Week Four: Word Choice in Writing

Week Four: Word Choice in Writing

This short video is a good review for the trait of word choice.  Think about what you do and what you can do in your classroom to promote this important trait.  Words matter so much!

Week Four: Words are Powerful Tools!

I use this with my college students as an introduction to the importance of every word they use in a piece of writing.  It works to generate discussion.

Week Three: Conventions and Editing vs. Revision

Happy Thanksgiving!

This week, in our third of four series, we will focus on CONVENTIONS, REVISION, and ways to encourage correctness with writers.

Georgia Head in The Revision Toolbox makes a distinction between editing and revision.  Revision is seeing writing anew and making deep changes in areas such as organization, ideas and voice. I hope you liked the youtube video I posted.  Let me know if it is effective if you use it with students.

 Editing, on the other hand,  is making sure our writing is correct.  I often use anonymous papers or assignments from previous years for "correcting" grammar and punctuation in class. I also have students help each other proofread.  Mini lessons and reinforcements are essential.  We know we cannot suppose that by "teaching" something once,  students have "learned" all they need to know about it.  Direct instruction and repetition, in my opinion, are key to teaching conventions.

What do you think?  How do you approach revision?  What do you do to teach proofreading and conventions? What do your teaching sources say that you find valuable?  Let's have a conversation on this topic.

Week Three :Teaching Kids About Revising (Writing Workshop Lesson)

Week Two: What about ORGANIZATION?

When I think of organization, I am reminded of the markets I visited in India.  Despite the apparent chaos of the shoppers, every vender displayed his/her wares in a completely organized, appealing fashion. 

How do we encourage our students to take the same steps in organizing their writing?  What tips do you have for teaching the trait of organization?  How does it look at your level or grade? 

This week, add to the conversation on organization and share some insight into this trait.  Kim's Korner, a helpful 6 + 1 trait resource, shares some tried and true lesson ideas.

Why Writing is Essential - National Writing Project

Why Writing is Essential - National Writing Project

This may help us think about our first post for Week One.

• What are we teaching now and why is what we are teaching important?  Make a post sharing one thing you are doing with writing this week and why.  I believe we should be more introspective concerning our practices.  This will allow us to think more about our own assumptions and beliefs.