A virtual classroom to extend the thinking and learning from our 2013 Summer Institute.
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Ellie's Burning Question
When I am asked to help a student with writing, I wonder how much feedback to give. Having worked in a college setting where we concentrated heavily on grammar, usage, and mechanics (because so many students arrive with large gaps in their knowledge), then moving to middle school level, I am not sure how thorough to be. I understand that I need to approach each student where he or she is, and each classroom according to the teacher's style; but in the end, where should the students be by the time they reach high school? And how can I best assist? Any suggestions for readings? (I will check In the Middle)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Ellie, I really found A Community of Writers by Harvey Daniels to be helpful. I'll bring in my copy of it tomorrow for you.
ReplyDeleteEllie, I always approach editing as a last step, it's the icing on the cake. In order to get there, there first needs to be a solid piece of writing. So often for kids, especially those who struggle, it is years of the tedium of "fixing mistakes" that has turned them off from writing. By highlighting what is done well, pushing to improve the message and content, students can gain traction and investment with a piece. Once they care about creating a strong piece of writing then you can approach the touching up of editing.
ReplyDeleteI know for me personally, I would rather read a piece of passionate writing that is full of errors than read a "perfect"piece that lacks life.
You might want to check out Teaching Adolescent Writers by Kelley Gallagher too.
ReplyDeleteEllie's burning question progress:
ReplyDeleteKathryn has spoken to me about first and foremost reflecting on content, beginning with commenting on the positive. Most important is to ensure that students are not turned off to writing. She also mentioned that as a para, I should be asking each teacher what they see as my role in their classrooms. She recommends Teaching Adolescent Writers by Gallagher. Jen has also recommended a Harvey Daniels book, A Community of Writers.
I am also remembering my mentor, Jim Knoedel. He used to include small doses of writing protocol in his 5 minute mini-lessons. He taught me how to walk around the room and casually ask, "How's it going?" as a way of engaging the kids in discussing their writing.
As a teacher, I always appreciate the help our assistant gives to students with general mechanics and things. I think by showing students how they can use mechanics, grammar, and literary devices to improve their writing is awesome! It gives them a new way to think about their work.
ReplyDeleteI liked some of the ideas in the article Everything I learned at Office Depot- they had some interesting editing techniques using highlighters that put it in the students' hands and out of the teachers and it sounded a lot more fun than what I had been doing in my classroom
ReplyDeleteTrusted 7vwp colleagues have emphasized that the promptness of teacher feedback, rather than any other aspect of reader assessment, is most likely to help student writers. Couple promptness with limiting criticism to only the most important needs of the writing. Trust your notions as reader, writer and teacher to identify those needs on an individual studetn basis.
ReplyDelete