Here is just a very rough idea of some things I am considering for my writing unit:
1. Grammar-using some ideas from the vignettes in Grammar Alive!
2. Personal narratives
3. Perhaps writing personal narratives focusing on one or two of the six traits.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Grammar Alive! Foreword
Grammar Alive! A Guide For Teachers
Grammar is something that is slowly making it’s way out of our classrooms, and if it is in our classrooms, it comes in the form of monotanous worksheets and daily exercises that have no connection to our lives. We need to find a way to bring it back into our classrooms and make applicable to your lives and that’s what this book does.
It is one of the most important life skills to have, to be able to write and speak in correct, full sentences. It is a skill that is used on a daily basis throughout one’s life, which is why it is so crucial to learn.
I don’t think that grammar is something that should be talked about for just a couple weeks and then forgot about. Grammar should find its way into every lesson. Grammar should be a year long, on-going conversation in our classrooms. The problem is that it needs to be fun. When I was learning grammar, we learned it by doing what teachers called "Daily Oral Language." Boring! In this book, teachers and students will find fun, new, creative ways to learn grammar that have nothing to do with worksheets.
Another reason many teachers are shying away from grammar these days is because of the diversity of native languages spoken in the classroom. Learning proper standard English does not diminish the value of any other language. If any thing, it will help ESL students when learning this second language if they are familiar with the rules and structure of the language.
This book covers many different aspects of grammar, including code switching. Code switching applies to the way people speak depending on the context of their conversation. This is something that students do on a daily basis without even knowing it. Code switching is just a sample of what is covered.
This book should not be one of those that collects dust on a bookshelf or is shoved in the back of your desk. It needs to be looked at and discussed daily. Teachers can use it as a tool for helping incorporate more grammar learning and students can use it as a guide when practicing grammar (thanks to the grammar glossary in the back).However the book is used, bottom line is that grammar is a necessity in everyday life and we, teachers and students, together need to make sure it finds its way back into the classroom and our lives! Learn it and love it!
Grammar is something that is slowly making it’s way out of our classrooms, and if it is in our classrooms, it comes in the form of monotanous worksheets and daily exercises that have no connection to our lives. We need to find a way to bring it back into our classrooms and make applicable to your lives and that’s what this book does.
It is one of the most important life skills to have, to be able to write and speak in correct, full sentences. It is a skill that is used on a daily basis throughout one’s life, which is why it is so crucial to learn.
I don’t think that grammar is something that should be talked about for just a couple weeks and then forgot about. Grammar should find its way into every lesson. Grammar should be a year long, on-going conversation in our classrooms. The problem is that it needs to be fun. When I was learning grammar, we learned it by doing what teachers called "Daily Oral Language." Boring! In this book, teachers and students will find fun, new, creative ways to learn grammar that have nothing to do with worksheets.
Another reason many teachers are shying away from grammar these days is because of the diversity of native languages spoken in the classroom. Learning proper standard English does not diminish the value of any other language. If any thing, it will help ESL students when learning this second language if they are familiar with the rules and structure of the language.
This book covers many different aspects of grammar, including code switching. Code switching applies to the way people speak depending on the context of their conversation. This is something that students do on a daily basis without even knowing it. Code switching is just a sample of what is covered.
This book should not be one of those that collects dust on a bookshelf or is shoved in the back of your desk. It needs to be looked at and discussed daily. Teachers can use it as a tool for helping incorporate more grammar learning and students can use it as a guide when practicing grammar (thanks to the grammar glossary in the back).However the book is used, bottom line is that grammar is a necessity in everyday life and we, teachers and students, together need to make sure it finds its way back into the classroom and our lives! Learn it and love it!
Friday, March 27, 2009
A Mode of Writing I Want to Teach
One of the modes that I would like to teach is the narrative. I want to teach this one because it is probably my favorite mode and think it could be one of the more engaging ones for my students. It is engaging because it allows students to tell a story about themselves. I know, in my academic career, whenever an assignment involved me directly (my thoughts, opinions, views) I was much more excited to do it!
I think the narrative will help my students in the "real world." The narrative gives my students an opportunity to express themselves, an opportunity a lot of them don't feel like they have. By teaching them how to write narratives, you show the students on outlet. They now have a skill they can use to organize their thoughts and feelings.
I think the narrative will help my students in the "real world." The narrative gives my students an opportunity to express themselves, an opportunity a lot of them don't feel like they have. By teaching them how to write narratives, you show the students on outlet. They now have a skill they can use to organize their thoughts and feelings.
Friday, March 20, 2009
My Academic Experience
I remember my learning of writing to be very structured. The teacher would assign an essay, we would have to turn in a rough draft and then a final copy, that was about it. I don't remember us really doing any work with these papers before we handed them in.
In high school, is when I got my first taste of how I envisioned teaching writing. It was more step by step and we did a lot more work with our papers in class. We would spend days just brainstorming ideas and researching. Then we would spend days, collaboratively working on revising our papers. When the paper was assigned, it was weeks before the final copy was due because we spent so much time developing and improving it.
Funny thing, when I think about learning writing, it was always this big assignment too, like a five page paper or something. We never just took time to write little essays or even journal on a daily basis. It's like the teachers were saying of it isn't big then it's not important.
I want to encourage my students to write everyday, even if it is a quick five minute journal entry. I think that is the only way to really hone your writing skills, is by practice.
In high school, is when I got my first taste of how I envisioned teaching writing. It was more step by step and we did a lot more work with our papers in class. We would spend days just brainstorming ideas and researching. Then we would spend days, collaboratively working on revising our papers. When the paper was assigned, it was weeks before the final copy was due because we spent so much time developing and improving it.
Funny thing, when I think about learning writing, it was always this big assignment too, like a five page paper or something. We never just took time to write little essays or even journal on a daily basis. It's like the teachers were saying of it isn't big then it's not important.
I want to encourage my students to write everyday, even if it is a quick five minute journal entry. I think that is the only way to really hone your writing skills, is by practice.
My Preferred Method of Composition
Actually getting started is about the hardest thing in the world for me. I have all these ideas running through my brain, but have no idea where to start or how to get them down. So, lately, I have been consciously making an effort to just start writing and worrying about how it sounds or the organization of the piece later.
I am definitely one of those people that has to start at the beginning though. I know a lot of people that can start writing the body of the essay and then go back and write the intro., but I cannot do that (this could be one of the reasons I have trouble getting started).
When writing a paper, of any kind, I usually make a quick outline on paper of how I see the paper going. This helps me visualize my ideas and organize a little better.
Another thing I am horible at when it comes to writing, is the revision process. I use to just quick read over the paper once and look for any grammar or punctuation mistakes. As I started writing in college, I realized that most papers go through at least three revisions and it goes way beyond just grammar and punctuation. This is something I continually try to work on and practice.
I am definitely one of those people that has to start at the beginning though. I know a lot of people that can start writing the body of the essay and then go back and write the intro., but I cannot do that (this could be one of the reasons I have trouble getting started).
When writing a paper, of any kind, I usually make a quick outline on paper of how I see the paper going. This helps me visualize my ideas and organize a little better.
Another thing I am horible at when it comes to writing, is the revision process. I use to just quick read over the paper once and look for any grammar or punctuation mistakes. As I started writing in college, I realized that most papers go through at least three revisions and it goes way beyond just grammar and punctuation. This is something I continually try to work on and practice.
My Autobiography as a Writer
I have been thinking about this a lot. I don't remember exactly how I learned to write. I have always had a passion for writing (and am pretty good at it if I do say so myself)! :)
I remember doing a lot of grammar and punctuation work in elementary school and junior high. I also remember going over how to construct a piece of writing, introduction, body, and conclusion. It wasn't until I got into high school that I remember my teachers encouraging me to explore my creativity with writing (if that makes any sense).
Once I was allowed to be creative and not necessarily be confined by the five paragraph essay format, is when I really started to love writing and realized I was pretty good. The one thing I struggle with as a writer, is the professionalism of my pieces. I tend to write very casually, I write like I speak. I have tried to work on making my pieces sound more professional or proper throughout my college career. I think it is important for my students to be confident writing all kinds of different pieces and look forward to helping them learn!
I remember doing a lot of grammar and punctuation work in elementary school and junior high. I also remember going over how to construct a piece of writing, introduction, body, and conclusion. It wasn't until I got into high school that I remember my teachers encouraging me to explore my creativity with writing (if that makes any sense).
Once I was allowed to be creative and not necessarily be confined by the five paragraph essay format, is when I really started to love writing and realized I was pretty good. The one thing I struggle with as a writer, is the professionalism of my pieces. I tend to write very casually, I write like I speak. I have tried to work on making my pieces sound more professional or proper throughout my college career. I think it is important for my students to be confident writing all kinds of different pieces and look forward to helping them learn!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Thing #29
I actually liked this "thing." I found it to be more useful than the others. I set-up google alerts on the topic of education. Maybe it will keep me more in the loop.
I also loved the Google News part. I adapted the page to bring up news going on around my hometown.
Another tool I explored was the Google calendar. I liked how you could share the calendar with family or friends.
You could explore these tools for hours (which I don't have) :) which made everything seem a little overwhelming. There are just too many avenues to explore. The alert tool could be helpful when I become a teacher because I could set it for a particular topic we are studying and see what things I find. I also thought I could maybe make a classroom calendar using Google Calendar and that would just be another way for me to keep my students up-to-date on what is going on in the classroom. I would love to keep exploring these tools when I have more time!
I also loved the Google News part. I adapted the page to bring up news going on around my hometown.
Another tool I explored was the Google calendar. I liked how you could share the calendar with family or friends.
You could explore these tools for hours (which I don't have) :) which made everything seem a little overwhelming. There are just too many avenues to explore. The alert tool could be helpful when I become a teacher because I could set it for a particular topic we are studying and see what things I find. I also thought I could maybe make a classroom calendar using Google Calendar and that would just be another way for me to keep my students up-to-date on what is going on in the classroom. I would love to keep exploring these tools when I have more time!
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