Writing/ Show, Don't Tell

During the process of writing our personal narratives, we studied how author's engaged their readers.  One of the most powerful strategies writers use is to 'show' their thoughts and feelings as opposed to just 'telling' them.  Here is an anchor chart created with students to help them understand this concept.

When creating these charts, I modeled through a 'think aloud' how someone might 'look' if they were sad.  Then I asked students to share how someone might 'look' when they were happy.  Students then worked in partners to develop words or phrases to 'show' anger.  By the time we got to the rest of the words, the students were off and  flying!  (This was over the course of several days.)

It was so exciting when I began to see students using some of the showing examples in their own stories.  Samples of student work coming soon!

Common Core Notebooks

 A few weeks ago I came across the "My Common Core" Notebook.  I purchased it from teachers pay teachers. (A very addicting site, so be careful!)

First I asked all students to bring in white binders and sheet protectors.  I then made copies of the common core domains and put them in the binders.

Next, I explained to students that the common core was all of the wonderful things they were going to learn about this year.  Next, I introduced the binders.  They were very excited and impressed!

I am going to use these binders as an evidence folder.  They will make great resources for sharing work at parent conferences.  They also allow me to see the growth and understanding of each student.

At the end of the year, students will take these home as a memoir of their "Thinking in Third" grade!

These are the binders students brought in.  For the covers, I copied and laminated them and wrote with dry erase marker  before I put them in the binder pocket.  My plan is to use them next year.

 Here are the domain sheets that will be the heading for each section of the binder.

 Each of these are put in protective sleeves to help separate the sections.

 


Here are some samples of the Standard Recording Sheets.  We have been working on personal narratives for several weeks and the question I have used here is the same one that has been posted for several weeks.  As evident by the  responses we have been working on 'show, don't tell' sentences, adding action words, and using graphic organizers to improve our writing.  Behind this sheet will be their drafts, revision, and editing papers.

Also included in this purchase were samples of essential questions for each domain as well as a common core checklist.  I use the essential questions to help guide my thinking and the students' as well.  I love the checklists because I can see at a glance what standards still need to be addressed.

So far, this have been working out great!  I will blog more about this as the school year progresses.

Deb

Great book to start the new year off with!  I don't want to ruin the ending for those of you who have not read it yet, but I will say that I teared up the first three times I read it.  It was a great read for the first day, then students drew and described how they felt on the first day of school.  We also introduced making predictions before we read and the narrative elements.


Here are some student samples of how they
 felt about their first day of school. 

"Pathways to the Common Core"

 I love this book and I hope you  will too!  It gives an in-depth understanding into the Common Core and practical insight on how to implement it in your schools and classrooms.  I hope you enjoy the passage as much as I do!

"Cory Booker, the mayor of Newark, New Jersey, has, through his approach to his city, helped us think about the need to read the standards or any initiative as if they are full of potential, to see them with eyes of hope....People in Newark said to him, "If you want to help this city, you don't need to learn from all those Yale professors.  You need to learn from Queen Mother."  

   "The Queen Mother?" he asked.  He said that it was suggested that he visit a woman who lived on the fifth floor of Brick Towers, one of Newark's most notorious developments.

   Cory Booker climbed the stairs and knocked on the door of Virginia Jones' apartment.  A seventy-something-year-old woman came to the door.  Retelling this story, he recalled saying, "Ma'am, I am Cory Booker.  I am from Yale Law School, Ma'am.  I am here to help you out."

   The Queen Mother, unimpressed, responded, "Well, if you really want to help, follow me."  They walked down five flights, through a courtyard, past a group of drug dealers, and into the middle of the street.  "Tell me what you see around you," she instructed Cory.

   In his speech, Cory began to describe the scene around him: "I see an abandoned building filled with people doing nefarious activities, I see graffiti...."

   The Queen Mother stopped him. "Boy, you can't helpf this city," she said and stormed off.

   Cory ran behind her, stunned.  "Ma'am?  Ma'am?" he asked.  "What just happened?"

   Virginia Jones wheeled around and said to Cory, "You need to understand something, boy.  The world you see outside of you is a reflection of what you have inside of you.  If you are one of those people who only sees problems and darkness and despair, then that is all there is ever going to be for you.  But if you are one of those people who sees hope, opportunity, and love, then you can make a difference." 

American education is undergoing one of the most dramatic changes ever.  If we are going to play a role in shaping the future, then we need to take Queen Mother's advice.  We need to see hope and opportunity where the Common Core is concerned. 

"Stone Fox"

Little Willy is a wonderful character to analyze!!!

Students needed some front loading on dog sled racing and the concept of taxes, which led to a lively discussion!!!

Here is a copy of the graphic organizer we used... Sorry, I could not get it to rotate...but the website for this and other wonderful graphic organizers is

http://www.sanchezclass.com/reading-graphic-organizers.htm

"Oliver Button is a Sissy"

A heart-felt story about a boy who is a little different. My students were glued to this story. I used it as a read aloud to introduce narrative elements of fiction.

The students did a wonderful word sort and discussed how 'dancing' could be the problem in the story, or was it the solution?

This is a wonderful book to add to your selection no matter the grade level...all students, and teachers, can relate!!!

Professional Literature

"If I were to ask you to close your eyes and envision the perfect classrooms scene, what would you see? What would you hear and smell and feel? Think big! If everything were going just the way you'd like it to, what would be happening? What would your kids be doing? How about you?" Debbie Miller

I love, love, love this book! In addition to helping you define your beliefs, align your practice, and take action, Debbie also talks about 'schema theory'-connecting new learning to what we already know-in a very concrete way. She gives clear and explicit examples how to do this as well as several pages of colorful photos.

By using this book, Debbie helped me walked through my teaching practices and think deeply about them. Because of this I have a new lesson plan template I cannot wait to try out and cannot wait to get into the classroom to put in place several new ideas.

It is an interesting read with deep impact. Thank you to my colleague, Jen D., for recommending it!