teaching powerful writing through personal mentor texts
TRANSCRIPT
![Page 1: Teaching powerful writing through personal mentor texts](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070319/5584ce6cd8b42ae0138b4ebe/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Teaching Powerful Writing Through
Personal Mentor TextsDeborah Copher ED,S,
Oakwood Elementary – Hall County
![Page 2: Teaching powerful writing through personal mentor texts](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070319/5584ce6cd8b42ae0138b4ebe/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
Deborah CopherCurrently 3rd Grade teacherOakwood ElementaryHall County, Georgia
20th year of teachingK-5 experience
Personal Professional Goal this Year:Improve the Writing Environment in the Classroom
Introduction
![Page 3: Teaching powerful writing through personal mentor texts](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070319/5584ce6cd8b42ae0138b4ebe/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
Personal Mentor Writing in the
ClassroomA New Approach to Writing
![Page 4: Teaching powerful writing through personal mentor texts](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070319/5584ce6cd8b42ae0138b4ebe/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
My stories begin because of..
My kids, my grandson, and my husband.
![Page 5: Teaching powerful writing through personal mentor texts](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070319/5584ce6cd8b42ae0138b4ebe/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
A teacher… write my own personal mentor texts? Absolutely!
Today is interactive! Today is a day to consider something new! Today most of you will see yourself as a real writer –
after all, our students all do! Today I will show just a glimpse of personal mentor text
writing with:◦ “Zooming in on a moment”◦ “Building a story of character (s), not just telling a tale from
beginning, middle and end.◦ If time, non-fiction writing◦ Finally, closing with a powerful tribute to mentor text writing
from my students.
Thoughts and goals for today-
![Page 6: Teaching powerful writing through personal mentor texts](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070319/5584ce6cd8b42ae0138b4ebe/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
Quick! Write down 5-10 words or short phrases that honestly describe you as an writer (good or bad) – Go!
Now turn and talk with the person next to you and share your top three.
Share out with whole group common themes.
Put on the hat of a writer, not a teacher, for the next few minutes.
![Page 7: Teaching powerful writing through personal mentor texts](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070319/5584ce6cd8b42ae0138b4ebe/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
Student Responses Before and After
September - 2012 March - 2013
Cool I have nice
handwriting I want to write cursive I like to write Hate it I don’t know what to
write about Can I draw? How many sentences?
Persuasive *Has stamina
Imaginable *Satisfying Confident *Shows
individuality Positive *Character is important Focused *Adventurous Graceful *Safe Brave *Full of Ideas Emotional *Organized Diligent *Surprising Passionate *Simple Full of Action *Has my opinion Interesting characters
*Accurate Enjoyable *Rich with
details Durable *Mysterious Have a story to share *A
treasure Loves a message inside
*Forgiving
![Page 8: Teaching powerful writing through personal mentor texts](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070319/5584ce6cd8b42ae0138b4ebe/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
My children: “Are you EVER going to write down these stories you tell us?”
Time? Where do I start? I enjoy writing- What’s considered a good story? How do I choose? What motivates me to tell a family story
with my class?
My reflections of being a writer…
![Page 9: Teaching powerful writing through personal mentor texts](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070319/5584ce6cd8b42ae0138b4ebe/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Project Video
Stephanie Jones, with the Classroom Project from UGA, observed a writing lesson in my classroom about a story I was writing about my sister’s new venture with raising chickens.
Using Graphic Organizer – journals
Her Observations:
“When you told the story orally, they were completely engaged.”
“They were begging to ask questions and clarify details. They were predicting, inferring, drawing conclusions automatically orally.”
“Everything fizzled out when they went back to their seats to write.”
“’Why the disconnect? Even with conferring during individual writing time, the students got quiet, not reflective, writer’s block.”
Question: How Can I Become a Better Writing Teacher? Personal Writer?
![Page 10: Teaching powerful writing through personal mentor texts](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070319/5584ce6cd8b42ae0138b4ebe/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
Stephanie – “If you could choose anything to work on to improve your teaching, what would you choose?
Me – “I want them to learn to love to write.” Stephanie – “Exactly! “Suggestion? You have got to write these stories
down. They are memories that needs preserving, they are stories that the kids can connect to, they love to hear them! They couldn’t wait for you to tell them the ending. They want to hear more.”
We talked about how I plan writing lessons, student needs, conference observations,etc.
Then her one question for me at the end…
Our Discussion
![Page 11: Teaching powerful writing through personal mentor texts](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070319/5584ce6cd8b42ae0138b4ebe/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
Writing the story before? Not a little each day on chart paper? What would be the purpose of that? How will that make it more meaningful?
Stephanie’s Challenge: Find a time everyday to write – even 5 minutes. Write your next story completely. Then write your lesson plans. See what happens to the intent of your lessons.
Sure enough – as I wrote the story, the craft lessons the students needed (conferencing data), started presenting themselves as I wrote. I made notes as I wrote, but wrote the complete story. But the lessons, I realized were all student focused on their individualized needs.
Have you ever considered writing your complete story before you lesson plan?
![Page 12: Teaching powerful writing through personal mentor texts](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070319/5584ce6cd8b42ae0138b4ebe/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
“Bird by Bird – Some Instructions on Writing and Life” by Anne Lamott
“Let the Polaroid develop; in other words, observe, watch, listen, stay in the moment, until you understand what you want to write about.” –Anne Lamott
Article – “14 Writing Tips from Anne Lamott” Handout in folder
*Zooming in On a Moment…
![Page 13: Teaching powerful writing through personal mentor texts](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070319/5584ce6cd8b42ae0138b4ebe/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
My Story? Came from a picture.
![Page 14: Teaching powerful writing through personal mentor texts](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070319/5584ce6cd8b42ae0138b4ebe/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
ZOOM IN!Quickly choose a moment, a snapshot, in your memory and just write until I say stop.
Share?
Activity
![Page 15: Teaching powerful writing through personal mentor texts](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070319/5584ce6cd8b42ae0138b4ebe/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
Flip over your writing and list several writing craft lessons that come to mind from student conferences.
Build craft lessons into the story as you write it with the class (chart paper).
Ask students for comments and questions. Use those suggestions to make the writing
stronger. Differentiating for students? Absolutely!
Writing Craft Lessons
![Page 16: Teaching powerful writing through personal mentor texts](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070319/5584ce6cd8b42ae0138b4ebe/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
As I wrote my story again from my notes, a little each day…
Intentional Craft Lessons:*”Zoom” in on
a moment*Getting the
reader’s attention
(hook)*Sound words
for description*Flashback*Dialogue*Variety of
word choice for “said”.*Transitions*Figurative Language*Possible
conclusions
![Page 17: Teaching powerful writing through personal mentor texts](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070319/5584ce6cd8b42ae0138b4ebe/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
As I wrote my story again from my notes, a little each day… In order to
put myself in their shoes as writers, they
had to see me as a writer like them.
How?*I asked for feedback.
They loved that!
*Quality of questions,
wonderings, suggestions, comments developed
rapidly.Quality of
writing improved
dramatically.
![Page 18: Teaching powerful writing through personal mentor texts](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070319/5584ce6cd8b42ae0138b4ebe/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
“What’s a “Kodak Moment”? “Is it ok to put a quote from the song, “Singing in
the Rain”? You could put it right here. “Why were they in the rain?” (This provided the
flashback opportunity) “Let’s put the sound of the wood-chipper – like
“RRRRRrrrr” in there. That would be cool! “Why do people say, “raining cats and dogs”? This is a memory for you and Mr. Copher! I’ve got
a great idea for the conclusion– put the picture at the end as the moment you clicked the camera!
Student Questions / Suggestions:
![Page 19: Teaching powerful writing through personal mentor texts](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070319/5584ce6cd8b42ae0138b4ebe/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
“This rain, that had teased us all day, suddenly appeared as if the heavens had opened up and overflowed. The thunder ceased when the rain began. It was truly raining cats and dogs.”
“ So this is how it came to be that three kids, troupers for the duration of a Saturday project, , suddenly found themselves soaked to the skin, dancing and singing in the rain.”
“Todd and I snuck closer, hiding under the dripping umbrella, and I put my camera in place, finger ready to snap the moment that was to come…Click! My finger snapped the button just at the right moment …
Sample from text…
![Page 20: Teaching powerful writing through personal mentor texts](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070319/5584ce6cd8b42ae0138b4ebe/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
![Page 21: Teaching powerful writing through personal mentor texts](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070319/5584ce6cd8b42ae0138b4ebe/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
“Let the plot grow out of the characters.If you find that you start a number of stories
or pieces that don’t get finished, it may be that there is nothing at their center about which you care passionately for. Put yourself at THEIR center – you and what you believe to be true or right.”-Anne Lamott
*Characters – Know them well!
![Page 22: Teaching powerful writing through personal mentor texts](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070319/5584ce6cd8b42ae0138b4ebe/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
Story Idea –“Mama’s Quilt Top” Story Web #1 -
Changing the Character Focus
![Page 23: Teaching powerful writing through personal mentor texts](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070319/5584ce6cd8b42ae0138b4ebe/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
“Drama moves forward and upward”-Anne Lamott “I write with the thought of discovering a story, not
just telling one.” –Terry Kay, award winning novelist, journalist, playwright.
Not happy with the story, and how it was coming together, I went back to the idea that this story was really about my mother – not my memory, or the quilt. I drew a timeline in my journal of the quilt top’s journey, and what was happening in her life.
Called and talked to her. Very interesting facts she filled in that I never knew.
Build the Character, Not the Plot
![Page 24: Teaching powerful writing through personal mentor texts](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070319/5584ce6cd8b42ae0138b4ebe/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
Timeline –“Drama moves forward and upward”
Traveling Back in Time
Early 1960’s – Fabric Scraps From Homemade Clothes
Mama gets quilt patternfrom G’ma Daisy (my dad’sGrandmother)“Road to Oklahoma” pattern(special family meaning)
Mid-1960’s – Quilt top assembled-Not finished
Late 1960’sTop stored away in boxMama raising family plusNew baby (me)
Early 1970’s –Move houses-Quilt stays in storage.
![Page 25: Teaching powerful writing through personal mentor texts](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070319/5584ce6cd8b42ae0138b4ebe/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
Time moves on…
Timeline, cont.
30 Years…Box moved, never unpacked
June1996-Mama has moved. I drive out toHelp her move in; unpacking boxes. I find the“lone” box. Unpack it and find the quilt topI never knew existed. Mama shocked-tears-doesn’t want to see it. I realize why, finally.I asked to bring it home and have it finished.
July-Aug 1996 – With help, I preserve the quilt and finish it.
Dec. 1996ChristmasPresent
Jan. 1997-Quilt put away…toopainful to look at.
But…
![Page 26: Teaching powerful writing through personal mentor texts](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070319/5584ce6cd8b42ae0138b4ebe/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
Another 15 years go by…
Timeline, cont…
Oct. 2012“Mama, what ever happenedto that quilt I finished for you?”
“It’s on my bed, of course. I like having it near me now. I get so lonely with your brother and sister gone, Jim and you so far away. It helps me feel like a part of all four of you are here.” Quilt top has come full circle – Once planned as a future treasure, it now is – although for a different reason.
The quilt’s journey was a story to tell…but the discovered story is journey of my mother in concert with the quilt. Her character travels through a story of joy, happiness, loss, sorrow, pain, and finally comfort. That’s the story.
![Page 27: Teaching powerful writing through personal mentor texts](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070319/5584ce6cd8b42ae0138b4ebe/html5/thumbnails/27.jpg)
New graphicorganizerstart-
Now I really know my character…
![Page 28: Teaching powerful writing through personal mentor texts](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070319/5584ce6cd8b42ae0138b4ebe/html5/thumbnails/28.jpg)
New focus- Develop her character What is most important to her as the
character? What do I see through her character’s eyes;
emotions ; life Set up story… Built forward and upward… Payoff or conclusion
“Plot develops with your character…” –Anne Lamott
![Page 29: Teaching powerful writing through personal mentor texts](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070319/5584ce6cd8b42ae0138b4ebe/html5/thumbnails/29.jpg)
“Oh, that’s just an old thing I made years ago, from extra scraps of material I had.”Her comments stopped suddenly with a large pause. Then she went back to unpacking the box she had just unwrapped, and made herself “noticeably” busy, pulling newspaper from glass figurines. I sensed her hesitation.
“Mama? Would you mind if I laid it out and looked at it?” My question was hesitant, bracing myself for the reaction coming. “Well, I guess so. But I don’t want to see it. I’ll go upstairs and start some lunch. Make sure to fold it up and put it in the box when you are done.” And with that, she walked quietly to the stairs and slowly climbed up them.
Excerpts from “Accidental Quilt”
![Page 30: Teaching powerful writing through personal mentor texts](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070319/5584ce6cd8b42ae0138b4ebe/html5/thumbnails/30.jpg)
Soon, I began to remember seeing some of the material scraps hidden away within my childhood memories. The black and white print from my sister’s square dance dress, the plaid from my brothers’ pj’s, pink material from an Easter dress my sister had her picture made in when she was little…Within moments I began to realize these fragile scraps were really precious memories of a young mother with three little kids, trying to make ends meet. This was pieced long before I, the youngest, ever came along.
Accidental Quilt excepts cont…
![Page 31: Teaching powerful writing through personal mentor texts](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070319/5584ce6cd8b42ae0138b4ebe/html5/thumbnails/31.jpg)
This quilt had begun as a keepsake, a record of time and happy occasions to be treasured for generations.
Now a piece of history, a silent reminder of overwhelming sorrow and loss for the two children who passed away as early adults – within three years of each other. Her own painful divorce near the same time. Looking at this now was terribly painful for her, and also for me, as I wiped tears from my eyes.
Accidental Quilt excerpt, cont.
![Page 32: Teaching powerful writing through personal mentor texts](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070319/5584ce6cd8b42ae0138b4ebe/html5/thumbnails/32.jpg)
Turn and talk about what you know about this character. How do you know?
What questions are arising? What is not said, but is understood?
(Inferred)
Activity
![Page 33: Teaching powerful writing through personal mentor texts](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070319/5584ce6cd8b42ae0138b4ebe/html5/thumbnails/33.jpg)
Researching/asking about family and stories Developing the character Asking “What if?” Descriptive language to display emotion Dialogue Questioning Skills as you are writing Re-wording sentences to make stronger
emotion. Importance of illustrations in text.“Make writing a want to…not a must too!”-Terry Kay, novelist.
Craft Lessons for students…
![Page 34: Teaching powerful writing through personal mentor texts](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070319/5584ce6cd8b42ae0138b4ebe/html5/thumbnails/34.jpg)
Why is she alone? What if the movers had lost that box? I think you should use “hesitation” there instead of the
word “worry” How about saying, “My curiosity was overflowing with
questions”, instead of “grew even more”. You need more dialogue from your mom. What else did
she say? Where’s the quilt? What does it look like? Don’t you have a picture of the quilt? Let’s just call your mom. She can tell us. Maybe she can email a picture of it to us? Is she still sad?
Student feedback while writing…
![Page 35: Teaching powerful writing through personal mentor texts](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070319/5584ce6cd8b42ae0138b4ebe/html5/thumbnails/35.jpg)
Why are you frustrated? How can I help?-I’m frustrated about the story and
spelling the words. How did people feel when this happened?
“She felt……” – Hey buddy! Don’t tell me that! Write it down-that’s good stuff.
Hey-you’ve had something really important happen in your family. You should contrast how your family was before the divorce, and now how you just told me you are learning to be happy in a different way.
Student Feedback cont.
![Page 36: Teaching powerful writing through personal mentor texts](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070319/5584ce6cd8b42ae0138b4ebe/html5/thumbnails/36.jpg)
The Accidental Quilt
![Page 37: Teaching powerful writing through personal mentor texts](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070319/5584ce6cd8b42ae0138b4ebe/html5/thumbnails/37.jpg)
Inscription on Back…
“For Mama, Gail June Heath PiperQuilt presented by your daughter
Deborah Annette Piper CopherPieced by you – circa 1960 – Lamar, CO
Quilted and Completed by MeSeptember, 1996 – Oakwood, Georgia
With all my love”
![Page 38: Teaching powerful writing through personal mentor texts](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070319/5584ce6cd8b42ae0138b4ebe/html5/thumbnails/38.jpg)
“This is our goal as writers, I think; to help others have this sense of…wonder, of seeing things anew, things that can catch us off guard, that break in on our small, bordered worlds.” – Anne Lamott
“Anyone who wants to, can be surprised by the beauty or pain of the natural world, of the human mind and heart, and can try to capture just that-the details, the nuance, what is.”-Anne Lamott
When we see what catches us off guard, and when we write it as realistically and openly as possible, it offers hope.” – Anne Lamott
Other thoughts…
![Page 39: Teaching powerful writing through personal mentor texts](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070319/5584ce6cd8b42ae0138b4ebe/html5/thumbnails/39.jpg)
How did she become a best friend? Why? What if she moved away? What would you do? Is something about her character like yours? What’s that word? Could you use a different word
that might have more meaning or add some “Pizzaz”
I think you should change this word in the sentence. It doesn’t sound right. It doesn’t go with the meaning.
You need to add more details to this. You could put much more effort into this. I’m not sure what the point is to your chapter.
Examples – Student Commentary in Peer Editing This Week
![Page 40: Teaching powerful writing through personal mentor texts](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070319/5584ce6cd8b42ae0138b4ebe/html5/thumbnails/40.jpg)
Whales Quote: Craft Lesson: Text Features Student Samples
Non-Fiction and Other WritingWebsite
![Page 41: Teaching powerful writing through personal mentor texts](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070319/5584ce6cd8b42ae0138b4ebe/html5/thumbnails/41.jpg)
Its important for them to design their journal with their own keepsakes and reminders of personal stories. Gives them immediate ownership.
It is powerful to see the change in the student’s writing, and approach a variety of topics, and feel safe enough to do so.
My vulnerability to share my stories, sad or happy, helps level the playing field and write WITH the children. The comfort level of all have increased. They feel confident to question and draw conclusions, correct grammar mistakes, etc.
Writing teams are awesome! They can build a story together.
I am not just a teacher anymore, I am a writer!
Reflections as I briefly stop….
![Page 42: Teaching powerful writing through personal mentor texts](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070319/5584ce6cd8b42ae0138b4ebe/html5/thumbnails/42.jpg)
These Items are in your folder:
14 Writing Tips from Anne Lamont Short Biography and Writing Thoughts from
Terry Kay Looking for the Best Way – Post from Avi
, author(active writing blog post)
What is the best way to write?Three authors share…
![Page 43: Teaching powerful writing through personal mentor texts](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070319/5584ce6cd8b42ae0138b4ebe/html5/thumbnails/43.jpg)
Based on the mentor text, In My Family by Carmen Lomas Garza
www.cophermentortextwriting/weebly.com
Student Presentation
![Page 44: Teaching powerful writing through personal mentor texts](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022070319/5584ce6cd8b42ae0138b4ebe/html5/thumbnails/44.jpg)
Happy Writing!
Questions?