Story is a Part of Narrative, Informative, and Opinion Writing

As Dave, my golden retriever, and I had our Tea-on-the-Deck time this morning, I read the blog from Two Writing Teachers. Ruth was reminding us that the genres in which the common core standards are addressing: narrative, informative, opinion, are not to be put into segregated boxes. This was new thinking for me.

Usually, I would start the year out by teaching narrative writing with any grade level where I was working. We would start there because that seemed to be the easiest way to create interest and have children want to tell their story and then write it. I had never thought of how story was also a part of informative and opinion writing.

Looking out at my rose garden from the deck, I was thinking of those roses blooming so beautifully in the late summer sunshine. I remember when we decided to turn that space into a rose area. My story about that would include our thinking and some discussion and lots of action. But along with that part of the story, there is also the things we learned as we created this space. The various types of roses and which ones we thought were best for us. The vast amount of names and styles was another decision-making trial. I could  also include in my story about roses, their types and names for the informative part of the story. Along with that would come our opinion of what was best for us. Yes, all three modes of writing easily could be written in this narrative.

One fifth grade classroom I will be working with this year, is starting off with research and informational writing. Normally I would not think of including narrative in this form of writing. However, if I decided to write about the Civil War, I might want to include a story about how I found several Civil War veterans grave sites in a local cemetery last spring. As Ruth Ayres says in her blog: "All three modes of writing--narrative, opinion, and informative--influence everything we write."

Many of the grade levels will be again starting their writing workshops with narrative writing this fall.  It might be interesting to collect books that use information and opinion within the narrative. It might be interesting to find books that we think are simply informational, but also have facts and stories to influence the project. By reading these books, we could see how the authors message was written and then use the books as mentor texts throughout the unit of study.

As you begin your writer's workshop this year, can you imagine including all three genres? It doesn't matter what grade level you teach. It would work for kindergarten through middle school. If you try it or find some great mentor texts, we would love to have you share!

Happy Reading and Writing!

Two Writing TeachersTwo Writing TeachersTwo Writing Teachers

Learing FROM Preschool

Thanks to all of you who wrote nice things about my first blog. It is important to writers/bloggers to hear from their readers. If you would like to respond to my blog or let me know what is happening in your classrooms, email me at dkdouglas@hotmail.com, comment on my facebook page, or simply comment below my blog!  I LOVE hearing from you!
Also, I had someone ask if I will be posting at certain times.  Well, since I am retired I make it a rule to NOT have a schedule. So, I will try my hardest to blog every school day. BUT...I can't promise when I will do the blogging! Thanks for following me!

Today I had the privilege of visiting a preschool classroom as it was being set up for school in a couple weeks. One of my former colleagues is setting up her class for 4/5 year old preschoolers and invited me to see her room. As I toured the facility, I was amazed at what I was learning. So, here it is: what I learned from a preschool:

1. Organization is important!  This classroom had crayons in baby food jars organized by color...various shades of the basic colors. There must have been 25-30 jars. It is important for the children to think about exactly what color they want. There were baskets filled with individual things: buttons, shells, corks, stones. After each thing is introduced to the children, they THEN can choose just want they need to complete their projects.
2. Children need to set up the room. In this classroom there were picture frames on the walls. Yes, frames.  Not pictures in frames. The frames were empty, just waiting for children to create the art work that would fill them. There were bins of all sorts of things. None of the bins had labels. The children would be labeling them as to what they think the label should be. After all, they will be the ones using them!
3. Look at things with the eyes of a child. Think of where they are seeing things. How will it look from their viewpoint? On one wall there was a long mirror, placed horizonally, that was only about ten inches from the floor.  The children could sit, read a book, and see themselves and the whole classroom from that level. How does the child see it?
4. Take time to see possibilities. As a child investigates this room, there are many, many possibilities. Their imaginations will be stimulated and encouraged. This takes time. You can not rush imagination! That is true of adults, too. As teachers, we need to be sure we are taking the time to see possibilities in everything we do with children. Don't limit them!
5. Most important: enthusiasm!  I saw this today in the teacher's attitude, speach and posture! She can't wait for those little ones to enter her room. She can't wait until they are exploring and investigating. She can't wait for school to begin!

As you begin your first days of the new school year, are you ready to learn from a preschool? Special thanks to Connie and her 4/5 year old preschoolers.
Happy Learning...can't wait to come back and visit you with children there!!!

Starting a New Year

Today was the first day for teachers in the school district I retired from last spring. As all the teachers headed to their schools for special professional development, I sat on our deck with a cup of tea and my golden retriever, Dave. The air was crisp. The sky was picture perfect blue. I simply sat and meditated on the awesome view.

The teachers were thinking of the new students they would be meeting in just a few short days. Many of them were wondering how they were going to start their new writer's workshop and if the new common core state standards would make a big difference in their instruction. A few days ago, I received an email from a third grade teacher wondering just that. I thought that might be an interesting way to start my blogging experience as a non-teacher/consultant.

Having students love writing and feel comfortable putting their thinking on paper is the most important part of teaching writing. Things really have not changed in what we are to be teaching now with the new standards. What is different is that we are now expecting MORE out of our students.

With all that said, my suggestion is for third through fifth graders to start with their writer's notebooks. Beginning with lists of ideas is always a good was to start. Turn to the first page and at the top of the page write: FAMILY.  Under that heading students would list titles of stories they could write about their family. This has to be modeled orally or written by the teacher. For example the teacher might say: "My first story might be about the time my  mom braided my hair.  I will write---'Mom Braiding My Hair'.  The students would only need about three minutes to get a list started. Time to add to that list would come on other days.

Other titles for other pages might be: FRIENDS, PETS, PLACES, FAVORITE FOODS, etc.
Each list would only take no more than three minutes. No stories would be written today, just the gathering of ideas.  I like to think of these as Seed Ideas. One teacher is even adding seed packets to the front of their notebooks to remind the students that like seeds their ideas will bloom into stories.

Sharing for this day would be a "Whip Share". Students gathered at the sharing area in a big circle would tell ONE of their ideas...simply giving the title they wrote. Again, no actual stories would be shared, just titles.

Again, remember: Having students love writing and feel comfortable putting their thinking on paper is the most important part of teaching writing!  Happy Writing!!!

Happy 4th of July

Our day started with the Peachtree Road Race 10K. We took off at about 8:18, after all the winners were already done. It was hot and had a moderate warning for temperatures. That ended up with RED which was more sever. Over all though, it was a great race. The water stops were frequent, the volunteers were awesome and the fresh Georgia peaches were wonderful at the end of the race!  Yes, we will do it again next year.

After getting cleaned up from the race, we went to the Varsity for our usual after-race meal of a naked dog and fries for me and slaw dogs and fries for DD.  Then we topped it all off with Georgia peach ice cream. We ended the day with a fun Braves game (against the Cubs).

We wore our race t-shirts to the game. See, they are the design we had hoped for. The Braves didn't win, but we sat next to some fun Cubs fans and had a great night. The weather was awesome.

Happy 4th of July everyone!!!!

Day Before Peachtree Road Race

We started our day by heading to the Peachtree Road Race Expo. There we picked up  our numbers for the race. This is the bib number we will be wearing tomorrow. This year it even had our first name on our bib along with the number. I also picked out a pair of red running shorts to wear in the race and an Atlanta Track Club shirt that was on sale!

There were many other booths to check out while we were at the Expo. Then we went to the World of Coca-Cola. We only went to the store since we have visited the rest of the exhibits many times. We got some place mats for the table in my new space at home and I got a sleep shirt to wear, too. We got ice cream at Peachtree Center mall and then headed to our hotel in Buckhead on MARTA. The weather was still very warm, so we spent some time at our hotel's great pool!

The last thing we did today was to have supper at a nearby restaurant with Cousin Kelly who lives here in Atlanta. We only get to see her once a year but we always look forward to catching up with what is happening in her life. A perfect way to spend the end of a perfect day.

ATLANTA HERE WE ARE!

Supper on the patio of Gordon Biersch!

We left Indiana at 6:00 a.m. and traveled through Kentucky and Tennesse to make it to Georgia.  We were in Atlanta by 5:00 and settled into our hotel.

Our first stop we supper at Gordon Biersch Restaurant in Buckhead. After a wonderful crab, shrimp and lobster salad we walked to our favorite book store: Barnes and Noble.

We also stopped by a park on the way. There is a statue there called The Storyteller. Naturally, that would be a favorite of mine since I love stories!!! This is the first time I have had my picture taken there.

It is hot here, but not much different than northern Indiana right now. Tomorrow our plans are to go to the Peachtree Road Race Expo and the World of Coke early in the morning. After that, it just depends on what our mood is at the  moment.

Kathy with The Story Teller at Buckhead.

Peachtree Road Race 2012

Our choice for the t-shirt design!

Today was spent getting ready for our road trip to Atlanta in order to run the Peachtree Road Race. I put in six miles plus weight training early this morning to satisfy my physical training. The rest of the day was spent in gathering food for the trip, cleaning the house, doing laundry and packing.

Since the weather is just as hot here in Indiana as it is in Atlanta, the choices for clothing was easy. It was just a matter of getting the laundry done so we had clean clothes! We have decided to purchase the availabilty of wifi in our hotel so we can stay in touch via blogging, Facebook and Twitter. I sure wish wifi was automatically available for free!!!

We have a rented car all packed up. We have bought ice for our cooler and will stock it and load it into the backseat in the morning.  We have our traveling clothes laid out and ready to go. Dave, the dog, is ready for his dog-sitter to come stay with him.  I think we are ready for our big trip!

See you in HOT-lanta!