creating curious and confident writers

Creating Curious and Confident Writers

Mrs. Parmenter’s Kindergarten Classroom

share our K-5 classroom practices that focus on nurturing student curiosity and bolstering confidence in students’ views of themselves as writers.

Our big goal…

Survey says…

Students in my Kindergarten class indicated that they were confident, enjoyed writing, and were eager to learn more.

_______ as a writer…1. I think writing is fun. 2. I like to write. 3. I am a good writer. 4. I want to learn more about writing. 5. I have good ideas. 6. I like to tell stories. 7. I draw great pictures. 8. I ask questions.

Kindergarten Writing Survey

J.

Science Exploration Center

Writer’s Notebooks

Easy Access to Books

Writing Center

Writer’s Notebooks Writing Center Reader Response (sticky notes) Morning Journals Class Activities – Guided and Independent

Writing Opportunities

“I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.” -Albert Einstein

A Place for Wonder-Georgia Heard and Jennifer

McDonough

The Discovery Table “Wonder World” The Observation Window Pondering Time and Whole-Class Shared

Research– Guided and Independent Wonder Journals Wonder Center Wonder of the Week

What I have tried…

The Common Core Lesson Book K-5-Gretchen Owocki

DemonstrationCollaborative EngagementIndependent Application

Types of Instruction in Sequence

Prompt to Support Teacher-Led Demonstration and Discussion

Writing Wonders(Demonstration)

We wonder about snakes…(Collaborative Engagement)

http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/animals/creaturefeature/anaconda/

Stewart, M. (2009). Snakes!. New York, NY: Scholastic Inc.

Hoffman, M. (1988). Animals in the wild snake. New York, NY: Scholastic Inc.

Sources of Information

What I learned…

www.popplet.comAnimal Babies in Grasslands

-Jennifer Schofield

T.Z.(Independent Application)

Students drew pictures and we wrote their dictation.

M.S.(Independent Application)

Additional surveys to collect data about curiosity and confidence attitudes towards writing.Wonder Journal independence. Informative writing (CC.K.W.2) building on strategies introduced already.

Future Plans to Foster Curiosity and Confidence in Student Writing…

Resources

Lane, B. (2003). 51 Wacky We-Search Reports Face the Facts With Fun!. Canada: Discover Writing Press.

Heard, G. & McDonough, J. (2009). A Place for Wonder Reading and Writing Nonfiction in the Primary Grades. Portland, ME: Stenhouse Publishers.

Glover, M. (2009). Engaging Young Writers Preschool – Grade 1. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.

Hoyt, L. (2002). Make It Real Strategies for Success with Informational Texts. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.

Ray, K.W. (2010). In Pictures and In Words Teaching the Qualities of Good Writing Through Illustration Study. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.

Dorfman, L.R. & Cappelli, R. (2009). Nonfiction Mentor Texts Teaching Informational Writing Through Children’s Literature, K-8. Portland, ME: Stenhouse Publishers.