Monday, July 28, 2014

HOW TO CREATE INTERACTIVE WRITING NOTEBOOKS and PORTFOLIOS

July 28, 2014

to Read (

Words)

OUT OF ALL THE INTERACTIVE NOTEBOOKS, WRITING IS MY FAVORITE! MY STUDENTS HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH AND BECAME EFFECTIVE WRITERS! I don't hesitate to jump right in the first week of school. We start decorating notebooks and preparing folders for published work.

Notebook Preparation:

1. Print Student Resource Pages. I include things like: Types of figurative language, million dollar words, creative beginnings and endings, the writing process, etc. (I have these separately in my store, Student Resources but it you purchased one of my bundles, it is included!) I have students place these at the beginning of their notebooks. This way, they always have a resource to use! In the composition books, resources will need to be folded over after they are glued or provide a separate folder to keep them in.

ANOTHER RESOURCE: Go to my store and print off the FREE Spelling Dictionary. Students will need this when editing their writing. http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Spelling-Dictionary-65525

2. At Meet the Teacher (or whenever works for you) pass out instructions on how to decorate the cover page for the notebook. For binders with plastic sleeves, give students 8.5 X 11 cardstock to slide in their clear sleeve. For composition books and notebooks, they can glue their items directly on the front cover.

I LOVE HOW EACH ONE IS UNIQUE AND REPRESENTS THAT CHILD!

3. Place the Writing Process on a writing bulletin board. Use small metal binder rings to attach them. Don’t staple onto the board. Use clothespins with students name on them so they can move their name down the process. You can paint your clothespins to match your decor! This will show you where students are in the process at a quick glance. If you have a magnet surface and magnets, that works too! You can download the posters for free here: Writing Posters. They are also in the bundles!

******Print off any of the other colorful posters to use in your writing center or bulletin board. Laminate.

4. Create a poster or part of wall for students to write the titles of their published books. I’ve used chain links before too! Anything works!

Set up Writer’s Notebook

5. When students bring in their cover page creation, place it in the front clear sleeve. If there isn’t a sleeve, use clear packaging tape and tape it on for them. (This will need to be done if using composition books)

6. Have students create their tabs. (Resources, Ideas, Craft or Mini-Lessons, My Own Writing) In binders, use 8 X 12 Color Card Stock and let the students write and decorate each one.

****For binders, Place paper inside “Mini-Lessons” “My Own Writing”

6. Create a Table of Contents for the first page in “Writer’s Craft or Mini-Lessons.” As students learn the standards and the mini lessons, they will need to number their pages and keep track on the Table of Contents page.

7. CREATE a label for their published (final copies). I do not keep their final copies in the notebooks. I collect everything that they have published throughout the year- poems, stories, writing across the curriculum, etc and place them in a folder with brass fasteners. I file them each nine weeks and allow them to take them home for parent review. (parent note included) At the end of the year, they get to keep their final product! I also set these out on tables when having parent/teacher conferences so parents have something to look at while they are waiting.

Waaaaaaallllllllaaaaaa! You are ready to get rockin in your writing! Happy Writing!

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Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Back to School Interactive notebooks Writing

10 Steps to Prepare for Writing Workshop

July 15, 2014

to Read (

Words)

Are you dreading the year because of writing? Here are some great ideas for you to get your writing workshop ready to go! I LOOOOVVVVEEEE writing and hope you will too after this post!

Supplies:

Composition Notebook for each student

2-3 prong pocket folder - 2 for each student

Clothespins (1 per student)

or color ones:

10 1 inch metal binder rings

or color ones:

2 binder clips

Chart paper

Post Its or Redi-Tags:

Directions:

1. Print Free Spelling Dictionary and any writing resources you have for students.

Place the resource pages in the fasteners and the spelling dictionary in one of the pockets in the folder.

A List of Students Resources helpful for Writing Workshop:

1. 1O Exciting Beginnings
2. Power of 3
3. Topic Sentence and Relevant Details
4. Transition Words
5. Importance of Sequence
6. Million Dollar Words and Phrases
7. Figurative Language
8. Variety of Sentences
9. Audience
10. Purpose
11. Dialogue
12. 10 Ways for Strong Conclusions
13. Capitalization Rules
14. Usage Rules
15. Punctuation Rules
16. Spelling Rules
17. Writing Process
18. Writing Checklist
19. Million Dollar Dictionary
20. Character Traits

If you need Students Resources, click below. If you purchased an interactive
notebook, Student Resources ARE included!

Free Spelling Dictionary!

2. Laminate and Post Writing Process Posters.
There are two versions that can be found in my store for free! One for primary and one for upper elementary classrooms. Laminate and place them on a writing bulletin board. Use small metal binder rings or ribbon to attach each poster to the next. Use large binder clips to attach them to the wall or bulletin board. Don't staple them onto the board! You want the posters to stick out so the clothespins will work effectively! Write student names on the clothespins and instruct them to move their name down the bulletin board according to their current writing step. You can paint your clothespins to match your decor or get the colored ones! This will show where students are in the writing process at a quick glance. It is especially helpful during teacher or peer conferencing.

1. Prewriting
2. Rough Draft
3. DARE to Revise
4. CUPS for Editing
5. Peer Reflection
6. Final Copy

3. Create a space in the classroom for a writing center.

Include:
stapler
white out
markers
colorful pens/pencils
dictionary
thesaurus
tape
glue

4. Print off writing anchor charts

See below. Use these resources in your writing center or bulletin board. Laminate to preserve them for several years.

5. Create a poster or part of wall for students to write the titles of their published stories.

Idea- I've used chain links before too! Anything works to show their hard work!

6. Set up a Writer's Notebook

A. Have students create a cover page. Use clear packaging tape to seal it! Volunteers work great for this project!

B. Tabs: Use a separate folder for resources. I decided on two tabs. (One for "Mini-lessons" and one for "My Own Writing") We placed our "Ideas" section at the beginning without a tab. Some teachers like a tab for this as well! The Redi Tags are the easiest but more expensive than Post Its.

Easy Way To Make Tabs with Post Its- Take 2 colors of Post-It notes and cut them in strips. I folded it over once. Then tape one color strip onto the 6th page (leaving the first 5 pages for brainstorming ideas) and another color strip half-way through the notebook. I used clear packaging tape and placed it on both sides of the tab and both sides of the page so it looks like it is a laminated piece. We didn't even label the tabs and it worked great!

C. Create a Table of Contents

We started our table of contents on the first page in "Mini-Lessons" and left three pages for recording the future table of contents pages. As students learn the standards and the mini lessons, they number their pages and keep track on the Table of Contents page!

7. Use the other folder for their published work. (Final Copies)

We call these our Writing Portfolios. Collect everything that they have published throughout the year! Poems, stories, writing across the curriculum, bulletin board pieces, etc. Place them in a folder with brass fasteners. Have volunteers file them each nine weeks and allow students to take them home for parent review. At the end of the year, they get to keep their final product! It is a great end-of-year gift! Another great idea is to set them out on table during parent/teacher conferences so parents have something to look at while they are waiting.

8. Post Writing Workshop schedule in your plan book.

10-15 min: Mini Lesson

10 min: Notebooking the lesson

30-60 min: Independent writing, conferencing, peer reflections, guided writing

10 min: Sharing

9. Post Rules for Writing Workshop

A good visual to keep noise down is to get a block and write "Writer's Block" on it. Tell your students that we want to avoid writer's block by keeping quiet. If I raise the block, that means it is too noisy! Have students initial it for ownership of the rule!

1. Listen and share ideas during the lesson.
2. Writing time is quiet time.
3. Take risks in writing.
4. Keep notebook neat and organized.
5. Be prepared before meeting with your peer editor.

~Writers and peers may only have one conference per writing period.

~Writers: Explain where you need help, then read your paper out loud to your editor.

~Peers: Listen to the writer, fill out observation form, and give meaningful feedback.

10. Presentations

When student publish their writing, I like them to present their work whether it is in small group or whole group. Their peers can evaluate them with presentation cards if you wish! If you have an AUTHOR'S CHAIR, perfect!

Now you are ready for writing workshop!

If you are looking for a step-by-step writing approach TO BOOST TEST SCORES that includes anchor charts, forms, tracking, model samples, printables, rubrics, slides, posters, etc. etc. Check out the all inclusive writing bundle: