Testing

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Sunday, October 26, 2014

Writing Mini Lesson 2- Complete Sentences

October 26, 2014

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This lesson will focus on writing COMPLETE SENTENCES. After this lesson, students will have a good foundation of how to write in complete sentences using subjects and predicates. It will help them when writing in journals, reading responses, paragraphs and more!

subjects and predicates for complete sentences

1. Teach the folllowing: A subject is a noun (person, place, or thing) and a predicate is a verb (action or linking). I like to use a visual for each mini lesson. For a perfectly delicious Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich, you can't leave out the peanut butter or the jelly! It is the same with sentences. A sentence is only complete with a subject AND a predicate!

SUBJECT- whom or what the sentence is about. Ex. musician, player, he, playground, lake, jacket

PREDICATE- what action the subject does or links the subject by telling what the subject is. Ex. played, struggled, flapping, is, were, am

Examples:

The talented musician played the violin.

He struggled to catch the ball.

My thick jacket was very warm.

2. Take notes.

3. Have students apply their knowledge by writing a paragraph or 5 sentences. Have other students underline the subject and circle the predicate in each sentence. Use two different colors of pens for this activity!

4. Share some of the student-made sentences with the class and point out the subjects and predicates.

5. Provide independent practice for your students. Have students identify the subjects and predicates in sentences. Task cards are a great way to give students practice in centers. You are welcome to use the samples below when creating practice for your students.

6. Last, give students an independent assessment and track their progress. This useful information can be used with forming small instructional groups or end of year review.

USEFUL TIP: When writing responses to questions, have students repeat part of the question in their answer. For example: Why did Mary show Dickon the garden? Mary showed Dickon the garden because.......... This will give them practice writing complete sentences!

I hope these ideas will help you and your students!

Next up: Fragments!

Do you need a complete NO PREP Sentence Structure AND Paragraph Unit? There are anchor charts, interactive notebooks pages, practice worksheets, and task cards for each of the following: Complete Sentences, Fragments, Run-Ons, Topic Sentences, Rockin Beginnings, Indents, Relevant Details, Transition Words, Closing Sentences, and Clinchers! As a Bonus- hamburger graphic organizer, and assessment!

or just Sentence Structure?

ROCK 'N' WRITE!!!!!

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Sunday, October 19, 2014

Writing Mini Lesson 1- Brainstorming for Interactive Notebooks

October 19, 2014

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Hello all! It is a crisp fall morning here in the Carolinas and boy does it feel good to get away from the heat! This will be good for my hot flashes too! Ha! I apologize for my absence here. I've missed younz'all! (yes that is a combo of Pittsburgh and the south). For any newcomers out there, I mainly blog about writing but throw in some Social Studies and organizing tips along the way! I am a northerner living in the south. My southern friends crack me up daily with their sayings and expressions so of course after living here for fifteen years, I've picked some of them up. I put a little Pittsburgh twist to them though. Ha! I am planning out a series of writing workshop mini lessons for my blog. This is the first of many!!!!! So if you need ideas, follow along! The first one is about brainstorming for the year. This will give students ideas throughout the year whenever they are in a rut and can't think of what to write about in their notebook. Enjoy and see ya next time for writing mini lesson 2- Paragraph writing- Complete Sentences! ROCK 'N' WRITE!

Writing Discussion and Brainstorming

As a whole group, discuss the following questions and write on a chart. What do writers do? Why are writing notebooks important? (write thoughts, share stories, resource, personal)

Brainstorming Ideas:

Here are some things you may add to your idea’s section of your notebook. This will set the stage for the year and give them a place to go to find things to write about. I would suggest to either do an Interest Inventory or the following:

1.Heart: Have students cut out the heart and fill it with words that tell what they love. Use the poster to help them think of ideas.

2.Question Mark: Have students cut out the question mark and have them fill it with things that want to know.

3.House- List family members. Don’t limit it to members who live with them! Around the house, list things that their family does together…weekends, summer, mornings, evenings…etc.

4.I- This is a page where they can tell more about themselves. “I am”

5.Trace hand.- Use the hand or have students trace their hand. List a feeling on each finger and one on palm. Write examples of when they felt that way. Use the Feelings Poster.

6.Treasure Map- Draw a picture of their yard or favorite place. Mark an x by a place where they have a favorite memory.

AS A LITTLE BONUS: HERE IS AN IDEA FOR TRACKING THEIR PROGRESS THROUGH THE MINI LESSONS!

TRACKING FORMS

HAVE YOUR STUDENTS TRACK THEIR OWN PROGRESS! TAKE SOME STRESS OFF OF YOURSELF! This is highly effective in my classroom!

There are two columns for tracking. “First” and “Second”. If they retest or you decide to reteach the whole class, they can record their second score. I like to give them their percentages except on the bigger writing pieces that have rubrics. Then I have them write down their rubric number 5, 3, or 1. They can easily see their strengths and weaknesses which is helpful when they develop their goals for their next writing piece. CLICK HERE to get the page below. I have others for Opinion Writing and Informative Writing! They will be later in the mini lesson series!

Stay Tuned: Next up is Writing Mini Lesson 2- Complete Sentences

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Saturday, October 18, 2014

Teaching Techniques for Writing

October 18, 2014

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Techniques for Teaching Writing

In order to have an effective writing program, it is important to use a variety of teaching techniques.

Modeled Writing

Use the think-aloud strategy- Talk aloud as you are writing so students can hear your thought process. Link to their prior knowledge. Use the resources around the room.

Shared

Work with the students on a piece of writing. Collaborate with students and scribe for them. You may use this technique in large or small group settings. It is very effective in all subject areas. Always display the finished product in the class so students can use it as a resource.

Interactive

This technique is similar to shared writing except the teacher and students share the pen. It is helpful for reluctant writers!

Guided

Small-group setting then apply the skill through independent writing. It is used for reteaching skills previously taught to students who are struggling with that particular skill. This skill works well across the curriculum.

Collaborative

Students work with a partner or group of students to create a piece of writing together.

Independent

Students write on their own. It may be teacher-selected or chosen by the student. Keep in mind that independent writing should follow a lesson on a skill. It should not always be comprised of going through the whole writing process. This allows them to develop their writing skills, take risks, and be creative.