writing pilot programme
TRANSCRIPT
The Writing Pilot Project
The Writing Pilot Project
What does it look like in our rooms?What does it look like in our rooms?
Here are a few things we tried:
Here are a few things we tried:
Vocabulary Extension:Vocabulary Extension: “A good vocabulary is the mark of an educated person - even when that person has not had the benefit of formal schooling. An individual with a skimpy vocabulary is at a handicap in conversation, oral and written expression, and listening and reading comprehension” (Johnson & Johnson, 1993, p. 212)
“A good vocabulary is the mark of an educated person - even when that person has not had the benefit of formal schooling. An individual with a skimpy vocabulary is at a handicap in conversation, oral and written expression, and listening and reading comprehension” (Johnson & Johnson, 1993, p. 212)
Vocabulary Extension continued:
Vocabulary Extension continued:
Vocabulary extension has replaced our traditional spelling programmes
The students were excited about this change and enjoyed it. They were excited about vocab extension time
In vocab extension time they learnt to understand words and break them down
Tasks were more authentic, meaningful and fun
Vocabulary extension has replaced our traditional spelling programmes
The students were excited about this change and enjoyed it. They were excited about vocab extension time
In vocab extension time they learnt to understand words and break them down
Tasks were more authentic, meaningful and fun
Some Vocab Extension games we enjoyed:
Some Vocab Extension games we enjoyed:
Bridges:• Choose a word. Write down the page in acrostic form, and up the page in the other form. Students need to find a word starting in the beginning letter, and ending in the last letter. The word they find is the “bridge”. Only accept words found in an English dictionary. Encourage students to use a dictionary.
• No proper nouns• We did this in task as a fun competition, they worked in pairs.
Bridges:• Choose a word. Write down the page in acrostic form, and up the page in the other form. Students need to find a word starting in the beginning letter, and ending in the last letter. The word they find is the “bridge”. Only accept words found in an English dictionary. Encourage students to use a dictionary.
• No proper nouns• We did this in task as a fun competition, they worked in pairs.
H ol Y = 4 pointsO per A = 5L aste D =6I lluminat I =0D ecietfu L =9A rmadill O =9Y out H =5
• Students aim for the highest score, so they need to find the longest word possible
• I gave a 10-15 minute time limit, depending on length of word
H ol Y = 4 pointsO per A = 5L aste D =6I lluminat I =0D ecietfu L =9A rmadill O =9Y out H =5
• Students aim for the highest score, so they need to find the longest word possible
• I gave a 10-15 minute time limit, depending on length of word
Combinations:• Students are given a two or three letter combination, which are common “hardspots” in words. They compile a list of words using this blend, but not starting with.
• Example:“bl”: troublesome, bubble, stubble, gobble, goblin
Combinations:• Students are given a two or three letter combination, which are common “hardspots” in words. They compile a list of words using this blend, but not starting with.
• Example:“bl”: troublesome, bubble, stubble, gobble, goblin
Other ideasOther ideas
Weekly spelling rule Word study Word of the week Online scrabble
Weekly spelling rule Word study Word of the week Online scrabble
Word studyWord study
Not spelling lists for students to learn.
Words should be ones that are nearly correct. Need to know sight words.
Use topic specific words. Use words from shared writing and reading that relate to the IB theme.
Not spelling lists for students to learn.
Words should be ones that are nearly correct. Need to know sight words.
Use topic specific words. Use words from shared writing and reading that relate to the IB theme.
Word studyWord study
Word of the weekWord of the week
ScrabbleScrabble
http://www2.scrabble-assoc.com/donow.asp?grade=5 Website comes with learning intentions and answers. (Thanks Lyn!)
http://www2.scrabble-assoc.com/donow.asp?grade=5 Website comes with learning intentions and answers. (Thanks Lyn!)
Short powerful passages:Short powerful passages: Some children only know writing to be a long,
daunting task. Instead of writing when we plan long stories
which scare our reluctant writers, we started writing short, but powerful sentences, which we then turned to paragraphs, then to pages and so on.
Writing one powerful sentence using figurative language was such an achievement for some students and gave them the confidence they needed to attempt paragraphs.
We have started to enjoy writing, sharing what fun, figurative language we can come up with.
Some children only know writing to be a long, daunting task.
Instead of writing when we plan long stories which scare our reluctant writers, we started writing short, but powerful sentences, which we then turned to paragraphs, then to pages and so on.
Writing one powerful sentence using figurative language was such an achievement for some students and gave them the confidence they needed to attempt paragraphs.
We have started to enjoy writing, sharing what fun, figurative language we can come up with.
Silent Sustained Writing (SSW)
Silent Sustained Writing (SSW)
5-10 minutes everyday Students can pick what they want to write about.
At first it was difficult for them to pick something to write about so I gave them story starters.
5-10 minutes everyday Students can pick what they want to write about.
At first it was difficult for them to pick something to write about so I gave them story starters.
Short snippets every day:
Short snippets every day:
Writing every day has been really beneficial, even if they are just short snippets, or 5 minutes of meaningful SSW
Because we were writing short concentrated snippets, marking them was not a massive burden. It has actually become quite fun to mark their writing as I have seen them progress a lot, I feel proud of them!
The more practice, the better Remember:
Students love to share their work A few volunteers reading aloud to the class is great, or teacher reading on behalf of someone
Writing every day has been really beneficial, even if they are just short snippets, or 5 minutes of meaningful SSW
Because we were writing short concentrated snippets, marking them was not a massive burden. It has actually become quite fun to mark their writing as I have seen them progress a lot, I feel proud of them!
The more practice, the better Remember:
Students love to share their work A few volunteers reading aloud to the class is great, or teacher reading on behalf of someone
Story StartersStory Starters
Some great starters online. Eg. It was a strange night, there seemed to be a chill in the air...
http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/storystarters/storystarter1.htm
Picture books are good motivators.
Some great starters online. Eg. It was a strange night, there seemed to be a chill in the air...
http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/storystarters/storystarter1.htm
Picture books are good motivators.
‘Pictures of Home’ by Colin Thompson
‘Pictures of Home’ by Colin Thompson
I read the book/quotes to the class and they wrote their own for SSW.
During period five we drew our own pictures of home and added in our writing.
I read the book/quotes to the class and they wrote their own for SSW.
During period five we drew our own pictures of home and added in our writing.
The Mysteries of Harris Burdick:
The Mysteries of Harris Burdick:
A neat book to use as story starter ideas for narratives.
A neat book to use as story starter ideas for narratives.