1. Creating Writers: all students
writing and writing well
Comox
Valley
Nov.
21,
Feb.
6.,
Apr.
17,
2013
Faye
Brownlie
www.slideshare.net
2. Learning Intentions
• I will uncover ways to remember the joy of
writing
• I will add new strategies to my repertoire that
include all students in writing
• I better understand how to embed AFL in our
writing classroom
• I acknowledge the power of oral language,
modeling, building criteria, practice,
engagement and sharing in building writers
3. Managing the Workshop
• Work with large chunks of time
• Build criteria with students
• Teach one/t wo specific criteria at a time, over
time
• Model, model, model
• Practice, practice, practice
• Focus on pre-writing and oral language
• Establish clear expectations for writing
• Coach students as they are writing (DF)
• Goal-set with students
4. Model
Guided practice
Independent practice
Independent application
Pearson
&
Gallagher
(1983)
5.
6. The Traits of
Writing
… a start … coming along … that’s it … Wow!
• a series of loosely connected events that do • a series of loosely connected events that • a logical sequence of events • a creative and logical sequence of events
Ideas
not make sense make sense
• main idea and problem are unclear • basic main idea and problem are not too • main idea, problem and solution are • an interesting twist that is part of the main
original, not too clear clear and parts are original idea, problem or solution
• very few details • a few details • details and descriptions develop char- • vivid details show rather than tell about
acters and plot characters and plot
• simple word choices; some words have mis- • some interesting word choices; mostly risk- • interesting word choices sprinkled • precise word choices that allow the reader
Word Choice
takes free throughout to visualize
• no poetic words • an attempt at poetry • poetry that adds interest • clever use of poetry
• short, simple sentences with run-ons and/or • mostly short, simple sentences and a few • a mixture of short, medium and long • smooth flow because sentences are of dif-
Sentence
fragments longer ones sentences that create flow ferent lengths and types
Fluency • many sentences that begin the same way • many sentences that begin in different • sentence beginnings that are different • a variety of clever sentence beginnings that
ways and interesting fit perfectly
• no personality • a glimmer of personality • clear personality •
Voice personality that shines
• no evidence of care for topic • some evidence of care for topic • evidence that show care for topic • evidence that shows passion for topic
• a clear understanding of what readers crave
• no thought for the reader • thought for the reader at times • carefully chosen words and events to • characters have individuality and are vividly
engage the reader described
• characters are named, but not described • characters are named and described a lit- • characters are well developed on the • dialogue reveals character personality and
• dialogue (if used) is boring and/or confusing tle inside and outside moves plot along
• unnatural or basic dialogue • dialogue moves plot along or reveals
the personality of characters
• no lead; reader wonders what this is about • has a basic lead that hints at the story to • has an interesting lead that estab- • a lead that readers love and will lure them
Organization
• a series of loosely related events follow lishes the plot into the plot
• related events that wander in parts • events that develop logically • events that weave together beautifully
• no ending • a weak ending that may not make sense • an ending that satisfies; it may have a sur-
• a small variety of connections; some are • a believable ending that attempts to prise twist
• basic sentence connections (e.g. and, over used tie up the story • artful connecting words
then, so) • Smooth connecting words
• frequent errors in spelling, grammar and • some errors in spelling, grammar and punc- • errors in spelling, grammar and punc- • the occasional error in spelling and punctua-
Conventions
punctuation make story hard to understand tuation; reader can figure out meaning tuation, but only in the complex parts; tion, but only in the complex parts; meaning
• minimal use of paragraphs • evidence that show understanding of para- meaning is clear is clear
graphs • clear use of paragraphs • paragraphs in all the right places
7. The Traits
of
Writing
…experimenting … a start … coming along … that’s it … Wow!
Ideas • uses scribbles for writing • some recognizable ideas • has a few details • several details • dazzling details
• topic is clear to writer • topic not yet clear • topic is still to large • clear topic • focused, clear topic
Word Choice • writes letters in strings • recognizable words • trying out new words • new words are effective • readers will love the
• imitates word patterns words used
• uses pictures instead
Sentence • mimics letters and words • words create phrases • some sentences need fixing • most simple sentences are • sentences are complete
Fluency • single word-like scribbles complete and some are interesting
• no sentences yet • repeats familiar phrases • some sentences begin with • most sentences begin with • every sentence begins
different words different words with a different word
Voice • personality not yet • hints of personality in • has some personality • personality shows • personality plus
apparent words and pictures • shows some care for your • you care about your topic • you love your topic and
• not aware of reader yet • fuzzy audience awareness; topic and reader and reader your reader will too
could be anyone, anywhere
Organization • ability to order or group • hints at a beginning • has a bit of a hook • has hooked reader • has a bold beginning
ideas is not yet present • needs more ideas in middle • has some middle ideas • interesting middle • mighty middle
• beginning, middle and end • needs transitions • has a few transitions • nice transitions • terrific transitions
are not yet apparent • needs an ending • hints of an ending; has an • has an ending, but could be • ending is clearly thought
• no connections just yet abrupt ending e.g. The end more creative out
Conventions • writes strings of letters • please correct spelling • some spelling to fix up • lots of correct spelling • you’re a spelling star!
• attempts standard letters • needs periods and capitals • some punctuation issues • good punctuation • perfect punctuation
Carol Walters • attempts left to write • some grammar needs • most grammar is correct • good grammar • great grammar
S.D. #71
fixing
8. Key Qualities of the Traits
IDEAS ORGANIZATION
Clear messages A brilliant beginning
Narrowed focus A mighty middle
Vivid details An excellent ending
Stays on Topic Transitions that create flow
VOICE WORD CHOICE
Passion for the topic Fresh and original
word combinations
Contains writer’s personality
Trying out new words
There’s a reader/writer
connection poetic devices
SENTENCE FLUENCY CONVENTIONS
Complete sentences Spelling
Sentences begin with different Grammar
words
Punctuation
Sentences are different lengths
Use of paragraphs
9. Descriptive Feedback
-to scaffold & extend the learning
• What’s working?
– Give a specific compliment
• What’s not?
– Set a goal
• What’s next?
– Have an action plan
10. Quick Writes
• Give a word to students
• Give 15 seconds to think about the word, then 3
minutes to free write, using the word
• Students reread (mumble) their writing
• Students choose a phrase, sentence, powerful
word to share – if they choose
• Share the ‘treasures’
• Describe ‘what works’
• Repeat the process
11. Building Criteria
• Whip around
• What struck you? What worked?
• Categorize
• Choose a focus criteria
• Model
• Practice
• Highlight and seek advice
12. Its All in the Bag
• Have students fold a paper in 4 boxes.
• Pull an artifact from a bag and discuss, what is
this, how could it be used in a story?
• Students return to their desks and draw their
thinking in the first box.
• Repeat with each artifact, drawing in each box,
including all previous artifacts in each drawing.
• Discuss how the story changes as new information
(artifacts) are added.
• Start writing!
