Writing With the Littles

Last spring I was so nervous about teaching math. Which led me to reading a book over the summer and then I felt much better about my understanding of teaching math. And now math time is shaping up pretty well.

I don't feel like I did a good job teaching writing last year. I have never considered myself a writer. All summer long I saw reviews for the book No More, "I'm Done!" I was so busy with other books that I just didn't get around to it.

However, when I placed my recent Amazon order I stuck that book in my cart (it was only $15).  When I finally opened it up to read I was trilled with the ideas and practical tips on how to teach writing to the little people who are just beginning to learn about sounds and words and punctuation.

We (my students, my aide and me) started writing in this manner on Monday. What a beautiful time in my room.

I start with a mini-lesson. Then we have a quiet ten minutes for writing (either drawing our ideas, or writing labels or sentences, or a combination of both). Next is time for  conferencing, telling our stories and adding to our stories. We work all the way to lunch, which is often another 30 minutes. And they are truly working.

One day this week the mini lesson was reading part of a Richard Scary book. I showed how he draws lots of pictures, labels the pictures, and then writes a sentence about it. Then I modeled this drawing/writing and sent us (because EVERYONE writes during the quiet ten) off to write. I have a piece of classical music that is 9 minutes long, and we know that we are writing during the music and can talk and share when the music is off.

Stories were written about birthdays, castles, a trip to Paris, families, and me.

On Fridays our writing time is trumped by Art with the art teacher. One sweet little girl asked at lunch time when we were going to have our writing time (which had already passed). I explained that we won't have writing today because of having art. You should have seen the disappointment in her face. I said to her, "you must have had an idea in your head for what you wanted to write about today." She nodded yes.

Wow! Other kids were also disappointed. Yippee, I have helped to create a class that loves to write. Who would have ever thought that would happen? Not me. But it makes me so happy.

Now my task is to stay ahead of them and teach them and move them along in how they write. Better get back to that book today.