- Writing Research indicates that reading and writing are interrelated cognitive processes; reading helps students as they develop writing skills, and writing helps students as they develop reading skills. This chapter focuses on writing, a cognitive process that depends on the same cognitive systems as reading—semantic, syntactic, graphophonic, and pragmatic. Zecker (1999) describes seven stages of emergent writers:
1. drawing—the picture gives the message
2. scribbles—the lines and marks do not resemble letters
3. letter-like forms—the lines and marks resemble letters
4. letter strings—the child repeats letters that he knows
5. copying—the child copies from environmental print
6. invented spelling—the child corresponds letters to some sounds
7. conventional—the student spells most words correctly
Writing workshops give students an opportunity to be immersed in the writing process, which includes these steps: prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing.
Many Web 1.0 and Web 2.0 tools are available to students. Some particular types of writing in which students can engage include graphic novel and comic book writing, digital storytelling, mapping and webbing, blogging, social networking, and global collaboration. These opportunities encourage students to polish their writing because the audience often extends past the walls of their classroom.
A framework for assessing, talking about, and organizing writing is the 6 + 1 Trait Writing® Assessment. The traits are idea/content, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, convention and presentation. Students and teachers at all levels use these traits to discuss the qualities of writing.
When a teacher assesses a student’s writing, it is helpful to also assess her attitude toward writing and her self-perception of her writing. Different surveys and inventories can be used to assess attitude and self-perception. Rubrics and checklists, based on state standards, are informal means of assessing students’ writing development and skills.
As teachers teach writing, it is imperative that the writing activities they use are authentic and are connected to the students’ reading. This chapter discusses a wide variety of writing activities for elementary and middle school students. A wide variety of writing activities assist children as they become proficient writers. Interactive writing is a writing event in which the teacher and student “share the pen.” Guided writing is based on the same format as guided reading: the teacher works with a small group of students who share the same writing skills and need to develop other skills.
- Ch. 11 PPT Attached Files:
- ch11PPT.pptx (2.139 MB)
- Joplin Writer's Workshop Handbook 2012 Attached Files:
- Writer's Workshop Handbook 2012-Joplin.pdf (20.953 MB)
- Four Simple Steps to Small-Group Guided Writing This strategy guide explains how to use small-group, guided writing instruction to teach students effective strategies and improve their ability to produce text independently.
- Strategy Guide: Guided Writing Young writers need to experience sustained and successful writing. Guided writing lessons are temporary, small-group lessons teaching those strategies that a group of students most need to practice with immediate guidance from you. Guided writing lessons can be taught after a whole-class lesson once other students are actively engaged in independent writing.
- Engaging Boys: Engagement Through Choice: Guided Writing Session