!!

“Be yourself. Above all, let who you are, what you are, what you believe, shine through every sentence you write, every piece you finish.”
~John Jake~

Slice of Life

“One of the hardest things in life is having words in your heart that you can't utter.”

~James Earl Jones

Today isn't so much a slice of life, but more of my musings.  When I read the quote by James Earl Jones, "One of the hardest things in life is having words in your heart that you can't utter" I first thought how true.  Then as I began to think about October and it being Down syndrome awareness month I began to ponder on these words even more.  

Last night I watched Ty Pennington's Extreme Home Make Over. It featured a family who had adopted 6 children (who are now adults) with Down syndrome.  The love I saw on all the members of this family made me cry with joy. The pure joy on the workers as they help this family build a home so that the adults with disabilities feel as if they are living on their own, yet have the safety of a care giver near by.  As  a parent of a child who has Down syndrome, I firmly believe that it is my job to speak for her and others that truly cannot.

But, I also believe it is the same for the classroom. It is my job to advocate for my students, for myself, and for my profession.  Right now education is being reformed, bashed, or however you want to word it.  But, I can firmly say that some things do need to change.  I don't have the answers I can only say what I know. 

I know majority of teachers teach because they have desire in their hearts to teach children.

I know not all students are not on grade level--it's my job to make them grow.

I know daily assessment should be driving instruction, formal and informal.

I know the problems will not be fixed over night.

I know we need to work together to change things.

I know both sides have the same driving force--what' best for kids.

My musings may be messy, but it's what is on my heart now. 

Want to participate in the Slice of Life Challenge? Two Writing Teachers would love to have you!!

Grammar Rulz

Gone are the days of the only writing you do is out of the grammar book correcting and diagramming sentences. Grammar should be taught within the writing unit.  Teachers need to use the child's writing. Practicing the endless sentences only teaches them to look at certain parts...or in my case it taught me to really dislike the English Grammar Rules. (Thanks to my Comp I professor) Grammar should be used within the child's writing--either in the notebook or in their drafts. ( I do lessons within my drafting and when we go back into our notebooks to practice. ) My lessons this week were from Jeff Anderson's Mechanically Inclined on beginning and ending punctuation and dialogue. 

First I introduced dialogue with Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems.  I love to use this book because of the speech bubbles.  Then my students and I look at a typed copy of the book and talk about things they notice.  Then we discuss the "rules" of dialogue.  I follow it up with making comic strips of their own.  I have comic strip examples that we make into written dialogue and then they practice with their writing partner.  After that they make comic strips and then a peer will write the dialogue in paragraph form.  This has been hugely successful in the past.

Hope it works for you!

This is an exciting week for my writers!! CELEBRATION OF OUR PUBLISHED DRAFTS!!!

What are your writers working on?