Comments for WritingFix: Community for Writing Teachers http://writingfix2.edublogs.org Teachers Sharing Writing Lessons. Teachers Adapting Writing Lessons. Teachers Sharing Adaptations. Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:46:44 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 Comment on Using the “Unique Imaginary Friends” Lessons by Kim http://writingfix2.edublogs.org/2008/04/20/using-the-unique-imaginary-friends-lessons/comment-page-1/#comment-53 Kim Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:46:44 +0000 http://writingfix2.edublogs.org/2008/04/20/using-the-unique-imaginary-friends-lessons/#comment-53 I did this with my Grade 6/7 class. They loved it...lots had imaginary friends when they were younger. I had them write this for their Grade 2 reading buddy. They will share it with them when they are finished. I did this with my Grade 6/7 class. They loved it…lots had imaginary friends when they were younger. I had them write this for their Grade 2 reading buddy. They will share it with them when they are finished.

]]> Comment on Using the “Show What Your Mind Sees” lesson by Steve Somers http://writingfix2.edublogs.org/2008/02/13/using-the-show-what-your-mind-sees-lesson/comment-page-1/#comment-52 Steve Somers Wed, 30 Sep 2009 18:31:41 +0000 http://writingfix2.edublogs.org/2008/02/13/using-the-show-what-your-mind-sees-lesson/#comment-52 I have been using WritingFix in my fourth grade classroom for the past few months and have loved the picture book lessons!! The books provide an excellent "jumping off point" for my students to create their own stories while using the 6-Trait writing process. I have been using WritingFix in my fourth grade classroom for the past few months and have loved the picture book lessons!! The books provide an excellent “jumping off point” for my students to create their own stories while using the 6-Trait writing process.

]]> Comment on Using the “Between Repeated Catch Phrases” Lesson by Nan http://writingfix2.edublogs.org/2008/04/28/using-the-between-repeated-catch-phrases-lesson/comment-page-1/#comment-50 Nan Thu, 10 Sep 2009 11:18:41 +0000 http://writingfix2.edublogs.org/2008/04/28/using-the-between-repeated-catch-phrases-lesson/#comment-50 These writing projects are FANTASTIC! Kids love the prompts that pop up just for them! They really anticipate their "turn"! These writing projects are FANTASTIC! Kids love the prompts that pop up just for them! They really anticipate their “turn”!

]]> Comment on “Noun-Inspired Animal Reports” Lesson by Terry Stelle http://writingfix2.edublogs.org/2008/05/12/noun-inspired-animal-reports-lesson/comment-page-1/#comment-47 Terry Stelle Thu, 13 Aug 2009 16:40:23 +0000 http://writingfix2.edublogs.org/2008/05/12/noun-inspired-animal-reports-lesson/#comment-47 I love this book and have had fun with it as a beginning of the year activity changing the title to "We Are Scholars". I had the whole class think of main ideas that scholars are characterized by, then let table groups each take one main idea and add details. Here is a copy of their story: We Are Scholars by Mrs. Stelle’s fourth graders 2004 We are scholars. Scholars are readers. Readers learn a lot from reading. Readers read a lot of different kinds of books. Readers don’t skip hard words. Readers read hard words. That’s what readers do, we are readers. Scholars are always learning. Scholars don’t waste time. Scholars experience different places. Scholars read more that one kind of book. That’s what we do, we are always learning. Scholars are focused and in control. A scholar listens to the teacher. Focused and in control people do their homework every night. Scholars turn off the TV when they do their homework. We are all in control. That’s what we do, we are focused and in control. Scholars are writers. Writers don’t waste time. Writers like to write about books. Writers write about resources. That’s what we do, we are writers. Scholars are problem solvers. The solve writing and math problems. Problem solvers are good readers. Problem solvers are good at solving mysteries. That’s what we do, we are problem solvers. We are readers. We are always learning We are focused and in control. We are writers. We are problem solvers. We are scholars!!! I love this book and have had fun with it as a beginning of the year activity changing the title to “We Are Scholars”. I had the whole class think of main ideas that scholars are characterized by, then let table groups each take one main idea and add details. Here is a copy of their story:

We Are Scholars
by Mrs. Stelle’s fourth graders 2004

We are scholars.

Scholars are readers. Readers learn a lot from reading. Readers read a lot of different kinds of books. Readers don’t skip hard words. Readers read hard words. That’s what readers do, we are readers.

Scholars are always learning. Scholars don’t waste time. Scholars experience different places. Scholars read more that one kind of book. That’s what we do, we are always learning.

Scholars are focused and in control. A scholar listens to the teacher. Focused and in control people do their homework every night. Scholars turn off the TV when they do their homework. We are all in control. That’s what we do, we are focused and in control.

Scholars are writers. Writers don’t waste time. Writers like to write about books. Writers write about resources. That’s what we do, we are writers.

Scholars are problem solvers. The solve writing and math problems. Problem solvers are good readers. Problem solvers are good at solving mysteries. That’s what we do, we are problem solvers.

We are readers.
We are always learning
We are focused and in control.
We are writers.
We are problem solvers.

We are scholars!!!

]]> Comment on Using the “Unique Imaginary Friends” Lessons by Laura Pressnell http://writingfix2.edublogs.org/2008/04/20/using-the-unique-imaginary-friends-lessons/comment-page-1/#comment-46 Laura Pressnell Thu, 04 Jun 2009 13:27:25 +0000 http://writingfix2.edublogs.org/2008/04/20/using-the-unique-imaginary-friends-lessons/#comment-46 I absolutely love this book!!! I did a huge unit on it if anyone is interested let me know. Here is my personal e-mail if you would like to know more: molnarblue@yahoo.com (I am always open for lesson idea suggestions and swapping.) My mock class blog only has a tiny piece of this book's never ending lessons. I was so happy when I found writing fix's website. I tell everyone I know about it. I rate it a 10 out of 10. I absolutely love this book!!! I did a huge unit on it if anyone is interested let me know. Here is my personal e-mail if you would like to know more: molnarblue@yahoo.com
(I am always open for lesson idea suggestions and swapping.)
My mock class blog only has a tiny piece of this book’s never ending lessons. I was so happy when I found writing fix’s website. I tell everyone I know about it. I rate it a 10 out of 10.

]]> Comment on Using the “What If Poetry” Lesson by Renee http://writingfix2.edublogs.org/2008/04/20/using-the-what-if-poetry-lesson/comment-page-1/#comment-43 Renee Tue, 28 Apr 2009 17:33:09 +0000 http://writingfix2.edublogs.org/2008/04/20/using-the-what-if-poetry-lesson/#comment-43 The book was amazing and really inspired them to write. I think the graphic organizer was too much for second grade. I restructured it to fit the needs of the kids for next year. It was an amazing lesson. After we were done with our rough drafts, we went through our writing, I modeled with my rough draft and we took out worn out words, then went through a thesaurus together and found more interesting vibrant word choices. Then edited and made our final copies. Excellent lesson! The book was amazing and really inspired them to write. I think the graphic organizer was too much for second grade. I restructured it to fit the needs of the kids for next year. It was an amazing lesson. After we were done with our rough drafts, we went through our writing, I modeled with my rough draft and we took out worn out words, then went through a thesaurus together and found more interesting vibrant word choices. Then edited and made our final copies. Excellent lesson!

]]> Comment on Using the “Unlikely Diary Keepers” Lesson by merryellen Price http://writingfix2.edublogs.org/2007/12/14/24/comment-page-1/#comment-42 merryellen Price Mon, 06 Apr 2009 21:48:41 +0000 http://writingfix2.edublogs.org/2007/12/14/24/#comment-42 I am a special education teacher and used this lesson with my 4th and 5th graders. I used the prewriting sheets and then had the students make a power point presentation with each diary entry as a slide. They loved it! After they had typed it all, I let them take photos off of the web to insert into their pages along with downloading some real recorded sounds of their animals. I will definately do this lesson again. They learned to do research- pulling interesting facts from their resources and then turning it into I statements. Next time I would focus a little more on the story line, but this was a good first introduction to power points, voice, and idea development. I am a special education teacher and used this lesson with my 4th and 5th graders. I used the prewriting sheets and then had the students make a power point presentation with each diary entry as a slide. They loved it! After they had typed it all, I let them take photos off of the web to insert into their pages along with downloading some real recorded sounds of their animals. I will definately do this lesson again. They learned to do research- pulling interesting facts from their resources and then turning it into I statements. Next time I would focus a little more on the story line, but this was a good first introduction to power points, voice, and idea development.

]]> Comment on Using the “Moments Like This” Lesson by RaDene http://writingfix2.edublogs.org/2008/02/25/using-the-moments-like-this-lesson/comment-page-1/#comment-41 RaDene Tue, 03 Mar 2009 17:18:55 +0000 http://writingfix2.edublogs.org/2008/02/25/using-the-moments-like-this-lesson/#comment-41 My 7th and 8th graders just finished a five week lesson on memoir writing. A variety of texts were used as mentor texts including the three student samples from the Writing Fix website. Some of the other stories that students used to immerse themselves in the genre included excerpts from "Milkweed" by Jerry Spinelli, "Names/Nombres" by Sandra Cisneros, excerpts from Nicholasa Mohr's memoir "Growing Up Inside The Sanctuary of My Imagination", excerpts from James Howe's memoir "Everything Will Be Okay" and "Eleven" by Sandra Cisneros to name a few. Students needed to take two pieces through the entire writing process. They also had to write a 6 Word Memoir. I had many well written pieces that reflected beautifully the flavor and tone of memoir writing, but one student's piece really stood out. I am attaching it for you to see if it may be something you would like to add to the memoir section of your website. My 7th and 8th graders just finished a five week lesson on memoir writing. A variety of texts were used as mentor texts including the three student samples from the Writing Fix website. Some of the other stories that students used to immerse themselves in the genre included excerpts from “Milkweed” by Jerry Spinelli, “Names/Nombres” by Sandra Cisneros, excerpts from Nicholasa Mohr’s memoir “Growing Up Inside The Sanctuary of My Imagination”, excerpts from James Howe’s memoir “Everything Will Be Okay” and “Eleven” by Sandra Cisneros to name a few. Students needed to take two pieces through the entire writing process. They also had to write a 6 Word Memoir. I had many well written pieces that reflected beautifully the flavor and tone of memoir writing, but one student’s piece really stood out. I am attaching it for you to see if it may be something you would like to add to the memoir section of your website.

]]> Comment on Using the Noun Game for Kids by Nancy Dravenstott http://writingfix2.edublogs.org/2008/04/08/using-the-noun-game-for-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-40 Nancy Dravenstott Mon, 09 Feb 2009 15:32:03 +0000 http://writingfix2.edublogs.org/2008/04/08/using-the-noun-game-for-kids/#comment-40 Used this prompt for their journal writing activity. We'd been studying nouns and I wanted application in their writing. Had them write then share their stories with their classmates. Also encouraged them to add adjectives to make their nouns/writing more descriptive. They had a good time selecting their noun combination and then writing their story. Very interesting to see how the same three nouns could be used so differently in stories! Used this prompt for their journal writing activity. We’d been studying nouns and I wanted application in their writing. Had them write then share their stories with their classmates. Also encouraged them to add adjectives to make their nouns/writing more descriptive. They had a good time selecting their noun combination and then writing their story. Very interesting to see how the same three nouns could be used so differently in stories!

]]> Comment on Using the “Moments Like This” Lesson by Carolyn Lindon http://writingfix2.edublogs.org/2008/02/25/using-the-moments-like-this-lesson/comment-page-1/#comment-38 Carolyn Lindon Wed, 28 Jan 2009 22:51:58 +0000 http://writingfix2.edublogs.org/2008/02/25/using-the-moments-like-this-lesson/#comment-38 I adapted this lesson to stress explode a moment. I first had the students write a I Remember Poem about a special moment. Then the students completed a "Quick Write" to brainstorm ideas about their special moment. The students then completed a story map which they used to write a personal narrative about a special moment in their lives. I read the books Tar Beach and When I Was Young in the Mountains. This was a great lesson. Thanks for the idea. When I get student samples I will send to you. I adapted this lesson to stress explode a moment. I first had the students write a I Remember Poem about a special moment. Then the students completed a “Quick Write” to brainstorm ideas about their special moment. The students then completed a story map which they used to write a personal narrative about a special moment in their lives. I read the books Tar Beach and When I Was Young in the Mountains. This was a great lesson. Thanks for the idea. When I get student samples I will send to you.

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