Find nuggets in writing, feedback, and mentor texts...

These are some of what Beth and I saw while
we were helping our 3rd grade buddies with their stories.

Remember that when we are giving feedback to the other writers in our CIRCLES, good feedback gives us ideas for how to make our writing better.

Somethings to always keep an eye out for are those parts in good writing that SHOW NOT TELL.  I found an example of SHOWING NOT TELLING in a book club book one club is reading.  It's been a MENTOR TEXT that has helped me with some of my writing. 

      "I closed my eyes, flared my nostrils, and let the scents flood in.  The strongest of them, caramel and brown sugar, smell as yellow-orange as the sun, came first.  That one was easy.  The one that anyone would notice come into the shop.  And then chocolate of course, the bitter dark and the sugary milk chocolate.  I don't think a normal girl would've smelled anything else, and part of me wanted to stop there.  But I could feel Sam's heart behind me, and for once I gave in. 
      Peppermint swirled into my nostrils, sharp as glass, then rasberry, almost too sweet, like too-ripe fruit.  Apple, crisp and pure. Nuts, buttery, warm, earthy, like the wolf.  The subtle, mild scent of white chocolate.  Oh, God, some sort of mocha, rich and dark and sinful.  The butter cookies on the shelves added a floury, comforting scent, and the lollipops, a riot of fruit scents too concentrated to be real.  The salty bite of pretzels, the bright smell of lemon, the brittle edge of anise.  Smells I didn't didn't even know names for..."

METAPHORS & SIMILES
http://www.brainpop.com/english/writing/similesandmetaphors/

Find the history in all that surrounds us.

Feels like
Sounds like
Looks like
TRIBES...

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Organize and update around the domains of teaching: grading, planning, scheduling, teaching

Organize and update around the domains of teaching: grading, planning, scheduling, teaching

History repeats itself...

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Teach the writing process through Workshop and Circles.

I write entirely to find out what I’m thinking, what I’m looking at, what I see and what it means.  What I want and what I fear. 

-Joan Didion

     "I would like students to understand that writing is a method of building something.  Good writers have to identify with their OWN VOICE.  Then, structure their writing with the voice they have discovered within themselves."  -High school english teacher I spoke with over the summer.

      There is a VOICE inside us all that speaks to us when we feel strongly about something or react to something we think or read in our external environment.  VOICE comes in many forms.  VOICE comes as an idea.  VOICE comes as a feeling.  VOICE comes as thought.  VOICE comes as a memory.  VOICE comes as a reaction to a stimulus.  VOICE COMES AS AN OPINION.  VOICE comes as an interest.  VOICE COMES AS A WHISPER!  One does not hear voice.  YOU FEEL IT!!

Writing is like ARCHITECTURE.  There is a form, a structure to writing and although the structure a writing piece takes on is flexible; it gives it shape.  There is an art to writing, and there is also a science to it. 

Step	Description	Strategies
Prewriting	An activity that causes the writer to think about the subject.  The writer organizes his thoughts before he begins to write.	Drawing Talking Brainstorming Graphic organizers Research Listing Field Trips
Drafting	The process of putting ideas down on paper.  The focus is on content not mechanics	Taking notes, Organizing thoughts into paragraphs, Writing a first draft
Revising	The process of refining the piece of writing.  The writer adds to a writing piece.  The writer reorganizes a piece of writing.  The writer shares his story and gets input from peers or teacher.	Peer editing Conferencing Share Chair or Author’s Chair
Editing	Mechanical, grammatical and spelling errors are fixed in the writing piece.	Checklists Rubrics Editing Checklists Proofreading
Publishing	The writing piece is prepared in final form, including illustrations.  The writer shares his writing with others.	Reading aloud Reading to a group Displaying in the room Printing the books Web publishing

Live up to my greatest ideal: Day by Day...

What is the greatest ideal I can be today?
A project-based literacy teacher that incorporates real life personal experiences...
What is project-based reading? Lit circles? Book Clubs? Inquiry circles? Rubrics? Blogs? Discussion groups? Checklists? Small group conferring? KWLs? 3-2-1's? Energizers? Tribes? The 5 E's? Brainpop? Media? Videos? Text? Web-searches?
True comprehension is less about the questions one can answer at the end of a reading and more about the questions one has the ability to ASK at the end of a reading.

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Use an online grade book EFFICIENTLY.

Keeping up with grades has really turned me into the teacher I don't want to be.  There is so much emphasis placed on this aspect of school it's ridiculous.  It seems to me certain families and parents use grades to "keep up with the Jones'" where competetive nature and the need for comparison drive thought.  The pressure is overwhelming.  It feels like the negative feedback from the beginning of the year shaped the direction the last few months have taken.  It feels like being forced into a corner where you can't move or even breath without your methods, thoughts, work, efforts, and character passing under scrupulous supervision. 
The judgements passed on the school and its teachers came a lot in part from the report cards.  They came from the expediency (or lack thereof) of the report cards and grades.  The question "How's my son/daughter doing?" feels like a loaded question these days.  It's daughnting, agitating, frustrating, and does not motivate anyone to do better or try harder while unleashing a teacher's full potential.  It releases the "I don't want that to happen again so I better do just enough to not get busted" work ethic.  The judgements do not build a partnership nor open up clear lines of communication.  -2/12/11

TEACH WRITING in a different way for a New World

WHAT IS THE GREATEST IDEAL I CAN BE TODAY?
I CAN teach one trait of writing at a time…  these are my minilessons
-WITH A RUBRIC
-WITH STUDENT MODELS (MENTOR TEXTS) OR WITH PROFESSIONAL MODELS (MENTOR TEXTS)

I CAN assign and grade ONE to THREE paragraphs for that trait only…
-WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO REVISE
-WITH 2-3 HELPFUL COMMENTS FROM PEERS (WRITING CIRCLES)
-WITH 1-2 HELPFUL COMMENTS FROM THEIR TEACHER (ONCE A WEEK “WALK AROUNDS” THAT EVALUATE/ASSESS)  "DIALOGUE POST-ITS"

I CAN teach students to effectively organize and explain only one point or argument in only 1-2 paragraphs

I CAN regularly schedule “writing days” (30 MINUTES) when I read and grade while students read or write.
-WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO COME UP TO MY DESK FOR “STUDENT SELECTED CONFERENCES” OR RAISE A CUP OR SIGN ON THEIR WRITING DESKS TO CALL ME OVER FOR A “STUDENT SELECTED CONFERENCE”

Example… I want you to go home and watch the TV/news with an adult or by yourself.  Form an opinion from what you see.  It could be American Idol for all I care.  Just form an opinion… good/bad  ugly/pretty  awesome/awful  talented/no talent at all  Write your opinion down and explain why you feel the way you feel.  Use two paragraphs to describe your opinion.  You are going to need a TOPIC/MAIN IDEA/supporting details.

I Can... Bring to life MY VOICE and the light behind it.

I Can... Bring to life MY VOICE and the light behind it.

You don't have to do something to be the person you have always wanted to be.

You already are the person you have always wanted to be.

Just BE the person you are.

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I Can... Organize small groups that foster collaborative skills, conscientiousness, cooperation, and motivation.

I Can... Organize small groups that foster collaborative skills, conscientiousness, cooperation, and motivation.

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I CAN... Bring the FUN back into the classroom!!

I CAN... Bring the FUN back into the classroom!!
It's about problem finding; not problem solving!!
Traditional education is one of Inquiry... Conventional education is what we see with desks and rows and "sage on the stage"

Stop think and react to new information!! THEN, pick out the important stuff. TEXT CODING

The questions a student asks after reading are a better assessment of their understanding than the questions they can answer after a reading.

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Live a curious and passionate life... Then model it!!

Live a curious and passionate life... Then model it!!
Ask Questions!!!

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I Can... Read more in front of kids with read alouds.

Use the first chapter of books/series for minilessons...

Character intros
Setting
Intro of the problem/conflict
Sequence
Causes that lead to effects

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I Can... Update my blog no matter where I am: whenever/where ever inspiration strikes. In context!!

Writing is self expression.
A THEME is not a summary.
A theme is a sentence, a complete thought.
"Write the truest sentence you know!" Hemingway
Universal truth bubbles up from beliefs, truths that have been passed down.

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I Can... Use multiple resources to record thoughts, feelings, and musings.

Time is relative: in a lot of cases irrelevant! Lessons learned (not learned) in childhood pass on into adulthood.
Physical maturation is not equivalent to emotional/mental maturation.
READINESS: Adults need it as well as kids.

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In life there are Mosquitos and there are fireflies. Some people are Mosquitos that you feel no remorse swatting out of your life. Some people are fireflies that brighten your life and bring light where there was once darkness. Those are the people you hang onto with gentle hands and keep them from getting crushed.

In life there are Mosquitos and there are fireflies. Some people are Mosquitos that you feel no remorse swatting out of your life. Some people are fireflies that brighten your life and bring light where there was once darkness. Those are the people you hang onto with gentle hands and keep them from getting crushed.

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Plan and Prepare

It's about collecting your thoughts, feelings, and opinions before an event happens. Preparing for an experience is NOT KNoWIng what is going to take place. Its about aligning positive thought to possible action and then letting go in the
Moment.
It's about creating a RIPPLE EFFECt!!! Give the thoughts, fears, dreams, ideas, feelings, muses, possibilities to the UNIVeRSAL CONSCIOUSNESS then...
GET OUT OF THE WAY!!!!!! By having the thoughts, fears, dreams, ideas, feelings, muses, and opening up to limitless possibilities; you are preparing to have an experience!!!

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Research is what I'm doing when I don't know what I'm doing. - Wernher Von Braun

Research is what I'm doing when I don't know what I'm doing. - Wernher Von Braun

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Write where the story takes you.

Write where the story takes you.

You have to make space!!! Space in your life. Space in your home. SPACE IN YOUR MIND. Writing releases and frees up space in your mind.

Space for things that you want to do. People are going to have things they need you to do.

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I can share the things that make me happy. I can co-experience the things that bring joy to my life.

I want to share the things that make me happy. I want to co-experience the things that bring joy to my life.
Horses
Fitness
Reading/books
Movies
Qtime
Sleep
Affection
Archery
YOGA

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I Can...

Share my passions and happiness with others. 

Enjoy the things I attract into my life: Snow Day

Enjoy the things I attract into my life and not feel unworthy or undeserving. 

The heart of a fire...

I Can...

Every time you repeat the words, "I CAN..." with whole-hearted conviction, you cancel or override your fear and increase your confidence.  By repeating this affirmation over and over, you can eventually build your courage and confidence to the point where you are unafraid.