Beyond the Basal: Reading/Writing Connection
Everything we know as writers, we know as readers first.
- Katy Ray Wood
Today’s Class
• Discuss Text Sets• Discuss strategies that teachers can use to
develop language and vocabulary• Participate in vocabulary instruction minilessons• Discuss the reading/writing connection- Reading
like a writer• Explore mentor texts
Several Different Vocabularies
• Listening• Speaking• Reading • Writing
Purple
What came to mind?
• any color having components of both red and blue, such as lavender, especially one deep in tone.
• cloth or clothing of this hue, especially as formerly worn distinctively by persons of imperial, royal, or other high rank.
• the rank or office of a cardinal. • the office of a bishop. • imperial, regal, or princely rank or position. • deep red; crimson. • any of several nymphalid butterflies
How about these?
Vocabulary
How do people learn words? • We notice the names of things• We hear others use words and attach the
word to a situation• We look for parts we might know and then
figure out the meaning• We experiment and try words out
Monitoring Vocabulary Knowledge
People have varying levels of knowledge about words
• Never heard of it• Heard the word but don’t know what it means• Have some idea of what it means• Sure of the meaning• Uses the word appropriately in many situations
Considerations for Teaching Vocabulary• Provide Students with opportunities to
extend knowledge of words in meaningful ways
• Provide direct instruction on how to infer Word Meanings
• Provide multiple encounters• Promote active processing- give
opportunities to use the words
Today’s Minilessons
• Share writing• Examine writing for overused words• Write a Tired Word Poem• Go on a Treasure Word Hunt• Create a Word Bank of Treasure
Words
Sources
Readwritethink.org- Delicious, Tasty, Yummy: Enriching Writing with Adjectives and Synonyms
The Revision Toolbox by Georgia Heard
Craft Lessons by Ralph Fletcher
Going Beyond Looking up the Definition
• How might these strategies be modified? How would it look at various grade levels
• How would you assess vocabulary using the strategies?
• What adaptations would you make?
Thoughts about Writing (Lucy Caulkins, Katie Ray Wood, Donald Graves and Carl Anderson)
Writers need a sense of purpose. Make plans for what they will do- set goals
To teach writing well, we should know at least 5 details about the lives and interests of each of our students.
Read like a writer- notice how things are written. The little things that happen everyday make wonderful
writing topics- jumping on the bed your brother throwing his food on your plate, your dog getting into the garbage can. (Mentor Text: Night Shift Daddy, Spinelli, The Paperboy, by Dav Pilkey)
Rich conversations cultivate writing Our goal is to offer children the opportunity to bring their
lives to school and put their lives on the page
Things to consider when teaching writing
• Writers need to read.• Allow children to talk about a story with
another. Have them “turn and talk” with a partner to tell their stories before writing them.
• Focus on Ideas instead of handwriting, spelling and conventions
• Children should have the opportunity to write throughout the day and throughout the content areas
More Things to Consider:
Common Core State Standards• Defines our writing instruction IIRC- CCSS Anchor Standards for Writing
Take a look at your grade level and determine what type of writing your students should be engaged in.
Analyzing your Current Practice
What does your writing program look like?• Fill out the continuum about writing and
your school• Then, “Dot the Chart.” What types of
writing do the children in your classroom have the opportunity to engage in?
Types of Writing People Engage In• Narrative/Personal Narrative• Descriptive• Expository• Persuasive• Report or Research• Poetry• Letter writing• Journaling• Creative Writing (Fiction/Fantasy)• Plays• Song Lyrics
Process Writing
• Components of the Process– Prewriting– Drafting– Revising– Editing– Publishing
• Things to consider:– Writing is not linear, nor should it be
necessarily– Think about how to integrate multiple sign
systems into the process (i.e., drama, music, movement/dance, art)
The Workshop Approach to Writing
• Minilessons• Independent writing; students writing on a
variety of topics• Students working at different stages of the
writing process• Paired revising and editing• Publishing center with materials, etc.• Conferencing with teacher• Authors’ Chair
Setting up the Writer’s Workshop
• Biggest Mistake: Having students jump in too soon– Take at least a week, and perhaps a few weeks
to teach your students how to be independent in the workshop
– Model, model, model, model, model, model, model!
• Classroom Management• Record Keeping• Make reading a part of the workshop
Connecting Reading and Writing
• Teacher writing sample• The Small Moment (Lucy Calkins)
– Watermelon vs. Seed• Use mentor texts to see how authors
– Use the writer’s craft (style, voice, techniques, language)
– Get ideas– Structure
What does this look like?
• Watch the video and think of the following:
– How do these teachers model writing?– What do you think they had to do with their
students to make the environment a safe place to share?
Reading like a writer
• Notice something about the craft of the text. • Talk about it and make a theory about why
a writer might use this craft. • Give the craft a name. • Think of other texts/authors you know.
Have you seen this craft before? • Try to envision using this crafting in your
own writing.
Noticing What Writer’s Do• Leads- What do these authors do for leads?• Small Moments• Dialogue Tags• The Power of Three- three words used in a row to create
emphasis. • Literary Elements/Figurative Language• Repetition• Format• Organization of Ideas (Linear, See-Saw, Circular, Flashback)• Patterns• Big and Bold/Small and Soft• Illustrations- illustrations are an important part of the story
when creating picture books. • Interesting Punctuation
Connecting Reading and Writing
How do writers “open the door” for the reader? Looking at leads:
• Take a look at the leads for some popular children’s books
• Notice what the author did to “open the door” to the story
• What are some of the different ways they did this?
Connecting Reading and Writing
Read Like a Writer!• What do authors do to share ideas?
(Structure, Craft, Ideas)Your Turn:• Select a mentor text.• What do you notice in your book?• How can you use this text in your
classroom to teach about writer’s craft?
Publishing
1st Grade Writing samples•Small Moments story•Non-fiction writing
http://readingandwritingproject.com/resources/student-writing/fifth-grade.html
Looking Ahead
April 12: Assessment• Read Retrospective Miscue Analysis article that is
placed on the wiki
April 19: Last Day• Present Inquiry information• Share Text Sets